When it comes to professional degrees, women don’t pursue MBAs. According to the article on Women’s eNews, “Women clearly view business school as a more challenging and less welcoming atmosphere, however.”They more often go into law or medicine. NYU and other business schools are trying to change that by offering cooking classes and  private parties at Dylan’s Candy Bar.

Women-owned businesses are growing, so the rise of women pursuing MBAs should follow. However, it doesn’t to seem the case.  A lot of women who have started businesses in the past couple of years have done so out of necessity or passion. It is often a second career. The idea of being an entrepreneur may have not been in their career goals when they were in college.  Hopefully more women will pursue MBAs and build great businesses first.

From Small Biz Daily, there’s a nice article about women entrepreneurs bringing more jobs for the economy.  Here’s a snippet.

Writing on ForbesWoman.com, she notes, data from the Center for Women’s Business Ownership show that the 8 million women-owned businesses in the U.S. account for more than 23 million jobs—16 percent of all U.S. employment. But only one in five women-owned firms has revenues over $1 million. “If women entrepreneurs in the U.S. started with the same capital as men entrepreneurs, for instance, they would add a whopping 6 million jobs to the economy within five years–2 million of those in the first year alone, according to Babson College research,” Pinelli writes.

Pinelli believes the key to helping women business owners create jobs is helping them in three key areas: access to capital, business networks to help them scale their businesses, and global supply networks.

Brokelyn interviews the founder of LearnVest Alexa Von Tobel. I am a fan of LearnVest which is a personal finance site for women. Alexa talks about how she raised a million dollars for her startup. Congrats! BTW, I am also a fan of Brokelyn blog whose founder, Faye Penn, will be joining me on my SXSWi panel, The Broke Diaries.

Are you looking for a change from your 9-5? Are you debating about following your passion? Thinking about taking that leap into entrepreneurship? Last week I came across a very interesting video on this topic. The video was created by Caren Magill, the Founder & Chief Media Strategist of Digital Pink Media. Digital Pink is a website portal and consultancy dedicated to helping women entrepreneurs build brands and promote their small business online using affordable, repeatable strategies.

Here is what I learned: when starting out here are 4 tips you should keep in mind.

1. Consider what you’re good at and what you enjoy doing. If you don’t enjoy being in the kitchen cooking, then becoming a top chef might not be the right fit for you. Figure out another way to work your passion.

2. Brainstorm without restrictions. Don’t eliminate any ideas in the beginning. Your best ideas will stick while the other will fall to the side.

3. Explore your ideas exhaustively. Research! Research! Research! Talk to people already in that profession. Find out as much as you can: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

4. Surround yourself with like-minded people. Network both OFFLINE and ONLINE.

So don’t forget to learn about entrepreneurship. You can view the video here on the Digital Pink Media website.

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk

Tanzania has launched a bank aimed specifically at women in what officials say will be an empowering move.

The bank says women need only an ID card or passport to open an account, unlike other banks which require title deeds or other proofs of wealth.

And applicants need only 3,000 Tanzanian shillings ($2) in savings - much less than other banks.

Although the bank, which is based in Dar es Salaam, targets women with its services, men can also open accounts.

Tamra Malaga, founder and driving creative force behind Vera Plum, is a designer living in Los Angeles.  Her whimsical graphic designs for infant and child clothes are bright, original and appealing, and she is growing her company while continuing to create adorable designs.  The multi-talented Tamra is also a performer, writer and producer as part of the Josh and Tamra Show.

1.  How did you get started doing what you do?

 I started my career in 1999 as a graphic designer in New York City.  I designed graphics for the creative services and marketing departments of broadcast networks, on projects such as posters, postcards, media kits, branding, trade ads, web graphics, package design, and apparel promotional items. I had the privilege to work for many top shows like Saturday Night Live, and major networks including HBO, Food Network, A&E, History Channel, WNET  CourtTV, Comedy Central and Troma Films. 

As a designer, I wanted to expand my creativity, so I took a huge pay cut and landed in high fashion, at Aeropostale, in New York City. My boss, the creative director, became a huge mentor to me. He taught me the ins and outs of the fashion graphic world from trend shopping and designing to production. I fell in love with the process and found great success, moving up to senior graphic designer. A year later I had the opportunity to work for clothing companies such as Ecko Red, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hanes, Old Navy and the Gap, designing top seller graphics, trend shopping around the states, and loving every moment of it.

