Overcoming Challenges to Launch and Grow a Business

GE Capital (as illustrated above) helps women to jump-start their own businesses by providing specialized training, business mentorship and access to micro-financing loans. In addition to 15 weeks of intensive course work and training, the program, Banking on Women, offers ongoing assistance for all participants.

This particular program takes place in Salt Lake City, Utah.  GE Capital is working with Utah Microenterprise Loan Fund and The Institute for New Enterprise at Westminster College.

Learn more here.  Direct link:  Banking on Women

Extreme Sport: Entrepreneurship

MTV applauds women entrepreneurs in technology and media.  And one in particular is Alexandra Wilkis Wilson of Gilt Groupe Inc.

Gilt Groupe started out in 2007 as an online sample sale destination for the fashion savvy shopper. The website’s original three founders Kevin Ryan, Alexis Maybank and Alexandra Wilkis Wilson (at left) have recently realized huge success after the valuation of Gilt Groupe doubled from one year ago to $1 Billion. Not so bad after just four years as an e-commerce merchant!

Read the entire article here.

Related: NCWIT Entrepreneurial Heroes is a series of magazine-style audio interviews highlighting fabulous women entrepreneurs in information technology (IT) careers.  Listen in here.

Top photo credit here.

Don't Reinvent the Wheel

Starting a business is easier than you think and thanks to the Internet, more doable than ever these days.

Here are seven steps to get you moving!

First one:

Ordinary is just fine, so don't reinvent the wheel. The best ideas are often the tried and true ones that are already successful now.

Let's hope Maria follows this same advice.

Quench Your Thirst: Waialua Soda Works

Karen Campbell and her husband Jason know how to fizz things up a bit.  They run Hawaii-based Waialua Soda Works, Inc., an old-fashioned soda company founded in 2003, inspired by the elements familiar to the Hawaiian Islands.

The company uses only clear glass bottles (as shown), pure cane sugar, and natural flavors to make its mango, root beer, pineapple and vanilla cream sodas.

Learn more about Waialua Soda Works.  Cost Plus World Market and Whole Foods carry it.   Also visit their Facebook page.

How to Start a Business in Your PJs

The Scent For a Strange Woman

Are you seeking a one of a kind experience when it comes to perfume?  Then you're at the right place, at the right time!

Strange Women is a collection of 100% natural artisan perfume, bath salts, lip balm, candles and other eccentricities fragranced with essential oils and plant absolutes.  The net result is a much safer and more satisfying to the senses fragrance.

These wonderful concoctions are produced by Jill McKeever (pictured).  Go shopping here.

To Succeed in Business, Change Must Be Constant

If Kim Garrity hadn’t made more changes than a young woman trying on shoes with her business -- Sole Sisters -- then it wouldn’t exist today.

Learn what she means here.

Posted by: The original Escape From Corporate America blog