Today is Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, observed annually. In the U.S., women own more than 12 million businesses, and these businesses employ over 9 million people[1].
Wendy Diamond created the holiday in 2014 to highlight the hardships faced by millions of women and girls living in poverty worldwide. The Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO), founded in 2013 by Diamond, empowers girls and women to actively participate in the economy by helping to create female entrepreneurs[1].
Ruby Aguire Vallejo, a 12th-grade student and female business owner at Del Mar, started wire wrapping as a hobby during quarantine, eventually gifting her creations to family and friends. Encouraged by her peers to turn her hobby into a business, Ruby feared it would take away the fun. However, she realized, “It actually made it more fun because I’m able to customize pieces to my customer’s personality and liking.”
“I think the biggest problem is just starting,” Ruby said. “I found that it’s really hard to get attention for your business when you don’t begin with a big platform… It’s also hard to manage a small business, especially when you’re just starting.”
Despite the challenges of owning a small business, Ruby encourages other female business owners to “just take that leap of faith in yourself, because you never know how it turns out unless you take initiative and have trust in yourself.”
Ruby notes how Del Mar has many young entrepreneurs, creating a supportive community.
To observe the holiday, people can support small businesses owned by women or spread the word by using the hashtag #WomensEntrepreneurshipDay online.
[1] Women’s Entrepreneurship Day. (2024, January 30). Holidays Calendar. https://www.holidayscalendar.com/event/womens-entrepreneurship-day/
