We know that the job market is not the most welcoming place in the world for women, especially for those who choose maternal entrepreneurship.
The Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV) conducted a study showing that 50% of women are dismissed within two years after maternity leave.
This forces these women to seek new work strategies, as shown by the study conducted by the Rede Mulher Empreendedora (RME), which reports that 75% of women start a business after motherhood.
Entrepreneurship may seem like the best alternative for those women who face challenges and little flexibility in the job market, but we should not romanticize this journey.
Challenges of Maternal Entrepreneurship
"Entrepreneurship requires time and money", said Dani Junco, creator of B2Mamy, a business accelerator for entrepreneurial mothers. Two pillars that support the businesses of thousands of people around the country, but which are scarce resources for those who become responsible for new lives.
Brazilian women often have the responsibility of managing the home and children, leading to double or triple work shifts.
According to Fundação Abrinq, 70% of children up to 3 years old do not have access to daycare. When this responsibility falls on the woman, many face the challenge of balancing a professional career with motherhood, forcing them to give up work.
Moreover, prejudice is still present in the market, and female entrepreneurship faces difficulties in securing partnerships and investments. A report by Distrito shows that of the 3.5 billion dollars invested in Brazilian startups in 2020, only 0.04% of the total went to women-owned companies.
Even though it is challenging to undertake with children, in the future, it can bring more flexibility to deal with motherhood. However, planning will be a fundamental piece in this process, which should not be easy.
The Importance of Entrepreneurship
But if you look around, I bet you can identify some woman who started her business after becoming a mother. This includes those you don't know personally but have come into contact with their work through the internet and social networks, for example.
Among the main reasons that lead women to entrepreneurship are the feeling of not belonging when returning to work after maternity leave, inflexible schedules, and the desire to pursue a dream and make a difference. All these motivations are valid and important for the scenario, which needs to be pressured for structural changes.
In Brazil, maternal entrepreneurship carries the importance of opening paths and opportunities for other women who find themselves in the same situation.
Even though they are the majority of the Brazilian population, women occupy only 13.9% of management positions, according to 2020 data from the Ministry of Economy.
Moreover, you are not alone. Other women have already walked this same path and have great tips for those thinking about starting a business with children at home.
4 Tips for You, a Mother, to Start a Business
1. Make Use of Your Support Network
If you have people who run alongside you for your dreams, the journey becomes less tiring. Define who will take care of the house and the child - paid or not - so you can dedicate yourself to business and manage your demands more calmly;
2. Create Connection Networks
No one does anything alone in this world, and having a community engaged in the same ideals as you is very important! There are several initiatives from organizations and incubators aimed at assisting in the businesses and enterprises of mothers, seek people around you who can be a network. The more people you know who are interested in your area of expertise, the more chances you have to close deals and prosper;
3. Be Attentive to Technology
Automating processes, knowing tools that facilitate your routine, and having access to data is important and will help you make assertive and well-founded decisions, which can result in a series of competitive advantages;
4. Start
Often fear and insecurity paralyze, but if you have an idea you believe in, you need to start somewhere. Take a deep breath and start planning your dream.
In a routine as intense as that of an entrepreneurial mother, we understand that time is precious, and we must seize every opportunity. Therefore, Monocard is with you on this journey! Make contacts wherever you are using your digital business card by proximity, which saves you time and money. It's very simple and practical!
Conclusion
Entrepreneurship as a mother is a challenging journey, full of obstacles, but also of transformative opportunities. Maternal entrepreneurship is, above all, an act of courage and resilience, where each step taken reflects the strength of those seeking to build a better future for themselves and their family.
Although the path is marked by difficulties such as lack of time, financial resources, and structural support, it also brings the chance to create something meaningful, with more autonomy and flexibility. It is important to remember that by undertaking, you are not only changing your reality but also opening doors for other women to follow the same example of overcoming.
So, how about taking the first step? Plan, seek support, and use tools that facilitate your journey. With solutions like the digital business card by proximity from Monocard, you can optimize your time, build valuable connections, and focus on what really matters: growing and thriving in the market.
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