Mastering the Art of Leadership: A Guide for Women Business Owners
A few decades ago, “This is a man’s world” would have been fitting. For too long, men were the gatekeepers of industries built around androcentrism. Now that women have put a stake through the heart of patriarchy, they’re taking over boardrooms, unapologetically, and holding the door open for others to follow.
Yet, we have a long way to go. In October this year, SoFi surveyed over 1,000 women business owners in the U.S. The bank’s findings were astonishing. Women make up only 39% - 40% of the demographic, and a mere 16% operate in a male-dominated industry.
The irony is that the gentler sex flourishes in leadership roles. Studies have continuously proven that women bring more to the table. Firstly, we know how to play nice by collaborating with others. Secondly, empathy goes a long way. Forbes states that these attributes are important for decision-making and cultivating new ideas in a complex business environment.
There are two types of leaders: those who are born to lead and those who learn how to steer the ship. It doesn’t matter what category you fall into. What matters is that you master the art of it so that you can reap the rewards of success.
The Foundation: Leadership Starts With Skill-Building
McKinsey makes it clear. Women advance faster when they focus on building and refining high-value skills such as strategic thinking, communication, and decision-making.
This isn’t about “fixing” ourselves. This is about sharpening the tools we already have, and adding a few new ones to the kit.
Education as a Boss Move
An online Doctor of Education in Leadership is the ultimate power move. It’s an advanced, flexible path designed for professionals shaping real-world change.
Think of it as educational leadership training in high definition. Not because you “need” a degree to be powerful, but because you deserve every advantage available to you.
Spalding University explains that a few Doctorates in Organizational Leadership are 100% online, with no residency, and no GRE needed. However, graduate students must have a master's degree obtained from a higher education institution.
An educational doctoral program is an ideal opportunity to learn how to be a transformative leader through a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and globally focused online program.
Women Already Have Elite Leadership Traits
Unfortunately, the business world still underestimates women leaders, which is hilarious.
When you look at the data, we’re out here outperforming like it’s a competitive sport. Women excel in undervalued leadership traits like empathy, communication, collaboration, and adaptability. And obviously, we’ve known this all along.
Entrepreneur Magazine explains that the top personality characteristics common among successful women are resilience, emotional intelligence, and self-awareness. That’s not an accident. It’s a skill. It’s a strategy. It’s power.
Leadership That Makes Work Better for Everyone
The American Psychological Association (APA) found that when women lead, workplaces become more collaborative, more supportive, and more effective.
In other words? We don’t only lead companies; we uplift them.
Leadership Isn’t About Being Everything to Everyone
Women juggle multiple leadership roles at once: CEO, strategist, team counselor, brand visionary, and chief problem-solver.
Leadership isn’t about doing it all. It’s about doing what matters and delegating the rest. In WomenTech’s insights on how women entrepreneurs can enhance leadership skills, they emphasize the value of setting strong boundaries, owning your voice, and using mentorship strategically.
Because leading isn’t about being superhuman, it’s about being intentional.
Scaling Your Business With Heart
The bigger picture is not wanting to scale; it’s scaling with integrity. Top Business Women nails this truth with lessons on building with purpose, resilience, and courage.
We don’t abandon our values to grow. Instead, we grow because we honor them.
Diverse Leadership Gives You an Edge
What happens when your leadership embraces diversity? Your business gets sharper.
Entrepreneur reports that diverse leadership teams innovate better, attract stronger talent, and outperform the competition. Use it as a competitive weapon.
Mentorship: The Leadership Fuel Women Should Leverage More
No leader climbs alone. And women business owners deserve mentorship that speaks to who we are and what we’re building.
Mentors are shaping the next generation of entrepreneurs with guidance, real-world experience, and strategy.
One example is American author Brené Brown. She has redefined how leaders address vulnerability, courage, and authenticity. Through her research, Brown emphasizes that fragility is not a weakness but a crucial leadership trait.
Yes, Representation Still Matters
Women entrepreneurs in PR and communication are reshaping their industries and telling their own stories. They’re showing how representation itself is a leadership tool.
Seeing women in leadership roles encourages more women to follow. That’s how we shift the narrative.
Marketing With Intention
Leadership today encompasses understanding how to build influence, and social media is a huge part of that.
Business.com advises women-owned businesses to utilize social media marketing to build stronger relationships and elevate brand storytelling.
Strong leadership isn’t internal. It’s public-facing. It’s visible. It’s strategic.
Fuel for the Journey: We Need Resources That Reflect Our Stories
Sometimes leadership means hearing from women who’ve done it, survived it, and built empires from the ground up.
Essence spotlights books by Black women entrepreneurs guaranteed to help you level up personally and professionally. It’s proof that leadership lessons don’t always come from boardrooms. They come from lived experience, and we should treat those stories like gold.
Be the Leader Who Does the Work on Her Terms
Do you want the truth? Women aren’t breaking into leadership. We’re reshaping it. We lead with compassion without sacrificing strength.
We build businesses that value people as much as profit. We create cultures where authenticity isn’t punished but celebrated.
This isn’t “soft” leadership. Strategic leadership with emotional intelligence is an essential part of the job. And the world is taking notice.
Leadership doesn’t begin when someone hands you a fancy title or a corner office. It starts the moment you decide you’re done asking for permission.
Women business owners are already leading in boardrooms, coworking spaces, home offices, and everywhere in between. Enroll in an educational leadership program. Earn your doctoral degree.
What matters most now is taking your leadership skills seriously. Invest in them. Sharpen them. Own them.