Aviatra Accelerators President & CEO Nancy Aichholz recently told Business @Breakfast attendees that everyone shares responsibility in shaping the future for women in business.
She pointed out several disparities between women and men in business. Specifically, she said women have difficulty raising capital and earn far less than male counterparts. Aichholz said her own specialty cake business struggled to get financing from a bank.
More than 70 percent of SBA lending is provided to Caucasian males. The situation is even more concerning when it comes to venture capital, Aichholz said.
In the U.S., women own almost half of the small businesses but learn less than 10 percent of the revenue.
Aichholz also provided promising strategies for women to incorporate into their careers and homes. Her advice to women included:
- Be the CEO of your home, first.
- Learn the art of delegation.
- Abandon the scarcity mindset; there is plenty of opportunity to go around.
- Keep your standards high.
- View men as partners, not an enemy.
- Define yourself, or be defined.
- Don’t let the things that are important to you slip off your schedule.
- Keep the door open for women who may follow your footsteps.
The Chamber’s Business @Breakfast series connects members and guests with local thought leaders and provides hands-on practical solutions for your business or organization. The sessions are are offered the fourth Tuesday of each month at 8 a.m. The schedule is posted on the Chamber calendar.
Nancy Aichholz is an accomplished Senior Executive, Entrepreneur, Advisor, and Board Member with more than 30 years of success across the professional training and development,food production, and government administrationindustries. Nancy is President and CEO of Aviatra Accelerators, a non-profit where she invests time, talent, and treasures in female-owned start-up businesses from idea to launch to exit. Nancy also serves as Finance Chair for Hamilton County GOP. Her professional journey has included roles ranging from Director of Marketing at Chiquita to launching her own food start-up, NanBrands. Nancy earned an executive MBA in marketing and management and a bachelor’s degree in international business and marketing, global politics and Spanish.