READY, SET, LAUNCH: ENTERPRISING WOMEN TELL US HOW-AND WHY-THEY DID IT.
By Teri Barr
What does it mean to be an entrepreneur? Excitement. Fear. Initiative. Hard work. Risk. Passion.
It sounds daunting—and also wildly exciting, and more women are embracing the adventure, starting businesses in Madison and beyond. According to new numbers from SCORE , a national organization providing support for small businesses, there are currently 9.1 million women-owned businesses in the U.S., a statistic that jumped by more than 67 percent in just the last 18 years. If you read reviews on this website about small businesses tips and tricks you will almost notice a greater percentage of female contributors than male. At the same time, businesses owned by women of color grew from 1 million to 3 million—a 300 percent increase. Locally, it looks even better. The online business resource NerdWallet just released a study placing Monona, Middleton, McFarland, Verona and Madison in the top 80 cities to start a business in this region. The Doyenne Group, a Madison-based networking organization for entrepreneurs, estimates it has helped more than 100 women get their businesses off the ground in this area during the last year, by offering support, development and even funding opportunities. A popular hub of entrepreneurial spirit is the automotive industry with many finding success here. There is still a large disparity in numbers between males and females here. Anyone looking to get into this industry will need to do a trade insurance compare online to find the best deal. Hopefully, this will encourage more women to do this.
Yet financing for women wanting to start a business isn’t even close to what’s being given to men. One recent report shows just 7 percent of venture capital funds going to women. OWL , a national nonprofit championing economic security for women over 40, kicked off a campaign on Mother’s Day with a goal of increasing venture capital funding from 7 percent to 20 percent by 2020. There is a similar push in this area, with several entrepreneurial- focused groups working together to disperse millions of dollars the city of Madison earned to specifically help women grow their businesses.
And, there’s no age limits for dreaming: According to OWL , women over age 50 are found to be twice as likely to have success as those in their 20s. Plus, girls can now learn what it means to be an entrepreneur during hands-on summer camps.
But beyond all the numbers, there are real women taking the entrepreneurial plunge—and realizing that no matter how much it may have excited or frightened them, doing what they love is worth the hard work.
Move Forward, Together
Heather Wentler & Amy Gannon
Fouders Doyenne Group
One thing leads to another. And in Heather Wentler’s case, it’s now several things. “ I started Fractal to help kids bridge what they were learning in school and how it applies to everyday life, and especially for young girls to see a different future opportunity,” Wentler says. In 2011, the former teacher turned- entrepreneur took the education and empowerment o f 6- to 13-year-olds to the next level with the business, a science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics-or STEAM—enrichment program, “then, when Wentler met Amy Gannon, of the Edgewood College School o f Business, the two decided to do the same thing for adult women. “We want to help women move faster, and wiser, in an effort to impact the world with their entrepreneurial skills,” Gannon says. “We believe you should put yourself in opportunity’s way!” “they formed their own opportunity, the Doyenne Group, in 2012.Both express passion about the power of women entrepreneurs, and call the Doyenne Group a means to build on, as they mobilize that community in Madison. But they also want to make a statement; Gannon talks a lot about the challenges women entrepreneurs face, especially related to funding a new venture. “ Some bankers still say they don’t want to loan to a woman-owned business,” Gannon says. “ So we are trying to pull information together to help them take action—banks, accelerators or angel investors—while we are also raising funds through Doyenne to offer grants, which we later hope can be paid forward from one woman entrepreneur to the next.” Wentler, meantime, is working hard to connect similar-minded networks in the community, with the goal of increasing active women entrepreneurs by five fold in Madison, in the next five years. “We want Madison on the map as one of the best places in the country for women entrepreneurs, and we’ve made a lot o f strides,” Wentler says. “Data shows women-owned businesses may be smaller, but have higher success rates, and Doyenne has helped more than 100 women turn an idea into a business. It’s also important to realize the diversity of women in entrepreneurial roles in this area, ranging from biotech to retail and IT. Now to get everyone else to acknowledge it… .”Yet, the increase in the number of women entrepreneurs is slowly being recognized; even Gannon acknowledges the conversation is different than during the last three years.“There’s a momentum now, we keep encouraging women to keep an eye on the prize by executing, but also letting some things just come to them.” And Wentler says women across the state are interested, and looking to join this group’s mission. “We may be branching to Racine, Kenosha—and we’re getting requests for support from women in La Crosse, Eau Claire and Green Bay,” Wentler says. “ It’s time to partner across the state to face the hurdles, and move forward together.”
