Why Do We Need Mompreneurs?

In honor of Mother’s Day (don’t forget—it’s on Sunday, May 12!) we would like to honor all of the diaper-changing, meeting-holding, snot-wiping, money-making, up-all-night moms out there who aren’t just great parents, but are great entrepreneurs as well.  The term “mompreneur” (mom + entrepreneur) is here to stay—and we should be thankful. 

According to an article in Inc. magazine back in January, mompreneurs represent a very talented and motivated workforce.  They represent buying power and they know how buying decisions are made.  Plus, many of them have MBAs or great professional experience, plus something that many other entrepreneurs lack—patience.

But there’s more to mompreneurs that meets the eye (believe it or not).  In fact, mompreneurs differ from regular entrepreneurs in a number of different ways.  For instance:

• Mompreneurs prefer to work from home so they can run the business and be with their kids at the same time
• Mompreneurs are willing to forgo large salaries in order to grow a part of the business that makes the most sense for them
• Mompreneurs have a lot of experience in organization and running businesses (after all—running a household is a lot like running a business...sometimes crazier)
• Mompreneurs are the ultimate multi-taskers, when many entrepreneurs may struggle to do more than one thing at the same time
• Mompreneurs specialize in “swapping hats”—one moment they will be CEO, the next they will be janitor

A mompreneur’s most important role in the startup world is perhaps inspiration.  We look up to mompreneurs the way we look at Wonder Woman—how does she do it all in one day?  How does she juggle everything?  How does she wear so many hats?  How is she not exhausted?  Those are questions that only mompreneurs can answer.  But if she can do it, maybe you can too.

We have recognized many amazing women and mompreneurs in some of our past blogs and articles and this Mother’s Day we thought it best to revisit a few of them.  Go ahead—take a read at some of our favorites and then don’t forget to run to the grocery store and grab Mom a bouquet of flowers (you know we wouldn’t let you forget)!

• Sept. 2010: How Silpada Designs Became a Sterling Company
• Sept. 2010: Recognizing & Celebrating Today’s Hard Working Business Women
• Aug. 2011: The Rise of the Mompreneur
• Sept. 2011: Mompreneurs Unite at the Treasure You Girlfriend’s Retreat
• Nov. 2012: Kansas City Mompreneur Changes The Way We Say “Thank You”
• April 2013: An Entrepreneur Chat with Kelly Pruneau, Women’s Capital Connection  

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Is Life Better in Kansas City for Everyone? What About Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses?

"LIFE'S BETTER IN KC."

KC Magazine's slogan, displayed above, is a bold one.  Is life truly better in Kansas City?  What makes Kansas City stand out in comparison to all the rest?

Although we can't take the time to compare every single city in the United States to Kansas City, we can vouch that Kansas City is an amazing place to be.  In fact, we have stated multiple times that we seem to be in the right place at the right time.  With new developments like Google Fiber, Zaarly and the Livestrong Sporting Park as well as old favorites like Garmin, Sprint, Helzberg and Hallmark, Kansas City is flourishing.  And quickly.

But is Kansas City great for everyone?  Sure, tech startups will soon benefit from Google Fiber.  Big businesses have a strong name in a vibrant city.  But what about small businesses?  And more specifically, minority- and women- owned businesses?  How are they faring in the Kansas City business climate?

It's no secret that minority- and women- owned businesses, like any other business, face challenges and opportunities every day.  But these challenges and opportunities are often very different compared to those faced by businesses owned by the majority. 

What are distinguished experts saying about these challenges and opportunities that women and minority business owners often face?  Find out at KC Business's Minority Business Forum on Thursday, November 10 from 7:00 to 9:00 AM at the American Jazz Museum. 

At the Minority Business Forum, panelists from the Kansas City community including Consuella McCain-Nunnally (Kansas City Chamber of Commerce), Sherri Nordgren (Bank of Kansas City), CiCi Rojas (Truman Medical Center) and Nancy Zurbuchen (Kansas City Council of Women Business Owners) will come together to discuss the challenges that these businesses face every day. 

If you're interested in attending this event, visit the event page and register ($25.00/ticket).

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

Mompreneurs Unite at the Treasure You Girlfriend's Retreat

It’s been stated notoriously that a dog is a man’s best friend. 

But what’s a woman’s best friend?

Is it her make-up, allowing her to feel beautiful, refreshed, sophisticated, and (sometimes) a little over-the-top?

Is it her clothes, filling her closet with colorful threads, knock-out shoes and sparkling dresses?
Or is it her beloved purse, holding her most prized possessions like her wallet, her pocket mirror and of course, a breath mint or two? 

