Miami is a cutting-edge city founded by women and full of opportunities for ambitious females looking to step outside of their comfort zone. As a CEO, I can say there are invisible barriers we have to tear down on a daily basis if we want to stand out in the industry, but also great opportunities at our fingertips if we know where to look.
Women lead only 2% of the world’s 500 largest companies and just 4.6% of the largest U.S. companies. Additionally, we face a glass ceiling that appears when we approach corporate hierarchy, preventing us from advancing professionally in executive and leadership positions.
But, on the bright side, we are capable of turning disasters into opportunities, and it is precisely here—in Miami—where dreams come true!
The Magic City is growing at a rapid pace. The largest real estate buyers come from Argentina, Venezuela, and Colombia. In 1970, Miami-Dade County’s population was 27% Hispanic, 15% Black, and 66% White. Today, it is 69% Hispanic, 20% Black, and 12% White, according to the book, Emerging Global Cities, by Alejandro Portes and Ariel C. Armony.
In 1981, Julia DeForest Tuttle -and American businesswoman- founded Miami thanks to her vision and altruistic acts. This allowed her to achieve the extension of the railroad, bring the first newspaper -El Metropolis, the Bank of Biscayne Bay, and the first hotel, among others.
Like Tuttle, many women have found in this city the perfect excuse to build successful businesses and to play by their own rules. This is -ultimately- the land of opportunities. For example, there’s Laura González-Estéfani, founder and CEO of TheVentureCity, a venture capital firm that invests in early stage start-ups. Adriana Cisneros, CEO of Cisneros, a media and entertainment company operating worldwide. And Jen Earle, CEO of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), which provides resources and support to women entrepreneurs and business owners.
These are just some of the women of Miami who think outside the box and are willing to stand out thanks to their hard work, determination, and passion.
Ultimately, despite the unique challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and business owners in Miami, we have made it very clear that it’s possible to lead and succeed in a competitive and unequal market, and to open the way for future generations of female entrepreneurs.