Foundation Building

I'm sometimes reluctant to call my self the CEO but I never hesitate to acknowledge what I've founded.

The Kauffman Foundation’s Trends in Entrepreneurship series, Who is the Entrepreneur? spotlights new entrepreneurs and shows that in 2021 women started 39.9% of businesses, compared to 60% created by men. The percentage of women-owned startups has been relatively consistent since 1996, ranging between a high of 46.4% in 1998 and a low of 36.3% in 2007.

Everyone can't call themselves a founder and be recognized for their efforts. So let's start with a general definition of what a founder actually is.

A founder is a business professional who starts a company. Founders take an idea and use their own skills and knowledge to build a business from nothing. They assume all risks associated with the venture and often use their own capital to establish the company.

With that being said, I would like to share some valuable lessons learned on my journey to becoming a founder. Self-discovery is a really cool discipline to build, but first you will break while undergoing the process.

These lessons include the importance of being resilient, having a clear purpose, being adaptable, building a strong social support system in the absence of a team, and staying true to your values.

I’m emphasizing the need to embrace failure and to continuously learn and grow as a founder. You need to make sure you really want the work that comes with the title.