How to be a GirlBoss

 

I remember seeing Girlboss in the library and wanting to read it. However, despite what many think, librarians do not spend all their time reading. In fact, most of the time, I would defer reading popular books because they had too many holds. The number of holds a book signifies its popularity. Holds means someone is waiting on a list to read it.

That’s why I was surprised to find a video on Giant Ideas, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5zW9h8vS8U. The video from Giant Ideas features an interview with NastyGal founder, Sophia Amoruso.

GirlBoss is also a comedy series loosely based on her life.    

Amoruso began a vintage clothing shop on eBay that grew exponentially until she was kicked off the site in 2008. By 2014, she had her own brick-and-mortar shop.  That was only the beginning of her career rise.

She became a wildly successful CEO of NastyGal. Amoruso’s company was worth 250 million at its peak.   

In 2016, the company filed for bankruptcy, yet Amoruso’s business career continues to flourish with the success of her foundation, the GirlBoss Foundation and Business Class.   

The GirlBoss Foundation helps women start companies by offering grants to qualified individuals. Business Class teaches the art of entrepreneurship.

Scrappy Startups by Melanie Keveles

Scrappy Startups: How 15 Ordinary Women Turned Their Unique Ideas Into Profitable Businesses.

Melanie Keveles profiles fifteen women who started their own businesses from scratch. Nancy Gruver started a media company, New Moon, that lets tween girls write articles for girls in their age group. Bev Halisky started a driving service for the elderly because she saw a need. Many seniors had no one to drive them to their doctor's appointments. Halisky's Canadian-based business has generated several franchises.

Possibly the most impressive business, however, is the one started in a war zone. Sarah Chayes, a journalist for National Public Radio, started an Arghand Cooperative in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Hoping to spur economic development in the area, Sarah started a high-end soap company. She uses native agriculture e.g. pomegranate seeds and pistachios to create natural soaps and then exports them as luxury products. Though Sarah's business is successful, it is also a personal mission.

Scrappy Startups is full of wonderful businesses started by women who did not necesarily have a business background. Many of these businesses were started by women who saw a social need e.g. Cherry Brook Kitchen, 29 Gifts, Eco-Me, Arghand Cooperative. Questions at the end of each chapter may help budding entrepreneurs realize their business dreams.