October is National Women’s Small Business Month

Celebrating the Power of Women Entrepreneurs

October is National Women’s Small Business Month, a time to celebrate the contributions of women entrepreneurs to the American economy. Women-owned businesses are a vital part of our nation’s small business community, accounting for nearly one in four small businesses. They create jobs, drive innovation, and boost economic growth.

This month, we’re taking a look at some of the amazing women entrepreneurs who are making a difference in their communities and beyond.

Meet Women Who Are Changing the World

Meet the Women Entrepreneurs Who Are Changing the World

• Jessica O. Matthews: Founder and CEO of Uncharted, a social enterprise that creates innovative products that help people in developing countries. Matthews’ company has developed a number of award-winning products, including the PlayPump, a water pump that can be powered by children playing on a merry-go-round.
  

  Jessica O. Matthews, founder and CEO of Uncharted, social enterprise

• Melanie Perkins: Co-founder and CEO of Canva, a graphic design platform that makes it easy for anyone to create professional-looking designs. Canva has over 75 million active users and is used by businesses of all sizes, from startups to Fortune 500 companies.
  

  Melanie Perkins, co-founder and CEO of Canva, graphic design platform
• Erin Gallagher: Founder and CEO of Ella, an inclusive network unlocking women’s access to human and financial capital. Gallagher was named a 2022 Top 100 LinkedIn Creator and Top 10 DEI Voice (#5) and penned one of the Top 100 Most Influential LinkedIn Posts of the Decade.
  

  Erin Gallagher, founder and CEO of Ella, a financial capital company
• Oprah Winfrey: Media mogul, philanthropist, and one of the most influential women in the world. Winfrey’s career has spanned decades and she has used her platform to promote education, literacy, and economic empowerment.
  

  Oprah Winfrey, media mogul, philanthropist
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Supreme Court Justice and icon for women’s rights. Ginsburg has fought tirelessly for gender equality and her legacy will continue to inspire women for generations to come.
  

  Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court Justice

These are just a few of the many amazing women who are making a difference in the world. Their stories are an inspiration to us all.

Support Women-Owned Businesses

This National Women’s Small Business Month, we encourage you to support women-owned businesses. Here are a few ways to do that:

• • • Shop at women-owned businesses. When you shop at a women-owned business, you’re not only supporting a local business, but you’re also supporting a woman entrepreneur.
    • Invest in women-owned businesses. There are a number of ways to invest in women-owned businesses, such as through angel investing or venture capital.
    • Promote women-owned businesses. Talk about women-owned businesses to your friends, family, and colleagues. The more people who know about women-owned businesses, the more likely they are to support them.

By supporting women-owned businesses, we can help to create a more equitable and prosperous economy.