Why Investing in Women’s Ideas Is the Smartest Move We Can Make
Listen to this episode on the Purpose + Profit Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the podcast player of your choice.
Everywhere I look, I see brilliant women solving problems, building businesses, advocating for change—and still fighting to be heard.
We are living under an administration that does not value diversity, is actively erasing Black, brown, indigenous, and women’s history, and is obsessed with money, power. and notoriety.
Aside from the moral bankruptcy of this erasure and exclusion, it’s ironic how terrible these moves are from a business and growth perspective.
I’ve spent the last 7 months digging into the data on the role women play in business and what they uniquely bring, and this much is clear: investing in women isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s the smartest business decision we can make.
I want to break this down because it reflects the heart of my work—amplifying women’s voices and elevating their big ideas. I’ve spent years helping purpose-driven women get clear on what they want to say and where they need to say it. And I’ve seen how often brilliant ideas go unheard—not because they lack value, but because the systems weren’t built for us.
Writing this series is my way of saying: our ideas matter. Our voices matter. And when we invest in women, we all win.
In this 2-part series, we’re going to dig into the business case for investing in women’s voices and ideas. I also want to showcase why women and minority voices are so powerful, what we need to consider despite the circumstances, and how we can better support women.
Before we dive in, I also want to acknowledge something… I’m tired.
I’m tired of watching women have to prove their worth over and over again despite their rich expertise and lived and professional experiences.
I’m tired of watching talented, experienced women shrink back because they’ve internalized the message that being “likeable” matters more than being bold.
I’m tired of watching the world’s most urgent problems go unsolved—because the people best equipped to solve them have been sidelined.
And I’m guessing I’m not alone. I hope as we unpack this, you’ll feel a deep sense of assurance that you bring something desperately needed to the table.
Women-Led Businesses Deliver Results
Let’s look at the numbers:
Women-founded businesses generate more revenue per dollar invested—yet they receive less than 2% of venture capital funding. (BCG Study)
Private tech companies led by women deliver 35% higher ROI. (First Round Capital, UNICEF, and Kauffman Foundation)
Companies with diverse leadership teams are 39% more likely to financially outperform their peers. (Catalyst study)
And here’s the big one: Closing the gender gap in entrepreneurship could grow the global economy by $5–6 trillion (GEM). That’s the size of the entire Japanese or German economy—left on the table because we’re failing to invest in women.
Sit with that for a second.
Women Drive Smarter Decisions and Real Innovation
Over the last several years, I’ve worked closely with entrepreneurs, executives, and changemakers. And one thing is abundantly clear: The best leaders aren’t the loudest—they’re the most strategic.
Strategic leaders know that diverse teams make better decisions 87% (Cloverpop) of the time.
Companies with more women in leadership are more innovative, resilient, and adaptable (Lear Now).
And maybe the most powerful of them all… When women are involved in negotiating peace agreements, those agreements are 35% more likely to last more than 15 years (United Nations).
Despite the current administration’s nonsensical view that women and members of the BIPOC community are “DEI hires” I can assure you the above aren't “nice-to-haves.” They are indicators of sustainable success, and they are absolutely essential to our business and national growth.
So why are women still fighting for a seat at the table?
Because we live in a patriarchal, capitalist system that was never built for us.
And that system has no real incentive to rebuild itself or desire to change.
So, that means it’s on us to keep showing up.
It means that women keep running their businesses. We keep showing up, even when people actively seek to exclude your voice.
It means you keep inviting people to work with you and serving your clients in the beautifully unique way that you do.
It means you are relentless in your pursuit of your mission.
And it means that you don’t take no for an answer!
As the first Black Congresswoman, Shirley Chisholm once said, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”
In Part 2 of this series, we’ll go deeper into what happens when women lead—how they reinvest in their families, communities, and society. We’ll also unpack what real investment in women looks like and how each of us—no matter our role—can be part of the change.
Want to take action now?
On International Women’s Day, I challenged everyone in the room to think of one woman whose voice and ideas need to be heard. Perhaps she’s crushing it in her business. Maybe she’s speaking some hard truths, challenging her industry’s status quo. Or maybe she’s showing up in a way that you deeply admire. Whatever the reason, write down her name and one way you can amplify her this week.
Now go do it! Give her a shout out on social media. Interview her on your podcast. Invite her to speak in your community. Mention her to people in your community. Introduce her to someone she needs to know in your network!
And if you’re that woman getting the shoutout, own it! Receive the compliment and know that your voice matters. Your ideas are needed. It’s time for you to shine!
