“I’ve been an entrepreneur since I was 24 years old. I had no idea that an organization like NAWBO existed. I was doing it alone. I would have appreciated the opportunity to ask likeminded women business owners, ‘How do I best balance my working time while tending to a brand-new baby?’ ‘What is the best procedure to add a new employee?’ ’How do I set up payroll?’ ‘How do I figure out what’s next?’ When you join a group like NAWBO, you’ll find a group of women who have either been there before or are right there alongside you. It’s just so impactful; it really makes a huge difference.” NAWBO mentors can help new business owners with several basic business principles. They call it the “4 C’s.” Capital: NAWBO helps educate members on avenues to access the necessary funds to make their businesses successful. Confidence: When women business owners get involved in a local chapter and participate, it helps build confidence, their personal brand andvisibility,whichareall critical toasuccessful business. Community: NAWBO excels at doing things together so that no one feels like they are on an island with just their business. Congress: As a group of women business owners, NAWBO’s voice is stronger, with political leaders eliciting positive change. Their collective voice ensures that lawmakers address business owner concerns. NAWBO also conducts leadership training events. The organization held its most recent leadership boot camp experience in Tempe, Arizona, at the end of January. They followed all COVID guidelines with on-site testing, mask requirement, and social distancing. “We had several discussions about whether or not to hold a live training session, but in the end, felt it was very important for us to get back to a live meeting.” The organization will meet in the nation’s capital in June for their Annual Advocacy Days, and a national conference has been planned for the Fall of 2022 in Louisville. Hopefully, it will also be able to be held live rather than virtual.
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