19 March 2009

Entrepreneur Rachel Allgood Discusses Women in Business

CO.NX webchat transcript, March 19

Rachel Allgood, entrepreneur and chief creative officer of Isocurve, a consulting and branding firm she founded in 1996, talked about succeeding as a woman in business in a March 19 CO.NX webchat.

Following is the transcript:

(begin transcript)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of International Information Programs
Webchat Transcript

The International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge: Supporting Women-Led Businesses

Guest:    Rachel Allgood
Date:       March 19, 2009
Time:      9 a.m. EDT (13:00 GMT)

March 19, 09:00 EDT

Webchat Moderator (Kristin): Please join us here on Thursday, March 19 at 12:00 GMT for an open forum. Then, at 13:00 GMT, Rachel Allgood will join us for a live webchat to talk about being an international woman entrepreneur.

Webchat Moderator (Kristin): We are taking your questions now. Once submitted, your questions will appear in red.

Webchat moderator (Kristin): Hello! We will be opening our global forum at the top of the hour. Please feel free to share your thoughts on business, entrepreneurship, and women's rights in our forum.

Webchat moderator (Kristin): Thanks for joining us today to ask your questions to Rachel Allgood!

Rachel Allgood: Good morning (or evening) ladies. It is wonderful to be here. I look forward to chatting and learning from each other.  I apologize in advance for not being the fastest at typing.

Comment [Karolina]: halo!

Comment [Sheila Mpolo]: Hello Rachel, Kristin, Sarah and the rest of the women who have logged in

Comment [IRC Kampala 2]: Hi Sarah, I am Mbajja Fatuma from Nawoff, Uganda

Rachel Allgood: Just to start, I founded my consulting and branding business September 1996 and I was a partner in another firm for six and half years previously. So, for the last 20 years, I have been running businesses for myself and also I have been helping my clients launch their products and services to the world.

I am very interested in working with people from around the world --- it is such a small world these days as we can see. Instantaneous communication that is even more robust than the telephone.

Rachel Allgood: Let's start --- what is everyone working on and thinking?

Question [Chisanga Kapumpa]: Does Ms Allgood visit countries like Zambia to meet women entrepreneurs?

Answer [Rachel Allgood]: I have never been to Zambia, maybe one day soon, but I do have a farm in the Amazon basin where I have been working with the women in my town to nurture entrepreneurship.

Q [Olive samukolo]: Am a fashion designer and do lecture entrepreneurship. Am looking forward to expand my fashion enterprise. When is Rachel coming to Zambia to meet us- the women in entrepreneurship?

Webchat Moderator (Kristin): Rachel is here in the U.S. I don't believe that she'll be in Zambia soon, but we'd like to host more chats like this one in the future where we can all meet online.

Q [irma sukowati]: how about your tips to be young entrepreneurs?

A [Rachel Allgood]: The ability to manage effectively, work hard, and continue to sincerely love and hold a passion for your business are the three most important traits that have been proven throughout time. I think it is imperative to love what you do. That is first and foremost for me. Money has never been a driving force but it is the excitement of working in new technologies and being a part of innovative branding programs.

It is also important to be willing to mentor and nurture employees and allow them to take the spotlight whenever possible. That is what will allow you to step into new areas and allow the business to grow. If you try to control every detail, the business will stagnate. So, you have to be willing to make mistakes yourself and let others do the same. That is how we all learn.

Comment [Chisanga Kapumpa]: I agree with you on mentoring and nurturing employees.  Only problem is that they always leave for greener pastures.  I enjoy passing on my skill to others because I believe they will live on even after am gone.

Q [olive samukolo]: what are the opportunities in a global economic crisis? I need to work hard.

A [Rachel Allgood]: Crisis always brings opportunity. It is not just about working hard, but SMART. What do people need that you can offer? Also, what can you deliver most efficiently than some large companies or more expensive sources?

We are doing well in this economy because we are taking business from larger firms that our new clients can no longer afford.

Also, crisis is a GREAT time for innovation. People are more willing to listen when they are need of good solutions.

Q [Sheila Mpolo]: Very true, without any challenge there would be no improvement, right?

