An amazing organization turns 50
I recently attended the 50th Anniversary Business Conference for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), of which I am a member of the Greater Raleigh Chapter. Attending the NAWBO Women’s Business Conference in Washington, D.C. was nothing short of exhilarating. It was also empowering, uplifting, and eye opening.
The weekend kicked off with a powerful day of advocacy on Capitol Hill. Alongside fellow women business owners, I had the opportunity to visit the offices of members congress on both sides of the aisle to advocate for changes in federal policy that directly impact women entrepreneurs. It was empowering to sit across from lawmakers and share real stories—our challenges, our growth, and what we need to thrive. I was reminded that this work didn’t start with us. Women have been showing up, speaking out, and fighting for change for decades, and NAWBO has been leading the way for over 50 years. They’ve been a tireless advocate for women business owners, helping shape policy and build a community that supports leadership, growth, and resilience.
Throughout the conference, I met women who had built a wide range of businesses—some leading a single employee, others managing teams of hundreds. They were running everything from small startups to large enterprises. Some were succeeding, others were rebuilding after setbacks, and many were somewhere in between. Hearing the stories of these fellow women business owners was incredibly powerful. They shared both their wins and their failures. They opened up about their struggles—stories I could instantly relate to. No one glossed over the hard parts. They talked about betrayal, starting over from nothing, and the emotional toll entrepreneurship can take. And yet, here they were: leading companies, serving on boards, and mentoring the next generation.
These stories reminded me that success isn’t always a straight line. Often, the most impressive leaders are the ones who’ve had to fight their way back after falling. Small businesses make up a significant part of the U.S. economy, and being surrounded by so many inspiring, driven women was deeply empowering. Thank you to NAWBO for bringing us together—to make us stronger, to share our stories, and to learn from one another.
Finally, there was the dancing. I loved the dancing. It was such a beautiful reminder that joy is part of the journey too. To watch a room full of strong, accomplished women let loose, laughing, spinning, celebrating each other was exactly what I needed. Sometimes we get so caught up in fighting to be taken seriously, to push forward, to rebuild, that we forget how important it is to just have fun. That joy is just as radical as resilience.
Being part of this community of bold, driven women gave me energy and reminded me of the importance of developing community, advocacy for ourselves and our community of women business owners, and of remembering to have fun along the way.
