I love Women’s History Month. Throughout time, women have fallen into business ownership largely by necessity – maybe their father or husband was sick and passed away, or they were forced to raise their siblings or children alone.
Some, however, rose to the highest levels of badassery because…wait for it…they wanted to.
Take Bridget “Biddy” Mason. Born in 1818 as a slave in Mississippi, Biddy sued for her freedom in the 1850s. Ten years later, Biddy purchased commercial property in Los Angeles and turned her original $250 investment into a small real estate empire.
And throughout history, women have made significant philanthropic contributions. Biddy herself built the first African American church in Los Angeles and provided food and shelter for homeless people.
Jane Addams earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 1931 for her philanthropy and social activism. Elizabeth Hobbes Keckley, born into slavery, became the personal designer for Mary Todd Lincoln and founded an organization that raised money and provided food and clothing for Black people and Union soldiers.
As a 100% women-owned small business, I want to walk in the footsteps of these amazing women. At the very heart of IPSM, we help people grow their businesses, and we’re very good at it. At the same time, we celebrate those businesses and organizations that help others and make northern Nevada a better place. Check out our nonprofit odyssey through our Not So Random Acts of Kindness campaign.
And, we do it together. As a social butterfly, I have struggled through the COVID-19 pandemic to find ways to network and meet and connect with new people. I’ve learned a lot and I’m excited to share my thoughts with you.
What woman from history is your role model or inspiration? I’d love to hear from you! You can respond to this email directly or hit the “Hotline to our CEO” button at the top.