Happy Tuesday, Reader!

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I have spent much of my life advocating for women's rights—equal representation, equal pay, and fundamental human dignity—and I've often reminded my peers that we were living in the best time in history to be a woman in the United States. At the risk of ruffling feathers, this WAS true across EVERY intersection of womanhood.

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That began to change in June 2022. Now, as we enter 2025, the decline in women's positions in the United States isn't just continuing—it's accelerating at an alarming rate.

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We’ve lost ground…

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1. In Congressional representation and federal parity, in general (That’s likely to get worse as the purge of the rank-and-file federal workforce continues.)
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2. Legally and legislatively in most of the country
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3. Communally and collectively as women’s movements have continued to fracture along identity, economic class, and educational lines
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4. In growth trajectories for representation in business leadership and most financial and STEM-related fields

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As we approach International Women’s Day 2025, it’s difficult to see the state of womanhood in the U.S. as anything other than Venus in retrograde (both literally and figuratively).

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But as my friend Eunice reminded me recently, this is a collective moment of leaving an abusive relationship. As every woman knows, there is never a more dangerous time than when we’ve finally decided to claim our freedom and demand the equal humanity we always deserved.

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We also know that women in this situation should have a plan. As a business leader, what’s yours?

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After sitting with what work is mine to do in this moment of crisis for women in my country, I’ve had a eureka moment.

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This month and next, I will be focusing on what I’m best at helping women do: achieving economic freedom through entrepreneurship.

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Less than 7% of all women-owned businesses in the U.S. have a revenue of more than $250,000 per year. Despite the monumental surge in women-led start-ups, that number hasn't changed much in over 10 years.

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My team and I are on a mission to change that statistic because we believe…

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• When women tell the stories, the human story changes (to quote Elizabeth Lesser). In a capitalist society, the ability to tell the stories requires money.
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• Community-based, local businesses are the most essential piece of a flourishing community. When women owners are well-represented, the community's priorities are more likely to be human-centered. Think housing, safe food systems, education, and health care.
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• The magical moment we had in the democratized internet from around 2005-2015ish is mostly over. Too many women trying to grow their businesses are working on an old model that no longer works. They are not the problem! The digital-marketing-as-magic-bullet systems they’re being sold are.
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• Understanding business finances and funding is critical to long-term success. Yet most women founders report a lack of confidence in understanding their numbers or ways to access credit and other types of funding.
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• The issues are much bigger than imposter syndrome. I am sick to death of women being told they can “fake it to make it” or self-care their way into a thriving business. Yes, cycles and confidence are important. But a real ability to understand your numbers, cashflow management, how to work in financial systems not designed for you, etc. is ESSENTIAL to economic sustainability as a business owner.

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Let’s develop that plan together.

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In March and April, Two on Tuesdays will focus on how women-led micro businesses can (and should) break through the $250k mark. That’s just under $21k per month. Given that the median income of working women in the United States is only a little bit higher at $30k per year, this would represent a sea change in economic power for women.

Are you ready to get started?

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To taking our place at the table,

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Renia C.

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