The world of business is changing. Over the past few decades, we’ve seen a remarkable shift in entrepreneurship — more women are stepping forward, launching innovative businesses, and rewriting the rules. Yet, despite this progress, female founders still represent only a fraction of the entrepreneurial landscape. According to recent studies, only 20% of UK businesses are led by women — and when it comes to venture capital funding, women receive less than 2% of all VC investment worldwide. These numbers aren’t just statistics; they tell a story about opportunity, visibility, and the uphill climb that many women face when pursuing their dreams.
And yet, every time I meet a female founder, I see grit, determination, and creativity that is nothing short of inspiring. Having worked with over 1,000 small businesses, I’ve seen firsthand how transformative entrepreneurship can be — not only for the founder but for the community they build around them.
Women often start businesses because they want to solve real-world problems — challenges they’ve personally experienced. Whether it’s designing a product that makes daily life easier, creating a sustainable alternative to something we all use, or building a wellness brand to improve health, these businesses are born from empathy and passion.
As Oprah Winfrey once said: “Follow your passion — it will lead you to your purpose.” I believe this is especially true for women. So many female entrepreneurs are driven not just by profit but by purpose — and that combination creates companies with soul. Despite this creativity and tenacity, women still face significant barriers to funding. Research shows that women-led businesses are often underfunded compared to their male counterparts, not because they are less viable, but because unconscious bias still plays a role in the world of investment.
Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, once shared: “The smartest thing I ever did was to hire my weaknesses.” Her journey — from selling fax machines door-to-door to becoming the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire — is a perfect example of what happens when a woman with a great idea is given the resources and belief to grow. But how many women never get that chance because they can’t access funding?
I’ve been incredibly lucky to work with so many inspiring small businesses — more than 1,000 — and to have built platforms like Eat Nourish Love, which give a voice to talented founders. Through my podcast, I’ve had conversations with extraordinary women who have shared their journeys, their struggles, and the lessons they’ve learned. What always stands out is how collaboration and connection fuel success. There’s something magical about working together, sharing ideas, and supporting one another. Entrepreneurship can be lonely, but when women come together, there’s a strength and solidarity that is unstoppable.
Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and founder of Lean In, said:
“We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, and make sure women’s voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored.”
Through my own experiences and the businesses, I’ve supported, I’ve learned that success isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about having the courage to start, the resilience to keep going, and the humility to learn along the way.
Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder of Bumble, put it perfectly: “The future of business is about being mission-driven and customer-obsessed — and that’s where women thrive.”
I’ve seen this first-hand in so many conversations with founders who are leading with values, vision, and heart. It’s why I feel so passionate about championing female entrepreneurship — because every woman who succeeds paves the way for someone else.
Let’s be honest — building a business is tough, no matter who you are. It requires sleepless nights, relentless belief, and more hard work than you can imagine. For women, the challenge often comes with added layers — balancing family, societal expectations, and sometimes, the feeling of needing to prove themselves twice over.
But as Arianna Huffington says: “Fearlessness is not the absence of fear. It’s the mastery of fear. It’s about getting up one more time than we fall down.”
That’s what entrepreneurship is all about. And for every female founder who perseveres, we all benefit — because diverse voices and perspectives lead to better products, stronger businesses, and healthier economies.
I’ve spent years working with entrepreneurs, supporting start-ups, and building events and platforms that celebrate their work. Through my Eat Nourish Love events and podcast, I’ve seen the brilliance that occurs when people come together with shared values and a common vision. Women supporting women isn’t just a nice idea — it’s essential.
“I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.” – Estée Lauder
Supporting female founders is about more than just cheering them on. It’s about creating a world where every founder — male or female — has a fair shot at building something extraordinary.
The truth is, we rise by lifting others. Whether it’s buying from a small female-founded business, mentoring a new entrepreneur, or simply sharing their story, we all have a role to play in building a stronger future. And I can honestly say, after working with so many founders, I have learned as much from them and that has been so valuable.