Of course not.  In fact, a woman’s best friend is not a material item at all.  Instead, a woman’s best friend is her ability to be a woman; it’s her empowerment.

But how does a woman find this empowerment inside of her?  For some, it can be easily pulled out during “girl time”.  Pat Smith, founder of Treasure You, finds her girl-time from sipping cocktails with her best friends and attending luncheons with her girlfriends.  Girl time is a chance for women to treasure themselves as well as the women that have become a part of their everyday lives.

But what about the women that feel lonely, scared or frustrated and do not have a way to release their inner-woman and find their empowerment?  That’s where Treasure You comes in.

Treasure You is an organization that centers around building a community that supports, inspires and celebrates women in their journey to discover self-worth.  By leading with purpose, passion and power, Treasure You events allow those women who feel down and out revive their hearts, connect with other women spiritually and release their feminine prowess.

And a Treasure You event is right around the corner!  This weekend, Pat Smith, in accordance with Treasure You, is hosting the Treasure You Girlfriend's Retreat in Dallas, Texas.   

The event kicks off with a Taste of Mexico dinner party and private pajama party on Friday night.  On Saturday, attendees will enjoy a morning workout followed by valuable sessions and a message by Pat Smith herself during Burgers ‘n Banana Splits.  Saturday is rounded out by a Treasure You Luxury Experience where attendees will be pampered, shop, have fun and learn from smart and savvy women entrepreneurs.

We are looking forward to more Treasure You events so that women (and especially those hard-working mompreneurs) can treasure themselves and the amazing work that they do.

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

From Pitching to Pampering: “Treasure You” Teaches Women Purpose, Passion and Power

The mompreneur and the woman-in-business fads are far from over.  Women everywhere are changing the face of business by climbing the corporate ladder, starting new businesses, and developing the nation’s coolest new tech initiatives (all while sporting the season’s hottest heels).  Women are slowly taking over the business world through the creation of the mompreneur and the powerful woman business mogul.  Although this initiative comes from many different parts of the globe, Frisco, Texas is putting women empowerment on the map thanks to the will-power of Pat Smith; founder and owner of Pat Smith Enterprises and creative mind behind the Treasure You Girlfriend’s Retreat. 


Pat Smith of Treasure You.

On September 16-17 of 2011, Pat Smith (see above) is hosting the Treasure You Girlfriend’s Retreat at the Westin Stonebriar Resort in Frisco, Texas.  The event aims to leave its guests with a renewed sense of purpose, passion and power.  All Treasure You retreats are created so that women can reconnect with themselves and encourage their spirit through remembering their worth and treasuring themselves.  This takes place in a variety of different ways.

The event kicks off with a welcome reception, Mexican Fiesta dinner and private pajama party on Friday night.  On Saturday, attendees will enjoy a morning workout followed by valuable workshops and a motivational keynote speech by Pat Smith herself during Burgers ‘n Banana Splits.  Saturday is rounded out by a Treasure You Luxury Experience where attendees will be pampered, shop, have fun and learn from smart and savvy women entrepreneurs. 

Although one moment a woman may be pitching to a roomful of venture capitalists, the next she could be doing eight loads of laundry for her family.   It’s time to empower these women even further.  It’s time for them to find their purpose. It’s time for them to treasure themselves.

Although the Treasure You Girlfriend’s Retreat is completely sold out, more Treasure You events will take place in the future.  To learn more about Treasure You, Pat Smith and the many philanthropic and community events in the area, please visit www.treasureyou.org.   

Written by Allison Way

@AllisonThinkBig

"You'll Never Be Anything"

How these four words drove one woman to find courage and help others do the same.

The last words that Shelley Armato ever heard from her second husband before he left: "You'll never be anything."  It was at that moment that Shelley realized that it was time to make a name for herself.  She was something and it was time to show the world.  It was time to find courage.

Shelley slowly began to find courage through the work that she did.  She started in real estate.  After failing the realtor's test twice, she found her courage and took the test one final time.  She passed.  In her first year in the real estate industry, Shelly sold 43 houses and earned the Rookie of the Year award.  All because of courage.

Shelley showed even more courage when she became an entrepreneur and started her own software company with a 700 square foot garage, $15,000 and a dream.  Shelley helped to turn the software company, now called Marathon Digital Services, into a multi-million dollar business and helped to change the face of the construction industry. 

Shelley's life has revolved around her ability to be courageous.  As she likes to say, "Courage steps out and asks big.  Courage does not wait for permission.  Courage lives on for generations." 

