How communities can (and should) support Women Owned Small Businesses 

By Phyllis Smith

We are all in this together. LRobinspires, a Women-Owned Small Business, celebrates our month with Leadership MetroWest and all they do for up-and-coming leaders.

 

Better Together: Finding and Supporting Women-Owned Businesses 

Every month, we at LRobinspires craft a blog highlighting a group to celebrate. This month we share one very close to our mission of making a difference and driving positive changes. This October we are recognizing Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Month. In past blogs, we have highlighted Liz’s journey of running a successful business. This month we are focusing on people who are just starting their entrepreneurship or are relatively new and need support. We also outline how to support WOSB in your neighborhood and beyond. Our partner in helping WOSBs is Leadership MetroWest (LMW). This impactful organization focuses on the MetroWest region and surrounding communities. The themes their Leadership Academy addresses are common across all small businesses, women and DEI-owned specifically.  

LMW believes in bringing together leaders from small businesses, big corporations, and non-profits to learn from and support one another. LMW’s signature offering, the Leadership Academy, fosters that space to network, communicate on topics leaders care about, and to connect with resources in the community. All participants in the Leadership Academy come together to learn from one another and also to have an impact on their own community. The Leadership Academy fosters both an inward and outward perspective. The Academy also has a great history (30+ years) of alumni bringing in recruits. Jamie Chapman, owner of Chickbook | Creative and board member of Leadership MetroWest is one such success story. She enrolled in the Leadership Academy in 2020. After immediately volunteering to help further the organization’s mission, she moved quickly onto the Board.  Jamie provided some lovely perspectives on her contributions to the WOSB community including her experiences with LMW during a recent interview with Liz. 

[Leadership MetroWest] was built to bring entrepreneurial and business owners to the table with governance to have challenging conversations and help each other out, to build relationships, and to help each other out across those sectors. And it’s grown into way more than that today.” 

Jamie reminds us that for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and solopreneurs, making progress on your business plan can feel lonely. Folks lose that camaraderie, friendship, and support of being part of a larger organization. If you feel this way, research your local community resources. There’s no reason to struggle alone. We are all better together, with support. Organizations like LMW can provide feedback on improving your business, marketing, or simply being a better leader. The Leadership Academy also provides an anti-racism curriculum focusing on participants’ self-awareness to help identify biases. The curriculum helps participants act to challenge their biases and make an impact in their community. 

We are going to need a bigger ladder 

Often conversations about business involve a metaphor about climbing a ladder. This image works for the world in which women-owned and DEI-owned companies exist. On this ladder are those who have progressed upward and those just starting. At LRobInspires, we believe the world does not need a taller ladder but one with wide rungs—quite a few feet across—where we stand next to each other as we proceed upwards. It would be an equitable ladder and organizations like Leadership MetroWest would be there to provide mentorship. Brandon Ward, executive director of Leadership MetroWest, provides an example of how alumni of the Leadership Academy share space on the ladder. 

Brandon describes how Leadership MetroWest helps its members bring ideas into reality, adding strength to their communities. 

The phrase “We are all in this together” does not specify what “this” is but in this case of leadership and business ownership, women, especially DEI women, look to the community to support their places in the world. We also recognize that an understanding of unity within a community—that is the “we” element of that phrase—calls out the need for strong internal frameworks. Leadership MetroWest brings both elements of this phrase to the Framingham community. LRobInspires is proud to support Leadership MetroWest in its efforts. We encourage you all to look at their new website and logo as we may have had a hand in it!

Where are the small businesses you’ve been missing in your neighborhood? 

Where you spend your money counts. This month, seek out WOSB and DEI-owned businesses. Think about each purchase you make and choose consciously to support these businesses in your neighborhood. Any of these could (or probably are) WOBS/DEI-owned businesses: 

  • Your local sandwich shop 
  • The gift store where you buy birthday cards 
  • Your car repair shop 
  • A Farmer’s market or farmstand

     

Take a moment to research who owns and/or runs your local businesses. Use your regular purchases to mindfully support your local community. 

If you are an entrepreneur or thinking about starting a business in the MetroWest area, check out the Leadership MetroWest Leadership Academy. The next cohort is being compiled this Fall. The goal is to have a class that reflects the times we are in as well as the local community. The website has everything you need to start your application.  

During Women-Owned Business Month, Shop and Work with WOBs!

P.S. A note from Liz: I would be remiss if I didn’t give a shout out to the Best Class EverThe Leadership MetroWest Class of 2025!

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