Join us in reliving this incredible panel as Rosie Rios, the 43rd Treasurer of the United States and CEO of Red River Associates, leads a conversation about what small business owners experienced this year and how they persevered through their challenges. Max Tuchman, Founder of Caribu, Irene Li, Founder of Mei Mei, and La'Crassia Wilderness, founder of Butter Love by L.C will shared how they managed their business, teams and personal wellbeing over the last year.

Key Takeaways

• My biggest takeaway [of the pandemic] is to give myself grace. - La’Crassia

• Give yourself a break during those times when it is hard for you to show up. Taking those breaks were so important to me, it saved my life in a sense. - La’Crassia

• One of the things I did to protect myself is that I don't take meetings until noon, I work west coast hours [on the east coast]. That was a saving grace. - Max

• Grieving is very hard to start and finish when you are still in the middle of it, and here we find ourselves still in the middle. And for that you have to practice patience with yourself. It's okay that you haven't adjusted because this isn't adjustable. - Irene

• The biggest stress relief has been taking myself out of the workplace physically and checking myself out mentally. I listen to a lot of podcasts. I also think that finding moments to laugh, especially with the team, to appreciate and embrace the absurdity. Those are moments that if everything were going as planned, we wouldn't have. - Irene

• I kind of took in all of the emotions that i was feeling and let them come in, they don't have to stay there, all emotions are temporary. You lean in on your support system and they show up. Those moments in time where I am supported and loved. I am abundant, I got this. And now I can ebb and flow through what is to come this week. It's so important to have that reminder. - La’Crassia

One action all women entrepreneurs should take this week:

La’Crassia

Know that the fear can’t go where you're headed. All that fear, keep it in the past and move forward. Just go and start whatever your passion or dream is and leave the fear in the past.

Max

If you have an idea to make the world a better place, there is no time better than now. Start it.

Irene

Find an artifact (old email, journal from when you started) and take yourself back to that place and appreciate how far you've come.

Rosie

Own your power. Embrace it. You've earned it. You've earned your seat at the table and advance it to the next level.