Comment [IRC Kampala 2]: At least give us some tips of managing enterprises successfully and why some fail

A [Rachel Allgood]: There are so many factors in running a business and keeping it healthy: from having enough cash on hand to operate, to being able to keep an educated, well-trained staff at ready. A business is similar to the human body. When one component is out of balance, the rest tends to suffer. I think the reason many business fail is the inability to be agile. Nothing is absolute. The world is constantly changing as is technology as is business — the ability to move swiftly and adapt allows for survival.

Q [mercy maphango mbewe]: What or who inspired you to start your own business? Did you face any challenges?

A [Rachel Allgood]: My dad. My dad has always run businesses and he a bit eccentric. He was unusual for his time because he always spoke highly of women and minorities and supported both. He made me work from the time I was a six years old and I LOVED it. I built my first database when I was 8 years old for one of his companies.

Entrepreneurship takes a certain kind of optimism. Not fake but real. There are challenges every day from lack of cash to an employee with personal problems. Each has to be tended to. At the end of the day, we have to find a purpose in what we do – that helps light the way.

Q [IRC Kampala]: I really want to be an independent woman. How can I start a business on my own?

A [Rachel Allgood]: First things first: What do you want to do? And is there a market need for it? Do you have funding in place or can you bootstrap it? Once you figure out the nuts and bolts of your business model, then you will find your answer. You need to put pen to paper and write down all of your pros and cons, what you have in place and what you need to do. This is not a decision you make effectively without doing the basic homework first.

Q [IRC Kampala]: Hi, am Esther doing bachelor of statistics at Makerere University. Am in my final year. My question is, how do I start out on venturing my own business?

A [Rachel Allgood]: Statistics is a great skill to own. You can use it cross-vertically from surveying customers to understanding data clustering. You can work as a freelancer, I am certain, for research companies. Once again, you have to do your homework. Who is hiring your skill-set in your area? Can you work abroad? Also, check out some of the innovative work companies like Smule (http://www.smule.com/) and this site http://flowingdata.com/ are producing. They are gathering enormous amounts of data and breaking it down into comprehensive and usable formats.

Q [Sheila Mpolo]: I would like to venture in event planning and food supplying business... the thing is I failed to give a real go?  I don’t know how to organize myself properly.

A [Rachel Allgood]: All businesses require some of the same basic principles.  Write down your pros, cons, overhead, potential income – are there customers available and can they provide money upfront (deposits) to help you fuel your work? If not, then you will need some capital probably.

Organization always begins for me with putting pen to paper.

It helps me organize my thoughts and review them later.

Q [olive samukolo]: I know its not luck nor intelligence that will prosper me but the will. Does it mean I am lacking the will power? What can I do to be like Rachel?

Webchat Moderator (Kristin): It sounds to me like you do have the will and passion, Olive. Coming to this chat to ask questions and learn shows that you have the drive.

A [Rachel Allgood]: Olive, you have it. You are reaching out. Every success starts with one step. Really. It is so silly – and our moms and grandmothers have said it.

Little by little. Few things happen over night.

Q [Ivana]: What is the Women's Entrepreneur Challenge? Did you win?

A [Rachel Allgood]: Yes, I was honored to accept the award. It was a challenge for women in business – we proved our successes and our drive to help others.

Webchat Moderator (Sarah): You can learn more about the International Women's Entrepreneurial Challenge here: http://www.manhattancc.org/common/News/articles/detail.cfm?QID=6298&classification=news&topicID=0&clientID=11001&subnav=news.

Webchat Moderator (Kristin): Welcome to all who have just joined us. We are talking with business expert Rachel Allgood.

Q [IRC Kampala 2]: Being an entrepreneur is a very good venture if at all women are to develop. But the challenge today is, how can we develop our enterprises at the same time develop our homes? Nowadays maids are scarce due to tight laws that discriminate young girls and boys to work as maids. Yet mature people tend to leave work and concentrate on other things.

A [Rachel Allgood]: Some women seem to do this very well. They have extremely supportive families, husbands, and co-workers. Others struggle and get caught in the cycle of being overwhelmed and not truly succeeding at anything. This is a choice that each woman has to make for herself. Each person has to examine her internal and external resources and also her business choices --- does the work require enormous amounts of travel, long hours, employees, or is it an idea that can be brought to fruition part-time from home?

