Gloria Vanderbilt once said very plain and simply put, “I believe that one woman’s success can only help another woman’s success.”
The mission of Women Executive Leaders of DeKalb (WELD) is to promote and empower women in the workplace and as business owners.
Number of women-owned businesses increased nearly 3,000% since 1972,
according to American Express Research & Insights
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MEET THE CHAIR
Meet Nicole Vonetta, Life Coach, Speaker, Founder & CEO of Makeda Woman. A new member of the Chamber, Nicole lended her expertise to serving as an Ambassador and now as Chair of WELD.
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STATE OF WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS
What gets measured gets managed. American Express has for the past eight years provided annual updates on a variety of sociodemographic characteristics that influence overall movement of the women-owned business sector.
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NON-TRADITIONAL CAREERS
The challenges facing women who may seek non-traditional employment opportunities vary depending on the job, field, and sector. For carpenters, electricians, plumbers, welders, and other highly-paid blue-collar tradespeople, the route to employment may not be as defined.
WELD ACTS
WELD gives members access to People, Information, and Opportunities through a unique combination of resources and events built around our three core actions. Additionally, members engage the community through service and special programming. The WELD Council holds meetings to carry out or support the recommendation and implementations made in these action areas.
- Accountability – acts to foster relationships where women in the workplace and as business owners hold each other accountable.
- Talent Pipeline – acts to improve women networks in the county, region, and statewide as well as increase the talent pipeline of a 21st-century women’s workforce in progressive and traditional industries.
- Challenge Thinking – acts to challenge thinking through a purpose-driven and intentional community of peers and mentors who support, encourage, and unapologetically challenge.
- Brand Development – acts to coach/mentor women in building a personal brand that will differentiate them and allow them to compete in the global marketplace.
WELD gives access to resources that help educate, support, and empower women and produces inclusive and equitable outcomes.
- Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project (WEOP)
- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Women’s Business Ownership – helps women start and grow small businesses.
- The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) – provides independent certification to women-owned businesses, opening opportunities to do business with major corporations.
- International Association of Women – provides its members with in-person and virtual networking events, professional development opportunities, career and business development services, and promotional opportunities.
- SCORE – pairs entrepreneurs with volunteer business mentors in a wide range of industries. Offers a wide range of resources for women entrepreneurs, including educational blogs and success stories, and webinars on women’s entrepreneurship and general business.
- Entrepreneurship Websites – sites designed to inspire, educate, and empower women. Some offer free content, some are membership sites, and some are geared toward conferences or education. Popular sites include She Owns It, the Female Entrepreneur Association, Women Who Startup, and Marie Forleo‘s blog.
WELD connects with local and regional influencers and decision-makers whose mutual goal is to improve the business climate for women.
Business influencers have cultivated a specific audience and have the potential to help your business by promoting it at little to no cost. Operating typically on social media, they have the ability to affect the purchase decisions of others.
- Small Business Influencers on Twitter – Keep yourself updated with the latest trends by following small business influencers on Twitter.
- 9 Creative Brands on Instagram – Figure out how to do Instagram the right way.
- Business Influencers – How to Find Them for a Free Marketing Campaign
- Women-Owned Business – Technical Resources – Georgia Department of Economic Development
WELD creates opportunities for professional and personal growth through leadership training, mentoring, coaching, networking and serving.
- Build your professional network
- Community engagement and strategic collaboration
- Interact with the DeKalb and metro-Atlanta business community
- Professional and personal development
- Board training and leadership
- Advocacy on behalf of women in business
WOMEN ARE STARTING AN AVERAGE OF 1,821 NET NEW U.S. BUSINESSES A DAY
The number of women entrepreneurs is multiplying two to four times faster than men depending on your region of the country. Yet we still are under-represented in C-Suite level positions, politics, and on public and corporate boards. The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce sees and promotes the value of women in business and non-profits. The historical and progressive contributions of women have changed the face of business as we know. WELD exists so that women business leaders, emerging leaders, and community / non-profit leaders can come together and help build and promote women leaders.
Benefits of WELD Membership
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