OUR INSIGHTS

By

“Investing in women isn’t a feel-good initiative — it’s a smart economic move. A Pepperdine U. study showed that 25 Fortune 500 firms with the best record of promoting women into high positions were up to 69% more profitable than the median firms in their industries.” -Gwen Young

At Women Business Collaborative, we believe that advancing women’s leadership isn’t just a matter of equity—it’s a leading economic strategy. As CEO of WBC, I’ve had the privilege of working with thousands of women business owners, entrepreneurs, and founders who are innovating, hiring, and leading across every sector of the U.S. economy. Their stories, their resilience, and their economic contributions remind us of one critical truth: the success of women-owned businesses is essential to the success of our economy.

According to the 2025 Wells Fargo’s Women Owned Businesses report, women own nearly 14.5 million businesses in the United States, generating $3.3 trillion in revenue and employing more than 12.9 million people. Despite these impressive numbers, women, especially women of color, face persistent barriers when it comes to accessing capital, scaling operations, and gaining visibility in competitive markets.

This is where the work of WBC becomes not just important—but urgent.

The Ecosystem Women Business Owners Deserve


Supporting women-owned businesses isn’t about offering one-time grants or checking a box for supplier diversity. It’s about building an ecosystem — a comprehensive infrastructure that enables women entrepreneurs to start, scale, sustain, and succeed. That ecosystem must include:

  • Equitable access to capital: From venture capital to government contracts, we must ensure that women receive their fair share of funding and opportunities.
  • Mentorship and networks: Peer-to-peer learning, cross-sector mentorship, and executive coaching help women business leaders accelerate growth.
  • Policy support and public investment: Federal, state, and local governments must prioritize procurement, incentives, and technical assistance for women-owned enterprises.
  • Visibility and market access: Amplifying women-led businesses in supply chains, marketplaces, and the media is essential to unlocking growth.

At WBC, we’re committed to driving these changes through partnerships, programs, and policy advocacy. From our Women’s Capital Summit and our roundtables on capital access and supplier diversity, we are convening the right people, and pushing for the right policies, to create an economy where all women business owners can thrive.

Women-Owned Businesses Fuel Inclusive Growth


Investing in women isn’t a feel-good initiative — it’s a smart economic move. A Pepperdine University study showed that twenty-five Fortune 500 firms with the best record of promoting women into high positions were up to 69 % more profitable than the median firms in their industries. When women-owned businesses grow, jobs are created, families are supported, and communities are strengthened. And when we support women from historically marginalized communities, we drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

We know what works. We’ve seen the power of collaboration. But now is the time to scale.

A Call to Action


As we look ahead, we need corporate leaders, investors, policymakers, and community organizations to join us. We need bold investments and intentional partnerships. We need to challenge outdated systems and embrace innovative solutions.

Most importantly, we need to believe in and bet on women.

At Women Business Collaborative, we’re not just imagining an economy that works for everyone—we’re building it, one woman-owned business at a time. 

Join WBC for its 2025 Action for Impact Summit to learn more from members of our community. Let’s keep moving forward — together.

Author

  • Gwen Young 1X1 1 e1632007754474

    Gwen K. Young is the CEO of the Women Business Collaborative. She is also a Visiting Scholar at the Elliot School of International Affairs, George Washington University and former Director of the Global Women’s Leadership Initiative at the Wilson Center. She is an Advisor to Concordia. Ms. Young has worked across the globe to promote economic development, good governance and peace. She has developed strategy, programming and advocacy in the areas of humanitarian policy, international affairs and international development. This includes developing public private partnerships focused on public health, agriculture, gender equality, and access to finance. Further, Ms. Young has advocated for and published on international criminal law and designed SGBV guidelines. As an attorney, Ms. Young has worked as a professional advocate for women and human rights in corporate law settings, with the ICTY and the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego. Her career has encompassed a comprehensive array of international organizations including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Medecins Sans Frontieres, International Rescue Committee, and the Harvard Institute for International Development. An alumna of Smith College, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and the University of California Davis, School of Law, Ms. Young has pursued a career of international public service focused on humanitarian relief, international development, and human rights starting with gender equality and equity.

    View all posts