Q [Elizabeth]: When you want to start a business, is it advisable to employ a few people or be alone up until you are sure of being able to pay them?

A [Rachel Allgood]: This is a great question. Everyone is different because of needs. What I do, and it has worked, is I use contract labor until I find I am hiring the person for 25 hours a week consistently; then I move them to full-time.

Having an employee is an expense that can only be justified if they work as an asset.

Q [Sheila Mpolo]: Talking of having a farm in Amazon, do you have any passion of conserving nature?

A [Rachel Allgood]: Yes, it is my passion. And it IS A CHALLENGE.

I am trying to provide education. That is the basis of most progress.

Webchat Moderator (Kristin): Thanks so much for your questions. We see them coming in.

Q [Mercy Chiwanza Phiri]: What are the recommend books which we can read to help us face these challenges we meet as women?

A [Rachel Allgood]: One of my favorite LITTLE business books is called Growing a Business by Paul Hawkin. I don’t know if it is still in print.

It is only 100 pages or so but he demanded the highest quality products and service against everyone's advice and built an empire.

Webchat Moderator (Kristin): You can find more information on this book here: http://www.amazon.com/Growing-Business-Paul-Hawken/dp/0671671642

Webchat Moderator (Kristin): You can also learn more about the author Paul Hawken here: http://www.paulhawken.com/paulhawken_frameset.html

Q [Chisanga Kapumpa]: Talking of branding. I would like to go into commercial embroidery to brand corporate logos on worksuits, t-shirts etc. I would need help in sourcing embroidery machines like the 6 needle or above.  Would you help in sourcing some?

A [Rachel Allgood]: I don't source, but the web is a great resource. I LOVE embroidery. Look online and don't be afraid to reach out to people in other locations.

Comment [Sheila Mpolo]: I was lived in the village (country) my dream is to help that oppressed woman in the rural area to fend for her family and those surrounding her (community)

Webchat Moderator (Kristin): That's an amazing dream, Sheila. I wish you all the luck in the world.

A [Rachel Allgood]: Sheila, that is amazing.

Q [IRC Kampala]: the international women's day is due Sunday, what important things have the women entrepreneurs done that can be a reason to celebrate this day?

A [Rachel Allgood]: I think it is not just women entrepreneurs but women in all lines of work. Women have had to work under the radar for centuries — funneling scientific ideas through their brothers and husbands. These women have paved the way for all of us. Women entrepreneurs though, have found a way to make money and affect community in unique ways — just look at Anita Roddick, the founder of the Body Shop and all the work she does to help disadvantaged communities. And Mary Kay Ash (Mary Kay Cosmetics) who has helped millions of women find a way to own their own businesses. We all, men and women, need to remember that our businesses are intrinsically connected to our communities and it is our responsibility to give back and help those who may just need a helping hand.

Q [Karolina]: Ms. Allgood--how did you first get the idea to make your own business?  This I think is the biggest wall...how to just start!

A [Rachel Allgood]: Honestly, I was freelancing at night and working full-time for another agency at the same time. After a year, I realized I was making more at night than in my day job and I like my NIGHT clients so much more. They were innovative. So, I left my day job and started my first company in New York during the first global meltdown in the early 90s. It was great timing!

We got lots of work that big agency could not do. We built the first intranet for IBM because we were not scared to try HTML. At that point the Internet was NEW to the public.

I see things changing now -- mobile is normal around the world and technology is bringing information to people who did not have access before.

Q [saliya nyirenda: what kind of job were you doing at night

A [Rachel Allgood]: I was doing design and creative. Same as in the day but for smaller clients who could not afford a large agency.

Q [mercy maphango mbewe]: Rachel have you written any books?

A [Rachel Allgood]: No, but I have an idea for three. There just don't seem to be enough hours in the day. :)

Q [mercy maphango mbewe]: Who are your major clients?

Webchat Moderator (Sarah): Mercy, you can learn more about some of Rachel's major clients by visiting her website here: http://www.isocurve.com/

Q [IRC Kampala]: I am a finalist at the university, there one thing I am scared of. Getting a job may not be an easy thing. How can I start out on my own with the life after the university?

