We were privileged to participate in the launch of the newest ACTiVATE program at Texas State. My former co-instructor here in Maryland, Terry Chase Hazell, is leading up the awesome instructional team there and has done a fantastic job recruiting a sharp group of incredible women to join our ACTiVATE community.

In the all-day session we led, we focused on helping them get to know each other and build community while exploring their personal goals for starting their own business. In addition to having a lot of fun, we saw some real potential. I have no doubt there will be some great new technology-based businesses coming out of that program.

Special thanks to Kris Appel, Founder and CEO of Encore Path, Kimberly Brown, CEO of Amethyst Technologies, and Linda Burger of the Howard County Economic Development Authority, all ACTiVATE alum, for joining us and sharing their inspiring stories on how to make the most out of the program.

At the end of the day (which FLEW by!), I asked the ladies how the day would have been different if it had been mixed gender. While I’ve seen first-hand the benefits of having ACTiVATE be a women’s-only program, I was honestly pleasantly surprised by some of their answers.

If the class had included both men and women, all agreed that the day would have had a different dynamic.  One woman observed that when men are in the room, some women tend to let them take over, especially when they’re unsure about something.  Having men in the room can make them more self-conscious, especially when learning new skills or trying something new – like starting a tech business.

With the single-gender focus, the women noted the free flow of ideas as well as the team spirit that began to develop among these accomplished, driven women. One woman mentioned that they “get” each other – the decisions they’ve made and challenges they’ve experienced throughout their lives and careers.  Certainly, as we all agreed, the volume level in the room throughout the day remained at a higher level than it would have in mixed company.

The day left us all energized and pleased to welcome our Texas friends into the ACTiVATE community of women entrepreneurs. The whole trip left me personally jazzed about the program and prospects of helping it continue to expand.

Tags: Business, Entrepreneur, Maryland, Technology, Texas, Women

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