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Public Meetings

January 2025 Public Meeting

NWBC’s first Public Meeting of 2025 provided a forum for presentation of the Council’s 2024 Annual Report and policy recommendations. Panelists exchanged thoughts with Councilmembers and one another to delve into implementation opportunities for the Council’s recommendation concerning universal entrepreneurial education. In addition, SBA officials summarized achievements, and businesswomen and organizational partners spoke about their policy suggestions for further exploration over the coming year. The information and feedback stakeholders shared will shape the topics that NWBC studies, and the policy recommendations it advances in 2025 to support women’s entrepreneurship and business ownership.

Summary of Proceedings

Opening Remarks:

  • NWBC Executive Director and Designated Federal Officer Tené Dolphin opened the meeting by welcoming guests and introducing NWBC and its mission.
  • ED Dolphin thanked her team, and introduced Councilmembers. 11 were present: Sima Ladjevardian, Samantha Abrams, Brandy Butler, Kathy Cochran, Karen Clark Cole, Selena Rodgers Dickerson, Jenny Poon, Pamela Prince-Eason, Katica Roy, Leslie Lynn Smith, and Dr. Shakenna Williams.
  • ED Dolphin previewed the agenda for the meeting, and introduced Chair Sima Ladjevardian.

Chair Address – 2024 in Review:

  • Chair Sima Ladjevardian introduced herself, and shared an overview of 2024 policymaking actions responsive to NWBC recommendations, NWBC engagement activities, and Council-commissioned research releases.
  • Policymaking highlights included legislative, regulatory, and programmatic advances to expand access to affordable childcare.
  • Notable events and conversations included celebration of NWBC’s 35th anniversary, co-sponsorship of the 3rd Annual Women’s Business Summit, participation in national and international conferences, and the launch of an Instagram Live series.
  • NWBC is presenting results of research on women’s STEM entrepreneurship, the impact of age on women’s business ownership, and the challenges and strengths of women entrepreneurs in rural and Tribal communities.
  • Chair Ladjevardian introduced Associate Administrator for the Office of Entrepreneurial Development Aditi Dussault.

SBA Leadership Remarks:

  • Associate Administrator Dussault expressed appreciation for NWBC, its Annual Report, and for providing forums through its events and public meetings that spotlight what women need to advance in business ownership.
  • She spoke about significant SBA achievements 2021-25 that would support women’s entrepreneurship, including maintenance of a changed 8(a) program and revision of the process of applying for certification to be more user-centered and streamlined.
  • AA Dussault also announced that SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership would soon award new grants to Women’s Business Centers to provide focused coaching on government contracting and childcare businesses, and in new territories and remotely, to ensure wider geographic coverage.
  • She introduced Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman to speak about accomplishments during her term at the helm of SBA.
  • Administrator Guzman thanked NWBC Councilmembers and Executive Director Dolphin for their service.
  • She reflected on the task of supporting small businesses through the disruption caused by the COVID pandemic, and celebrated the resiliency of firms and entrepreneurs who had weathered difficulties and driven economic recovery, leading to the lowest average unemployment rate during any administration in the past 50 years.
  • She noted that SBA lending and investment programs had helped inspire private business investment and ensure the ability to grow.
  • During her tenure, the Administrator strove to ensure that SBA could adapt its programs and supports to evolving needs and to serve the women leading the surge of new business creation since 2020. She shared the experience of a woman whose gluten free foods company had experienced undue barriers to financing and expansion that she overcame thanks to SBA’s lending programs, and noted increased government-backed lending to women.
  • Certification process modernization will support women-owned businesses in selling to government, as will new lender and contracting opportunity match tools.
  • Women entrepreneurs give Administrator Guzman hope for the future competitiveness of the US economy; the assurance of access to opportunity for all is foundational to democracy.
  • Administrator Guzman thanked the Council and audience again. Councilmembers then spoke and thanked the Administrator for her service and leadership, and in particular for the agency’s embrace of tech-forward programming, for its quick response to economic catastrophes like the collapse of the Key Bridge in Baltimore, and for its centering of underrepresented entrepreneurs’ experiences.
  • In response to a question about how to sustain the momentum, the Administrator encouraged NWBC and audience members to share and emphasize facts about the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of SBA programs, and about the centrality of public-private partnerships to its operations.

