Starting, managing and owning a business requires enormous faith and hard work. The courage it takes and the struggles along the way are part of the business journey for all small-business owners.
But what happens when the obstacles have been overcome, the lessons learnt, and success becomes a reality? It seems that what happens can depend on whether you’re a male or a female entrepreneur.
Women are not being recognised in the business community
The unfortunate truth is the wider business community doesn’t celebrate female business owners and their achievements enough. Business remains a male-dominated sector with the lack of senior positions available to women and an inequality in pay.
Celebrating the contributions of those who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment and skill is important – not only to recognise the hard work of those who dare to realise their vision, but to encourage others to do the same.
The 2014 Australian Businesswomen’s Network Hall of Fame aims to do just that. It recognises the extraordinary achievements of successful women, providing role models for those who have started or are considering starting their own business.
Wider recognition of female business owners creates a culture of success, which can only benefit the community and the economy.
Recognition starts with the individual
Recognition begins on a smaller scale. For women to be recognised in the wider community, they must be ready and willing to acknowledge their own accomplishments. Women need to stand up and make themselves, and their achievements, known.
Members of the Australian Businesswomen’s Network, an online community for female entrepreneurs, were recently asked what their biggest personal branding challenge was. Incredibly, many responded with, “not wanting to brag”.
What this suggests is many women who hesitate to announce their own achievements are uncomfortable sharing their successes, presumably because they fear appearing overconfident or boastful.
But it’s time to stand up and be recognised.
How to make sure you are recognised
Positioning yourself in the public eye is essential, whether it’s by networking, joining boards or participating in community projects. Develop your presence by entering business awards or building an online profile.
“Award recognition amongst my peers certainly helped raise my profile and enable me to secure speaking opportunities [and] board memberships,” says Chandra Clements, Managing Director and Founder of One Legacy and a 2014 inductee in the ABN’s Hall of Fame.
It has never been easier to develop your presence online and reach out to potential clients. Technology has made it easier to establish your authority in your niche and to make yourself known beyond your immediate community.
However you do it, make sure you are putting yourself out there. Far too many women don’t get the recognition they want or deserve because they don’t ask for it.
ABN Hall of Fame inductee, Director and co-owner of Robbo’s Motorcyles, Christine Macauley, says, “I believe that it is up to women to achieve greater recognition for themselves and platforms such as the Australian Businesswomen’s Network are perfectly poised to achieve this. Recognition is a personal, as well as public, thing and women first need to believe in themselves and promote each other.”
It’s time
Female business owners and entrepreneurs deserve more recognition within the business sector and the wider community, but it ultimately starts with the individual. Women need to have the courage to make their accomplishments known by taking the initiative, making connections, and using resources on offer from communities such as the ABN.
It’s time to recognise yourself and allow others to recognise you, because the value of women entrepreneurs is undeniable.