Who Do YFEs Look Up To in Business?

Who do you look up to, admire, and/or learn from as a young, female entrepreneur? Tomorrow’s #YFEchat is focusing on heroes and mentors (find out more about the chat here) and to get the ball rolling, let’s start sharing who it is we look up to and get advice from in business.

Comment below with who you look up to and who, if you have one, is your mentor in building your business. Here are what two of YFEs Facebook Page likers had to say about who they look up to in business and why…

“As a young female Entrepreneur, it may sound cheesy but I’ve always looked up to my mom and grandmother. Both were very strong and independent women. My grandmother spent 40 or so years in a male driven business (construction) making a name for herself as a leader and salesperson. My mom has followed in her footsteps in a largely male dominated business. Now I look back at both of their sucesses and toast them for inspiring me to be a strong, empowered woman in business.”

- Marni Gold, The Busy Girls (Social Media/Marketing/Public Relations/Branding Consultants and Educators)
Marni Gold MA Ed. is Owner and Designer of Creative Custom Card Boxes, and also is a trained singer, experienced voice teacher and social media aficionado. Marni serves as the CEO of Northern New Jersey Wedding and Event Professionals, Incoming Director of Communications for ISES NJ North, Marketing Associate for ABC NJ and Marketing Director for Wish upon a Wedding New Jersey. Marni has her Masters’ degree in Education.

“A person that I admire is Stacie Ivers Francombe-Inspire Smart Success. http://www.inspiresmartsuccess.com . I admire her because at one point in her life she was a single parent (likewise) and she did not let being a single parent hinder her from her dreams. She previously owned Get Married Magazine (very popular) sold it and is currently focusing on her company ISS. Inspire Smart Success is a company that focuses on small business branding, marketing, and development etc. in the wedding industry. She travels all over the world conducting seminars to educate entrepreneurs on how to get noticed and grow your business. I came across her company through Google. I was looking for a mentor to assist me with branding, marketing, and development. She has helped me shape my business, because after speaking with her and reading her life story, I am motivated. I no longer feel that because I am a parent of two my dreams have to be on hold. I no longer feel that all the long hours won’t pay off. She is a very humble person. Very positive. As an entrepreneur you need someone that embodies those qualities as a mentor in order to keep your spirits up.”

- Shanika, FleurGirl (Floral Design Service)
Shanika is the owner of FleurGirl. She has always loved flowers, what woman doesn’t… As a small child she fell in love with weddings and flowers. Her career started in the Real Estate industry, while designing flowers as a hobby. After realizing that her passion was not being fulfilled, she decided to attend The Ohio State University-ATI to pursue her floral design dreams which lead her to launch my business in 2011.  

Images courtesy of AshleyCooper andrewwtodd Ali Brown jurvetson