I have a passion for entrepreneurship that dates back to selling handmade jewelry at age 11. I’ve owned and managed several small businesses and have been continuously self-employed for twenty years. For the past 18 years, I’ve been helping entrepreneurs and social enterprises to succeed, as a coach, consultant, author, and teacher. I’ve written dozens of articles on entrepreneurship topics, and taught entrepreneurship classes for a wide variety of organizations. My current focus is on advising social ventures. You can find out more about my work in that area by visiting Social Entrepreneur Coach. On this site, you’ll find a selection of my entrepreneurship articles (below), details about my books and audios, and announcements of upcoming events.

When Times Get Tough and Jobs Dry Up, Consulting May Be the Ticket

An economic downturn may seem like the wrong time to start your own business, but layoffs and downsizing can create new opportunities for one breed of entrepreneur – the corporate consultant. Companies who lay off full-time workers still have many needs for specific skills, and frequently hire consultants on a short-term or project basis to fill these gaps. If you’ve been laid off yourself, working as a consultant can allow you to earn a good income while salaried jobs are scarce. Read More

There’s a quiet revolution going on in the world of business. A 2005 survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reported that 81% of business executives believe that “corporate citizenship” should be a priority, and 75% report their businesses are actively involved in bettering their communities. In a 2006 survey of MBA students by Net Impact, 81% thought businesses should work toward the betterment of society. Read More

Building a Culture that Supports Women Entrepreneurs

Supporting entrepreneurship in the developing world has long been considered one of the best approaches to “teach people to fish” and build sustainable local economies. In recent years, studies by the United Nations, World Bank, and others have shown that women entrepreneurs are more likely to contribute to community development than men, and are therefore better candidates for support programs. Read More