If you like mysteries, try your hand at solving this one: Why are the vast majority of the most successful local entrepreneurial companies owned and run by men, not women?
Take IBJ’s list of fastest-growing companies, for example. We’re collecting information for the list that will appear in June, but here’s a breakdown from last year’s list of the top 25 companies: Only six of the 45 individuals who were owners were women. Ironically, the top two companies, CSCI Consulting and Phoenix Data Corp., were owned by women—Michele Meyer and Carol Curran, respectively.
Then think beyond the fastest-growing to wildly successful startups like Aprimo, Angel Learning and Suros Surgical Systems. All sold for tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars. Can you name a local company in that league owned or even piloted by a woman?
The point of the question isn’t to somehow suggest women aren’t capable, but rather to look for reasons behind the chasm.
Is Indianapolis a men’s club? Are women funneling their energies into other goals? Something else?
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There are a ton of articles written with data to support that women donâ??t self promote Corporate American which would translate to why they donâ??t promoted the growth of their companies. I think the question should state, how can we help promote successful women business owners?
Those women are out there but they are not submitting their information to be on the IBJ Fastest Growing Businesses lists. I know that for a FACT!
Jennifer Holmeâ??s point about women not promoting themselves or actively seeking recognition might be somewhat true for FlashPoint. Beyond project deliverables, we spend a lot of time creating extra value for our clients. Client relations have always been our top priority. For us, itâ??s less about differentiating ourselves from male entrepreneurs or focusing on the fact that our business was started by women. Itâ??s more about being relevant to our clients and helping them achieve their business goals. Through that process, weâ??re achieving ours.
In the last four months, FlashPoint has added three full-time consultants to handle our growing workload and a business development associate to further grow our client base, bringing our staff total to 16. We are soft launching a new suite of services called Clearly HR. These are streamlined services with a lower, fixed cost for small businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities. Clearly HR complements our fully customized work and was developed to fill a need that we continuously found unmet in the market.
Not only are Skidmore and Cranfill business leaders but they are community leaders serving on boards such as the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Arts Council of Indianapolis, Humane Society of Indianapolis, and Indiana Humanities.
Their talent is well-rounded, deep-seeded, and fully accessible. So, hereâ??s FlashPoint! Weâ??re crushing our sales goals, exceeding our client expectations, and having fun all the while. Now donâ??t get me wrong, we like awards and attention, and weâ??re working to earn some of that too.
Sarah Evans Barker
Mary Bolk
Angela M. Brown
Alecia A. DeCoudreaux
Christel DeHaan
Nancy Shepherd Fitzgerald
Eva Mozes Kor
Jeanette Lee
Sylvia McNair
Patricia R. Miller
Nancy Noël
Mercy Okanemeh Obeime
Jane Blaffer Owen
Ora Hirsch Pescovitz
Ernestine Raclin
Sharon Rivenbark
Sandy Eisenberg Sasso
Becky Skillman
Carolyn Y. Woo
If you look at this list is that each of these women are leaders in their field and approached their particular field with excellence and an entrepreneurial approach. They are just not in "fastest growing companies" necessarily because their efforts go beyond revenue.
I also find it interesting how we define successful entrepreneurs. Per the article above it is defined as individuals who have sold their companies for a large profit. I don't disagree with that measuring stick, however I think there are more qualities that contribute to a successful entrepreneurial venture, like providing an environment for meaningful employment, a venture that supports growth for its staff, happy clients and profitable, sustainable growth.
I will go ahead and add another name to be recognized as a successful local woman entrepreneur. Kelli McLemore, an owner and the woman who leads all business development activity for The Basement Design + Motion. Interesting that she is a primary growth driver for this young organization which has both feet firmly planted in the creative space and the technical space. The organization has experienced significant growth, drives revenue into the State and is not afraid to push the creative and technical boundaries on behalf of its clients.
Why is she not plastered in our local press repeatedly? Growing the business takes time, focus and genuine interest in our client relationships and staff accomplishments. That leaves a little less time for chasing press as both Sharon and Susan eluded to above. In full disclosure, I am one of Kelli's business partners and have the had the pleasure of witnessing her succeed first hand.
You may want to read my comment a little closer. Here is a direct quote so you can review once again. For your convenience I will provide the ENTIRE paragraph here, "I also find it interesting how we define successful entrepreneurs. Per the article above it is defined as individuals who have sold their companies for a large profit. I don't disagree with that measuring stick, however I think there are more qualities that contribute to a successful entrepreneurial venture, like providing an environment for meaningful employment, a venture that supports growth for its staff, happy clients and profitable, sustainable growth."
I would also caution you to suggest that relationships and profits are mutually exclusive. It is possible to achieve both. If you don't believe me I suggest you ask some of the successful individuals noted in the comments that follow this article.