Cracking the Code: Lessons Learned from Women Founders

Yesterday, I had the privilege of facilitating a Women Founders Panel at Fishburners , presented by Microsoft for Startups , as part of the International Women's Day 2023 celebrations. The theme of this year's IWD was "Cracking the Code: Innovation for a gender equal future", and we had an amazing lineup of speakers who shared their insights and experiences and discussed how we can embrace equity, diversity and inclusion in the startup ecosystem, and how we can leverage our unique skills and strengths as women to create innovative solutions for the world's challenges.

The panelists were:

Megan Dalla-Camina , author, founder and CEO of Women Rising , a platform that empowers women to create their own version of success Dr Amandeep H. , principal at Main Sequence Ventures and NSW clinical lead for the Australian Clinical Entrepreneur Program Annie Luu , global VP of Strategic Partnerships at Marlee , a platform that helps entrepreneurs and teams discover and optimize their intrinsic attitudes and motivations.

I don't think I've experienced a panel with such remarkably talented and successful women who were so open, thoughtful and approachable. This enabled a lively and engaging discussion, covering topics such as:

• Overcoming impostor syndrome and self-doubt.
• Balancing passion and pragmatism in building and selling your product.
• Finding mentors, allies and supporters who can help you grow your network and your business.
• Leveraging your unique skills as a woman founder, such as planning, big picture vision, seeing blind spots and creating communities.
• Mastering the art of building a business and a family. 

Here are some of my key takeaways from our discussion: 

Be careful who you get in bed with. Whether it's co-founders, investors, mentors or partners, make sure you align your values, vision and expectations with them. Don't compromise on your integrity or your goals. Do your due diligence and trust your gut.

• Learn business basics: build and sell. As a founder, you need to have a solid understanding of your market, your customers, your product and your finances. You need to be able to build something that solves a real problem and delivers value. Learn how to code. You also need to be able to sell it effectively and communicate your unique value proposition clearly.
• Grow your safe network. Surround yourself with people who support you, challenge you and inspire you. Find mentors who have been where you want to go and can guide you along the way. Join communities like Fishburners and Microsoft for Startups that provide resources, opportunities and connections for founders. Don't be afraid to ask for help or feedback when you need it.
• Fall in love with the problem you're solving for. Passion is what drives you to overcome obstacles, persevere through failures and keep learning and improving. You have to love what you do and believe in what you offer. Your passion will also attract others who share your vision and want to join you on your journey.
• Leverage women's unique skills. Women have many strengths that can give them an edge in entrepreneurship such as strategic thinking, holistic perspective, empathy and collaboration. Use these skills to plan ahead, anticipate risks and opportunities, understand your customers' needs and emotions, and build strong relationships with stakeholders.

I hope these tips will help aspiring founders, women, non-binary folk and from all walks of life out there who are looking for some inspiration or guidance on their startup journey. 

I want to thank the wonderful team from #MicrosoftANZ and Fishburners for hosting this event. Special thanks to Michelle Markham for standing in while I had a minor struggle with bronchitis, and Clare White for coordinating the evening. Thank you to the amazingly engaged and interactive audience both in the room and online. And, most importantly, thank you to the panelists for sharing their wisdom and stories with us.

It was an inspiring evening that reminded me why I love what I do, has reinforced my mission to empower more women founders, allies and cheerleaders in our ecosystem.

If you missed the event, you can watch the recording here. And, if you want to connect with me or any of the panelists, you can find us on LinkedIn.

Happy International Women's Day, not just for one day - every day! Let's crack the code together!

#IWD2023 #WomenFounders #Fishburners #MicrosoftANZ #CrackingTheCode #InnovationForGenderEquality #msftadvocate