Educate. Mentor. Connect.

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.

IIWE Making News!

Our Director, Barbara Klas, was recently featured in the Star Tribune with a response to women in the workplace today. Check out her thoughtful comments and those of other local enterprising women: http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/16383436.html

IIWE hires NEW Program Development Coordinator, Karen Baumgaertner.
IIWE is thrilled to welcome Karen as she brings a compelling range of leadership, entrepreneurship and diverse talents to this position, and nearly a decade of experience working for international organizations and government.
For more on Karen, visit www.stkate.edu/iiwe


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.