TAKE RISKS
Unwavring passion
Taylar Barrington
Owner Taylar Barrington Creative Agency, Maverick Hill
Contributing to society is important to Taylar Barrington. And as an entrepreneur, she stands behind her belief in not just talking about it, but living it. “ I really think happiness is defined by your abilities to contribute in the way only you can,” Barrington says. “No one else can do what you do well, so just do it! ” Barrington’s abilities have helped her create not one, but two businesses. And the 27-year-old has a third in the works.
Barrington is new to Madison, but not to the idea of using her entrepreneurial spirit to succeed. “ I’m fulfilling the goals I’d created from my passions and dreams,” Barrington says. “ I have an unwavering passion to see all o f my goals materialize.” She describes finding the city surprisingly unintimidating, and supportive, or even friendly to entrepreneurs. It’s part o f what brought her here, along with the opportunity to attend graduate school in pursuit of her MBA. It’s a lot to juggle, but she’s not having a problem making things happen. “When I am passionate about something, whether it’s one o f my businesses or school, I just get carried away,” Barrington says. “ If it takes me two, eight, or 14 hours a day to get something done that will help someone else, I’ll do it. I feel so good about it all, too. It’s like I finally figured myself out.”
The search for self started just a few years ago when she was teaching graphic communications to special education high schoolers in Northern Illinois. Every class began with the students being asked to share their dreams. “One day a student asked me if I had any dreams,” Barrington says. “ It threw me off, and I couldn’t answer the question. I may have been the teacher, but learned so much from them as it forced me to have some serious self-reflection about what I was doing with my life.” In the end, she quit her job, took the money she’d sav ed-$ 5 0 0 -an d started what she calls a subscription-based, social company for college women. Maverick Hill offers access to products, events and resources; now just a little more than one year after its start, 15,000 women are part of the community. “ It’s about supporting women by connecting them with Maverick Hill and our campus reps,” Barrington says. “We hold events, share blogs, promote internships, and all o f it is meant to support the idea o f self empowerment.” It’s her second successful venture in entrepreneurship.
The Stone Hill, Georgia, native brought her first entrepreneurial idea to life while she was still in high school. She launched the Taylar Barrington Creative Agency in 2006, and today it connects young women with a variety of marketing skills with clients in need o f these types o f services. Barrington believes it is also cultivating the motivators, leaders and history makers o f the future.
In many ways, her goals have already come full-circle, as her passion is helping others find a way to share their talents.
Wear your Success
Deborah Paul
Owner Midwest Decorative Stone and Landscape Supply
It ’s all about the hats. And as Deborah Paul explains it; knowing when, where, and how long to have one on is an important factor for any successful entrepreneur. “You really have to be aware o f what hat you are wearing, and why,” Paul says. “At any given moment I have to be able to move between my various roles, “This can include everything from employee manager, to service provider, check writer or even equipment operator. You just have to know when it’s crucial to change your hat from one to the next.”
The 48-year-old Madison woman makes it look easy. During the past 24 years, Paul has grown Midwest Decorative Stone and Landscape Supply from 1 acre o f leased land to a business sprawled across more than 6 acres she now owns. Her husband is the company’s president. “We took some small business administration classes at UW-Madison a long time ago,” Paul says. “ It’s still one of the best things I ever did to learn about the true cost of doing business as an entrepreneur. It helped me understand the market and competition, along with boosting my confidence to deal with insurance, creating an employee handbook and business plan. I also secured a startup loan which gave me the opportunity to get this dream off the ground.”
She now admits, with a laugh, had she known how much work it would take, she may not have done it. Yet, some of the early challenges remain due to the nature of her business, “”tte always changing weather and very long hours can be really tough. But overall it’s rewarding and fun,” Paul says. “ I can work for anyone, but I’d rather work for myself.”
And with that attitude, her business grew, while at the same time her family and staff also expanded.
She currently employs 12 people, and almost half are women. “ It’s not the easiest sell,” Paul says. “Women aren’t always interested in this type o f work, but I’ve found those on my team to be friendly, thorough and organized; all traits our customers, both professional landscape architects to amateur gardeners, really appreciate.” Yet, there are still those who are surprised to learn that a woman runs this type o f business, and has female employees willing to do the work. “When you’re questioned, you better have the answer,” Paul says. “ I believe in standing up for yourself by showing your capabilities, training and knowledge to help you deliver on your promise.”
Paul also made a promise to herself, which includes connecting with those who may want to follow in her footsteps. It includes young men and women, but she’s working hard to educate more women about the potential in her business. “First, you have to understand what it means to be an entrepreneur,” Paul says. “You almost have to be your own best employee, and be willing to put the money, materials, knowledge and discipline into it. “Then you can take whatever your passion, and turn those dreams into a business.”
It may be the one hat Paul forgot, though she’s already wearing it: success
