Businesswoman Advises San Francisco Students To Follow Their Passion
Starting a successful business in San Francisco has as many rewards as it has challenges. But with hard work, determination and perhaps some expert advice, small businesses have the potential to thrive in San Francisco's booming economy. One prominent Bay Area businesswoman, Chris Bronstein, Founder and CEO of A Band of Women, took time away from her busy schedule to offer valuable advice to business majors in San Francisco.
What is your background and education?
"My father—Louis Borders, the co-founder of Borders Books—is a mathematician turned entrepreneur and my mother is a Comparative Literature Ph.D. I was raised in a very modest home in Ann Arbor, Michigan where I attended public school. Although I knew from a young age that I wanted to go into business, I went on to follow a passion for politics in my undergraduate degree at NYU and my M.B.A. from Columbia University."
Can you share some information about A Band of Women?
"I started A Band of Women (ABOW) after being a stay-at-home mom for several years. In 2009, when our daughter was born, it hit me hard that she would still not have the same opportunities as my sons, simply because she was a girl. ABOW is a private social network, events and information site for women. I designed it as a place for women to connect and have a voice in a safe and positive environment. Members can post blogs, events and forums as well as join groups and attend our sponsored events. Our motto is: 'No woman left behind.'
ABOW has a publishing arm focused on women's nonfiction called Nothing But The Truth Publishing (NBTT). In two years, NBTT has turned over a hundred women into published authors through our anthologies, memoirs and children's books."
What advice would you like to offer someone interested in a career in business?
"Everyone says follow your passion, but no one tells you business is 99 percent about problem solving. Here is the advice I wish I had: 'You have to not only love what you do, you also have to love the process of what you do.' I love helping women connect, find their voices and tribes, and I also love the process of running the backend of my businesses. Being successful in business is about loving both the mission and the minutia."
Randy Yagi is a freelance writer covering all things San Francisco. In 2012, he was awarded a Media Fellowship from Stanford University. His work can be found on Examiner.com Examiner.com.
