Misplacing mascara in an Uber rushing to meetings & in between some traffic lights. Feeling emotional a lot of the time and often trying to hold back my tears. Wearing flowery dresses and being told I don’t look a CEO. The joys of being a working woman. I am so lucky I can make my puffy & tired eyes look prettier. I’m also lucky to be driven by my emotions a lot of the time; especially with my start up Dreame and that I can wear clothes that make me feel comfortable. I am so proud to be a woman!
Women’s rights are such a powerful & encouraging movement that over the course of human existence have paved the ways for me to carry out my womanhood and career in closer conjunction with one another. I am not claiming that there aren’t millions of women in the world suffering from abuse, unfair & undesirable ways of life simply because they are a woman. I am, however, claiming my right as an individual to aim big, dream bigger and to never stop doing. The stories I have heard or witnessed over the last year are only motivating me to push harder as an entrepreneur (that happens to be a female).
Anastasia is a smart & hardworking Ukrainian woman I met recently in a tech conference. This was her fourth attempt to travel to the US for a conference and she finally succeeded. Until now she hadn’t been because most women her age (32) are married. “Americans are suspicious that I’m trying to find a husband” is what she told me while many Ukrainian men seem to flock to these tech conferences to launch their products with a lot more ease. I have also heard from various women about inappropriate meetings where they have had been sexually assaulted physically or through words. I am not going pretend it hasn’t happened to me either. Once an investor actually told me he was going to ask me a male question (20 minutes into our meeting). His ‘male’ question: “What are your revenue projections for 2017”. My reply: “I don’t understand”. His reply: An explanation of revenue projections. My response: As CEO, I of course understand what revenue projections are. I don’t understand why this would be considered a male question. The meeting didn’t last long after this exchange. I cried immediately after that this guy focused on my gender until my brother reminded me that he is a complete idiot. Since being strong and knowing who my allies are, I am able to defend myself in any situation; regardless of my gender and which gender I am with. I have incredible supporters in the entrepreneurial world; both women and men.
In May, I was fortunate be accepted into a Google for Entrepreneurs sponsored programme called Blackbox (thank you Fadi, Sanita, Ana, GFE & Campus Tel Aviv- Marta & Michal). I met an incredible group of Founders from all over the world. Each one unique & magical in their own way. Initially, I was insecure and intimidated. One has already raised 9 million dollars, another is a Harvard graduate, another with over 3 million users in China, another extremely athletic & un-stressed looking. What actually happened was that the one that raised $9 million was giving me boy advice at midnight, the Harvard graduate laughing at every half funny joke I made, a collaboration with Sammy from China in the making and the athletic girl inspiring me to work out more. I spent 14 days with inspiring entrepreneurs from over 14 countries, each working on their own ventures. What we all had in common was the ability to share, to feel vulnerable and to gradually appreciate our inner strengths, empowered by the strengths of others. I am so grateful to have made such amazing friends.
It is with other women, that we can truly change the dichotomy. This is my little note to all my friends out there. You are one of them if you have reached this part of the post. I do honestly believe that by helping each other grow, we can truly embrace our mascara accidents in the car or our overdosing of tears. And shout out; I am a woman and I am proud. I am successful and I am proud and remember that neither of them have ANYTHING to do with the other.
We are entrepreneurs. FULL STOP!
View our mansion in San Fran here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNKJB8ddWgM
View my Dreame pitch at the end of the programme here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtpZK5U56-E
View more about the other amazing startups here: https://medium.com/@blackboxvc/18-inspiring-female-founders-raise-the-bar-for-female-entrepreneurship-across-the-board-642328a495c4#.n27kfmgl3
Women’s rights are such a powerful & encouraging movement that over the course of human existence have paved the ways for me to carry out my womanhood and career in closer conjunction with one another. I am not claiming that there aren’t millions of women in the world suffering from abuse, unfair & undesirable ways of life simply because they are a woman. I am, however, claiming my right as an individual to aim big, dream bigger and to never stop doing. The stories I have heard or witnessed over the last year are only motivating me to push harder as an entrepreneur (that happens to be a female).
Anastasia is a smart & hardworking Ukrainian woman I met recently in a tech conference. This was her fourth attempt to travel to the US for a conference and she finally succeeded. Until now she hadn’t been because most women her age (32) are married. “Americans are suspicious that I’m trying to find a husband” is what she told me while many Ukrainian men seem to flock to these tech conferences to launch their products with a lot more ease. I have also heard from various women about inappropriate meetings where they have had been sexually assaulted physically or through words. I am not going pretend it hasn’t happened to me either. Once an investor actually told me he was going to ask me a male question (20 minutes into our meeting). His ‘male’ question: “What are your revenue projections for 2017”. My reply: “I don’t understand”. His reply: An explanation of revenue projections. My response: As CEO, I of course understand what revenue projections are. I don’t understand why this would be considered a male question. The meeting didn’t last long after this exchange. I cried immediately after that this guy focused on my gender until my brother reminded me that he is a complete idiot. Since being strong and knowing who my allies are, I am able to defend myself in any situation; regardless of my gender and which gender I am with. I have incredible supporters in the entrepreneurial world; both women and men.
In May, I was fortunate be accepted into a Google for Entrepreneurs sponsored programme called Blackbox (thank you Fadi, Sanita, Ana, GFE & Campus Tel Aviv- Marta & Michal). I met an incredible group of Founders from all over the world. Each one unique & magical in their own way. Initially, I was insecure and intimidated. One has already raised 9 million dollars, another is a Harvard graduate, another with over 3 million users in China, another extremely athletic & un-stressed looking. What actually happened was that the one that raised $9 million was giving me boy advice at midnight, the Harvard graduate laughing at every half funny joke I made, a collaboration with Sammy from China in the making and the athletic girl inspiring me to work out more. I spent 14 days with inspiring entrepreneurs from over 14 countries, each working on their own ventures. What we all had in common was the ability to share, to feel vulnerable and to gradually appreciate our inner strengths, empowered by the strengths of others. I am so grateful to have made such amazing friends.
It is with other women, that we can truly change the dichotomy. This is my little note to all my friends out there. You are one of them if you have reached this part of the post. I do honestly believe that by helping each other grow, we can truly embrace our mascara accidents in the car or our overdosing of tears. And shout out; I am a woman and I am proud. I am successful and I am proud and remember that neither of them have ANYTHING to do with the other.
We are entrepreneurs. FULL STOP!
View our mansion in San Fran here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNKJB8ddWgM
View my Dreame pitch at the end of the programme here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtpZK5U56-E
View more about the other amazing startups here: https://medium.com/@blackboxvc/18-inspiring-female-founders-raise-the-bar-for-female-entrepreneurship-across-the-board-642328a495c4#.n27kfmgl3