I had tons of great ideas for tshirts and accessories but,I was very limited as to what I designed for the corporate clients, since I had to design within the brand limits and their trend reports. So, in my spare time I had friends come over my Sunnyside, Queens apartment for “Craft Night.”  Everyone brought a fun craft project they wanted to work on like painting, sewing, or beading necklaces. During craft night, I designed a bunch of out-of-the-box style graphics and I applied them to baby tshirts and onesies.  I got great feedback from my friends and so, Vera Plum – my own company was born. I’ve been hooked ever since. 

2. What is your biggest joy and what is your biggest headache?

My biggest joy is when people express to me how much they love the items they purchase. I am happy that they are excited to buy them as a gift for someone special, or have their children wear a tshirt or onesie I designed.

My biggest headache is that I am a one-woman operation. I do everything from designing, PR, website maintenance etc.  I wish I could multiply myself. I also wish I had a bigger budget. The eceonomy is really bad right now.

3. Where do you spend most of your time online (business-wise)?

I spend it trend shopping, searching for trade shows, and filling orders.

4. What is the one thing, person, service or resource you can’t do without? 

I am very grateful for my web designer Nicole from 368 Design. My business would not be as successful if it wasn’t for her amazing talent. 

5. What do you wish someone had told you the day you started your business?

It’s going to be a long, long, long educational journey and enjoy the ride!

This is the first in a series of posts about one woman going out on her own, making money and bringing home the bacon. Enjoy!

Picture this: You are just months away from your college graduation and you get offered an opportunity of the lifetime. You seized said opportunity and feel that life couldn’t be better. Then the economy starts to tank and you are personally affected. What is a gal to do went she loses her job? The answer: Go out of her own.

This is exactly what happens to me about eight months ago. I landed a great internship, was able to stay on pass my college graduation but then the recession hit. So while looking for a job (and I am still looking) I thought why not make my own money. Being your own boss is not easy task. There is a lot of researching, time, and planning that goes into becoming successful. The only plan I had in place was to get a job before graduation. I had no back up plan. I kept putting off the idea of freelance on the side. It wasn’t until I was put into a situation where I had to start thinking on my feet and get my act together. So the past couple of months I been doing my homework and making a game plan.

So tip #1 to my fellow women who have found themselves in the same position, is have a game plan and at least two alternatives just in case plan A falls apart. Tip #2: network, network, network. No one would know that you are looking for a job and/or clients if you don’t get out there and tell them. And last but not least tip #3: believe in yourself. Believe that you can do anything that you set your mind to.

Until next time.

On Wednesday, June 3rd, there’s a cool afternoon talk, Womenomics, It’s about women and management at the 92Y Tribeca,  featuring authors Claire Shipman and Katty Kay.

Join a discussion that examines how women’s management style is ideally suited to the new business world and how women can have more time and freedom in their jobs without falling off the professional ladder. In their new book Womenomics: Write Your Own Rules for Success, veteran journalists Claire Shipman and Katty Kay show professional women how they can redefine success, be more productive and find jobs that don’t require an all-or-nothing lifestyle.

92YTribeca
200 Hudson Street
Wed, Jun 3, 2009, 12:00pm-1:00pm
Price: $16

Shannon Manning is a writer, producer, and performer. She has written and produced for TV news and weather, the Chicago Bulls, LifetimeTV, Fuse, Kraft, and more. She helps manage the Charles Mingus nonprofit organization and touring bands, is webmaster for Pathetic Geek Stories, published and edited Pipe Up! Magazine, was the Corporate Cash Manager for a major multinational newspaper and internet company, and recently helped create a web and stage show with Lizz Winstead, co-creator of The Daily Show. She has taught, directed, and performed improv at Second City, IO, Upright Citizens Brigade, Magnet Theater (which she also co-founded), and Drinkytown, and has performed on Late Night with Conan O’Brien.

After a recent stint as New Media Deputy for Obama for America, she returned to developing her artist collective/production company Sparkle Television, which launched a music/comedy/art webshow called Beauty Love Truth in April.

 1.  How did you get started doing what you do?

I’ve always been a DIY-type - this is my fifth company. First was a computer/video animation company with my mom, then two companies with my sister - one creating weather graphics for TV, and another as one of Chicago’s first web design companies. I came to New York and, ten years after falling in love with improv from studying with Del Close in Chicago, co-founded the improv school and venue Magnet Theater.

I currently freelance on TV projects; producing, directing, shooting, and editing webshows and pilots; sometimes acting; and, trying to put all these experiences into Sparkle Television to produce comedy, music, drama, and art for art’s sake! It’s a way to work with people I admire and with whom I share creative goals.