2024 NWBC Policy Recommendations:

  • Chair Ladjevardian introduced Councilmembers who presented 2024 policy recommendations on behalf of each of NWBC’s three subcommittees.
  • Access to Opportunity Subcommittee Chair Selena Rodgers Dickerson spoke about three recommendations and some of the reasoning animating them:
    • federal agencies and their grantees could microtarget outreach to disconnected women and women-owned businesses;
    • SBA could create national business certification standards that can serve as the foundation for increased information-sharing between public and private entities that serve women-owned and other businesses; and
    • government agencies could use common bid and grant applications, and make employees available to answer questions live.
  • On behalf of Access to Capital Subcommittee Chair Roberta McCullough who could not attend, Subcommittee Member Karen Clark Cole spoke about three recommendations and the subcommittee’s thinking:
    • SBA could develop criteria for forgiving government-backed, privately-administered loans, building on the successful administration of Paycheck Protection Program instruments;
    • federal agencies could incentivize use of systems and tools that flag biased decision-making; and
    • agencies could further develop innovative loan risk mitigation programs.
  • Inclusive Entrepreneurial Ecosystems Subcommittee Chair Kathy Cochran spoke about four recommendations advanced by that group:
    • Government entities could expand access to childcare by contributing in-kind public supports to the system;
    • SBA and NWBC could collaborate to regularly evaluate and report on WBCs’ effectiveness, producing material they may use in private fundraising;
    • federal, state, and local agencies could support and advance universal entrepreneurial education for both children and adults; and
    • the federal government could explore improved federal data collection that quantifies WOSBs’ contributions to their communities.
  • Chair Ladjevardian highlighted recent advances related to these recommendations: SBA has cleared pending applications for WOSB certification and streamlined its system to accept simultaneous application for all programs; the Treasury Department published its National Strategy for Financial Inclusion and embraced use of alternative data to establish creditworthiness; and agreements under the CHIPS and Science Act resulted in numerous commitments to support childcare capacity.

Keynote Address – NWBC Co-Founder Virginia Littlejohn

  • Following introduction by Chair Ladjevardian, Virginia Littlejohn, one of the leaders who conceived and advocated for Congressional creation of NWBC, shared remarks.
  • Ms. Littlejohn recounted the meetings and strategic organizing that culminated in Congressional enactment of the Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988 and foundation of NWBC. This movement centered critical policy issues: access to federal contracts, comprehensive data collection about women-owned businesses, creation of Women’s Business Centers and NWBC to speak for women entrepreneurs, and removing gendered cosignature requirements for loans.
  • She spoke about her present international advisory work and the alignment between the issues that predominate in cross-national conversations and that are NWBC’s focus. Our knowledge and experiences are valuable resources to share with allies across the world.
  • She called for framing women’s entrepreneurship advocacy as an economic imperative, and encouraged women business owners to work to bridge divides.
  • Councilmembers thanked Ms. Littlejohn for her comments and leadership, and asked for her recommendations around advancing the women’s business movement, and engaging with the G20 and W20’s deliberations and platform-building. She recommended renewed coalition building, and economic research to dispel myths and fuel evidence-based policymaking. She also noted that there would likely be significant outreach activity in 2026 around the US presidency of the G20, and the opportunity to serve in an advisory capacity leading up to that moment.
  • Councilmembers and Ms. Littlejohn discussed women’s entrepreneurship as a national security imperative that helps to stabilize society.

