2 min
Every October, National Women's Small Business Month invites us to recognize the women who are building, hiring, mentoring and strengthening their communities through their businesses. As a proud Augusta University alumna and now a senior lecturer at the James M. Hull College of Business, where I teach entrepreneurship, human resource management and leadership ethics, I have the privilege of watching students begin to imagine businesses of their own. Through the Women's Leadership Academy, which I facilitate, I also see how much potential is unlocked when young women are given mentors, self-awareness tools and real opportunities to lead. Also, as an entrepreneur and leader, I have learned that when women build businesses, they rarely build only a company. They build connection. Stacy Roberts, DBA, is a Lecturer of Management at the Hull College of Business. She teaches courses related to salesmanship and sales marketing, principles of management, organizational behavior and human resources. View her profile Women business owners often create opportunities close to home. They hire neighbors, mentor younger professionals, sponsor youth programs and invest in the places where they feel connected. They truly leave a mark, and that impact does not come easily. Many women entrepreneurs are navigating limited access to capital, smaller professional networks and the challenge of wearing every hat in the business while also carrying responsibilities at home. Yet those same pressures often produce leaders who are resourceful, adaptable and deeply committed to the people they serve. They truly deserved to be valued and supported. So how can our community get involved this month and beyond? Buy with intention. Choose women-owned businesses for gifts, services, catering and professional needs. Every purchase matters. Share and refer. Sponsor women by telling others about them. Leave a review, recommend a business to a colleague or share a post. Visibility is one of the most valuable things a small business can receive. Open the door. Organizations can include women owned businesses in vendor lists and procurement opportunities. Access is a game changer. Mentor and be mentored. Experienced leaders can offer guidance and emerging entrepreneurs can seek it out. No one builds alone. Invest in the next generation. Students and others interested in entrepreneurship should explore coursework, leadership programs, and local small business resources. The ideas forming in classrooms and networks today will become the businesses that anchor our communities tomorrow. To any woman considering starting a business, remember this. Get clear on your values before you get busy. Build a circle of people who will tell you the truth. Please know your numbers and remember that rest is not a reward for finishing the work. It is part of what allows you to keep doing it.
