The role of women in the workplace may have come a long way in the last few decades, but let’s be honest – there’s still a long way to go. This is especially the case for female entrepreneurs who dare to dream, and typically pay a high price for doing so. As well as needing to silence doubters every working day, it’s not unusual for women in this position to struggle with everything from marketing reach to investment opportunities.

Luckily, many female entrepreneurs have found iconic ways to turn those challenges into some of the best business opportunities possible. Let’s look at how.

# 1 - Turning Funding Struggles into Secure Financial Foundations

Within the startup space, male entrepreneurs typically secure as much as six times more funding than their female counterparts. Even female entrepreneurs with the best ideas face far more of an uphill battle when it comes to everything from taking out loans to securing investment capital.

But that doesn’t mean that women-led ideas should stay dead in the water. Instead, female entrepreneurs are forced to think on their feet when it comes to company finances. Instead of relying on investor backing, female leaders are far more liable to focus on a solid business plan and reliable financial forecasts developed with the help and insight of experienced accountants. While it may mean more work upfront and a longer journey to eventual success, these additional efforts provide a much stronger foundation for a successful business than the upfront handouts that many male professionals receive.

# 2 - Prioritising That Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance is famously more difficult for women to achieve, especially when home responsibilities and child rearing are also in play. This is something that 3 in 10 female entrepreneurs struggle with. But that struggle could end up being for the greater good.

While male entrepreneurs famously drive themselves to burnout with long hours and a fundamental lack of balance, even busy women are more likely to ensure they’re making time for everything from family to themselves. They’re also more liable to do the same for their teams through benefits, including remote work and flexi-hours. This can make a huge difference to both personal and whole-team outlooks, and is likely to even boost productivity in the long run.

# 3 - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

60% of women put off starting their own business due to imposter syndrome, and those that do go ahead face continual doubts when having to answer questions that a man in the same position wouldn’t even consider.

Luckily, imposter syndrome can be positive, even when it’s crippling. For instance, female entrepreneurs are more likely to give back, mentor their team members, and continually assess things like performance and opportunity. Higher levels of self-doubt can also ensure due diligence, more effective product testing/research, and a generally careful approach that less risk-averse male entrepreneurs too often overlook to their detriment. And that could lead to a business that stays far healthier and makes everyone far happier, in the long run!

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