The Women in Business Council will be hosting a Mentoring Program starting in December of 2023. The Mentoring Program was created in order to assist women and men in reaching and achieving their personal and professional goals and to create an environment in which they can prosper and celebrate their success. Being mentored is one of the most valuable and effective development … [More]
Where did all the optimism go?
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Phoenix, Arizona: Closing the Optimism Gap
On June 5th, I sat in a room full of powerful women in Washington, D.C., and we discussed the findings of the 2023 Small Business Owner Report from the Bank of America. As the president of the Phoenix Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, I couldn’t help but reflect on the optimism gap that exists between women business owners and their male … [More]
Breaking Barriers: Empowering Women and Advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) cannot be overstated. While all businesses can benefit from embracing DEI principles, it holds particular significance for women-led small businesses. As we strive for success and empowerment, understanding and actively incorporating DEI practices become vital for growth and … [More]
The True Measure of a Woman’s Success
Many years ago, I was awarded my very first job in sales management. After only three years with the company, I was promoted to sales manager of their top billing property. News spread quickly throughout the industry and soon the phone was ringing off the hook with congratulations and well-wishers. It was fourth quarter, people were in a celebratory mood, and I was looking … [More]
Women in Graphic Recording: A Growing Force in the Industry
Whenever I tell people that I do graphic recording, I’ll often get a blank stare and maybe a head nod. The more curious person might ask, “Oh, what is graphic recording?” Graphic recording is a visual communication method that uses a combination of drawing, writing and sketching to capture the essence of a keynote speech, a business presentation, brainstorm session or a … [More]
Less is More: Your Leadership Focus Will Help You Grow Exponentially
Whether you are an entrepreneur, a small business owner or a corporate leader, you have likely felt overwhelmed and anxious when you have too much to do. As a one-person show or a leader of a small business, it may be easy to feel like we have to do “all the things” because we wear all or most of the hats in our business. It may seem counterintuitive, but research has … [More]
Investing in Teenage Mentoring: A Valuable Parental Decision
As parents, we often grapple with how best to guide our children through the tumultuous teenage years. The quest for identity, heightened emotions and peer pressure can make it a challenging phase for teens and their parents. During this critical stage, parents should consider investing in a mentor for their teenager. In addition, a mentor can provide benefits ranging from … [More]
May 2023 President’s Message
As a member-supported organization, it might be easy to believe the Arizona Technology Council exists only to support businesses that are up and running. But we believe a key part of our mission is to help develop the workforce of tomorrow. A prime example is our support of Arizona State University’s AZNext initiative, a combination of the university’s first U.S. Department … [More]
Coming Clean
New committee, member program focus on energy alternatives
As the world begins to learn more about the merits of clean energy, the Arizona Technology Council already is introducing ways for members to experience benefits in both their professional and personal lives. The Arizona E-Mobility + Energy Ecosystem (AEEE) Committee launched in 2022 works collaboratively to ensure the uniform integration and standards between all four … [More]
Taking the Lead
SciTech Institute efforts give birth to statewide STEM Ecosystem
While the SciTech Institute is perhaps best known for its statewide Arizona SciTech Festival held early each year, its efforts actually continue year-round as it brings together collaborators from across the state to advocate for opportunities in Arizona’s growing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce. The focus of the ongoing effort is to build … [More]
Web Works
Improvements to Council’s site pay off
Serving members throughout Arizona and beyond can be a daunting task. Adding to that is ensuring the Arizona Technology Council’s membership has reliable access to information when they need it. To get the job done, the Council’s website serves as the primary resource for updates about the organization and Arizona’s technology ecosystem. Information on the website includes … [More]
Celebrating A Milestone
Annual Report marks 20th anniversary year
After two decades of success as a key supporter of Arizona’s evolving technology ecosystem, the word “thriving” best captures the state of the Arizona Technology Council. That is the reason “Thriving” has been selected as the theme of the Council’s Annual Report for 2022, which was the year the organization celebrated its 20th anniversary. The Council was founded Aug. 28, … [More]
A Helping Hand
Preferred Business Partners program lightens the load
For anyone owning or operating a business, the days are already long enough. After all, dealing with daily challenges is enough to make a person constantly wonder, “What’s next?” Whether it’s something that’s a regular part of doing business or unplanned, it’s not unusual for the days to get longer when the business needs to turn to an outside vendor for a remedy. Along with … [More]
Effective Operations Make or Break your Small Business
Small business owners have many competing priorities. Between providing services and/or selling their products, managing their teams (staff, contractors, vendors, etc.), creating marketing content, doing accounting, and much more, there never seems to be enough time in the day. So, how do business owners combat this and avoid the feeling of being overwhelmed? Lucero … [More]
Growing Opportunities Means Growing Businesses
This April marks the six-year anniversary of Second Chance Month in Arizona. Second Chance Month represents just that — a chance for people to be connected with opportunities and much-needed resources to successfully reintegrate into their communities after returning from prison or jail. Second Chance Month is a nationwide endeavor to acknowledge and spread awareness of the … [More]
Building Value into Your Business
What would you say are the value drivers for your business? Is your business ready to be sold today? If not, what do you think you need to do to build value in your business? What can you do today to make your business more valuable? There is, ultimately, only one reason to create a business of your own, and that is to sell it! You start a business, grow that business, … [More]
Network with ASBA at AZBizCon
The Arizona Small Business Association (ASBA) is a nonprofit 501c6 membership organization and one of the largest trade associations in Arizona. This year, ASBA celebrates its 50th year anniversary of supporting entrepreneurs and small business owners by providing them with the tools they need to grow and thrive. ASBA is proud to serve as a voice for our small business … [More]
What to Do if Your Identity Is Stolen
There are several ways you could learn that you may be a victim of identity theft. No matter how you discover the issue, if you’ve been affected by identity theft, it’s important to stay calm, assess the situation, and act quickly. If you’re managing the recovery process on your own, here are some steps you can take to start: Request a fraud alert or credit freeze. If … [More]
