If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.
- DICE18332603
- Feb 26, 2019
- 8 min read
"If opportunity doesn't knock build a door". Think about that for a few minutes... Have you been overcome a sudden feeling of inspiration and motivation to not just wait for your chances in life to come along but to go and create them yourself? Because I know I was upon thinking about it.
That feeling has been deeply installed within me since attending the GET STARTED conference 2019 on the 12th of February. GET STARTED 2019 was so kindly organised by many of the DCU staff and executed by a vast amount of inspirational entrepreneurs and people in business each with an exciting unique story of how they got to where they are today, and I use the word unique wisely. I was fascinated by the individuality that could be sensed from each persons story. Although all the stories were all along the same lines of innovation within their businesses or startups, each were so different. I liked how it was worded in one of the DICE lectures that although there is common traits of successful entrepreneurs, there is no recipe.
Behind every successful woman is herself
Age, Gender, wealth and whatever other aspect comes to mind when thinking about stereotyping when it comes to starting up a business and who can be successful or not were all put to the side in the conference as array of people took stand of different ages and genders which was really nice to see. I think we all use to have this misconception of a successful business person being a middle aged man in a suit rather than a young female or any other kind of person but I'm glad this is changing.
As a woman myself, I always felt maybe it would be harder to succeed as the world of business just always seemed to male dominated. If i was asked to name successful entrepreneurs, names like, Steve Jobbs, Richard Branson, and Michael O'Leary all spring to mind. And Incase you didn't notice, none of these first names are typically associated with women! This made me feel maybe women were just maybe not fit for the role of startups. Its well known that while starting up you face many challenges to overcome and it just seemed like maybe women faced many more than men which demotivated me away from the idea of entrepreneurship initially. Although the perks of being your own boss and growing your own passion seemed cool, maybe all the challenges to get their just weren't worth it. However thanks to the speakers stories at GET Started 2019 I now see that anything is possible, even for women in business! yayyyy!
you must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.
Did you know that only 37% of startups in Ireland are founded by women?
(“GEM Global Entrepreneurship Monitor,” 2017.).
Although higher than some countries I still feel this is too low considering our country has a high status for gender equality. However, guest speaker Lewize McCauley Crothers, Founder of Exit Entry, was someone who stood out to me in regards to the theme women and entrepreneurship. It was clear from the start that Lewize had entrepreneurial qualities. She explained how she has had 4 businesses and had a myriad of challenges along her journey to success. From her first business at 15 selling denim jeans to teenagers in Russia based on the facts she had heard that there was a niche in the market to later setting up her own interior designing company and a few projects in between, with such a diverse and wide range of real life experience in the field it seemed she knew what she was talking about and I was happy to listen.
We all know becoming and entrepreneur isn't easy. Between funding, family life, education, time available to you and who you know, its pretty evident its not gonna be a smooth ride but Lewize made sure to ensure us that it would most definitely be worthwhile in the end. The only way to describe Lewize would be as a true fighter! Nearly every single speaker made the point that along the road of entrepreneurship you will face much criticism and be told no probably more times than your mom said no to you eating sweets before your dinner but every single one of them carried on asking. Especially Lewize. She showed us a multitude of times how to carry on and not rest and use every challenge as a means of learning how to find success.
However Lewize was very lucky on her path. With a can do attitude and her passion On finding the idea of her new business "exit entry", she found herself some good mentors and support systems on her quest to success. Unfortunately for most women though this can be a major problem.
According to start up nation, females face many more hurdles than men- primarily involving securing funding, mentors and support systems.
(AlaloufPresident et al., 2018).
I found this fact to be quite annoying if I'm to be completely honest. I cannot comprehend as to why we as women should have our opportunities to start up slashed just because of our gender. If anyone, being able to start up and be flexible with their own hours would be most beneficial to women taking into account that they are seen to be the center of a family life. Whether it is because we are seen as incapable or whether is it just a coincidence that women face more challenges, I hope to see changes in this aspect soon! and thanks to places like Enterprise Ireland we might just see that!
ENTERPRISE IRELAND- Ensuring that business women realise their full business potential is a major priority for Enterprise Ireland.
Come on everyone, we have to admit it... Enterprise Ireland rocks! We believe that Enterprise Ireland can help us as they believe in every single one of us! Even the women! In fact they have even set up a separate scheme for women and entrepreneurship with the purpose of "supporting ambitious women entrepreneurs to launch and grow High Potential Start-Ups, and to address the key challenges facing women in start-ups." (“Startups led by Ambitious Women - Enterprise Ireland,” n.d.). They supply funding and mentoring supports to women of Ireland that they may struggle to secure otherwise.
Although I believe there should be no need for this scheme in the first place as we should all have equal opportunities in the first place in our society, I am glad to see this organisation highlighting the under representation or women in startups and doing something about it!
