Inspired by She Means Business

Last week, Jenny Kendrick and I had the opportunity to attend the She Means Business Women in Gold Gala in Reno, and we came away pretty darn inspired.

We were invited by our former colleague and friend, Marisol Rocha, who now serves on the board of She Means Business, a Reno-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs at the beginning of their careers.

The organization’s work is especially meaningful because it is practical, personal and designed to help women turn promising ideas into real businesses. Through its mentoring program, selected participants receive guidance and support as they navigate the early stages of entrepreneurship—from establishing an LLC and refining a business concept to learning how to manage the many challenges that come with owning and operating a company.

The gala featured a Q&A conversation with seasoned female founders who shared business insights, candid statistics, hard-earned lessons and a healthy dose of encouragement for the women in the room.

The conversation also included a striking reminder about the barriers women founders continue to face in accessing capital. In a 2025 survey of more than 1,000 women business owners, nearly seven in 10 said they relied on personal savings to get started. Only 18% reported using a business or SBA loan, and just 3% received venture-capital funding. That statistic resonated with me—not because my own experience is identical to anyone else’s, but because it reminded me how often women entrepreneurs are asked to build the proof before they are given the same room to grow.

As I listened, I found myself thinking back to my own early days in business.

During ERPR’s first year, I went to my longtime bank to request a line of credit. I had begun hiring support and needed a way to cover payroll while waiting for client payments to come in. The bank extended a small line of credit—less than $10,000—and at the time, I was genuinely grateful to receive it. It helped me better understand cash flow, borrowing, payroll obligations and the financial realities of growing a business.

Later that year, I learned that my male nephew—20 years my junior—had received a $100,000 line of credit from the same bank for his new business. Yes, we were in different industries and had different circumstances, but I still remember the disappointment I felt in that moment.

I do not look back on that experience with sour grapes. In fact, I am thankful for the opportunity I was given, even if it was more limited than I had hoped. That initial line of credit contributed to my education as a business owner. It required me to be resourceful, more disciplined and more intentional about how ERPR managed growth.

It also reinforced a lesson that many women founders know well: resilience becomes one of the skills we perfect. We learn to advocate harder, ask again, build the proof points, find trusted advisors and keep moving forward—even when the support or resources we need do not come as easily as they should.

About five years later, after a CFO mentor—referenced in a separate ERPR blog about mentoring—had stepped into my life, I was encouraged to return to my bank and request a substantial increase to ERPR’s line of credit. I was not granted quite the amount I requested, but I received enough to help us pursue new goals, manage growth and continue building the business.

That bittersweet memory floated back to me last Thursday night as I listened to women founders share their experiences and encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs. It reinforced why organizations like She Means Business matter.

The organization is only two years old, yet the gala drew an impressive crowd, raised meaningful support and created the kind of energy that suggests it is headed for big things. We are grateful to Marisol for the invitation, proud of the work she and her fellow board members are doing, and excited to see where the organization goes next.

At ERPR, we have long believed in the importance of mentoring—especially supporting women in business and creating room at the table for emerging leaders. It is a passion reflected in our Female Founders page and one that continues to shape the work we do and the people we choose to champion.

Congratulations to everyone behind the Women in Gold Gala—and to every woman in the room who is building something brave, meaningful and entirely her own.