From matchmaking to mentoring: two businesswomen decided to join forces to help other female entrepreneurs in developing their own businesses
Caroline Brealy (left) never thought of herself as an entrepreneur. She was working in the volunteering sector, helping children with complex needs and their families when she decided to invest in her own business, a matchmaking service called Mutual Attraction.
Charly Lester (right) was a Dating editor for the likes of the Guardian and Time Out magazine. She had an established name as a blogger and advisor at Regents University and TV Show 'The Apprentice' and founded the Dating Awards, an international set of industry awards for online and offline dating companies.
Together, the entrepreneurs created A League of Her Own, a professional network designed to help women start, develop and grow their businesses. The membership site aims to provide mentorship and to build a community of female aspiring female entrepreneurs in order to help each other to overcome the obstacles
“We wanted to create a space where women new to business with just an idea, or those with experience but looking to grow, could connect with one another, share advice, learn from each other and work together. We wanted to create videos that inspired but also got down to the nitty gritty and explained not just what to do….but how to do it, and we also wanted to give back, help others starting out and inspire more women into business, no matter the sector,”explains Brealy.
How does it work?
Members of The League have access to monthly business modules, ranging from basics to branding and social media, and other materials, such as interviews and Q&A sessions with experts. One of the highlights of the network is the Business Tip Videos section, where the members can watch and send their own clips on business expertise.
“We wanted to get female entrepreneurs involved themselves. There are so many women out there who have knowledge to share and we wanted to give them a platform to do this. We also wanted to allow them to pitch their own businesses. One of the hardest things starting out is finding the right people to work with and we hope this will help connect people," says Brealy.
For Caroline, the key issue for women in business at the moment is getting funding investment for their companies. Another issue is dealing with the inevitable gender biases that still persist in a male-dominated industry.
“Charly and I have both come across men talking to us like we don’t know what we’re doing, or talking to us in a tone which we know they wouldn’t to another man. It’s frustrating, but it’s down to us women to challenge it and not accept it," concludes Caroline.
Tips for aspiring female entrepreneurs, by A League of Her Own
It won’t happen overnight. It can appear that businesses just crop up over night and are an instant hit. The reality is, people have probably been working behind the scenes on that business for months and maybe years! Be prepared to put time and effort into your business and you’ll be amazed at the results….but don’t expect to be drawing a pay check from day 1.
You can be successful without running a large global company. Successful businesses come in all shapes and sizes, there are no rules. For us, a successful business is not just one with high profits, but also one which brings you joy to run.
Remember that everything can be changed. We put so much pressure on ourselves to have everything perfect from day 1 – the best website, unique branding, the perfect services and products. Remembering that everything can be tweaked and changed will stop you becoming too perfectionist!
Surround yourself with great people. The energy, inspiration and accountability you get from mixing with people who are doing amazing things in business can have a profound effect on you personally, and also push you to succeed and take yourself out your comfort zone.
Outsource and get support. Even the very best businesswomen recognise they can’t do everything (even if they want to!). Outsourcing to experts will save you time, sanity and you’ll get the job done professionally. If budget is a constraint, and let’s face it, it usually is for start-ups, then pick your weakest or most important areas to outsource and learn how to do the tasks yourself. At The League we aim to give female entrepreneurs this knowledge. It’s amazing how you soon become a ‘woman of all trades’ as a female founder!
For more information, visit A League of Her Own's website