United States Secret Weapon For Achieving Sustained Economic Growth: More Women Entrepreneurs

Take that Corporate America! Yes, according to a new paper authored by Lesa Mitchell (V.P., Advancing Innovation) for the Ewing Kauffman Foundation titled, "Overcoming the Gender Gap: Women Entrepreneurs as Economic Drivers," the United States needs more women entrepreneurs.

Women who are capable of starting growth companies that serve global markets may be the nation's secret weapon for achieving sustained economic growth.

Three steps to boost female entrepreneurship in the United States:

1. Not-for-profit initiatives that advance opportunities for high-growth women entrepreneurs need greater funding and support from women executives, philanthropy leaders and industry. Networking and collaborative events between startup founders and big companies are critical to provide women entrepreneurs access to networks that can produce potential customers.
2. Successful women entrepreneurs and inventors should make themselves visible and available. Role models are critical to young women considering entrepreneurship.
3. Women must be invited at a much higher rate to join science advisory boards of high-tech companies.

Read the study: "Overcoming the Gender Gap: Women Entrepreneurs as Economic Drivers"(PDF file)

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