Women have made great strides in leadership over the last few decades. However, according to Farnoush Farsiar, an established leader in the financial and wealth management sectors, they still face unique challenges that their male counterparts do not.

They are often underestimated and must work twice as hard to prove themselves in a world dominated by men. They also must deal with the balance between work and family life.

This can be difficult when both roles require a lot of time and energy.

Using the right tools and strategies, women can overcome any challenge they face in the business world.

Women remain a minority in executive and management positions

Women in business leadership positions often face unique challenges that their male counterparts may not encounter.

One such challenge is being a minority in the room. 

Women now make up a majority of the workforce, but men still outnumber them in management and executive positions.

This can sometimes make it difficult for women to be heard and respected as equal team members. Additionally, women business leaders may also face gender-based discrimination or sexual harassment.

These challenges can create an atmosphere of fear or intimidation, making it difficult for women to do their jobs effectively.

However, Farnoush explains that women business leaders have made great strides in recent years despite these challenges. They continue to prove that they can achieve success in any field.

Women’s greatest challenge according to Farnoush Farsiar is lack of equality

Lack of equality is one of the most significant challenges that female business leaders face. Equality is an essential part of any business.

Women CEOs face a greater risk of being ousted from their positions, so it can be challenging to achieve.

Women CEOs have the highest risks of being fired when businesses are thriving.

If CEOs cannot claim equality, junior managers will have an even harder time speaking up about issues they’re facing.

This can lead to a hostile environment for women employees. It can also make it difficult for them to advance in their careers.

Farnoush Farsiar explains that, ultimately, this can contribute to a lack of diversity in the top ranks of businesses.

The result: A negative impact on the bottom line.

The absence of mentorship and support for women entrepreneurs

Another challenge that women leaders face is the lack of access to established networks.

As Farnoush points out, men have traditionally had access to a powerful “boys club” of business associates.

The financial and wealth management sectors, primarily dominated by men, are especially prone to this.

That is why men have also enjoyed having contacts that can help them advance their careers.

Women often have trouble breaking into these groups, as they may not be taken seriously by male colleagues.

Consequently, women in business may not receive support and mentorship and their hard work may be overlooked.

However, with the rise of social media and networking platforms, women can now create powerful networks and support systems.

This can help them overcome the challenges associated with not having access to traditional networks.

Women in businesses are perceived to be more “emotional” 

According to Farnoush Farsiar, there is a common perception that women are less capable of managing a business than men.

This may be due to the fact that women are often seen as being more emotional. This can make them seem less rational, more volatile, and thus more “aggressive.” 

Farnoush Farsiar says, “women being more emotionally expressive often makes men feel threatened or even attacked when women manage them.”

It can also lead to women being seen as less capable or competent than their male counterparts.

To combat this, women need to be aware of their perceptions. And they should make an effort to be clear, concise, and confident in their communication.

Businesses have an important role to play when it comes to improving these perceptions.

Additionally, they should also strive to create an environment where everyone feels heard and respected.

By doing so, they can help change the image of women in the business world and in leadership roles.

They can also show that they are just as capable as anyone else. Also, leadership programs for women can help develop these skills.

Another challenge women leaders face is balancing their professional and personal lives.

As Farnoush Farsiar points out, “women are still largely responsible for the majority of unpaid work at home.” 

This can be difficult to manage when they also have demanding jobs.

In addition, many women feel pressure to be perfect in all areas of their lives. Having to deal with this can be stressful.

It is essential for women leaders to remember that it is okay not to have it together every time.

It is also okay to ask for help when needed.

Additionally, employers should create a work environment that allows employees to balance their work and personal lives.

This can include offering flexible hours, telecommuting options, and parental leave policies that include both men and women.

Farnoush Farsiar describes possible solutions to women business leaders’ challenges

Despite the challenges that women leaders face, Farnoush believes there are many solutions that can help them overcome these obstacles.