If your looking for a bit of fuel for your own ambition click on the link here to find out more regarding enterprise Irelands road shows and events!
Entrepreneurship is a teamwork
On the topic of women and startups, much food for thought came to the table when listening to the panel talk who consisted of 4 inspirational women, 3 of which in their early days of start up yet so full of experience. The panel consisted of Maura McAdams, DCU, Louise Murphy, founder of Cyc-Lok, Sheelagh Murphy, founder of S-Man and again Lewize McCauley Crothers.
I had such a poor outlook on women's success in the world of startups before entering the conference. After reading fact after fact regarding women in the business world in lectures and online and how the statistics always favored the males, I was surprised yet delighted to see such a successful group of women representatives.
Each woman did not let the unfavorable statistics regarding women and startups define them. They were motivated and focused to succeed although they faced challenges, Each believed in themselves enough to make it which in my eyes is maybe half the problem. Upon researching this topic I was shocked at my discoveries. Many studies suggest than women in general see themselves as less entrepreneurial than man see themselves (Minniti & Langowitz (2007)).
With such low belief in our capabilities to start up and succeed how does one expect others to believe in us and support us?? Even Sheelagh pointed it out herself when being asked what her biggest barrier to start up. She explained as to how her biggest hurdle was getting herself in the mind frame to believe she was able to be an entrepreneur. Her perception of her own capabilities hindered her own success initially. Maybe this is the biggest problem women entrepreneurs of our age are facing?
Although I was happy to see the panel be so confident and successful in their venture and was supplied with some hope for other women to follow suit, I couldn't help but think of all the women out there that do not believe in themselves in the same way. I think maybe this is something that women in Ireland are in need with more support in. Maybe then in future we could see a change in attitudes and hopefully see a rise in female entrepreneurs.
Its never too early... or too late.
Overwhelmed with the amount of inspirational women on the panels at Get Started 2019, one of them in particular caught my eye. This was Orla Stafford, of Jackford spirits. Orla was the youngest of all the people present at the conference and to me this stood out. Although more of an Intrapreneur (creates innovative ideas within already formed business) than an entrepreneur for her families business, I was impressed her confidence in her abililities to help her family business success in their innovative new adventure. Jackford spirits arose from Orla's father business of growing potatoes and then ventured out to make new and tasty potato gin different to anything in the market. Orla played a large role in creating new ways to distinguish this gin from other competitors in such a trending market.
With Orla being so young and so full of entrepreneurial characteristics and not to mention being full of success, it gave me hope for all of us women graduating in future. As discussed before, with so many women doubting their abilities for so long to start up on their ideas, It was thoroughly refreshing to see a young woman not much older than myself, realising her own potential so early in her life instead of 30 years down the line!
However this is not just relevant to the younger generation. Id like to point out to not just the women but to everyone out there with ideas that it is never to late to gain that self belief! The world is ever changing and you need to use your ideas while they are relevant! Please don't wait! As Maura McAdams said "jump and the net will appear"!
So what have I gained from the get started 2019 conference? I'll keep it short and sweet. I have gained confidence and motivation!
I was never previously interested in a role as an entrepreneur as I felt maybe i did not have it takes, but each speaker made me realise something. They were all normal people but what was special about them was their drive and commitment to their goals and if they can do it so can I!
I am not saying that this is most definitely the road i will choose to go down now but I am thrilled to say that it is an option I am keeping open which i would not have done prior! So big thanks to Get started 2019!
Get Creative, Get Digital, Get Started!
So we have had get creative, Get digital and now its time to put an end to my blogs and actually get started on putting the valuable stuff I have learnt into practice!
A big thanks to everyone involved in any sort of aspect revolving the DICE Module, definitely one of the most enjoyable and rewarding module by far!
Thanks for reading!
Farewell for now my friends,
~DICE STUDENT 18332603 :)
P.S. big thanks to all the other speakers I did not mention. You Guys were ace too!
reference list
AlaloufPresident, C., president, F. at E.A. is the, Exaltus, founder of, marketer, primary contributor to the E. blog A. a content, presentations, she focuses on turning her clients’ complex information into a compelling story C. particularly enjoys visual storytelling in the form of, Videos, W., websites, infographics., 2018. 25 Intriguing Facts About the State of Female Entrepreneurship. StartupNation.
DCU Business School, n.d. Family Business Panel | Get Started 2019.
DCU Business School, n.d. Early Startup Panel | Get Started 2019
DCU Business School, n.d. Lewize Crothers | Get Started 2019.
GEM Global Entrepreneurship Monitor [WWW Document], n.d. . GEM Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. URL https://www.gemconsortium.org (accessed 2.23.19).
Startups led by Ambitious Women - Enterprise Ireland [WWW Document], n.d. URL https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/start-a-business-in-ireland/startups%20led%20by%20ambitious%20women/ (accessed 2.23.19).
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