As business leaders, we talk a lot about investments. We use funds wisely to increase our portfolios, build long-term wealth, and pursue educational opportunities to expand our knowledge and long-term strategies for growth and development. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we can commit to another perhaps more critical kind of investment – investing in women. Investing in women has been my life’s passion, which is why on International Women’s Day in 2023, I launched an asset-based lending firm dedicated to financing women-owned and led businesses, JPalmer Collective.
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My goal has been to provide opportunities for women owners and founders and mentor those just starting their careers. We must do the work, make the time, and commit to investing in women. With that in mind, here are five ways we can commit to investing in women this International Women’s Day.
Mentorship Matters
It’s time for more women to lend a hand to help others get back into their industry after a career break, start a business, grow their career, or manage challenges. When someone asks to meet with you, make the time. When someone struggles to figure out how to advance their career, offer advice and share words of wisdom.
You likely have firsthand experience with challenges that a woman earlier in her career is dealing with now. Your insights are invaluable, and you can help her navigate those challenges more effectively while also showing empathy. Mentors can help inspire female leaders with real-world experience and provide a safe environment to discuss areas for improvement without fear of judgment.
Connections Carry Us Forward
Connect with other women at meetings, over coffee, at conferences, or anywhere else you happen to strike up a conversation. Be generous with your contact lists and consider ways to unite people who might support each other. Create a space for colleagues to exchange expertise, mentorship, and resources to strengthen your collective knowledge.
Champion Others
Investing in women means celebrating others’ success, and uplifting our fellow women whenever possible. Elevate women by acknowledging and promoting their accomplishments. Give them visibility in meetings and on social media. Link to their websites and champion their milestones. When we take time to shine a light on a single woman, we help lift all women.
Reinvest in Relationships
Don’t wait for someone to ask you for help — reach out to contacts who you haven’t heard from in awhile and ask how they’re doing or how you can help them. Perhaps they are starting a business, or you may see on LinkedIn that they have been laid off or are seeking new opportunities. Offer to make an introduction, help them brainstorm or simply provide advice over coffee. The key is ensuring you’re always investing in your relationships and offering support to those in your network. Not only is it the right thing to do, it also keeps your network strong, and can inspire others to do the same.
Fund Women
We can also literally invest in women by using our dollars. In honor of International Women’s Day (or a special woman in your life!) consider setting aside funds to fuel the growth of worthy women’s organizations. From investing in funds that support women to funding scholarships and non-profits, we have the power to invoke change with our wallets.
This International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to reflect on the gains women have achieved and the divides that still exist. As women leaders, we must be the change we want to see in the lives of other women.
In a world where women-owned companies struggle to garner financing, we should aim to bridge that divide. Investing in one another is a dividend that will pay off for generations. Yes, it takes commitment, it takes time, and it takes passion. But we owe it to one another to lift each other and make the best investment in our careers by investing in one another.
So, on this International Women’s Day, I encourage you to post a message of support for women. Tag a female friend or a colleague on LinkedIn and ask her to pass it on — let’s create a viral wave of women supporting women with the hashtag #InvestInWomen.
READ MORE:
- 5 Proven Steps For Aspiring Female Entrepreneurs
- When Women-Owned Businesses Need To Achieve Equal Access To Capital
- 10 Ways To Support Black Female Entrepreneurs Right Now
