By Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, CEO & President of The Center by Lendistry
Being raised in a household run by two matriarchs, strong women have inspired me from a young age. My experience growing up in South Los Angeles has fueled my life-long commitment to economic empowerment and creating opportunities for my community, including women small business owners.
October is National Women’s Small Business Month, and I was proud to participate on a panel celebrating the contributions of “Lady Bosses,” as I admiringly refer to women entrepreneurs. During this conversation hosted by California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity (CAMEO) with support from Union Bank, two women entrepreneurs shared their compelling entrepreneurial journey, their passion for their business, and the challenges they have faced.
Marlene Garcia, founder of Brew-N-Krew Ale House, and Diana Diaz, founder of Mexichic Crafts, have overcome self-doubt, gained confidence from making mistakes, and taken chances by building a network of other women entrepreneurs who selflessly offer support and information.
According to a California Statewide report, women entrepreneurs not only face systemic inequities and barriers like limited access to critical resources and disproportionate caregiving burdens, but COVID-19 permanently closed women-owned businesses at a higher rate than men-owned businesses. Although female founders receive just 2% of all venture capital funding, they deliver twice more revenue per dollar invested as men.
Diana and Marlene’s stories are like many others – of breaking barriers and stepping into industries that have historically been deemed for men – illustrating the critical need to invest in women business owners through mentorship, access to funding, and technical assistance.
The Center By Lendistry is a capacity-building organization for small businesses, a technical assistance provider, and a partner with local jurisdictions looking to support diverse-owned businesses. We proudly provide access to capital and other resources for businesses located in low-to-moderate income areas, and diverse businesses including women, LGBTQ, and disabled and veteran-owned businesses.
During National Women’s Small Business Month – and year-round – let’s honor Lady Bosses by providing mentorship, access to resources, and telling their stories to inspire the next generation of women entrepreneurs who are redefining what it means to work and start a business.
Check out the recording from this inspirational panel here!