Life's Lessons

A report from the Institute of Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) shows that women are steadily increasing their presence in the world of small-business ownership.  In fact, the number of women-owned firms has grown 68 percent since 2007, compared with 47 percent for all businesses.   But while women owned small businesses are on the increase, that doesn’t mean women who work in small businesses feel that they are paid the same as their male counterparts. In a recent survey by on small businesses, when it comes to the percent of people who think the small business industry achieves success when it comes to equal pay, females are more likely to say “no, not at all” or “no, but progress has been made.”   Regardless of feelings on pay, both women and men can agree it is more fun working at a small business, according to the same survey. And 9 in 10 respondents feel like they have the opportunity to voice their ideas and opinions and have them heard and listened to by management. Matthew Owenby, senior vice president