Women Entrepreneurs Exchange

How to Do Business with the Federal Government

SBA’s Live Web Chat with Fay Ott, Associate Administrator for Government Contracting and Business Development will answer small business government contracting questions, Thursday, May 29, 2008 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., EDT

The chat will increase awareness of government contracting opportunities, encourage more small business participation in SBA’s government contracting programs and educate the small business community on the SBA’s newly developed tools aimed at helping small businesses get their fair share of contracting opportunities.

Ott will answer questions from chat participants on Thursday, May 29, 2008, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., EDT, on how small businesses can gain access to the more than $400 billion federal marketplace, how to navigate the federal marketplace and understand the procurement process and register their small business profile in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database—a necessary step for doing business with the federal government. She will also answer questions on how small businesses can develop their companies through SBA’s 8(a) Business Development program and HUBZone programs and leverage their Small Disadvantaged Business certification.

U.S. Small Business Administration
Release Date: May 23, 2008 Contact: Tiffani Clements (202) 401-0035
Release Number: 08-56 Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news

7 Ways to Smash the Glass Ceiling

Play hardball — but only when necessary
“Just the other day, I was meeting with a vendor along with our general manager, who is male,” says Wendy Klinefelter Tragiai, founder of KEEPRS. “The presenter spoke almost exclusively to him, even though I’m the one who decides whether to carry the product.” Sometimes, it’s best to laugh at mistaken presumptions, although Tragiai has learned to make her voice heard by asking tough questions when it’s important to her. “Luckily, it’s not needed too often.”

Find your own management style
“To be a good manager and leader, you have to dig deep to find your own voice and style,” says Sandy Chilewich, founder HUE and Chilewich. “Imitating what business society presents as ‘winning’ does not work.”

Set boundaries
“Delegate things out,” advises Kim Kleeman of Shakespeare Squared, who sticks to 40- to 50-hour workweeks. “Women tend to be control freaks. You really have to let that go.”…..

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What makes a great networker?

1. Most people have absolutely no idea what networking really means. They attend events thinking it is about them – which is totally not true. A good networking knows that networking and building relationships is about taking the time to find out about others and from there working out if there is any synergy, or how their service or products could help that person with meeting their business or personal goals.

2. Great networkers follow up those they meet. If you tell people you are going to call, do it. There may be some months where you are so busy extra business is not a priority so, if this is the case when you meet people, simply say “It was great to meet you. I would like to find out more about your business so let’s catch up at the next month’s networking event”. It’ about having manners.

3. Switch on networkers don’t attend events based on who’s guest speaking they know it’s all about who else is in the room. Anyway, from even the worst speaker, if you can’t gain one tip to take home and implement you need to either re-evaluate how you are judging others or start listening with a more open frame of mind.

4. The savvy networker is never prejudice against those in the room based on their own agenda. A good example of this would be a corporate attending a networking event where on the surface all attendees appear to be from the small or home-based business sector. They feel they have nothing in common and, worse still, the people in the room are of no use to their business agenda. They are completely missing the fact that every attendee in the room has at least 300 networking contacts many of which are exactly the people the corporate is seeking introductions to.

The facts are that not everyone can see the big picture of networking. If you’re not willing to put in the hard yards and build relationships, you will spend most of your time attending numerous networking events in the hope that one day what you view as a potential client will be coincidently placed at your table, hand over their credit card and say run up what you want. I can absolutely guarantee the true cost of networking to you personally goes well beyond purchasing your ticket to attend an event.

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May’s Schedule for NAWIC’s Roundtable Series

Were you aware that there are Roundtables for Women in Construction sponsored by the National Association of Women in Construction-NAWIC?
Scroll down to see May’s Schedule. If you have any questions please contact Pat Popp, Director of Education and Training at (513)221-8020 or
email: ppopp@aci-construction.org

Women Owner’s Roundtable – May 9th @ 7:30 a.m. at ACI, 3 Kovach Dr. Cincinnati, OH 45215

Women Project Administrators Roundtable – May 14th @ 6:00 p.m. at ACI, 3 Kovack Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45215

Women Project Manager’s Roundtable – May 15th @ 5:30 p.m. at ACI, 3 Kovach Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45215

Women’s Financial Roundtable – May 20th @ 6:30 p.m. at Megen Construction, 11130 Ahsburn Road, Cincinnati, OH 45240

NAWIC has established this series of Roundtables that are open to any woman in the construction industry. These Roundtables are FREE of charge and membership in NAWIC is not required, but it is our hope that you would consider membership. The purpose of these Roundtables is to allow women working in similar positions in the construction industry the opportunity to discuss like issues, problem solve and to arrive at ‘best practices’ in a comfortable and non threatening environment. Additionally, it is our desire that you will meet and build relationships with fellow women in the industry. These Roundtables, though sponsored by NAWIC, will be self governing. If you have any questions or would like to enroll please contact Pat Popp at (513) 221-8020.

Women Entrepreneurs

Women Entrepreneurs Spur Economic Growth

Women entrepreneurs are key contributors to economic growth in low- and middle-income countries, particularly Latin America and the Caribbean, according to a new report from the Center for Women’s Leadership at Babson College.

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Self-Employed Women Differ From Their Wage And Salary Earning Counterparts
Age, Education, And Experience Are Key Human Capital Factors

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Self-employed women differ from their wage and salary earning counterparts in several human capital areas. Most notably, self-employed women tend to be older, are better educated, and have more managerial experience than wage and salary earners. These findings are contained in a report, Human Capital and Women’s Business Ownership, released today by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

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“10 Negotiation Tips From Women in the Trenches”

1-The Mars/Venus relationship needs to be top of mind in business negotiations. Communication styles between men and women are different and as a result, negotiations can be complex. Our advice: keep your communication style direct by sharing plans, not concepts. Think collaboration not confrontation.

2-Use mentors to help refine your negotiation skills. Given that you will be negotiating with both men and women, pick a mentor from Mars and Venus to get perspective from both sides of the communication spectrum. Practice makes perfect, so our advice: Practice, practice, practice.

3-Women tend to think of getting along vs. getting what they want. Be clear about what you want and practice asking for it in a calm, direct manner. Our advice: don’t
be confrontational. Getting fired-up and emotional may have an adverse reaction.

4-Negotiation is a conversation and you may risk getting off-track. Our advice: stay focused; remain on point and on course to avoid a negotiation disaster.

5-Gaining buy in along the way will get you closer to your goal faster. Making sure that the other party is being heard is a sign of respect and will be appreciated. Our advice: repeat the points of the other side and use language such as “Let me make sure I completely understand your point.”

6-Successful negotiating requires preparation. Be prepared with a strong understanding of your needs and motivations, as well as the other side. Our advice: do your research, gather together relevant information and if it’s complicated, get outside expertise from a mentor or colleague.

7-Creative solutions are well respected, especially if they demonstrate a strong understanding for the goals of the business. Our advice: Most points are negotiable and remember; it’s not always about money. Think add-ons, better terms or additional services.

8-Starting with your bottom line may close the door on negotiations. Our advice: be prepared to compromise and expect the other party to compromise as well.

9-Being fair is not a loss. It shows that you are willing to adjust your expectations to meet the needs of the other side. Our advice: ask the question, “Why don’t you tell me what you think is fair.” You may be surprised at the answer.

10-Negotiating is a process not an event. One conversation may not culminate in a final decision. Our advice: be willing to say, “Let me think about that and get back to you in 24 hours.”

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