A Worker and a Mother

Throughout most of my career, I've worked in environments with more men than women. This even started even back in business school. It's just part of the world I work in: startups and the venture capital space. According to the most recent data available (it's eight years old, but things haven't changed dramatically since then), only five percent of investments go to businesses owned by women. Another study shows an even lower number, reporting that just "2.3 percent of dollars among the investors surveyed went to women-owned firms." Often, the entrepreneurial world is dominated by the guys.

Today if I'm invited to participate in a conference on small business, entrepreneurs or online companies, I'm often the only woman on the panel. Initially this intimidated me. I remember struggling at the beginning of my career to have confidence in myself and my ideas while I sat in conference rooms as the only woman (and, often, minority) there. To get me through, I thought of my mother and how she--an entrepreneur herself--inspired me to be strong. These situations usually don't bother me anymore, but I still can't keep from observing these imbalances as I move forward in my career.

Read the rest of my column -- A Worker and a Mother -- at the Huffington Post.

Comments

[Katrina Razavi]

That was a great post. I'm a female entrepreneur myself, but don't have the responsibility of kids right now. Regardless, I can definitely relate to being the minority in conferences, boardrooms, etc.

Also, I was recently at a Vator TV Pitch Competition and Bambi Francisco mentioned you and talked about what an amazing entrepreneur you are. She said that you're involved with an organization that helps Filipino economic development. I'd love to learn more about that as my Mother is from the Philippines and I agree that they really do need help in that regard. I'd love to connect over email to chat more about this if you'd like.

Thank you!
Katrina

[Jonathan Walker]

Please do tell us more about your focus on Phillipine economic development as the roots that follow your branding and success.

I have a son of Philippine heritage that needs as part of his "care" .com to learn that those that became overseas successes remembered those that are behind in the homeland and offer a hand up, and hope. I am a successful American, long retired 4th generation web-digital based prodigy that had a hand in starting the e-revolution. (See Tom Gores Forbes 176) Now I help encourage and assist others as I singly am raising the new generation in my son.
Knowing the hardships that befall those that certainly must be still heavy on your heart your success finds its way back to the Aquinos, Ayalas and Estradas and others that drive the lives and well being of your heritage. Thank You!....John W....