Focus on Women Entrepreneurs (5 of 5)

Kristen Smith Young
@kcs_tarheel | Chapel Hill native and troublemaker

“So, it’s literally impossible for me to make any kind of list without including Oprah. And I certainly cannot leave her off a list of women entrepreneurs. Her story continues to amaze me. A woman of color who survived and overcame abuse and trauma to become a broadcaster, publisher, and philanthropist. To not only host a TV show, but start a TV network; not only to star in films, but create her own production company; then produce a magazine and lifestyle website, really building an empire, becoming one of the richest women in the world. But we all know that Oprah does not need help with P.R. and I unfortunately have no cars nor favorite things to give out. 

So, I hope you [and Oprah] will forgive me for squeezing in a few more shout-outs into this last post. Because even using every day of Women’s History Month doesn’t give me enough space and time to recognize the women entrepreneurs and business owners I’ve been fortunate to know: women who’ve started businesses and went on to do other things like Cookie Teer and Vanessa Pickett; women who I gather with to discuss technology and communications like Alicia Stemper and Mary Parry; women who I love doing business with like Linda Graham and Christy Graves; women who I go to church with like Linda Bourne, Karin Mills, Nancie McDermott, and Dana Trent; women who I’ve met through my tenure at the Chamber like Pam Herndon, Ellen Shannon, and Lauren Erickson Bennett; women who I went to high school with whose businesses I want to learn more about like Stephanie Hall and Blake Moriarty Robinson, and Cantrailia Tre; women who started nonprofits like Maggie West and Sophie Steiner; and women who nurture other women entrepreneurs like Dina Rousset and Deborah Stroman… Hope some of these stories have inspired you to think about something you want to start.”

You may remember Kristen from her weekly conversation with Aaron Keck to give the Short & Sweet Business Beat. She’s back but for a limited time only. Inspired by so many women entrepreneurs and business owners she’s met and known, she decided to feature one woman a day in March on social media (follow her on Instagram and Twitter) in honor of Women’s History Month. Follow along and let us know your favorite women entrepreneurs. A digest of Kristen’s posts will appear right here in the Town Square section of Chapelboro each Friday in March.

Aaron Keck talked to Kristen on-air about her social media series on March 8, 2018, also International Women’s Day. Click below to hear their conversation:

 

Focus on Women Entrepreneurs (5 of 5)

About to get ready for an event tonight and wishing my favorite dress bought at The #LaughingTurtle still fit. Dana McMahan is professor of the practice at @uncmjschool. She is both an entrepreneur and helps students learn how to become more entrepreneurial. I know her as neighbor and boutique owner, but her background includes art director, creative director, and incubator founder. But like many other women entrepreneurs I’ve focused on, it’s so much more than her resume, as she has given so much to this community, notably leading efforts to open @secufamilyhouse & @kidzucm. Dana is the recipient of the Ed Vick Prize for Innovation in Teaching and the David Brinkley Teaching Excellence Award which has got me thinking how an @uncsog employee can somehow audit a class at the [now-M]J-School. Looking forward to seeing what else Dana designs.💗#womenshistorymonth #laughingturtle #uncmjschool 📷: @uncchapelhill

A post shared by Kristen Smith Young (@kcs_tarheel) on Mar 30, 2018 at 1:55pm PDT

So, it’s literally impossible for me to make any kind of list without including @oprah. And I certainly cannot leave her off a list of #womenentrepreneurs. Her story continues to amaze me. A woman of color who survived and overcame abuse and trauma to become a broadcaster, publisher, and philanthropist. To not only host a TV show, but start a TV network; not only to star in films, but create her own production company; then produce a magazine and lifestyle website, really building an empire, becoming one of the richest women in the world. But we all know that Oprah does not need help with P.R. and I unfortunately have no cars nor favorite things to give out. So, I hope you [and Oprah] will forgive me for squeezing in a few more shout-outs into this last post. Because even using every day of #WomensHistoryMonth doesn’t give me enough space and time to recognize the women entrepreneurs and business owners I’ve been fortunate to know: women who’ve started businesses and went on to do other things like Cookie Teer and Vanessa Pickett; women who I gather with to discuss technology and communications like Alicia Stemper and Mary Parry; women who I love doing business with like Linda Graham and Christy Graves; women who I go to church with like Linda Bourne, Karin Mills, Nancie McDermott, and Dana Trent; women who I’ve met through my tenure at the Chamber like Pam Herndon, Ellen Shannon, and Lauren Erickson Bennett; women who I went to high school with whose businesses I want to learn more about like Stephanie Hall and Blake Moriarty Robinson, and Cantrailia Tre; women who started nonprofits like Maggie West and Sophie Steiner; and women who nurture other women entrepreneurs like Dina Rousset and Deborah Stroman. I know I am missing so many, including the dozens that friends and other women suggested that I feature. Special thanks to @chelatu and @wchlchapelboro for featuring the posts and thanks to you all for your insightful comments. Keep them coming as I think this is one way we can lift each other up. Hope some of these stories have inspired you to think about something you want to start… #womenshistorymonth #girlbosses #startsomething

A post shared by Kristen Smith Young (@kcs_tarheel) on Mar 31, 2018 at 5:46pm PDT