involved in exporting, women-led firms often sell to more than one country in a relatively short period of time. Small is the new big for taking your business global. What will help more women to export? Research institutes, policymakers, and governments alike see the lowering of barriers to trade and international expansion for women business owners as contributing to economic equality. As the International Trade Administration writes, “Encouraging women business owners and entrepreneurs to trade across borders is key to achieving economic equality for women.” But the challenges cannot be underestimated. They run the gamut from access to credit, to knowledge gaps, to regulatory imbalances. One solution to getting more women to export is to connect women-led businesses that have not yet exported with experienced women exporters. When a woman connects with someone already successful at exporting, she is more likely to build a mentormentee relationship with that individual to guide her journey. Her path forward becomes that much easier. That’s why wegg is essential—support. It is an educator, an encourager, a coach, a sharer of resources, a remover of barriers, a connector to people, a community, and a confidence booster for women seeking to do more business beyond borders. wegg shows women what’s possible. It’s up to them to keep the momentum going. What it takes for a woman business owner to successfully expand a business globally It starts with you. As with any business venture, you need to first take stock of yourself and your business to see if you have the personality (fearless), mindset (global), and business that can benefit from exporting (ability to scale). If you’ve got all that, you are on your way to unlocking doors to global success. To succeed, you have to live and breathe global expansion – be fearless about it. Other factors important to expanding a business internationally that wegg presenters have recommended over the years include the ability to scale, calculated risks, governmental resources, confidence, the necessary skillset, traderelated grants, and to reach out to others who have been successful at exporting, and track profitability. A piece I wrote a couple of years ago, “How to MacGyver Your First Export,” is still relevant. It offers fifteen concise points on how to achieve your first export. It is available here: https://app.box.com/s/ cse07nf1szymbm9welgtn3wryj4vzb5y. enterprising Women 81
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