Happy International Women’s Day! And did you know that March is Women’s History Month? If you’re not familiar, Women’s History Month is meant to recognize women’s contributions to American history and was first celebrated nationally in 1980 as Women’s History Week. The observance was actually started by a women’s commission in Santa Rosa, California (our CEO’s hometown!) and spread across the country as local groups celebrated in their communities. In 1987, Congress passed a law designating the month of March as Women’s History Month and each year, the President proclaims this publicly.
Notably, last year marked the 100 year anniversary of a women’s right to vote and brought us the first female Vice-President elected to office with a female Speaker of the House and a record number of women serving in Congress! We have a lot to celebrate - regardless of political affiliations.
In the world of start-ups, we are seeing more and more women making strides as well. From 2009 – 2019, female founded companies doubled from ten to twenty percent globally. And last year marked the highest count ever of companies founded by females that attained unicorn status - privately held startup companies valued at more than $1 billion. Seeing Bumble CEO and Founder Whitney Wolfe Herd recently take her company public while holding her baby is an image that brought tears to my eyes and was so emblematic of how different this world can look for women in business in 2021.
If you are interested in learning more about the women who are navigating the entrepreneurial world, you can attend the Shatter Summit on March 10th, where female speakers from various industries will discuss their careers and experiences. Being inspired and learning from other female entrepreneurs was crucial to how I started Fitz and I am honored to appear on a panel at this fantastic event.
While women today continue to face professional and personal challenges, made even more difficult with the continuing pandemic, it’s also a time to celebrate the milestones we have achieved and the progress we are making. Let’s take a moment today to honor the women in our lives and celebrate International Women’s Day by reaching out to a woman who inspires us. It’s a small gesture, but a meaningful one that can impact her day and beyond. I’d like to send a shout out to my brilliant and talented female Fitz colleagues who inspire me every day!
With gratitude,