Entrepreneurial Education Panel:

  • Councilmember Dr. Shakenna Williams introduced the topic of increasing exposure to role models and entrepreneurial education as a means of inspiring girls and women to overcome barriers and start businesses.
  • Meg Stewart and Jenny Fay with Capitol Region chapter of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship shared a demonstration of their program and overview of policy priorities to increase entrepreneurial learning opportunities. Key concepts and themes included:
    • It is important to connect what happens in the classroom with life experiences.
    • Education should challenge students’ incorrect assumptions about entrepreneurship and business ownership.
    • Entrepreneurship is a connector across social and political divides.
    • Mentors are central to the success of entrepreneurial education.
    • Other common features of the NFTE curriculum include:
      • Student self-assessment
      • Grounding the stories of relatable local entrepreneurs and mentors
      • Project-based learning to cultivate comfort with reasonable risk, and sense of ability to manage and achieve goals even with limited resources
      • Group work to learn collaboration and to recognize and reinforce others’ strengths
      • Practice and evaluation
    • Entrepreneurial education’s central goal is to foster a problem-solving mindset that facilitates success whether or not participants go on to start or own businesses (about 25% of NFTE alums do).
    • Private organizations that provide in- and out-of-school education collaborate with one another in coalitions.
    • Several trends have created opportunity to advance entrepreneurial education: rising interest and investment in pairing experiential STEM and industry-specific education with entrepreneurial instruction; creation of credentialing programs and inclusion of business-related topics; and increasing funding for alternative programs outside of mainstream public schools that can and often do incorporate entrepreneurial mindset training.
    • A proposal to make entrepreneurial education programs eligible for WIOA funding is in play, and deserves future consideration.
  • Dr. Williams asked questions and facilitated responses from panelists about benefits of entrepreneurial instruction for women’s business ownership and the economy, and opportunities to expand its availability. The observations shared included:
  • From Klassi Duncan: growth is needed in early learning of entrepreneurial abilities, and in opportunities and programs in lower income and rural communities.
  • From Kate Kreamer: business education pathways are growing, but we can go farther by ensuring entrepreneurial instruction in integrated into curricula for cross-cutting, general-education programs, and for technical, profession-oriented programs.
  • From Dr. Michael Morris: teaching practical skills for operating businesses is a successful poverty-fighting method, but it should prepare people not to create unicorns but to build and grow gradually the full spectrum of types of firms. Skills that entrepreneurs need run more toward ingenuity and flexibility, and funding alone doesn’t make companies successful – most successful firms begin with very modest amounts of money.
  • From Chelsea Soneira: in underserved communities, young people are less likely to self-identify as entrepreneurs, but education can and should show them how to address challenges and start new enterprises, and not only within classrooms but by connecting learning with doing in the real world.
  • From Kim Vitelli: the public workforce system is heavily influenced by WIOA, which may, but isn’t yet required, to support entrepreneurship education. There are opportunities to expand by enlisting local Workforce Development Boards as advocates, and focusing on services for Opportunity Youth aged 14-24 (for whom funding programs require making entrepreneurship instruction available).
  • From further conversation between panelists:
    • Gaps persist in exposure to and training in entrepreneurial habits, skills, and mindset – these need to be part of base/core programs.
    • One barrier to work-based learning that is an important aspect of entrepreneurial education is the reluctance of smaller businesses to engage and host apprentices and other learners. Intermediary organizations are critical helpers that can lower barriers and help companies understand the benefits to them of providing space for learners.
    • It is most fruitful to invest in potential entrepreneurs directly – supportive ecosystems have to grow organically and in response to particular local needs and interests.
    • Although ideological trends, and in some cases legal constraints, complicate efforts to concentrate programs and supports in underserved communities, the reasons for serving and lifting up those communities remain. They still include the bulk of unrealized potential to fuel economic growth and progress.
    • It is valuable in invest not only in entrepreneurial education but also in connecting beneficiaries of that training to funding sources and the other supports they may need to operationalize what they’ve learned.
    • Patterns of opportunity and access will never change if we invest based on economic returns only. Government and other mission-oriented intervenors need to look at business development as a vehicle for positive human development.

