Investing in women: Accelerating progress and counting her in

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”. For almost a decade, I’ve navigated the challenging landscape that is entrepreneurship, striving not only to succeed myself but also to uplift and empower other women in business along the way, writes Brooke Vulinovich, founder of the Social Club.

Investing in women and female-founded businesses isn’t just a trend; it’s a fundamental principle that drives meaningful change and progress in our society. As someone who has experienced the highs and lows of building a business firsthand, I believe it’s now my responsibility to pay it forward and foster a supportive environment where women in business can learn, connect and thrive.

I founded my first business almost a decade ago, and was able to successfully use Instagram to build an audience, nurture my brand and sell my products and services. I then went on to teach other women in business how to do this and eventually launched Social Club in 2017, a fun online community dedicated to coaching and empowering female entrepreneurs to harness the full potential of Instagram for their businesses.

Being a woman in business in 2024 is less about being a “girlboss” and more about using that business to choose and support a lifestyle that aligns with our aspirations and values. Whether that’s gaining CEO status, running a business from home or getting the most fulfilment out of parenthood whilst still maintaining a successful career, each choice is valid and worthy of celebration.

“Count Her In” isn’t just a slogan; it’s about creating an environment where women feel valued, respected, and empowered to pursue their ambitions without limitations or barriers.

We are in the age of entrepreneurial women and recent data from Australia has shown that in 2023, 57 per cent of new businesses were started by women. 

Here are  four actionable ways you can contribute to the progress of women in business: 

1. Shop With Us: Make conscious choices to support women-owned businesses by purchasing our products and services. Seek out and recommend these businesses to your friends, family, and network. Your financial support directly contributes to our growth and success.
2. Don’t Be A “Mean Girl”: Women claim to support women but then actively tear them down online or to others. If there’s a business you don’t like that doesn’t align with your values instead of negatively commenting or calling them out, just move along. Women need to build women up, not break them down and this type of behaviour needs to stop.
3. Be A Cheerleader: Running a business is hard and lonely even on the best of days. To genuinely support us, get excited about our wins when we do, even if they sound insignificant to you, share your success stories with our brands, leave us Google reviews, and share positive experiences on social media and in your community. By celebrating our accomplishments, you inspire others to support and engage with our businesses too, creating a ripple effect. This helps to promote women in business and give other women the confidence to start their journey in business too.
4. Engage with us on Social Media: Follow our accounts, like our posts and comment and share when relevant. It costs nothing to support a small business online but that “free” engagement helps our brand reach new audiences and grow.

 As we celebrate International Women’s Day and embrace the theme of investing in women to accelerate progress, let’s remember that the true measure of our success lies not in what we achieve individually, but in how we uplift and empower those around us. Let’s invest in women, amplify their voices, and pave the way for a future where every woman has the opportunity to thrive and succeed, unapologetically.

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