As most successful business owners know, business growth and economic empowerment go hand-in-hand. NAWBO’s founding president Susan Hager was a champion of women’s economic empowerment and a visionary for the women’s community. This year, the Susan Hager Legacy Award honors Michele Schina for her advocacy and actions to support women entrepreneurs.
Since launching her business Schina and Associates CPA (a recent name change from TMS II, LLC) as a certified public accountant in Philadelphia, Michele has focused on making a difference for women in her community. Her firm goes beyond traditional accounting and tax services, offering financial literacy and education services for startups. Michele also offers financial excellence programs designed specifically for women entrepreneurs.
When a friend introduced her to her local NAWBO chapter, Michele was impressed by the genuine camaraderie she felt. She quickly joined NAWBO Philadelphia, and got involved at the encouragement of other NAWBO members. “Put yourself into leadership positions and be a servant leader because it really can parallel you being a strong business person,” Michele says. “The skills and traits you develop in your NAWBO leadership roles fundamentally support you as a business owner.”
Among her leadership roles in NAWBO, Michele has served as Philadelphia chapter president and treasurer. She also served on the 2019-2020 NAWBO National Board as Chair of the Presidents Assembly Steering Committee. Additionally, Michele was instrumental in establishing NAWBO Philadelphia’s 501c3 arm, the NAWBO Philadelphia Center for Advancing Entrepreneurs, to help expand educational leadership and research for emerging entrepreneurs. Currently, she is the chair of the NAWBO National NextGen Committee, advocating for the next generation of women business owners to make a great economic impact in their communities.
Michele is also one of NAWBO’s One Page Business Plan sponsors. “I’m working with the National Board to utilize this business plan methodology to support financial and operational growth,” she says. “In terms of giving back to NAWBO, this is one of the best opportunities—really supporting the board and the organization to help them focus on their plan and produce their desired financial and operational results. That’s been invaluable for me.”
As she reflects on her legacy with NAWBO, receiving the Susan Hager Legacy Award is very meaningful to Michele. “It’s an amazing honor and I’m very humbled,” she says. “It has allowed me to see that the passion to support women business owners, and ultimately, our next generation is being realized. The fact that I am now the recipient of this award, I feel like I have a whole different level within which I need to be responsible. It has been my dream that women business owners, including our next generation, make a significant economic impact on our nation and the world. It just becomes even more important to train, educate and inspire them now because I have this distinct honor.”