Intentional Woman Online

Women Micro-Businesses Build a Sanitary Napkin Business with Banana Fibers

Connie — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 19:23:41 +0000

Where there is a need, there is a business opportunity for a woman to fill.

I always keep my ears tuned in and eyes open wide for unique approaches to micro-business ideas started by women. Here is one that we in the U.S. take for granted.

Eco-Friendly, Women-Centric Approaches Towards Female Sanitation

In honour of International Women’s Day, I’m writing about something that most women take for granted – female hygiene during mensuration. Many women in the developing world can miss up to 50 school or working days per year due to lack of proper feminine hygiene.

To alleviate the problem, (using Banana fibres), in Rwanda a Harvard MBA graduate Elizabeth Scharpf formed the Sustainable Health Enterprise (SHE). The organization then started working with Rwandan women to make sanitary pads made with banana-tree fibers. Since 2009, SHE has also trained 5,000 Rwandan women to set up their own micro-enterprises, creating an industry that is as sustainable as its product. They have …more

Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program Approved

Connie — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 19:20:59 +0000

Since the early eighties, I have been advocating for women business owners to have access to a piece of government contracts. Not just locally but federally. Throughout the eighties and early nineties many new pathways of opportunities were created for WBEs as a result of those of us who are now considered pioneers for women business owners. We are no longer asked if our husbands are available to sign on bank notes when we seek financial help. We are no longer looked at on job sites as “filling in” for the owner. We have made great strides in this arena.

Over the past decade, however, we seemed to have lost a foothold and thanks to organizations like NAWBO, a big player in the game this time, and many others like them, we are making our way back to the top of things. This time we have our daughters on board and even granddaughters who are standing on the foundation others like myself built for them.

Here is an excerpt from the bill:

Beginning February 4, the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract program will allow contracting officers to set aside certain federal contracts for eligible women-owned small businesses or economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses. The first contracts expected to be awarded by the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011.

The implementation of the program has been a struggle since 2000, when Congress authorized a “restricted competition” or set-aside program specifically for women-owned businesses, with a goal of 5 percent of federal contract dollars to be awarded to WOSBs. The 5 percent goal has never been attained, and women business owners have missed out on an estimated $5 billion in federal contracts per year.
On October 7, 2010, the U.S. Small Business Administration published a final rule effective February 4, 2011, aimed at expanding federal contracting opportunities for women-owned small businesses (WOSBs). The Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract program authorizes contracting officers to set aside certain federal contracts for eligible:

Economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses (EDWOSBs)

To be eligible more

To get additional information on getting certified for this program and other programs for women business owners contact me, by phone: 614-325-5452 or connie@intentionalwomanonline.com.

Women Business Enterprises Build Bridges for Future Leaders

Connie — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:40:44 +0000

We prepare the nest to nurture our babes. We bare the children. We feed their hungry bellies. We soothe their aches and pains. We set up systems to facilitate their learning via experiential and books. We create the doorways into which our offspring pass through to pursue their own dreams.

We are women nurturing our children by building bridges one step at a time.

As business owners we build different kinds of bridges but the skill set is the same. We prepare our business nests via the development of a business plan.

We feed our own hunger for challenge and the hope of realizing a life long dream through networking and listening to others who have been there. We want to be there too.

The systems we create in our own businesses maintain our momentum. They help us direct our destinies, creating doors of opportunities through which we may walk and, engaging us in new and exciting challenges.

I’ve traveled the world because I risked my comfort zone to start a business. I’ve been to Africa, Australia, Europe, Mexico, the Carribbean, Canada and many, many states within the U.S. because I chose to be a business owner.

I’ve met many interesting people during my 30+ years as a business owner and listened to the stories of other women, what I call “real women” who took risks and succeeded.

That is why Intentional Woman On Line was born…to tell the stories of “real women” who have taken lemons and turned them into lemonade.

Do you have a story you want to share? I want to interview you. Email me, Connie Spruill at connie@intentionalwomanonline.com , with the highlights of your story along with your telephone number so we can talk.

Profiles of Inspiration

Connie — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:36:57 +0000

May 7, 2011 marks another annual Profiles of Inspiration Success for Women event. Five women will share their stories about how they overcame pitfalls in their businesses to build a successful growing, income producing entity for themselves and their heirs.

Intentional Woman On Line is seeking your stories. Email them to connie@intentionalwomanonline.com.

Website Clarity

Connie — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:28:28 +0000

Please join me Wednesday February 17, 2010 at the Upper Arlington, Ohio Lifelong Learning program for my Website Clarity workshop, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Contact the Upper Arlington program at 614-583-5333 to register.