A [Rachel Allgood]: This depends so much on what you are studying and what you want to do. I do have to say, working for a smart, innovative company will teach you a lot. Starting out on your own out of school is done, and some people succeed, but it is tough for most. If you take a job, even at level less than you are qualified, think of it as another level of school. Look at their systems, how are clients treated, how are employees treated. Learn. Learn. Learn.

Comment [Chisanga Kapumpa]: Book keeping, stock taking and record keeping are some areas I feel need attention.  While I know my work in fashion and design, haberdashery and all, sometimes I don't know whether and coming or going and hired help can be expensive.

A [Rachel Allgood]: This is a great point. Focus on what you know. Make yourself aware of everything but get someone who is really good at record keeping to help you a few hours a month.

If you definitely don’t want to work for a company, I suggest doing exactly what I said earlier. Put pen to paper. What are you qualified to do? Who can hire you? How much will it cost to deliver your services? Can you work independently or do you need employees or contract labor? Once you figure out this, you can start making choices. There is no magic answer. It is all about working smart and hard and really being committed to your spreadsheet, customers, and deliverables.

Comment [Sheila Mpolo]: Thanks, you’ve no idea how it is to look after own children plus deceased siblings children as well...

A [Rachel Allgood]: I don’t. I can only imagine the challenge. With my farm in the jungle, some of the families have 10 and 15 children and I see the challenges.

Sheila, I have a feeling that you are bringing a lot of goodness into the world. By educating and providing for children, you are helping in ways that sometimes a business can't.

Webchat Moderator (Kristin): It's great to see so many joining us today! Please remember that you can give feedback on this program and suggest future programs on our Facebook page: http://co-nx.state.gov.

Q [Mercy Chiwanza Phiri]: What challenges have you faced as women in business?

A [Rachel Allgood]: For the most part, I try to not think about it too much and just work. In the US we have fewer challenges that in other countries. Yes, sometimes in meetings with men, they address their questions to my male employees, but my employees retort with “You need to ask that of Rachel.”

Comment [Chisanga Kapumpa]: I think there is a big gap in what we know and what we need to know.  So what we need to know seems to push us behind because we sometimes feel because we don't know, we won't succeed. But I think even with what we know, the sky is the limit.

Webchat Moderator (Kristin): Good point, Chisanga.

A [Rachel Allgood]: Yes, we learn more from mistakes and failures than most successes. So, we have to just try and push out of our comfort zones.

Webchat Moderator (Kristin): If you would like, please take a moment to vote in our poll.

A [Rachel Allgood]: A note about being a woman in a business environment:

A little tip I learned from my step-mom, don’t smile too much in meetings. This sounds silly, but most women are socialized to nurture and please --- which is a great skill to have but it can also set us aside in business. Also, interrupt if you can when you have a thought in a meeting or a presentation. Men often blurt out their answers and we often sit and wait our turn and don’t get the recognition sometimes.

Don't be rude but get your ideas across!

Q [olive samukolo]: I don’t want to be just a dreamer but to act. What is the magic behind you, Rachel? How have you climbed the ladder of success?

A [Rachel Allgood]: I have worked really hard. 20 hour days are no stranger to me but also, I will talk to anyone. Many people stay in their little circle, but contacts come many places. Widen your circle of influence like you are doing here --- right now.

Comment [Sheila Mpolo]: Do you know that its such a challenge to educate girl-child in a rural setup...They feel and probably a woman place is in a home, hence they always await for handouts, worse off even from their fellow women who’ve worked so tirelessly for their own immediate families

Webchat Moderator (Sarah): Good point, Sheila.

A [Rachel Allgood]: It is a challenge globally.

Seek out businesses (online or locally) who are offering support to women and businesses in your area.

Q [sepiso kabalanyana]: the only problem that has been there is starting a business without the know how we have not been having seminars and workshops we fell to excel because of this drawback. How do I look after my finances, my profits, my losses, most of just start a business that in the long run you fail? Since with people like you who have been successful in businesses it is high time this kind of forums are time and again repeated, because with the knowledge few or none at all can be achieved. I appreciate what you are doing. The other big thing is illiteracy to most of us women that even our businesses are hand to mouth because, we can not even access to internets. How can we be helped, with only basics of how to run a successful business? Thank you Kristin and Rachel for sparing your time to come and help women entrepreneurs as things are getting tough on survivals with the economical crisis.

Webchat Moderator (Kristin): Thanks for your kind words, sepiso. We would love to host more of these forums. Please email us at conx@state.gov with these ideas. Also go to our Facebook page http://co-nx.state.gov and tell us we need more of these forums.  We'd be happy to see you in another webchat!

Rachel Allgood: I hope we can have more events like this and focus on specific challenges in rural areas.

Even here in the US, rural areas are not included in much of our progress.

Webchat Moderator (Kristin): Thanks for your patience! Rachel is answering as many questions as she can. We are very glad you have joined us today.

Q [olive samukolo 2]: Are you married, Rachel? It’s difficult for most married women in Zambia to reach high because most husbands are very traditional and wouldn’t like to see their wives prosper. They feel inferior.

A [Rachel Allgood]: No, I am not married. And in the US, it is not so uncommon because we are so culturally different.

I understand what you are saying and I see it in my town in the Amazon too.

Women makes such influence though -- you are providing for the next generation and can deeply effect you community.

Comment [Sheila Mpolo]: I feel what these women in rural areas lack modern technology to equip themselves and forum like this one am able to interact with you

A [Rachel Allgood]: Yes, it is changing though.

Technology is becoming cheaper to distribute - with mobile and also some of the solar innovations

Change is coming -- I know we all want it come faster.

Q [Chisanga Kapumpa]: You said you learnt from your dad.  You have also mentioned your step-mom.  Do you have other siblings and if so are they also successful business people?  How much support do you get from your family? Oh are you married?

A [Rachel Allgood]: My brother is the opposite of me. He has a job in a restaurant and loves it. He likes the steady paycheck without the stress. I am not married but my dad and step-mom are a huge support to me – as well as my cousins. I have a large network of friends in New York that seem like family. My parents live in South Carolina. I just spent the weekend with my parents and all we did is talk and try to figure out this economy. My dad is extremely smart and often adds insights where others can’t.

Q [olive samukolo 2]: How do l finance my enterprise? Very difficult to access loans here. They need collaterals. I don’t have one. How do l do it?

Q [Rachel Allgood]: What kind of business are you trying to start? Do you need a lot of capital? So often, it takes very little to get things going. Can you start small and grow little by little?

Comment [Sheila Mpolo]: Rachel, you might not believe me, because of lack of education they are unable to operate these

Rachel Allgood: No, I believe it. BUT, it is our responsibility to share our knowledge. We must take we learn and spread it around. Like seeds.

Webchat Moderator (Kristin): I know there are still many more questions in the queue. Unfortunately, Rachel only has an hour with us. Please email us at conx@state.gov  or write on our board on http:/co-nx.state.gov to ask for more programs like this one. We will open up the global forum at the top of the hour for your thoughts.

Q [mercy maphango mbewe]: Has this credit crunch had an effect on your general operations?

A [Rachel Allgood]: Yes, people are paying more slowly and that effects cash flow. People are also more hesitant to make a decision.  But, we just have to keep working and it will resolve itself in time.

Thank you so much for all of your questions and insights. You have stimulated my interests in Zambia and textiles. Thank you for participating today in this forum.  It has been wonderful and I hope I have helped in some small way. You certainly have helped me.  And thank you to Sarah and Kristen and the State Department for being so supportive of entrepreneurship and our global community.

Webchat Moderator (Kristin): Thank you so much for being with us today, Rachel. And thanks to our wonderful audience!

Webchat Moderator (Sarah): Thank you all for participating today. A full transcript from this webchat will be posted here and on our Facebook page (http://co-nx.state.gov) in two days.

Webchat Moderator (Kristin): We will now open the global forum for you to share your thoughts with us.

Webchat Moderator (Sarah): The Webchat is now closed.  We wish to thank Rachel Allgood for joining us today.  A transcript of today's webchat will be posted to http://co-nx.state.gov and to http://www.america.gov/multimedia/askamerica.html within two business days.  Speakers are chosen for their expertise and may not reflect the views of the U.S. Department of State.

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