By Rhonda Campbell
African American women are amongst the growing numbers of women entrepreneurs. These leaders are using their creative skills to develop a range of companies, including technology, interior design, real estate, construction, fashion, marketing and media firms. Their efforts are contributing to the overall health of African American businesses.
From 2002 through 2008, the numbers of businesses owned by African American women grew by 19 percent according to the Stanford University School of Business. How much did businesses owned by African Americans generate over the same period? Try $29 billion in annual sales.
African American Women Entrepreneurs Networking
What numbers don’t reveal are the challenges and concerns African American women business owners face. For example, new as well as seasoned African American women entrepreneurs may deal with feelings of isolation, especially if they work as solopreneurs. It’s enough to have to juggle conference calls, seminars, interviews, customer relations and marketing deliverable. Having to do this and more while spending hours alone in a home-based office could take a toll, cause African American women business owners to feel alone.
To avoid becoming isolated, African American women entrepreneurs can network with like-minded women. In addition to wiping out isolation feelings, networking with like-minded business leaders, offers African American women entrepreneurs other benefits, including:
- Opportunities to expand their markets
- Chances to build relationships with professionals who can increase word of mouth sales
- Ability to establish empowering mentoring relationships with more seasoned business leaders
- Occasions to openly converse about the ups and downs of operating a business in productive ways
- Opportunities to learn about upcoming public speaking events, training seminars, etc.
- Chances to learn about new technologies, policies and trends
- Opportunities to network with business leaders from other countries and regions
Some organizations that support African American women business owners include:
- Association of Black Women Physicians
- National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc.
- Black Business Women Online
- Onyx Women Network
- Black Women Enterprises
- Association for Black Women Attorneys
- European Federation of Black Women Business Owners
- National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc.
- National Association of Black Female Executives
- Ghana Association of Women Entrepreneurs
- African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program
- Women Business Owners Jamaica Limited
Organizations that support African American women business owners may prove especially beneficial for entrepreneurs who work from home. By participating in activities hosted by these organizations, African American women business owners can avoid feeling like they are going it alone. They can also learn new ways to tackle customer relations, capital and marketing issues. Most importantly, they will forge new relationships with progressive, passionate, courageous and insightful leaders.
Sources:
http://mith.umd.edu/WomensStudies/ReferenceRoom/Directories/professional-organizations.html (Directory of Women’s Professional Organizations)
http://archive.sba.gov/advo/research/rs280.pdf (Small Business Administration: Small Business Research Summary)
http://smallbiztrends.com/2010/10/how-are-black-and-women-owned-businesses-doing.html (Small Biz Trends: How are Black and Women Owned Businesses Doing)
http://gsb.stanford.edu/news/headlines/2011-african-american-women.html (Stanford Graduate School of Business: African American Women are Moving Ahead Rapidly)
