The Rise of Women Entrepreneurs: People, Processes, and Global Trends

(Hardback)

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Examines the worldwide growth of women-owned businesses, who the entrepreneurs are and what motivates them, their successes and how they were achieved, with lists of sources for assistance and a model business plan to help in your search for funding. Nearly 40 percent of all U.S. businesses are women-owned, and by 2025 the Census Bureau projects it will rise to 55 percent. The trend is new, dating back just to the 1980s, but its impact is already felt. Not only are women achieving empowerment and bettering their lives in many different ways, but the beneficial affect on the economic well-being of the entire country is also clear. Coughlin examines the fundamental problems that face women entrepreneurs globally; identifies, documents, and explains how they cope with and solve them; profiles the more successful entrepreneurs today and explains how they got where they are; and delineates the traits of a successful entrepreneur. (There is also a metric that funders can use to evaluate how their entrepreneur clients are doing, useful for entrepreneurs too as a way of benchmarking their own progress.) Research based, well written, with a useful list of organizations that offer help to owners and prospective owners of new businesses, plus real life accounts that get to the heart of what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur, Coughlin's book is welcome, necessary reading for anyone fascinated by business--and eager to create a business of one's own. Coughlin's book is divided into three sections. In the first, she documents the phenomenal growth of women-owned business, and the affects that globalization is having on them. She discusses the age-old problem of female equality, and puts the growth of their businesses into the context of women's empowerment. Section two focuses on the entrepreneurs themselves. Coughlin tells what we know about them, who they are, the kinds of businesses they start, and then categorizes and explains their motivations, economic as well as social. In Section Three she describes the process of business formation, the challenges women face, and the solutions to problems, often extreme, they have found. Included here are sections on evaluating organizations that offer help, and a new viewpoint on how the efficacy of help can and should be measured. A comprehensive resource guide for anyone interested in learning more about female entrepreneurs, and a sample business plan to use in seeking financial aid, are included in an appendix.

Reviews

"A must read for those trying to understand the motivations and profile of the female entrepreneur. The book explores the topic globally, and offers a glimpse into the similarities and differences of women entrepreneurs worldwide. An excellent reference tool for anyone who markets to or supports women entrepreneurs."-Bill Bonnstetter, President TTI Performance Systems, Scottsdale, Arizona
"As president of a company founded by a woman, I highly recommend this book for the insight it provides into the phenomenal growth of women business owners. Small business provides the backbone for our nation's economy. Much of the growth in small business over the last ten years has been from small women-owned firms, who generate over $3.6 trillion in annual sales. That statistic alone indicates the importance of this subject and the timeliness of this book."-Robert C. Smith, former Chairman of the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE), and President, Spero-Smith Investment Advisers, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio
"The Rise of Women Entrepreneurs identifies the trend of phenomenal growth in women-led businesses. Fostering the success of women business owners strengthens the economy and provides a source of political, economic, and social innovation. This book is an excellent resource, which provides direction and focus to organizations and businesses that support or market to women business owners."-Sandra Hernandez Adams President, National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) President, Strategic Micro Partners, Miami, Florida
"You need to be one to know one, to translate trigger points into a winning action plan. Jeanne Coughlin is not only a successful entrepreneur, but in this book, she provides a well-structured roadmap for success. Don't let the word 'woman' in the title dissuade the male entrepreneur from reading and learning. I could have used this book in 1988 when I started OfficeMax with one store, which has grown into a chain of 1,000. This is an informative read that will remain on one's desk for constant reference."-Michael Feuer, Chairman, CEO and Co-founder, OfficeMax, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio
.,."provides a well-researched and effective examination of the fundamental issues facing female entrepreneurship from a global perspective as well as a survey of the major areas of study concerning women business owners today....Recommended. Lower-division undergraduate through professional collections."-Choice
...provides a well-researched and effective examination of the fundamental issues facing female entrepreneurship from a global perspective as well as a survey of the major areas of study concerning women business owners today....Recommended. Lower-division undergraduate through professional collections.-Choice
..."provides a well-researched and effective examination of the fundamental issues facing female entrepreneurship from a global perspective as well as a survey of the major areas of study concerning women business owners today....Recommended. Lower-division undergraduate through professional collections."-Choice

Author Bio

Jeanne Halladay Coughlin is president of the Coughlin Group Inc., a Cleveland-based company that provides Internet-based performance improvement assessments, as well as training and consulting to companies throughout the United States.