Women in Power - Winter 2016

Women’s History Month Mission
National Women’s History Month
was established by presidential
proclamation in order to draw
attention to and improve the focus
on women in historical studies.
It began in New York City on
March 8, 1857, when female textile
workers marched in protest of unfair
working conditions and unequal
rights for women. It was one of the
first organized strikes by working
women, during which they called
for a shorter work day and decent
wages. Also on March 8, in 1908,
women workers in the needle trades
marched through New York City’s
Lower East Side to protest child
labor, sweatshop working conditions,
and demand women’s suffrage.
Beginning in 1910, March 8 became
annually observed as International
Women’s Day.
Women’s History Week was
instituted in 1978 in an effort to
begin adding women’s history into
educational curricula. In 1987, the
National Women’s History Project
successfully petitioned Congress to
include all of March as a celebration
of the economic, political and social
contributions of women.
10
Million Strong:
The Tipping Point for Women’s Entrepreneurship
2015 was a transformational
year for women entrepreneurs
and their businesses. Women are
starting 1,200 new businesses per
day – they are inventing products,
solving problems, creating jobs and
supporting their communities. The
impact is undeniable and the growth
is unprecedented, but we have a long
way to go before reaching parity.
Women continue to lack
access to some of the most
crucial assets, capital and
markets, necessary to launch
and grow their businesses. We
are at a tipping point. It’s a time
for celebration, but also a call-toaction
to effectively sustain this
momentum. Hence the title for
this year’s report.
This Annual Report is a
synthesis of the Council’s
commitment to supporting
women in business by
producing best-in-class,
actionable research on the
most relevant issues facing aspiring
and current women business owners
and leaders, and identifying – through
research and engagement – the unique
barriers and challenges of women
in pursuit of business. The Annual
Report includes: notable trends
in women’s entrepreneurship
summary of
the Council’s research portfolio
highlights from the Council’s
engagement efforts and other
accomplishments, as well as the
contributions of other key
stakeholders recommendations
to improve the business climate
for women.
The Annual Report was
delivered to the SBA
Administrator, the
White House, and
Members of the Senate
Small Business and
Entrepreneurship and
House Small Business
Committees on December
16, 2015. In 2016, the Council
plans to work strategically
and collaboratively with key
influencers, stakeholders, and policy
makers to take action on these
recommendations and continue
research that illuminates the issues,
challenges and opportunities for
women entrepreneurs.
6 Women In Power Business Magazine | Winter 2016