When it comes to the growing number of women-led businesses, the proof is in the numbers. More than 11.6 million firms are owned by women, employing nearly 9 million people, and generating $1.7 trillion in sales, according to a 2017 study by the National Association of Women Business Owners. We’re taking on CEO positions, founding start-ups, investing in new businesses, and more, so it only makes sense that there should be a way to connect us.
We’re thrilled to announce that Beauty by Dolly’s Director of Operations and Expansion Natahshah Torki is now a member of the Female Founder Collective, a platform founded by womenswear designer Rebecca Minkoff in 2018 to help fellow female leaders connect.
Supporting women has always been in our DNA. Since Beauty by Dolly opened in 2005, we’ve been a female-led, family-owned business dedicated to hiring women, particularly refugees. Our mission has been to create a professional, peaceful, hygienic environment for our clients and foster an inclusive community for all employees in the Beauty by Dolly family.
The Female Founder Collective helps new and established businesses via workshops, educational tools, and resources covering everything from how to approach the funding process to marketing tactics to grow your brand. But there’s something important for consumers, too. The Female Founder Collective is a literal seal of approval so you know you’re buying from a female-owned business.
“It’s so important to be part of a group of women who are on the same journey and can be a source of support and help when you need it,” Torki says. “There have been so many times through the years I wished I had someone I could get mentored by, to show me the ropes about owning your own business but never knew where to turn. This Collective is a great resource for women, by women, to support women on their journey to and on entrepreneurship.”
Here are some of the fellow female founders she’s joining:
Eliza Blank: Instagram and Pinterest tell us that houseplants are chic, but where to begin? That’s where Blank’s company The Sill comes in. They offer houseplants—starting from $5—shipped to your door, and you can filter by needs like low light, beginner, succulents, and more.
Clare V.: A former journalist, Claire Vivier now runs a successful line of accessories and apparel that have a sophisticated, whimsical, Parisian feel.
Audrey Gelman: As co-founder of The Wing, the wildly popular network of female-focused coworking spaces, Audrey and her cofounder Lauren Kassan have created design-centric spaces with valuable amenities like workshops and babysitting for busy working moms.
Alexandra Friedman and Jordana Kier: This duo founded Lola to give women high-quality products to support reproductive health. Their line spans tampons, body oils, and more.
Lori Coulter and Reshma Chattaram: Buying a swimsuit can be anxiety-inducing, from the sizing and price tag to the quality. That’s why Coulter and Chattaram founded Summersalt, a line of direct-to-consumer swimwear in fun, yet streamlined styles all under $100. They recently launched a line of other travel essentials, including packing sleeves and pajamas.
Woman to Watch: Katie Farina, Chef-Owner of Katie’s Healing Kitchen