2.  What is your biggest joy and what is your biggest headache?

My favorite thing in the world is to see someone develop or build on an idea of mine, or to watch someone that I’ve taught, promoted, or worked with find success. My own accomplishments always leave me immediately thinking, “Ok, cool, but what’s next?” That’s the freelance/entrepreneur default mode/psychosis…always hatching the next plan, looking to the next project.

Most of my projects rely on collaboration. That’s a joy and also a challenge. Working with other people inspires me, and makes me accountable for my time, ideas, and integrity.  Working with talented people makes me step up! I also like to take the reins on a set or project, and create a beautiful, efficient machine with a happy team that feels proud of their work and the final product.  Creative people often thrive with structure. When they are in a safe and trusting environment, they can just focus on their work.  Creating that environment is always a challenge.

The biggest challenge in collaborative efforts is to clearly define your role, so your role does not get defined for you, and you don’t get stretched too thin! I am great at stepping into multiple roles, and welcome input and change; but then I have to step back and make sure I’m on my right path and make sure communication stays open and honest. And if it’s not working, and obstacles seem insurmountable, I have learned not to spend too much time trying to fix it. It doesn’t have to be dramatic (the band is breaking up!), it’s just the nature of collaboration.  There’s always another idea, project, opportunity, even if I have to create it myself.

 3.  Where do you spend most of your time online (business-wise)?

I try to focus on spending time creating rather than consuming online. I like to use productivity tools like Bubble Timer to keep me focused.  43 Folders is also a great productivity-meets-creativity blog.  I use social networking to see what friends are up to performance-wise. Mediabistro, Freelancer’s Union, and LinkedIn are great sites and communities for freelance issues, professional development, political activism, and job postings. I also like Cynopsis - it’s fun to gawk at the money that’s getting tossed around to executives in the latest gold rush to monetize the web and creativity.

My latest trick is to work on my own priorities before even checking email, and to avoid being immediately responsive to every email or phone call. It was hard at first, but this way I get to choose which things get done first instead of technology doing the prioritizing for me.

4.  What is the one thing, person, service or resource you can’t do without?

The internet on/off button.  There’s so much information, entertainment and interaction available, I have to be vigilant and step away. I need to recharge with real face-to-face community and activity. I need to go to live music, theater, comedy, and political meetings, to remind me why I live in New York!  I need to get my news from professionally edited newspapers and magazines without user comments, and I need to write with pen on normal paper.

But then I have to turn the internet back on because it is a constant reminder that there are no gatekeepers anymore; that there is nothing to prevent anyone and everyone from creating and publishing and, yes, even monetizing your own creativity. You don’t need a stage, a camera, or any technical abilities, as long as you have good ideas and friends who believe in them and also in you.

5.  What do you wish someone had told you the day you started your business?

“I must Create a System, or be enslav’d by another Man’s. I will not Reason & Compare; my business is to Create.” -William Blake

I love that quote because “reason” and “compare” do not usually get a bad rap in business and management, but they are great hindrances to creativity.  So is relying on old systems or paths, especially when they are broken or littered with unnecessary obstacles.  On a practical level, I discovered it is helpful to work in two different roles: one the Big Picture, thinking, planning boss, the other the efficient loyal employee. The boss writes everything down, from top level goals, objectives, processes and priorities, to clear tasks for the employee. If I’m feeling inspired, I can just write or plan or jot down my crazy ideas without judging the practicality because I know that my employee will try to make it work (she’s great!) And if I’m not feeling inspired or having doubts, I can just tick things off the list and trust that the boss knows what she’s doing (she’s great!) It took a while to learn that when you work for yourself you have to have discipline, but when you are creative worker, you also have to learn to listen to yourself so you’re not forcing yourself to work counter-productively.  That goes for the real people I work with, too.  Always trust them, always communicate, always treat them like poets and geniuses (so said Del Close); then, together you can overcome any obstacle and create whatever system is needed.

WCBS presents its ninth annual Working Women’s Luncheon on Wednesday April 22 at the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center. Women For Hire CEO Tory Johnson will be the keynote speaker.  Tickets are $50.  (until April 1st)

The luncheon will open up with a unique networking session that leads to an interview with Tory Johnson, hosted by WCBS-AM Morning Anchor, Pat Carroll. Come hear Tory and her team discuss networking, career change, marketing and reinventing yourself.