10 Challenges & Triumphs for Women Business Owners
BY: DR. SABRINA JACKSON
Women entrepreneurs are an unstoppable force. From the corner office to the kitchen table, women are launching businesses, solving problems, and building legacies in record numbers.
However, despite the progress, as a woman in business myself and coach to countless powerhouse female leaders, I’ve observed a consistent pattern of challenges that women face. But here’s the good news: for every obstacle, there is a triumph. Below are ten common challenges and the triumphs that often accompany them.
10 Challenges Faced by Women Business Owners
1. Access to Capital
Many women face difficulty securing loans or venture capital due to systemic bias and limited networks in financial circles.
2. Balancing Work and Life
Juggling roles as business owners, mothers, caregivers, and community leaders can lead to burnout without strong boundaries and systems.
3. Being Taken Seriously
Women often report not being heard, respected, or believed at the same level as their male counterparts— especially in male-dominated industries.
4. Imposter Syndrome
Even highly accomplished women sometimes doubt their worth or abilities, which can impact decision- making and leadership confidence.
5. Limited Mentorship
Finding female mentors in specific industries or roles is still a challenge, reducing the support available for growth and strategy.
6. Gender Bias and Stereotyping
From being called “emotional” to being overlooked in boardrooms, unconscious and conscious gender bias remains a significant barrier.
7. Underpricing Products or Services
Many women undercharge for their work, stemming from cultural conditioning or fear of losing customers.
8. Navigating Team Dynamics
Women in leadership must manage team performance while often navigating extra scrutiny regarding their leadership style.
9. Scaling Sustainably
Women-owned businesses often stall at a certain revenue level due to limited resources, staffing, or access to strategic partnerships.
10. Lack of Representation
Women, especially women of color, are underrepresented in key business spaces—chambers, panels, investment pitches, and tech ecosystems.
10 Triumphs of Women Business Owners
1. Innovative Leadership Styles
Women bring empathy, collaboration, and inclusive leadership that boosts employee morale and retention.
2. Community Building
Female entrepreneurs often build businesses that serve and uplift their communities, creating meaningful impact.
3. Multitasking Excellence
The ability to manage multiple roles makes women agile and adaptive problem solvers.
4. Creative Problem Solving
Women frequently lead the way with fresh, resourceful solutions rooted in real-life experiences.
5. Values-Driven Decision Making
Many women-owned businesses center purpose over profit—leading to brand loyalty and authenticity.
6. Networking Power
Women build strong, supportive networks that lead to collaboration over competition.
7. Resilience
Despite challenges, women repeatedly bounce back, rebrand, rebuild, and rise again stronger than ever.
8. Growing Representation
The number of women business owners continues to grow, shifting power dynamics and diversifying industries.
9. Role Modeling for the Next Generation
Women in business inspire girls and young women to dream bigger and do more.
10. Empowered Economies
Women-led businesses are critical to economic growth and job creation in communities across the globe.
4 Essential Tips for Women in Business
1. Be Coachable
Coachability doesn’t mean you lack confidence—it means you’re wise enough to seek perspectives beyond your own. The most successful women I coach are those who ask, “How can I grow?” and “What can I do better?”
2. Prioritize Self-Care
Prioritizing rest, joy, and emotional wellness is not selfish—it’s strategic. Schedule rest with the same importance as meetings. Remember, when you take care of yourself, you lead from a place of overflow, not depletion.
3. Cultivate Emotional Intelligence
Leading a business isn’t just about analytics and strategy—it’s also about people. Understanding your own emotions and managing relationships with empathy, clarity, and confidence can set you apart by increasing trust, enhancing collaboration, and helping you lead through challenges with grace.
4. Leverage Strategic Visibility
Being good at what you do is not enough—you must also be seen doing it. Use social media, speaking opportunities, and partnerships to amplify your brand. Strategic visibility means showing up intentionally where your audience— and opportunities—are. Let people know what you do, how well you do it, and why they should care. Women in business are changing the game every day. We are dreamers and doers. We are builders and breakers of ceilings. As you navigate your own entrepreneurial journey, know that every challenge is a setup for a greater triumph. You are not alone—and your success is not only possible, it’s inevitable when you lead with authenticity, strategy, and heart.
Dr. Sabrina Jackson “The People Expert” helps people with people, even if that person is themselves.
She is also a Speaker, TV/Radio Personality, Author, and Life Coach seen on Fox 2 Weekly with Mental
Health Mondays. Follow on Instagram @ThePeopleExpert_ website: www.sabrinajackson.com.