Shelley wants to spread the importance of courage throughout Kansas City, throughout the nation, and throughout the world.  In order to do this, she started The Courage Coalition.  This 2-day conference and workshop is a movement for all women--mothers, daughters, grandmothers, aunts and sisters--who are making a choice to stand up for, believe in, and enrich not only themselves, but their society as well.  The Courage Coalition aims at empowering hundreds of women...especially those who have heard "you'll never be anything."

Need some inspiration?  Courage?  A shoulder to lean on?  Be sure to attend The Courage Coalition on June 16th and 17th at the Argosy Hotel & Spa in Kansas City, Missouri.  Tickets are on sale now for just $49.95. 

Written by Allison Way.
@AllisonThinkBig

Recognizing and Celebrating Today’s Hard-Working Business Women

Allison Way is a writer and videographer for Think Big Partners and bizperc, two of Kansas City's newest entrepreneurial resources. 

Many of you women in business, working mothers, and mompreneurs may not know that every year, September 22nd is dedicated to you. Today is American Business Women’s Day, a day to recognize all powerful and hard-working women in the business community.

The date of Business Women’s Day originates from the founding of The American Business Women’s Association on September 22, 1949. Interestingly enough, the association was developed by Hilary A. Bufton Jr. and three Kansas City business women. The four women founded the ABWA and later, celebrated Business Women’s Day in 1982. The mission of the ABWA is “to bring together business women of diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support, and national recognition.” This proves the strength of Kansas City business and the caliber of people that develop small businesses in this extraordinary city.

The roots of this special day trace all the way back to the late 1940s when men were off fighting in WWII and women had to fill the void in the workforce. When soldiers returned after the war, many women were not anxious to return to traditional roles in the home. Since this time, women’s role and contribution in the workforce have grown and evolved. Women’s business has truly grown since 1949, when the day was first recognized. In 2009, there were precisely 6,489,259 women who owned a small business, and the numbers continue to grow.

Today’s business women are extremely inspirational. They always rise up, even when the odds are against them. Think Big Partners would like to recognize six individuals who have revolutionized American women in business:

Meg Whitman:  Chief Executive Officer and President of eBay
Meg Whitman is the definition of a successful business woman. Before becoming the head of eBay (a career that she underwent from 1998-2008), Whitman served as an executive in numerous international companies including The Walt Disney Company, DreamWorks, Procter & Gamble, and Hasbro. Whitman transformed eBay from a $4 million company to an $8 billion company in a matter of ten years. She also played a large role in the development in PayPal and Skype. Whitman’s hard work and dedication to business earns her a top spot as an American business woman.

Kate Spade:  Co-founder of designer brand, Kate Spade New York
Kate Spade is a Kansas City native. She was born in the city and attended St. Teresa’s Academy and the University of Kansas before hitting it big in New York. In 1996, she opened her first NYC shop, and two years later, her brand boomed. Kate Spade stores can now be found in Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Greenwich, Connecticut, Atlanta, Dallas, and many more. The Kate Spade brand had sales of $125 million in 2004, and helped Spade earn America’s New Fashion Talent in Accessories and Best Accessory Designer of the Year.

Oprah Winfrey:  American television host and producer
Oprah is well-known for her bootstrapping—she truly pulled herself up by her bootstraps in order to become a success. Oprah led an impoverished childhood in rural Mississippi. She climbed her way up to the top by working in radio, television, and even hosted a small Chicago talk show. Oprah revolutionized the tabloid talk show and reinvented her own show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, with a focus on literature, self-improvement and spirituality. She has been ranked the richest African American on the 20th century and the world’s only black billionaire.

Bonnie Kelly & Teresa Walsh:  Co-founders of Silpada Designs
Silpada Designs co-founders Bonnie Kelly and Teresa Walsh (natives of the Kansas City area) developed their own direct-selling jewelry line after scrounging up $25 each from grocery funds and pursuing careers in sterling silver. After hosting jewelry parties at friends’ homes, acquaintances of Kelly and Walsh were interested in selling the sterling jewelry themselves. So, in 1997, Silpada Designs was born. Silpada was recently bought by Avon Products for $650 million.

Beyoncé Knowles:  American Pop/R&B singer-songwriter, actress, and fashion designer
Known quite simply as Beyoncé, this singer-songwriter, actress and fashion designer is multi-talented, and an extremely successful woman in business. With two fashion lines (House of Dereon and Sasha Fierce), endorsements with Pepsi, L’Oreal, Tommy Hilfiger, and numerous philanthropy ventures, Beyoncé has transformed herself from a Grammy-Award winning artist to a big-time business woman. Not to mention, she was included in Time's “100 Most Influential People in the World” list this year.

So today, Think Big Partners would like to recognize all businesswomen of the world. Thank you for strengthening today’s business community through your hard work and unique perspectives. The world would not be the same without people like you!