Women’s Entrepreneurship Day is observed annually on November 19th. This day celebrates and honors women who have forged their own paths in the business world, and it serves as an opportunity for women to come together and discuss issues that affect women entrepreneurs.

It is estimated that approximately 36% of small businesses worldwide are owned by women, and that women launch around 1,200 new businesses each year in the U.S. This day is for everyone to come together and celebrate women’s entrepreneurship in all its forms and to advocate for policies that support more women in achieving the dream of working for themselves.

The History of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day

Wendy Diamond created this holiday in 2014 as a non-governmental, non-profit organization. Its inaugural celebration was held at the United Nations in New York City. The year before, she founded the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO).

She established this organization to highlight the plight of millions of women and girls living in poverty around the world. WEDO empowers girls and women to participate actively in the economy by helping to create entrepreneurs, female leaders, and female innovators.

Facts About Women’s Entrepreneurship

Before we conclude this holiday article, we thought it would be appropriate to share some facts about women’s entrepreneurship that we learned while researching. We found the following facts online, and we think that everyone will benefit from reviewing them before celebrating Women’s Entrepreneurship Day on social media.

• Approximately a third of businesses in Uganda and Vietnam are owned by women.
• Approximately 60% of women business owners are between the ages of 40 and 59.
• In the U.S., women own over 12 million businesses.
• In the U.S., women-owned businesses employ over 9 million people.
• Between 2008 and 2018, Hispanic women-owned businesses grew by over 172%.

Observing Women’s Entrepreneurship Day

This holiday can be observed in many different ways. People can read a book or take a course dedicated to entrepreneurship, support small businesses that are women-owned, and spread the word about this day using the hashtag #WomensEntrepreneurshipDay online.