Some of these solutions include:

• Leadership programs specifically for women: Farnoush insists that leadership programs for women are essential. They can help them develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed in leadership roles.
• Learning how to communicate effectively: Women leaders often face communication challenges due to the perception that they are more emotional than men. It is essential for them to learn how to communicate their ideas clearly and confidently to dispel this perception.
• Working with HR to influence policies: Women leaders can work with HR to help create policies that are more inclusive of both men and women. This can help create a more balanced and fairer workplace for all employees.

It is no secret that women leaders face unique challenges that their male counterparts do not.

The good news is that; the challenges women leaders struggle with can be overcome with the right tools and strategies.

By being aware of the challenges they face and utilizing the many available solutions, women leaders can succeed in their careers.

Mark Lyttleton is a professional angel investor, business mentor and speaker, with extensive experience of establishing, growing and supporting both public and private companies.

This article will explore the importance of private companies having access to sufficient funding to enable founders to get the business up and running, scale, and weather any unexpected challenges.

Many business advisors recommend that companies maintain sufficient cash to keep running for at least 9-12 months without income, providing leeway if unexpected problems arise.

Private companies have several options to choose from in terms of securing investment, including:

• Friends and Family: A popular option for early stage funding, many fledgling business leaders find that once they have exhausted their own personal financing options, their nearest and dearest are more than happy to pool resources to help them achieve their business goals. Typically amassed from relatives and friends in small increments between £5,000 and £10,000, repayment schemes are often flexible. Usually, when an entrepreneur secures funding from friends and family, the investors do not take on an active role in running the business.
• Conventional Lenders: Provided that a business has a strong financial track record, acquiring a loan from a high street bank should not be a problem. However, for early stage companies, their lack of a proven financial track record could cause difficulties, with conventional lenders expecting to see detailed business plans, revenue sources and profit levels before approving the loan. While bank loans provide a smart source of funding for developed businesses, allowing extended repayment over time with fixed monthly payments, this route may not be fruitful for a private enterprise in the start-up phase of the business.
• Crowdsourcing: Platforms like Kickstarter and GoFundMe are popular funding options for private ventures seeking an injection of cash. The key to success is communicating business concepts and ideas in a concise, exciting and engaging way that appeals just as much to a mass audience of strangers as it does to the founder’s own social network. There is often an early opportunity for investors to buy or experience the product or service that the company is offering.
• Angel Investors: Angel investors are generally high-net-worth individuals who provide companies with financing in exchange for a stake in the business. In return for equity, angel investors can invest small or substantial sums of capital, with the intention of making material returns as the business grows and matures. In the UK there are often tax incentives associated with this type of investor, such as EIS and SEIS tax relief.
• Government Grants: Governments offer a range of grants to incentivise businesses to act in ways that benefit society, such as taking on employees or developing new technology. For example, the UK Government recently unveiled its new £20 million GovTech Catalyst Fund, incentivising British tech companies to develop innovative technological solutions to support public sector bodies.
• Venture Capitalists: Venture capitalists (or VCs) are high-net-worth individuals or companies that invest in a business venture. They typically invest in companies with a proven track record or revenue that shows potential for material growth over time. VCs require an exit strategy, making them an appropriate funding option for companies that plan to go public, or sell to another company at a later date.

In business and finance, liquidity risk leaves companies at the mercy of external forces beyond their control, effectively turning them somewhat lame. When a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic starts to unfold, these companies can no longer afford to operate in the same way, forcing them to adapt their business strategy by taking actions such as cutting costs, pivoting their business, or searching for new customers and revenue opportunities. Even for established, well-known companies, access to funding and capital can suddenly dry up when contagion spreads across financial markets. We saw this in 2020 at the start of COVID-19, when there was a huge amount of fundraising on a global basis as companies looked to secure the long-term health of their business in the face of the economic shutdown.

Compared with public companies, private companies have more options to choose from in terms of raising capital. Since options like crowdfunding and angel investing are very different propositions, it is crucial for business leadership to identify the right funding avenue, selecting the one that aligns most closely with their vision and future goals for the company.