International Institute for Women Entrepreneurs

Educate. Mentor. Connect.


Join St. Catherine University for a special Presentation and Book Signing followed by The Woman's Club's Strictly Social Networking

July 29, 2009

Featuring Lorna Landvik, author of books including Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons, 'Tis The Season!, Oh My Stars and The View from Mount Joy.


Women want independence! We get it. Studies cite this as the number one reason women give when asked why they go into business for themselves.* Our experience working with women entrepreneurs bears this out.

The International Institute for Women Entrepreneurs (IIWE) at St. Kate’s understands the needs of women entrepreneurs.

We provide a wide range of professional development programs, resources, tools, and mentorship focused on the professional and personal leadership development of women entrepreneurs and business executives.




It's All About 'Second Stage' Entrepreneurs

We use the term second stage entrepreneur often when describing the women we serve. A second-stage entrepreneur is a business woman whose business has reached from $1 to 50 million in annual revenue and has a minimum of 5 or more employees. The company has grown past the start-up stage but has not grown to maturity and the company does not yet have a full-scale professional management team.

Our programs also address the entrepreneurial spirit of senior executives and professionals, CEOs and presidents of organizations, and students and educators of all disciplines and backgrounds interested in entrepreneurship.

Compelling Facts About Women-Owned Businesses*
  • Nearly 10.4 million firms are owned by women (50% or more), employing more than 12.8 million people, and generating $1.9 trillion in sales.
  • Every day, 420 new women-owned businesses are formed.
  • Three quarters of all women-owned businesses are majority owned by women (51% or more), for a total of 7.7 million firms, employing more than 7.1 million people, and generating $1.1 trillion in sales.
  • For the past two decades, majority women-owned firms have continued to grow at twice the rate of all firms.
  • Women-owned firms, 50% or more owned by women, account for 41% of all privately held firms.
  • Women-owned firms are growing profits faster than all firms.

*The Center for Women’s Business Research, 2007.