Let’s take a look at the numbers: There are more than 10 million businesses owned by women, employing more than 13 million people and generating $1.9 trillion in sales. Not only that, women-led businesses are one of the fastest growing types of the small businesses—a rare bright spot in today’s sluggish economy. The number of women-owned businesses increased nearly 60 percent since 1997. Lastly, according to the National Association of Women Business Owners‘ (NAWBO) 2013 State of Women-Owned Businesses Survey, 2013 looks to be the “Year of the Female Entrepreneur,” with women business owners’ optimism at high levels (81 percent) on the opportunities that lie ahead.