Category: Personal Skills

Things To Consider Before Diving Into The Restaurant Business

Investing in a restaurant requires careful planning and due diligence. Experts emphasize that restaurant investments take time to become profitable—typically at least two years—and should be viewed as part of a broader financial strategy, potentially involving property acquisition. Choosing the right investment structure, such as an LLC, can help manage tax implications and liability risks. Success in the industry depends heavily on the right team, as motivated staff contribute significantly to a restaurant’s stability. Investors should also consider the restaurant’s customer base and local market conditions, ensuring there is demand and differentiation from competitors. Reviewing financials is crucial—messy or unrealistic projections signal risk. Lastly, scalability matters, with the best opportunities often involving experienced operators who have already built a successful location and are looking to expand. To read more about this, see this article from US News and World Report entitled “6 Facts To Know Before Investing in a Restaurant”.

How Trump’s First 100 Days in Office May Impact Small Business

President Trump’s first 100 days in office for his second term are expected to impact small businesses through trade tariffs, tax reforms, immigration policies, and deregulation.

These measures present opportunities such as lower tax rates and reduced regulatory costs but also challenges like higher costs from tariffs, labor shortages, and potential supply chain disruptions. To read more, check out this article from Inc.

Three Lessons From A Successful Woman In A Male-Dominated Industry

This recent article in Entrepreneur shares one woman’s three takeaways from building businesses in male-dominated industries: the power of diverse teams to foster innovation, the importance of filling market gaps with unique solutions, and the necessity of managing growth and cash flow with discipline. Her journey highlights how resilience and strategic thinking can drive success, even in the toughest markets. Check out the article to read more!

Addressing Barriers to Women’s Entrepreneurial Success

Women entrepreneurs are highly confident in their abilities and ambitious to grow their businesses, yet systemic barriers such as limited access to finance, support networks, and digital skills hinder their potential. Addressing these challenges through tailored solutions and collaborative efforts between public and private sectors can unlock significant economic opportunities while empowering women entrepreneurs to thrive. Read more in this post on Morningstar.

How Entrepreneurs, Led by Women, Are Shaping 2025’s Business Landscape (from the EY Entrepreneur Ecosystem Report)

As 2025 approaches, entrepreneurs remain optimistic about growth despite economic uncertainties. According to EY’s Entrepreneur Ecosystem Barometer, many entrepreneurs who experienced strong revenue growth in 2024 anticipate a stronger market next year.

Key trends include significant investments in AI, product development, and talent to drive productivity. Fundraising and strategic transactions, like mergers and acquisitions, are major priorities, with many entrepreneurs planning to secure capital to fuel further expansion. Women entrepreneurs are particularly leading in AI adoption, with nearly half having established AI systems and a strong inclination toward staying ahead of technological trends, underscoring their commitment to innovation and growth.

Finally, entrepreneurs are balancing productivity with personal well-being, maintaining an in-office presence while prioritizing rest and work-life balance to sustain success and avoid burnout.

“Show Her The Money” movie

“Show Her The Money” highlights the struggles and triumphs of female entrepreneurs as they battle for venture capital funding, which women receive less than 2% of, while also demystifying what venture capital is. Featuring successful female investors and visionary entrepreneurs, the film demonstrates how financial backing empowers women to turn innovative ideas into billion-dollar businesses, ultimately reshaping the American economy. See this link to learn about the film.

Report Highlights Mixed Progress for Women in Corporate Leadership

The 2024 Women CEOs in America Report, released by Women Business Collaborative (WBC) in partnership with Ascend, C200, and Catalyst, reveals both progress and challenges for women in corporate leadership. While women are making significant gains in smaller public companies and private enterprises, their representation in the Fortune 500 remains steady at 10.4%, showing the need for continued efforts to close the gender gap in corporate leadership. Notably, women entrepreneurs are also on the rise, with women now owning 34% of all small businesses and franchises, outpacing their male counterparts in business ownership growth. To read or download the report, click here.

How Women Entrepreneurs Can Boost Their Chances of Raising Capital

A recent report compiled by PwC found that while women are increasingly starting businesses, they still get a tiny slice of the venture capital pie—around 2% in both Europe and the US in 2023. Gender bias and the fact that so few women hold decision-making roles in investment firms make it tough for female founders to secure funding. However, there are some encouraging signs, like the growing number of female angel investors.

Based on interviews with women investors, the report offers five key tips for women founders: learn the investment landscape, choose investors wisely, network smartly, be ready for tough questions, and aim high with your funding goals. Despite the challenges, now is actually a good time for women to raise capital, as many funds are eager to diversify their portfolios. While there’s still work to do, women entrepreneurs have a real opportunity to secure the funding they deserve. To read more, click the link above to download the complete report.

Becoming an Entrepreneur in Your 50s

This article featured in Smart Company highlights how entrepreneurship in your 50s can be a transformative and rewarding experience, particularly for women. The author highlights how shifting away from two decades of traditional corporate responsibilities allowed her to pursue meaningful work aligned with her values.

By becoming a startup leader in her late 50s, she leveraged her deep industry knowledge, professional networks, and confidence gained over time to successfully navigate challenges and inspire investor confidence. The piece encourages older women to embrace their unique strengths, tackle impostor syndrome, and lead fearlessly, reminding them that it’s never too late to step into their power.

Podcast on Managing Hybrid Teams

In this eCornell Keynote podcast episode, Brad Bell from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations discusses the challenges of managing hybrid teams and offers actionable strategies for success.

He highlights three key differences in hybrid work environments—variety, volatility, and volition—that organizations must address. Effective leadership in hybrid teams involves fostering a shared understanding, maintaining a team identity, and promoting an inclusive social climate. Bell also emphasizes the importance of delegating leadership tasks and using agile technology. Conflict resolution and ensuring team alignment are crucial, as hybrid teams often struggle with cohesion and communication. Finally, he underscores the career advancement challenges of remote work and suggests that in-person engagement can help employees progress.