Now is the best time to be a woman.
We’re poised to find greater success than ever before—personally, professionally and philanthropically.
Because this world is crazy busy, fast changing and full of complex problems, the way forward must include growing as many win/win scenarios as possible. This, of course, is what women are asked to do on a daily basis—as mothers, wives, daughters, peers and friends.
Want proof of my bold statement about women? Please think about the recent, explosive growth of:
- Cause-related marketing
- Microfinance
- Social entrepreneurism
- Women-owned businesses
Cause-related marketing emphasizes how retail purchases will promote a greater good in the world. Examples include:
- Shopping days that benefit a not-for-profit, holiday bazaars and girl scout cookies
- Paying extra for food that is organic, locally sourced or free range
- Choosing a coffee shop because it supports small, family owned coffee growers in less developed countries
- Preferring Costco over Walmart because it provides better benefits for it’s employees
One simple statistic explains much about the growth of cause-related marketing. According to Make It Better’s reader survey, 91 percent of educated, affluent women will change their brand loyalty if they believe that their purchase will make the world better. They intuitively shop with their hearts and their smarts.
Microfinance and women-owned businesses now drive more effective change for the better in third world countries than multi-million dollar grants ever did. Through organizations like Kiva.org, women borrow small sums of money to farm a tiny plot of land or start another small business—like weaving. They use their sales proceeds to help their children get an education, improve their family’s health care and home, reinvest to grow their business and pay back the loan.
Women often are the driving force behind “social entrepreneuriship” too. For example, Lake Forest resident, mother of four and former Goldman Sachs partner Connie Duckworth founded Arzu Studio Hope to provide support and stability for women in Afghanistan who weave gorgeous rugs. Arzu then sells the rugs in developed countries like the United States and sends the proceeds back to build schools, health clinics and better homes.
Best of all, U.S. women now drive “for profit” entrepreneurship. According to the Center for Women’s Business Research, in the last decade majority-owned women businesses grew at twice the rate of all businesses.
Women create or choose win/win scenarios – particularly mothers who must think and act for dependent others. Combine this with the following facts:
- Women are freer than ever to pursue whatever activities, interests and work that appeals to them.
- Technology makes it easier than ever to connect with good ideas and like-minded people.
- Chicagoland combines the resources of a world-class city with Midwestern friendliness making our communities a particularly great place for women to succeed.
Demographic experts claim that in the near future Americans – male or female – will likely change careers five or more times in their lives. Five careers! That number is astonishing, until you think about employment histories similar to mine – lawyer, mother, writer, community servant, publisher.
Women who make daily and life choices with their hearts and their smarts take on whatever role is asked of them. They problem solve by finding win/win solutions for themselves and others and those choices will naturally nurture a better world – and more success for themselves.
This is why women are perfectly poised to enjoy greater success than ever – personally, professionally, and philanthropically.
This column was excerpted from a speech Susan Noyes gave on September 8, 2012 to Advocate Health Care’s Second Annual Health and Wellness Symposium.
