A Challenge Called Businesswoman

All successful people face obstacles, that is certain. But for women the challenge can be even greater, because the business world is still dominated by men.

Being a woman, mother, entrepreneur and manager of the home, and do all this on top of high heels is not an easy task, but when that resolved and ambitious woman overcomes challenges, the laurels of victory tastes a lot more pleasurable!

This week we had a conversation about this topic with the Vice-President of Entrepreneurship at the «Jeune Chambre de Commerce de Montréal», Vanessa Cherenfant.

If you are a woman who is in search of your personal and professional achievement, this article is for you. If you are a man who wants to become capable of supporting the woman you love, this article is for you too.

Vanessa has a Bachelor Degree in Industrial Engineering with Orientation in Innovation Technologies. After a few years working in large companies with top management and teams, Vanessa decided to take a bold leap and start working on her own business project Luxurious Xscapes.

Launching a business venture requires taking leaps of faiths and comes with a lot of risks. And women have not developed this reflex or habit very well. “We usually take fewer risks than men, some say we take calculated risks; still this is something that we have to work on if we want to make it big in the business world”. That is the main difference between men and women in business, according to Vanessa. While men take risks more naturally, women tend to be more restrained in this regard.

What can entrepreneurs, and particularly women, do to help themselves on their journey?

“I would say that being surrounded by positive people is a good tip. Being next to successful models helps us in the sense that we can not only learn from their mistakes but it also encourages us to follow their good example as well as build from their experience. One of the things that has inspired me to start on my own project has been my involvement with the «Jeune Chambre de Commerce de Montréal» and being surrounded by entrepreneurs who took that leap of faith”, explains Vanessa.

The family and being surrounded by the right companion also has a fundamental role in this process, for women in particular who are still expected to take on the big role at home: “It will be more difficult to achieve success if the man by your side is not ready to help you along that path. Of course I want to have children one day, but I also want to launch my company and the good thing is I’m with someone who understands my ambition and helps me toward my goals. I believe that women who want to have a family and take on big roles in their companies, whether it be by following the corporate path or launching their own business, need to surround themselves with people who understand that desire and are willing to help them through it, and that also means finding a partner that is ready to take on more responsibilities on the family side to help them achieve their business goals.”

Of course, at the end of the interview we touched on a delicate subject, but unavoidable when you’re in front of an ambitious and beautiful businesswoman such as Vanessa. We asked: Is beauty helpful or detrimental? Vanessa responds with a smile: “Sometimes I think that beauty is risky, because people tend to take you less seriously in the beginning but it’s up to you to show what you’re made of”

In essence, women can definitely make it work in the business world despite the common obstacles (aversion to risk, conciliate time at work versus time with the family, for example) but the biggest obstacle to be overcome, according to Vanessa, is one that women put forth themselves. “Women need to stop worrying about the barriers of entering the business world and start believing in themselves and their capabilities first. At the end of the day, that’s all that counts. Wherever you’re coming from and whoever you are, it’s what you bring to the table that matters.”

Fortunately optimism and persistence are part of the female personality and these qualities are gradually giving women their rightful place in the sun.

I invite you to visit this page of our website to find out about another businesswoman who also overcame great many challenges on her journey to success.

For more in depth and detailed information, Phoenix Alliance offers a FREE specialized «How to create a successful partnership between ambitious women and their mates» seminar to its registered members.

Interesting outside link: « Overcoming Challenges Facing Women in Business »