Women own 39% of all businesses in America, employ millions, and drive billions in revenue. Yet the systems built around us still treat our economic power as an afterthought. That ends here.
Women's economic power is the ability to earn, own, build, and control wealth on equal footing with men. Right now that is not the reality for most women, especially women of color. Despite owning millions of businesses and filling most of the workforce, women are consistently blocked from the same funding, pay, promotions, and opportunities that men access freely. This is not about individual effort. It is about systems that were built without us in mind. The Lotus Assembly believes financial independence is not a luxury. It is a form of health, safety, and freedom every woman deserves.
Sources: GEM 2024/2025 Women's Entrepreneurship Report · Bryn Mawr Trust 2024 · World Bank Entrepreneurship Database 2024
in revenue generated by women-owned businesses employing over 10.7 million workers
women working full-time earn for every dollar a man earns — a gap that widened in 2024
lost per year by the average woman due to the gender pay gap — money for savings, childcare, or retirement
Sources: SBA Office of Advocacy 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau 2024 · National Partnership for Women and Families 2024
Earn 73 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men
Earn 63 cents on the dollar — $28,340 less per year than white men
Earn 54 cents on the dollar — $33,620 less per year than white men
Earn only 53 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men
Source: National Partnership for Women and Families 2024 · IWPR 2025
Buy from women-owned businesses intentionally and consistently. Follow the hashtag #BuyFromWomen. When you spend your money with women, you are directly transferring wealth into our community.
Research your market salary at glassdoor.com or levels.fyi. Women who negotiate their salary earn an average of $5,000 more per year than those who do not. Negotiate every single time. It is not rude. It is necessary.
Learn about investing, credit, savings, and wealth building. Free resources include AAUW's salary negotiation workshops, the SBA's free business courses, and Khan Academy's personal finance section.
Contact your congressional representative and ask them to support the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would strengthen equal pay protections and increase pay transparency. Find your rep at house.gov.
The SBA's Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting program, IFundWomen, and Tory Burch Foundation all offer grants and funding specifically for women entrepreneurs. Start there before seeking traditional investors.
Mentorship changes careers. If you are in a position of experience or influence, actively open doors for other women. Introduce them. Recommend them. Hire them. The network effect is real and powerful.
Pool small monthly contributions with a group of women to collectively invest, learn, and build wealth together. Even $20 a month per person adds up to real capital and real education over time.
Host a local event featuring women-owned businesses in your area. Invite your community, charge vendors a small table fee that goes into a fund for the next event, and keep the money circulating among women.
Gather women once a month to discuss one financial topic — budgeting, investing, credit repair, starting a business. Rotate who teaches. Share resources freely. Knowledge passed between women is power multiplied.
Build a network where women trade their skills — a graphic designer trades with an accountant, a coach trades with a copywriter. Reduce the cost of doing business by relying on each other first.
Leave reviews. Share social media posts. Tag women-owned businesses in your stories. Recommend them by name. Word of mouth is the most powerful and free marketing tool we have and we should use it for each other.
Fill in your info below and I will personally reach out with resources on building your economic power, connect you with women in your area organizing around these issues, and share opportunities you need to know about. You will not be left on a list. You will hear from me.
I want to: (choose all that apply)
No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.
You just took a stand for your financial future and every woman's right to economic power. Check your email. You will hear from me directly with resources and next steps.
Share this with 3 women in your life. Economic power shared is economic power multiplied.