Policy Pitch Session:

  • Councilmember Samantha Abrams introduced herself and the policy pitch session, an opportunity for Councilmembers to hear brief presentations on priorities from, and engage with, business owners and partner organizations.
  • On behalf of WBENC, Lindsey All emphasized the need to continue certifying women-owned firms to understand their progress and needs; the potential harms of but also opportunities for WOSBs if tariffs are imposed and raised; the need for expanded access to capital; and the importance of childcare and healthcare resources to women in business.
  • Susan Au Allen, U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce, recommended greater investment in representative, culturally-sensitive mentorship.
  • For the Small Business Majority, Alexis D’Amato spoke about shrinking capacity to issue smaller loans, and the need for measures that increase their attractiveness for private investors. She also advocated national standards for CDFI practice, and expansions of strategic loan forgiveness.
  • Wendy Doyle, United WE, spoke in favor of treating childcare availability as a critical business input, and supporting its provision through tax credits, thoughtful program design, and assistance to the childcare workforce.
  • Angela Dingle with WIPP advocated data transparency and procedural innovations to expand contracting opportunities for WOSBs: an increased sole source threshold for contracts for WOSBs and EDWOSBs, and redress of the unintended consequences of category management practice.
  • Amanda Elam of Babson College spoke about a need for investment in data collection and analysis that delves into details and illuminates WOSBs’ strengths, in addition to needs and deficits, and inspires positive entrepreneurial momentum.
  • Lajuanna Russell, Business Management Associates, noted her affiliations with and support for comments from Small Business Majority and WIPP. She urged the designation of more prime federal contracts for small businesses, particularly new entrants to the federal marketplace; she also advocated technical assistance for mid-stage and mature companies to expand the customer base and scale.
    • Klassi Duncan added that local and state contracting opportunities can provide a bridge to larger federal sales.
  • On behalf of MANA, Amy Hinojosa noted the preponderance of younger Latina entrepreneurs struggling to access funding and scale, and advocated enhanced financial literacy education, as well as technical assistance provided by trusted sources from within historically underserved communities.
  • Alisa Joseph, U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., spoke about supports Black business owners need to expand their participation in federal contracting: access to decision-makers, introductions to purchasers and business partners facilitated by trusted community representatives, connections to capital to fund the capacity necessary for contracts, and targeted support to small businesses with leveraging AI to compete for federal contracts against larger companies.
  • Brittany Walsh of the Bipartisan Policy Center raised the need for paid family leave and early childhood care, which women-owned businesses depend on and predominate in providing. To expand access, BPC advocates low-interest federally-backed loans and grants for childcare providers; reform of tax credits for employers to offset childcare costs and provide paid leave; efforts to harmonize varying state requirements of employers; and designation of SBA staff or advisors to support for-profit childcare providers.
  • Klassi Duncan spoke on behalf of the Association of Women’s Business Centers about policy priorities to support WBCs, including reauthorization of the program; an increase in or elimination of caps on grant size; accreditation of centers; rational limits on reporting requirements and restrictions on zone of operation; increased appropriations and support for center specialization and designation of Centers of Excellence; and improved federal data about women-owned businesses.
  • Simone Ellison from the Greater Washington Black Chamber of Commerce emphasized Black businesses’ need for a stronger childcare system and common understanding of childcare as an economic imperative; she spoke in favor of increased public funding, expanded eligibility for subsidies, financial incentives and grants for childcare providers and promotion of public-private partnerships, benefits assistance for childcare workers, and the integration of health and education services for young children.
  • Molly Gimmel represented NAWBO and advocated making targeted support for microbusinesses available by adopting a definition and establishing a loan program only for the smallest firms.

Public Comments:

  • Councilmember Leslie Lynn Smith invited comments and questions from members of the public in the audience. There were none.

Conclusion:

  • Chair Ladjevardian invited comments, questions, and feedback at any time to NWBC’s public inbox, info@nwbc.gov.
  • She thanked Councilmembers, staff, and attendees for participating in the meeting.
  • She adjourned the meeting at 4:15pm Eastern time.

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The National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) is a non-partisan federal advisory committee created to serve as an independent source of advice and counsel to the President, Congress, and the U.S. Small Business Administration on economic issues of importance to women business owners. To learn more, please visit: www.nwbc.gov.

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