How Successful Businesswomen Are Redefining Modern Feminism

Feminism has been a trending topic in America lately – maybe because we are on the verge of voting a woman into the White House or maybe because women are accomplishing amazing things these days. Regardless, this type of feminism doesn’t include chanting or protests.

Modern feminists are dressed differently, too – as mothers, artists, CEOs, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, doctors, attorneys, designers, police officers, you name it. And you might not even realize they are feminists. In fact, many of the feminists I know didn’t even refer to themselves as feminists until recently.

They aren’t parading the streets with signs or charred bras; perhaps because they are too busy building their careers or raising their children to do that. However, it doesn’t change the narrative. This new era of feminism is still present like an ongoing breeze or a soft whisper. It might not be heard, but it is definitely present and it is meaningful.

One woman who makes me think of modern feminism in 2016 is pop artist Ashley Longshore. A savvy, self taught artist and shrewd businesswoman, she has worked hard to make her own success happen – from sales of her sought-after work to partnership opportunities, a book deal and new business ventures. She believes in the power of women and the opportunities the country affords us to make anything possible. You can see it in her art; it reflects her views on empowered women. You can hear her enthusiasm in just a single conversation with her. It’s contagious.

I spoke to other successful businesswomen about this very topic of modern feminism. The more I honed in on the very characteristics they had in common, the more I realized that the characteristics that made them modern feminists are the same reasons they’ve become so successful. These are the traits that will continue to help women shatter whatever is even left of the glass ceiling.

So, who is this modern feminist? I’m glad you asked.

She doesn’t ask for equality

This new era is less about asking for equality, but more about proving and showing that it has been earned. Regardless of your political views, the very fact that we are inching closer to having a woman run our country is huge (or “yuge” if you like that sort of thing), and proves that women are capable of running anything – The United States, a household, a corporation, a small business, you name it.

Feminists believe that women are equally capable of doing anything and everything. And, indeed, we are. However, the modern woman doesn’t need to ask for equality in a boardroom full of men, rather show that they can work conjointly.

“I definitely feel confident because I feel like I have already proven myself, and that is a really great feeling,” said Fran Hauser, partner at venture capital firm Rothenberg Ventures.

Hauser was sought out by Mike Rothenberg to join the team as their first female partner, after she started doing her own angel investing as an extracurricular activity while working as Time Inc.’s President of Digital. She is responsible for supporting several female-led tech companies, including HelloGiggles and Rent The Runway.

“There are times when I’m in the room and I am the minority,” added Hauser, referring to being a senior partner in an industry that is still heavily male-dominated. “It’s hard not to think about that when you are one of the few women, but for me it’s all about adding value.”

In the venture capital private equity space, women still only make up about 10% of the workforce. Concurrently, women are responsible for about 80-85% of the household spending, and Hauser knew that her knowledge of women could help bring in more startups that targeted her demographic. For Hauser, it was about finding her value and capitalizing on it.

Nataly Kogan, entrepreneur and founder of Happier, spent the earlier part of her career as a VC, when there were even fewer women investors. As a result, more female entrepreneurs ended up pitching her fund, including Constant Contact, which eventually went public and sold for $1 billion.

“While I was in the minority and often encountered huge male egos I had to navigate around, I felt there were advantages to being a woman VC,” said Kogan. “I used to say when going to conferences, ‘Look around the room and 95% of the people are Bobs and Michaels wearing navy or black suits. It's a lot easier to stand out and make an impression as a Nataly in that situation.’"

Kogan added that she felt there were advantages to being a woman and being good at her job, and that women have to remember that they need both of those components.

She encourages other women

Hauser and Kogan both used their positions to encourage more women in tech. As a result, Hauser earned recognition as one of New York’s most powerful women in the tech scene by Refinery29 and was honored as a Global Champion of Women on International Women's Day. Kogan founded her own startup that encourages people to find their happiness.

