This March, Entrepreneur was proud to celebrate Women's History Month by spotlighting incredible business leaders and the companies they lead, as well as the young women who helped pave the way.
During our Real Talk With Inspiring Entrepreneurs session at Twitter Spaces, we were joined by an incredible panel of women business leaders who shared their experiences in their industries and their advice for those aspiring to follow their dreams. Below are some of the highlights from that session that will hopefully inspire current and future entrepreneurs to continue moving the needle for women in business.
Related: See the latest news, trends and advice for women business leaders
Swan Sit
The host of our Twitter Spaces event, Swan Sithas been dubbed the “Queen of the Clubhouse” and is a sought-after Web3 consultant and expert. Swan is a creative and digital strategist known for her foresight and innovation, helping companies at the intersection of corporate economics and consumer focus. Her passion for helping founders and ability to spot the next big thing was on full display as an investor on our TV show The Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch. During the session, she encouraged attendees to create the life they've always dreamed of, stressing that there is no single path to success.
Best Takeaway: “The reason I like to join Entrepreneur Magazine it's our shared love of founders' journeys, mission to democratize information and opportunity, and belief in the impossible. It was so inspiring to chat with these incredible women! The irony is — I'm not a born entrepreneur. I only found it later in life after I had accumulated enough experience and confidence to go out on my own. There is no right way to be an entrepreneur. It can be partial, later in life, or even within a corporation. I found my path by constantly being curious, challenging the status quo, and driving incremental change. Eventually, I tried hard enough that I had to step outside of corporate life at Nike and Esteé Lauder to create my own world!”
Dr. Diandra Renée
With a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Science, a law degree and a DEI certificate in HR from Cornell University, Dr. Diandra Renée it is a force of intelligence and advocacy. Her work spans industries, advocating for racial equality and transforming lives through her nonprofit initiatives and podcast.
Best Takeaway: “My biggest advice to anyone who wants to be an entrepreneur is: do it! If you believe you are called to do this work, we need you to dream big and make it happen! I would also add:
- Know your why and when times get tougher than expected or when people try to talk you out of you daydream – remember your why and let it anchor you.
- Bend over to yours fear and take the next step. If you are called to walk your own path and go places where people don't often go, then you understand that sometimes fear can arise. Fear is normal and is a signal to pay more attention. So lean into the fear and take the next step. The journey is one step at a time. Lean into it by applying pressure (deliberate force).
- You are supposed to be the only one you in the room while you are there. But it is your authenticity that will transform the space so that it is better when people come after you.
- Finally, I would say love what you do and do what you love. Love conquers all. So when the journey becomes challenging, success will be inevitable because you are doing it from a place of strength that cannot be defeated and plus you are anchored in your reason.”
Rabeea Choudhary
Co-owner of Namkeena vibrant Pakistani-American restaurant with locations in New York and New Jersey, is a driving force behind the restaurant's communications and PR strategies. Rabeea Choudhary's journey into the hospitality industry began with a passion for storytelling and a vision to bridge cultural divides through the universal language of food.
Best Takeaway: “It was an honor to be surrounded by such talented and successful colleague. It's really empowering to see the journeys other women have gone through to get to where they are today. It serves as a reminder to myself and the audience to constantly uplift and empower the women around us. My advice to anyone who wants to follow this journey is to believe in yourself and embrace failure. This journey is far from perfect and requires a lot of dedication and perseverance. Understand that failure is a natural part of the entrepreneurial journey. Don't be discouraged by obstacles, see them as opportunities for growth and learning. Adapt and pivot if necessary and keep moving forward.”
Bianca Maieli
A DJ/producer from Los Angeles, Bianca Maieli draws inspiration from the diverse sounds of the city and her mixed Colombian South Indian and Caribbean roots. She is also a co-founder of Not Nazara creative collective making waves in the global underground music scene, breaking barriers and pushing boundaries.
Best Takeaway: “It was great to connect with so many other women making moves in different industries. I was inspired by each of their stories and experiences. For anyone who wants to follow in my footsteps, I'd just say just give it a go first step!Starting is often the hardest part, but once you start, the momentum will follow and you'll learn a lot along the way, I know it sounds cliché, but I truly believe the journey is the destination.
Carolyn Aronson
As founder and CEO of It is a 10 hair careone of the only female-owned professional hair care brands worldwide, Carolyn exemplifies entrepreneurship and determination. Her recent ventures include Be A 10 Cosmetics and Rewind It 10, demonstrating her commitment to innovation and empowerment in the beauty industry.
Best Takeaway: “Be prepared to wear many hats and don't let threats get you down. Once you start your company, you'll get a crash course in learning and understanding things you didn't know would apply to your position. Every day , you have to be on a mission to learn and get better – even in categories you're not used to, for example, I learned that even if you're a CEO and you've never done finance, you'll FIND you should look at the balance sheet and tax return and work to identify any errors that may have been missed by your accountant.
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