By Susan Gotham
President and Owner of Gotham Professional Services
Pretty unbelievable that the same year I was an aspiring dancer (think oversized Esprit canvas tote, permed hair and puffy bangs) in middle school while looking all sophisticated with my rolled up jeans and Guess sweatshirt (please, don’t ask), women in this country could not get a business loan unless their husband, son or nearest male relative was a cosigner.
At the time, only four business centers existed for women in the United States. Data on women in business is fuzzy around this time. Gee, I wonder why? Could it be that the U.S. Census Bureau didn’t track women-owned C corporations? Bingo.
We, as women business owners, were all but invisible. That was just three decades ago. THREE!!!
This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of H.R. 5050 known as the Women’s Business Ownership Act. The legislation was signed into law October 25, 1988 by President Ronald Reagan. NAWBO helped make the law a reality. It included things like abolishing that ridiculous cosigning rule and creating the Women’s Business Center program. And, yes, the U.S. Census Bureau started figuring us into their calculations, too.
NAWBO Chicago is working with other women business groups to plan citywide events celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of H.R. 5050 this coming October. Perfect timing too. Our theme this year is advocacy. I’m not saying we have to picket City Hall every day or stand in a circle and sing “Kumbaya,” but I am saying it’s time to revisit our roots and take action.
In fact, someone asked me recently what hashtag I would pick for NAWBO. My answer: #OurTimeIsNow.
The time is now for women to be listened to because we, as women business owners, are the DNA of the economy. When our numbers rise on boards, in the corporate C-suite, and at start-ups, we strengthen the entire business ecosystem.
I look at it this way: I own a recruitment services firm. Helping other businesses be successful is important to me. Advocacy for women in business may be a different means, but it seeks the same end.
I looked up the word “advocacy.” After all, if we’re going to dedicate a whole year to a word, we should be clear on what it means. According to Merriam Webster, advocacy is “the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal.” Dictionary.com defines it as “the act of pleading for, supporting or recommending.” And Wikipedia describes it as “an activity by an individual or group which aims to influence decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions.”
I’m going to add something else here. Advocacy makes NAWBO Chicago different — and it’s because we walk the talk. This is the first organization that showed me there were others in business like me — women who were pulling for me, advocating for me, lifting me up. I was no longer on my island alone.
While I’ve gotten business from NAWBO, that didn’t drive me to be a member. Rather, I’ve got “my people” — and this goes for EVERY member of NAWBO Chicago — who support my success.
That’s why I’m so jazzed about this year being the year of advocacy.
We get to turn it up a notch for all women in business at the national NAWBO level (yes, our very own Susan Dawson is a director on the national board!), in government (recently, a group of us chapter presidents went to Washington to support the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act supporting manufacturing and technical education) and locally (look for CONNECTS and other events where we will have REAL talk and REAL action advocating for women business leaders; plus, we’ve got lots of fun stuff for our BIG membership drive in September).
To close, I am humbled and excited about serving as your president. Humbled because I want to do everything well and share my passion for NAWBO Chicago with others. Excited because we’re scaling up the energy and initiatives for women in business. And we’re doing it together.
Here’s my presidential pledge: I’m here for you. Bring on your ideas or opinions about NAWBO Chicago. I’m here to listen. I want all of us to succeed. That can only happen if we advocate for our beliefs, talk up our concerns, and support one another.
Ladies, are you ready to rally?