AUGUST 1, 2022, Pottstown – “The Strength of Women: Tackling the Challenges Facing Today’s Women-Owned Small Businesses”
With an audience that included women from around the nation, PAED was pleased to present this summer at the Women’s Congressional Policy Institute (WCPI)’s virtual congressional policy briefing, “Women-Owned Small Businesses: Current Challenges and the Role of Women’s Leadership in the Economy.” This virtual event was held in cooperation with the leadership of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues, Congresswomen Madeleine Dean and Jenniffer González-Colón, Co-Chairs; and Congresswomen Lucy McBath and Kat Cammack, Vice-Chairs. Established in 1995, “The Women’s Congressional Policy Institute (WCPI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy organization whose mission is to bring together a community of bipartisan women policymakers and trusted partners to advance issues of importance to women, develop the next generation of women leaders, and foster a more effective and representative democracy.”*
This virtual congressional briefing, the third conversation in WCPI’s economic briefing series, was made possible through grants from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and Comcast. WCPI’s series previously discussed the ongoing impact of the pandemic on women in the workforce, caregiving, and how we can create workplace cultures more supportive of women. The goal of the series is to facilitate bipartisan policy solutions in Congress that improve the workplace for women, help women business owners succeed, and continue to elevate women’s leadership in our economy. As Congresswoman Madeleine Dean shared, “We can lift up the work we have done… but we must do more…” “I am here to listen and learn more to get a deeper understanding of the unique challenges you all have faced, and to get ideas where Congress can help.”
Peggy Lee-Clark, Executive Director, Pottstown Area Economic Development, spoke on the contributing factors that often determine success and/or growth and expansion for women and minority-owned entrepreneurial businesses. Ms. Lee-Clark was introduced by Congresswoman Madeleine Dean as a “strong advocate for small businesses,” and a “force of nature.” Ms. Lee-Clark’s presentation highlighted three indicators, including environmental factors, establishing goals, and making connections. She went on to share, “We hope that people find us so that we are able to make those connections for them…that is what PAED’s does…that is what we are here for… it is really important for [entrepreneurs and] businesses to have those relationships [in order to] establish, sustain, and grow.”
In Ms. Lee-Clark’s presentation, she noted that 98% of venture capital funding is given to male founders, compared to a mere 2% for women**. In an economy requiring innovations, this is very troubling. This fact, coupled with the statistic that 3 million women left the workforce to care for children or elders in the past two years, due to the pandemic, as shared by Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, are key indicators that sessions such as these are critical in brainstorming ideas to support women in the economy today, and in the future.
Ms. Lee-Clark was joined by Emily M. Dickens, Chief of Staff, Head of Government Relations, and Corporate Secretary, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), who spoke on the importance of women in leadership positions, breaking down barriers, and action steps organizations of all sizes can take to support women’s leadership. A third speaker, Waleska Rivera, President and CEO, Danosa Caribbean, Inc., spoke on current challenges facing her certified minority- and woman-owned roofing solutions business in Puerto Rico, and women’s leadership in the construction industry.
A recording of the session can be found on WCPI’s website at wcpinst.org/events/women-owned-small- businesses/.
PAED is a 501c(3) non-profit corporation originally formed in 1965 to promote commercial and industrial development in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. PAED provides services to businesses and organizations seeking to invest, expand or relocate including assistance with site selection, commercial and industrial real estate development, access to resources, and workforce development.
For more information about Pottstown Economic Development (PAED), please visit ipickpottstown.org
*Source: wcpinst.org
**Source: Source: Forbes.com/advisor.business-loans/business-grants-for-women