“Be a leader.” That’s what my mom said to me everyday before school, and since then it’s been ingrained into my brain that I can do anything. Opportunities for women in business nowadays are so plentiful, compared to thirty years ago, when women couldn’t even have their own business credit cards or loans. This never really crossed my mind, because I was born in 1998, and have grown up believing my possibilities were endless. The reason women have so many opportunities today is due to the leaders that blazed new trails for young people like me.
Recently, I attended the National Women’s Business Council’s 30th Anniversary Celebration of HR 5050. The speakers had incredible experience leading large groups of people to success and shared amazing stories. It was these women, the unconventional women who thought outside the box, and embraced their strengths that changed history. Linda McMahon, former CEO of WWE Wrestling and administrator to the Small Business Administration said something that really struck me, which is that in order to be successful, “you have to know what people want and how they want it.” In order to figure out what you can do for others, you first have to find what makes you unique.
I’ve noticed that as women, we are constantly trying to please people. However, I think it is extremely important to figure out what you want as a person and what you want for your business before you market yourself to anyone else. In my opinion, the most important thing you can do is to know your brand before going forward, in order to keep your original mission at the forefront of your mind. Mission-driven work is powerful work.
In 1988, thirty years ago, President Reagan signed HR 5050 into law. HR 5050 is something I didn’t realize existed until this year. As it turns out, this law is detrimental to the success of women in business. HR 5050 made it so men didn’t need to cosign for a woman’s loans or mortgage, established the Women’s Business Center, Established the National Women’s Business Council, helped provide financial assistance to more woman-owned small businesses, and much more. Learning more about how these rights came to be inspired me to not only work harder, but to acknowledge the past, using it as a motivator to do meaningful work.
Though I am not planning on going into the field of business, I am always intrigued to find out how women got their start and how unexpected seasons of life made them who they are. It’s empowering to be surrounded by women from all walks of life who are united by a common goal. We are a support system for each other, and this event helped me remember that even though life is tough, we are never alone, and there’s always someone that can help you on your journey.
Jordan Tolbert is our Hera Hub DC intern for the 2018 fall semester. She is a broadcasting and political science major studying at American University from Gonzaga University. She is a San Diego native who loves the beach, running, and yoga. Jordan loves Hera Hub and their mission because she loves when empowered women empower other women. Visit her website here to learn more about her work and aspirations.