PhXX Forward Collaboration 

Phoenix has several organizations working together to support women business owners. NAWBO reached out to those organizations and asked:

How is your organization going to uniquely contribute to the future of Phoenix by empowering women business owners?

Here are their answers:

Sisterhood of Happiness

The Sisterhood of Happiness empowers women entrepreneurs through authentic connection and collaboration. In an environment designed for referrals, we support each other to achieve our goals.

Women’s Business Enterprise Council West

Vision: To build, foster and develop competitive Women Business Enterprises that are able to excel in all aspects of the global economy.

• Expand corporate procurement opportunities for Women Business Enterprises by increasing their competitive advantage (scalability, capacity, global reach internally to WBEs).
• Administer a world-class Women Business Enterprises’ certification program.
• Demonstrate best practice corporate citizenship through collaborative communication, networking, education, and in our strategic partnerships.
• Develop and execute a business model that supports financial sustainability.

Take The Lead 

Take The Lead prepares, develops, inspires and propels women to take their fair and equal share of leadership positions across all sectors by 2025. We offer leadership training for individuals and companies both online and in-person, role models and mentoring, and thought leadership. All are uniquely rooted in embracing power authentically as women, and include nine practical “Power Tools” for women who are or aspire to be leaders.

Ellevate

The global Ellevate Network (formerly 85 Broads) is dedicated to the professional and economic success of women worldwide. Here in Phoenix, Ellevate provides a platform for our diverse network of high-impact women to “connect with a purpose.” Since our chapter launch in 2011, we have been committed to helping women entrepreneurs and to expanding access to capital. Many of our members are actively involved in the startup community as mentors, investors and connectors. We are excited to partner with other Arizona-connected organizations committed to helping amazing women launch and grow their businesses here.

Women Enterprise Foundation

Our organization facilitates the circle of giving by providing support to women business owners, confident that their success will multiply and benefit their own initiatives and those around them. We are here to support, encourage and inspire emerging women business owners in our area who have demonstrated a need to help them further their education, leadership skills and opportunities to succeed and become a thriving contributor to the economic impact of Phoenix.

Conscious Connections Global 

Conscious Connections Global (CC Global) is a leadership development firm for professional women. The organization exists to inspire, connect and empower business owners and corporate executives to live and work at their highest potential.

In the past few years, Phoenix has seen an explosion of groups serving women business owners, all doing amazing work. The goal of the PhXX Forward initiative is to increase the impact of Women Business Owners in Phoenix through collaboration, sharing best practices and leveraging strengthens of the organizations that support them.

On August 7th at 7:30 at ASU SkySong, we will have our first strategic planning session as a community to discuss PhXX Forward and what we want to achieve for the future of Phoenix. If you are interested in joining this conversation, email Kristin Slice at Kristin@empowered-lab.com.

Together we go further.

Kristin Slice, MA, is the founder of Empowered Lab Communications.

What NAWBO Members Say About the Future of Phoenix Women Business Owners:

Question: How will women business owners contribute to the future of Phoenix?

“With the rise of small business owners in Phoenix, I have no doubt women will continue to enter into those ownership roles and help build and strengthen Arizona’s local economy. The intelligent, driven women I’ve met through NAWBO prove this will be a continued trend in Phoenix.“ —Kristi Church from Infinite Reach Agency

Question: What is your business doing that will move women businesses forward in unique and innovate ways? 

“Having a clear financial picture by default advances a business. We ensure that our clients’ financial records are in order, which is an integral tool to insuring businesses’ success and continued growth. KORE Business Solutions doesn’t just build strong business core — we help our clients prosper by making it possible for them to focus, innovate, and move their own business forward.” —Inna Korenzvit, Kore Bookkeeping 

“The internet will continue to be a big key to success for women business owners who understand that video plays a critical role in moving forward in creative ways. Female business owners know that most potential customers would rather learn by viewing a video than reading information. I create marketing videos that can be used on websites, YouTube, social media and within email campaigns to gain maximum exposure and build relationships. Women business owners are well positioned on the road to success to utilize video to drive brand recognition and explode their marketing presence.” —Connie Colella, Co Co Communications

“It all starts within our own firm, as we strive to better support our female workforce. As part of our commitment, we have adopted several women-focused initiatives, including strategic hiring and mentoring of female lawyers and para-professionals, supportive maternity leave and telecommuting policies, and promotion of women to leadership positions within our firm.

In addition to our partnership with NAWBO, Lewis Roca Rothgerber sponsors local educational and developmental programs focused on supporting women in business, such as Arizona Women Lawyers Association, Arizona Commercial Real Estate Women, Arizona Women’s Leadership Forum, Ladder Down, Take the Lead, and National Association of Professional Women, as well as similar organizations in Colorado and Nevada, where we also have a strong community presence.

Staying involved and sharing insights with organizations that support women initiatives and fostering a positive environment in which women can work and thrive, helps us better serve our clients and our community.” —Lewis Roca Rothgerber

We asked our board at the recent strategic planning meeting:

What do you want to see 2020 look like for Phoenix Women Business Owners?