On Being a Woman-Owned Business
This past week, I was filling out some information on Forge for a potential award, and one of the questions was this: What challenges have you faced as a woman-owned business?
I had to pause for a minute because the truth is that I rarely think of Forge as a "woman-owned business." I just think of Forge as a really, REALLY good recruiting firm (of course, I am biased...). ;)
But this distinction actually matters a lot to me.
Here is why: I want Forge to be known first and foremost for the quality of our work—the excellence of our process, the depth of the relationships we build, the empathy we have for both the candidates & clients we are working with, and the results we deliver.
This matters far more than the gender of the owner.
Are glass ceilings real? Yes, absolutely. My rose-colored glasses aren’t that tinted. 😅 But I am a big believer that when you consistently do excellent work—when you combine empathy and excellence—your results speak far louder than labels.
Will you be underestimated at times in life because of a million things you don’t control? Most likely.
But five years into owning a business, here is my advice: Let people underestimate you. It doesn’t have to be something you fight or resent.
Keep showing up.
Keep delivering.
In the long run, substance will always outpace perception, and the world is your oyster.