These success stories most often belonged to young, straight, white, cisgender women. I’m proud of what we’ve done as a community to support these business owners, but in 2014 I had a realization: the majority of women-centered business events, books, and platforms were promoting the same type of woman over and over again. What I learned from organizing these groups was profound and boils down to this: women want to run their own companies and are much more likely to do so if they have the support of other women around them. That series, called Biz Ladies, was an immediate success and has now grown into a regular column on Design*Sponge, spawned countless local groups, and launched companies and collaborations across the country. Frustrated by the knowledge that less than 40 percent of all businesses in the United States are run by women, I wanted to create an event that would work to change those numbers. Just like people, businesses and their goals change, and now I find myself making professional ideas and inspiration as big a part of what I do as celebrating art and design.Įxactly a decade ago I held my first in-person meet-up for women running their own creative businesses.
Over the past twelve years of running Design*Sponge, my goals have shifted dramatically, from wanting a place to talk about art and design, to creating a platform for handmade work, to providing advice and resources for the people behind that work. It’s taught me to take risks and stand up for what I believe in, and has given me more self-confidence and pride in myself than anything else. Running my own business has been the most rewarding-and challenging-part of my life so far.
Design*Sponge (a daily website dedicated to the creative community), in 2004.
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