For anyone who still thinks American women in business are just craft makers, listen up.Women-owned small businesses in the U.S. are not only growing in numbers, they are playing a large role in the economic recovery, according to a report conducted in October, 2009, by the nonprofit Center for Women's Business Research. The studied market segment represents nearly $3 trillion and employs 23 million people, making women owned businesses the world's fifth largest gross domestic product!
This has happened in spite of special challenges for these women, stemming in large part from a media that portrays them as less competent in business, with inferior management and technical skills and a range of expertise that is limited to such areas as fashion, food and family.
The fact is almost half of business in America is at least 50% owned by women. Of these firms, the ones that have over $1 million in revenues have grown nearly twice as fast as other, similarly sized firms in the U.S. from 1997-2000.
Women are finally outnumbering men in management level positions, too. According to the Bureau of Labor's statistics, as of 2003 women represent 50.6% of the 48 million employees in higher paying, white collar, managerial, professional and related occupations.
These new statistics will make a difference not only to media generated imaging, hopefully, but certainly to businesses that sell services and products to other businesses. They would do well to target this increasingly important demographic profile: women in business are here in equal numbers and these women are moving and shaking!
Oprah Winfrey is a wonderful source of inspiration to millions, having come from very humble beginnings. Born into poverty in rural Mississippi, Winfrey suffered sexual abuse which began at 9 years of age and also became pregnant at 14. Her son died in infancy. After moving to live with her father in Tennessee, she went through a tumultuous period. When she was awarded a scholarship by Tennessee State University, however, she took advantage of the opportunity and studied media and journalism.
At the age of 19, she became the first black African American woman television news anchor to work in Nashville on WTVF-TV. But Oprah only began to enjoy herself when she switched over to hosting talk shows. Her manner was warm and appealing; she thrived in the tabloid talk show genre and took a Chicago show from third place rating to first. Around this time, Ms Winfrey had the entrepreneurial spunk to start her own production company and become internationally syndicated. From there, she has come to be, arguably, one of the most influential women on the planet, as well as one of the richest, having a net worth of $2,300 million.
Her natural charm and openness about her life's challenges has won loyalty from millions with her "keeping it real" persona. I once met her in Chicago at her TV studio, and she exuded a charisma that was palpable. When she came onto the set before the show, I could actually feel her come into the room.
