Ali Golds, entrepreneur and advocate for women in business, shares why she believes women have exactly what it takes to build successful companies — and what holds too many back from getting started.
Women now make up around 36% of the UK’s self-employed workforce, and the number of women-led businesses has been rising steadily for more than a decade (ONS Labour Force Survey, 2024). Yet female entrepreneurs still start with less capital on average than male founders and remain less likely to seek external finance, according to the British Business Bank. Despite these constraints, women-led SMEs contribute an estimated £85 billion a year to the UK economy. It is also common to see women in their thirties and forties — often after starting a family or rethinking a career — among the fastest-growing group of new business owners.
Working with female entrepreneurs has changed my life. The women I meet are organised, passionate, resilient and extraordinarily hardworking. They do not wait for permission to solve a problem; they spot a gap, make a plan and get on with it.
Many of the women I have worked with are also mothers. That brings a level of organisation, prioritisation and calm under pressure that translates directly into running a business. Juggling family life, finances and a household teaches you to manage competing demands without losing sight of what matters — a skill every founder needs.
Too many women, especially single mothers, assume they cannot start a business. I am proof that you can. I have founded and run three successful businesses as a single mum, and I could not be prouder of what we can achieve when we back ourselves.
My advice to anyone who says you can’t
You would be amazed at what you can achieve on your own. Anything in your dreams can be achieved with focus, support and action. I am proof of that.
So what skills do you actually need? There is a widely accepted set of entrepreneurial skills — and when you look at the list, you will notice that most women already use them every day at home, at work and in their communities.
Creative
Creativity in business is not about being able to draw or design. It is about letting your mind explore possibilities, spotting opportunities and refusing to rule an idea out before you have tested it. Entrepreneurs need curiosity and the confidence to experiment.
Good communicator
Communication is vital in every part of business. You are not only speaking for yourself; you are representing your brand, your values and your offer. Whether you are writing an email, pitching to a customer or posting on social media, clarity counts. Think about what you want the other person to take away, rehearse the important conversations and speak with warmth — it comes across even on a video call or phone call.
Presenting yourself
You are the face of your business, especially at the start. First impressions matter. That does not mean wearing a suit or being someone you are not; it means showing up prepared, professional and authentic. People buy from people they trust.
Focused
Success rarely happens by accident. You need to know what you are trying to achieve, map out the steps and stay focused when distractions appear. That means setting goals, tracking progress and saying no to opportunities that pull you off course.
Problem solver
If you enjoy solving problems, you will thrive as an entrepreneur. Challenges tend to arrive in clusters, and it is easy to get overwhelmed by the big picture. The skill is to break a problem down, identify the root cause and deal with it step by step.
Listen to your gut feeling (intuition)
Decision making is not purely logical. In your own business, your instincts, values and emotions all have a role. That is not weakness; it is judgement built from experience. Learn to recognise when your gut is telling you something important.
Builds trust with others
Business is built on relationships. Whether you are dealing with customers, suppliers or collaborators, trust is what keeps people coming back. Be reliable, honest and consistent — it is a life skill and a commercial advantage.
What’s stopping you?
I meet many women who are keen to start a company but feel something is holding them back. Usually it is not a lack of ability or experience. It is fear of getting it wrong, of looking foolish or of failing in public. We plan, re-plan and plan again, waiting for the perfect moment.
But there is no perfect moment. At some point you have to take a chance. Start small, test your idea, learn as you go and build confidence through action. I took a chance and I am now genuinely happy, healthy and running businesses I believe in.
If you are ready to take the first step, explore our guides to starting a business, business funding and networking for women-led enterprises.
Ali Golds is an entrepreneur and advocate for women in business. She founded her first company in 2000 and has since launched and managed five successful businesses, including Operation Enterprise and The Juno Project.
