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Redefining Business Success through Motherhood with Elaine Welteroth
Meet 100 women power players, key funding opportunities and the self-care checklist made for high-achievers
Jasmine Crockett
October 15, 2024
Featured Story
Elaine Welteroth’s Barrier-Breaking Approach to Motherhood & Leadership
Fearless. That’s Elaine Welteroth’s approach to her work. From the youngest Editor-in-Chief at Teen Vogue to writing a bestselling memoir and co-hosting The Talk, she consistently shows how multifaceted, dynamic women can be in their careers. And she’s at it again. This time standing in the gap for families through her nonprofit, the birthFUND. Laughed out of an OB’s office for asking too many questions, she’s leveraging her birthing and motherhood experiences to address the U.S. maternal health crisis. Because motherhood changes everything. Even work. |
While Welteroth amplifies women’s voices and healthcare access to create change, I’m on a mission to help ambitious women, especially moms, find balance within their personal and professional pursuits. Motherhood isn’t something you compartmentalize or leave behind when you step into the office. Instead, it fuels your purpose and shapes your approach.
Being a mom has sharpened not only my problem-solving skills and ability to navigate unpredictable headwinds but also how I lead, now with greater empathy and a clearer purpose for long-term impact.
Research agrees. Moms, in particular, bring out the best in their employees, are calmer in crisis and employ more diplomacy than those without children. Additionally, women senior leaders boost profits, increase social responsibility and cultivate high-quality customer experiences per a recent HBR study.
So, be encouraged. Bringing your whole self to work matters and changes business as usual…for the better!
Need to Know
3 minutes can change everything. Apply for the NYC BGV Pitch Event. Join in on the democratized funding approach that flips the traditional pitch experience on its head. Coaching and community included.
Women-led VC firm, Artemis Fund, closed its second fund at $36M to fuel early-stage tech startups led by women and people of color.
Minority-owned cannabis businesses are eligible for state grants up to $500K through the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund in Massachusetts. App closes 10/17.
MadeinUSA.com is launching its first grant in honor of National Women’s Small Business Month! $2,500 for the taking to a women-owned company manufacturing products in the good ol’ US of A. Contest closes 10/22.
8 small business grants to apply for this October through Grantwatch. $1K-$6K diverse funding opps for U.S.-based businesses.
Industry Updates
WTH? Fearless Fund and Hello Alice are slammed with discriminatory lawsuits creating legal challenges and draining organizational resources despite inclusive funding efforts.
3 OpenAI executives leave, including Chief Technology Officer, Mira Murati, in the face of a new $6.5 billion financing round.
Top 100 women named across the 🌎 in Fortune’s Most Powerful Women List with Mary Barra, Karen S. Lynch and Jane Fraser snagging the top 3 spots.
Stakes are higher for women. 👀 hidden risks of pride at work according to a new study featured in Forbes.
Quote of the Week
You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world's problems at once, but don't ever underestimate the importance you can have.
Resource Spotlight
📚 Book Build good habits and break the bad ones with James Clear’s book, Atomic Habits. | 🎧 Podcast How the founder of this must-have brand for parents was inspired by her kid’s first cold, on this Second Life Podcast episode. | 🎧 Article Take the guesswork out of self-care with HBR’s Self-Care Checklist for Leaders. |
Founder’s Note
Elaine's story reminds us that motherhood can be a powerful catalyst for positive change in business and society. This week, as I balance Techstars and Smply’s platform development, I'm reflecting on how my experience as a mother shapes our mission to amplify diverse female voices in entrepreneurship.
Key Insight: :Motherhood has reshaped my approach to business, teaching me the value of efficiency, adaptability, and purposeful work. These skills are proving invaluable as we navigate the intense pace of Techstars.
Action Taken: We're laser-focused on capturing early traction and building our community. Our dev team is hard at work on a new landing page and waitlist feature. It's all about laying the groundwork for strong connections with our future users.
Tip for Fellow Founders: Embrace the unexpected lessons from all areas of your life. For me, motherhood has been a crash course in prioritization and time management – skills that are serving me well in this startup accelerator environment.
As we build this community together, I'd love to hear how your diverse experiences shape your entrepreneurial journey.
Stay inspired, stay unstoppable,