Still, stereotypes in pop culture would have you believe that in order to get ahead as a woman, you must compete and bring down other women to gain success. Television shows that fuel girl on girl conflict and gossip, or portray women in high positions as being cold or bitchy continue to perpetuate these labels. Getting to the top at the expense of another woman is not a sustainable way to get ahead, and, most importantly, doesn’t help our case. The only way that women will be seen as equal in business is by making sure that there are more women accomplishing what they deserve in the workforce, and that takes encouragement.

“I do feel like when my feet hit the ground in the morning, I am definitely out to prove something,” said Longshore, whose studio gallery is always bustling with women. “But I also believe the hotter the fire, the stronger the steel. The fact that I have all these accomplishments is all from hard work, but nobody does it alone. You always need people to introduce you and show you new things, and I’ve met incredible mentors along the way.”

The women in her studio are photographers, artists, gallery managers and interns pursuing degrees and their own careers. She encourages them all to aspire to those dreams.

“The modern woman wants to be surrounded by beautiful, talented successful women,” added Longshore. “Kind of like ‘the good ole boys,’ women who are secure with themselves want to be surrounded by positive women with good energy.”

Longshore uses her voice, her social media and her artwork to display that messaging. Her collections include images of strong women like Audrey Hepburn and Frida Khalo, and she often depicts her collectors and friends as Wonderwoman in her commissioned work. That is how she views women.

However, Longshore believes that to talk the talk, she must walk the walk. She has proved that her hard work, 16 hour workdays and her relationships have led to her recent accomplishments, which includes a partnership with global beauty brand Cle de Peau and an upcoming line of home goods.

While Longshore shows her encouragement through her art and vocal enthusiasm, some women are creating startups to promote female empowerment.

Werk, for example, is an online resource that curates and sources career opportunities for working mothers. Founders Annie Dean and Anna Auerbach recognized that America’s wage gap is actually a result of an opportunity gap. They aim to close that gap by partnering with companies that encourage working mothers to continue pursuing their careers with competitive, senior level positions.

In addition to encouraging women in the workforce, the two working mothers encourage each other by sharing the role as co-CEO’s.

“We support each other in all of the different things we need to manage with our children,” said Auerbach. “We have each others backs. Specifically, how we manage is we give each other a break, and we made a promise to ask each other when we need help.”

Besides building a space that encourages working mothers to pursue their careers, they are also creating a future that is more encouraging for women.

“A life that doesn’t allow me to be who I am, is unacceptable,” added Dean. And that’s the world the modern feminists aim to create.

She creates a world she wants to live in

 

One of the things that make everyone equal in America is the fact that we all have a chance for reinvention – to create our own destinies and the environment we want to be a part of. It’s what sets us apart from the rest of the world. Regardless of where that path leads, women are definitely taking advantage.

“Women now are defining themselves by diverse stock portfolios, homes that they are putting up for rent to make additional income, investments, starting their own businesses, and bragging about that Chanel suits they just bought for themselves on sale,” added Longshore. “Now that women have all this opportunity to make money, they aren’t necessarily out looking for a ‘daddy’ or somebody to pay their bills. My God, you have the freedom to love whoever you want to love, the freedom to do what you want to do.”

Wendy Wurtzburger believes in the power of creating her own future. After spending about two decades in retail, which included her position as Global Co-President and Chief Merchandising and Design Officer for Anthropologie, she literally designed herself a new career as an independent entrepreneur.

“I’ve grown up and been very corporate,” said Wutzburger. “To be able to excel as an original is what it’s all about. The best thing that you have is yourself and of course you have to recalibrate and reinvent.”

In the past three years, Wurtzburger has started her own consulting firm, working with clients that include Modcloth; co-founded Roar + Rabbit, a design firm with a home collection at West Elm; and has become the Co-Owner of luxury knitwear brand, UNTIL SOON.

“I am definitely a modern feminist and I definitely believe that you don’t have to fall into the man mold to be successful,” said Wurtzburger. “It’s a really great time for women entrepreneurs.”