The statistics are compelling. Between 2014 and 2019, women-owned businesses experienced a staggering 21% increase, surpassing the 9% growth of all businesses during the same period. Additionally, as of 2018, women-owned firms comprised nearly 20% of all firms employing individuals in the United States, with an impressive increase of 6,861 firms from the previous year. This data vividly illustrates the steadily rising trajectory of women’s entrepreneurship.

In 2008, I embarked on a journey to establish Dooley & Associates. During this pivotal time, I leaned heavily on my peers for advice and encouragement, adopting the personal motto that “Failure was not an option.” I felt like a little bird, nudged out of my comfortable nest by a multitude of mama birds, each reminding me to soar.

I can’t say my parents were necessarily thrilled when I announced my decision to start a business. After all, I was 29 years old at the time, had just built a new home, and had a great job at a wonderful company working for an exceptional family. However, it was my mother, an entrepreneur who founded and successfully operated a gardening business in Lake Geneva, and my father, the owner of a third-generation business, who set examples of what was possible for my career.

My mother was truly my greatest inspiration. Her diligence, creativity, and unwavering commitment to building her business were second to none. Coming home to work for her in the summers during college was both rewarding and grueling, lol. She epitomized the definition of a boss lady. She pushed me to my limits until I had sweat dripping down every ounce of my body, but then she’d say, ‘Jen, let’s go get a treat,’ and we’d hightail it to the ice cream shop. She was my prime example of learning to work hard while also making time to play. Her dedication to serving her clients set a high bar, as I observed her taking client calls during dinner and working on weekends to turn her dreams into reality.

Since founding Dooley & Associates, my journey has been enriched by a long line of remarkable female clients who are entrepreneurs or leaders within their organizations. Each female client I have engaged with since 2008, whether an entrepreneur or a business leader, has not merely been a client; they have all become sources of inspiration, embodying the essence of leadership and possibilities.

The list of these inspiring female leaders includes: