Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs in Richmond, VA

Women Entrepreneur Focused Organizations

National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)

Mission: To empower and advocate for women entrepreneurs across the U.S.

Core Purpose: NAWBO serves as the unified voice of over 12 million women-owned businesses. They provide resources, networking opportunities, and legislative advocacy to advance women in business.

Key Offerings:

• 🧭 Advocacy: Promotes bipartisan legislation that supports women business owners nationwide.

• 🤝 Networking: Hosts local and national events to foster collaboration, mentorship, and growth.

• 📚 Education: Provides workshops, summits, and leadership development opportunities.

• 💼 Membership Benefits: Includes access to certification programs, business resources, and visibility platforms.

  
  

Local Chapters: NAWBO Richmond offers monthly events like Coffee & Connect, Wisdom Wednesdays, and Lunch & Learn sessions to build community and share expertise.

Key Event: Women Empowerment Summit and Expo, October 2-4. Women Empowerment Summit and Expo - a 2-Day Experience Tickets, Thu, Oct 2, 2025 at 4:00 PM | Eventbrite

Metropolitan Business League (MBL)

Mission: To empower small, women-, and minority-owned businesses through education, access, and advocacy.

Core Purpose: MBL is a nonprofit business association based in Richmond, VA. They are dedicated to fostering economic prosperity by connecting entrepreneurs with resources, networks, and opportunities for growth.

Key Offerings:

• 🔗 Networking & Partnerships: Builds bridges between businesses, government agencies, and educational institutions to drive collaboration and procurement success.

• 📈 Business Development: Offers workshops, member-only events, and marketing support to elevate visibility and capacity.

• 💡 Youth & Community Programs: Runs initiatives like the Youth Entrepreneurship Program to cultivate future leaders and connect classrooms to boardrooms.

• 🏛️ Advocacy & Access: Hosts summits like Women Who Mean Business and maintains a Capital Access Hub to support funding and strategic growth.

  
  

Key Event: Women Who Mean Business Summit, October 10th. Women Who Mean Business -

The Women’s Business Center of Central Virginia

Mission: To empower women small business owners by providing the tools, guidance, and support needed to start, grow, and scale their ventures.

Core Purpose: WBC Central VA serves as a technical assistance hub for entrepreneurs across Central Virginia. They offer personalized support in a rapidly shifting economic landscape.

Key Offerings:

• 🧭 One-on-One Counseling: Tailored guidance for business planning, marketing, operations, and financial strategy.

• 📚 Training & Workshops: Includes Business Start Bootcamps, webinars, and an annual WBC Conference focused on growth and sustainability.

• 💡 Technical Assistance: Support with branding, intellectual property, capital access, and loan readiness.

• 🤝 Networking & Events: Facilitates connection through community-building sessions and strategic partnerships.

  
  

Key Event: Wealth and Wellness Conference, October 30th. Home - 2025 Wealth & Wellness Conference

The Importance of Networking

Every entrepreneur needs a team of organizations and people to support their growth. Networking is crucial for success. It opens doors to new opportunities and collaborations. By attending events, you can meet like-minded individuals who share your passion for business.

Connecting with others can provide fresh perspectives and insights. You might discover new strategies to overcome challenges. Additionally, networking can lead to potential partnerships that enhance your business.

If you're looking to network and connect with other business owners, consider checking out these organizations. Attend an event and determine if membership can help you achieve your business objectives.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Women’s Business Month is a perfect time to celebrate and support women entrepreneurs. Richmond, VA, offers a vibrant community of organizations dedicated to empowering women in business. By engaging with these groups, you can unlock your full potential. Embrace the opportunities available to you and take the next step in your entrepreneurial journey.

Remember, I am here to support you on your path to success. Together, we can navigate challenges, build confidence, and achieve significant career and business growth through tailored coaching and consulting.

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I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Feel free to email executive coach Dorian Cunion at dcunion@yourpathexecutivesolutions.com. If you are interested in seeing additional content related to leadership and business, follow me on

• Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/your_executivecoach 

• LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/doriancunion/. 

Or check out the Coaching Gold podcast on

• Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/13bVHSpTVGfoBXZYpFFyNR?si=2Wp-jP3DR0CXK5f7RrBjfA or

• Youtube https://youtu.be/5a39XfS4O0I?si=DHSSsNreisqUfQYU

Building Culture and Community Can Drive Profitability

Takeaways from the Richmond Brewery Conference

Attending industry conferences can be a game-changer for any small business owner. They offer a unique opportunity to gain new perspectives, learn from successful leaders, and stay ahead of the curve. This summary highlights the key insights from the recent Richmond Brewery Conference, with a special emphasis on operational efficiency, customer experience, and future-proofing your business by focusing on your organizational culture.

A "People First" Approach for RVA Businesses

The most powerful and recurring theme was the importance of a people-first culture. As one presenter, Aaron Ludwig of Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint, shared, their business is "Built on Values, Driven by People". They emphasize that success stems from a straightforward business approach and treating everyone with kindness. Similarly, Betsy Lay and Alison Wisneski of Lady Justice Brewing stated that a business's "greatest product might not be beer at all" and that the community is a business's "greatest asset". The core message for RVA small business owners is clear: your team and your community are your most valuable assets.

Building a Deeper Customer Connection in Your Local Community

Customer experience is more critical than ever, with a significant portion of negative impressions linked to poor interactions. Building a deeper connection with customers drives positive feedback and loyalty. The key is to create a space where people feel a sense of belonging. Lady Justice Brewing highlighted that "Your community wants to connect to you", and that "Authenticity converts". One specific example of a successful loyalty program is the "Notch Club" from Jack Brown's, which gives customers a sense of "belonging to something bigger".

Embracing Industry Trends to Drive Profitability

Staying relevant means understanding and adapting to macro trends. There's a growing demand for variety, including non-alcoholic beverages and cocktails. For businesses, staying ahead means recognizing these shifts. For companies in any industry, understanding the evolving needs of customers is crucial for attracting new customers, fostering customer loyalty, and improving profitability.

Actionable Recommendations for Improving Profitability

Beyond the high-level takeaways, the conference offered concrete and actionable strategies for business improvement.

Leverage Data and Metrics

To truly improve, you must measure what matters. Establish clear 3- to 5-year goals and track key performance indicators (KPIs), such as staff satisfaction, labor as a % of sales, and gross margin. It's crucial to "maintain your systems" and move beyond simply collecting data to actively analyzing and using it to drive improvement.

Enhance Customer Engagement

Today's customer expects more than just a good product; they want an experience. Implementing a loyalty program, such as Jack Brown's "Notch Club," can drive repeat business. Amazingly, this program rewards customers with a custom-made shirt for every 100 beers they purchase. Customers who achieve 1000 purchases become "Saints" and receive special VIP treatment. Using push notifications is another way to engage customers directly and keep your business top of mind. During periods of lull in business, consider offering discounted services to attract customers during slow times.

Strategic Offerings & Marketing

Expanding your offerings can open up new revenue streams. Identify ways to encourage current customers to spend more or make purchases more frequently. For breweries, this could mean adding a food department or partnering with local food providers. To attract younger audiences, ensure your menu includes a variety of mixed drinks, ready-to-drink options, and a range of non-alcoholic beverages. Finally, a strong social media presence is essential. Many successful businesses utilize social media to educate customers on how they address common customer issues.

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Thank you for reading this blog; share it with a friend.

As a small business consultant, I help small business owners clarify their business goals and strategies to boost their profitability. Whether you want to start, transform, or improve your business, I can help you build and execute a winning strategy.

Have feedback or questions.   Please send me a note at Email: dcunion@yourpathexecutivesolutions.com

Attracting the Right Talent to Your Brewery

On September 16, Dorian Cunion conducted a presentation on Attracting the Right Talent to Your Brewery at the Virginia Brewers Conference. During the presentation, Dorian combined concepts from the Power6 Leader program and his Your Path Small Business Consulting Program to provide brewer owners, managers, and human resource specialists with tips, tools, and frameworks for attracting talent. The following job aid is designed as a supplement to that training to help you move from knowledge acquisition to execution.

The Hire the Right Talent job aid will help you:

• Define and Communicate Your Culture

• Craft an Effective Job Description

• Attracting and Evaluating Applicants

• Finding Talent Where Others Don't

Once you complete this job aid, you can load it into your preferred AI tool and ask it to build

• An employee's job description

• An employee hiring guide

• An employee interview scorecard

Brewery Presentation Job Aid for Website.pdf

Download PDF • 160KB

Please reach out directly to Dorian Cunion if you have any questions about this tool or how you can use it to attract talent to your brewery.