The Mad Grad

Last night I attended an event with a panel of women who were a variety of brilliant women who have either started their own companies or have been instrumental in helping create new technologies for Internet based businesses. There was also a room filled with smart entrepreneurial women asking invigorating questions regarding starting their own businesses. Being the youngest person in the room made me think of all the possibilities that lie in the future.

Being so young and in the Silicon Valley and San Francisco puts anyone who is young and ambitious at such an advantage. Everything these days in moving in the direction of the internet at a warp speed and getting in early is where the advantages lie. Sitting there feeling intimidated by being around so many great minds was I was trying to soak up every word that was being said, and because it was all women the tone and the subject matter was different that if it were a crowd of men and women.

Being a women in the working world is still a challenge but being a working women in the technology space is even more of a challenge. Some of these women who are CEO’s of hugely successful online ventures gave some very important advice, some of the best I can relay is this:

Being a women in the work force is still not easy, there are many advantages and disadvantages learn what these are for you and play them up to your best ability. Women have just as much as men to offer so never sell yourself short and experience will build confidence.

Find a mentor, I think this is one of the best. If you are trying to do something entrepreneurial with no experience there are no books or online resources that will help you accomplish this better than someone who has been there and done it. Find someone who supports your ideas and wants them to flourish, people love giving advice especially when they have been in your shoes.

Don’t give up, I know this is very cliché to say but here is a story of proof that was told by a women on the panel, one of the first start ups she worked for was Magellan one of the first GPS systems released. The CEO of this company went to 86 Venture Capitalists who all turned him down, until the 87th took a chance of him and he now is very successful because he had faith in his product.

Make sure you believe in what you are doing or the business you want to create if you are only doing it for monetary reasons this will eventually become apparent and lead to failure. You have to dedicate a lot of yourself if you are trying to be an entrepreneur and so you must make sure it is something you believe in whole heartily even if now one else around you agrees.

These are only a few of the important reminders I took away with me, remember you have the world at your fingertips and it is up to you to decide what you want to do with it, so don’t just talk about your great ideas and dreams, give them a shot. What is the worst that could happen you fail and then learn from your mistakes and get it right the next time!