This episode is sure to raise a few eyebrows.
I wanted to better understand society’s reaction to feminism, but through the experience of women who are balancing their work and personal life. No better person expressed concern for the current infrastructure in place more than Dr. Stephanie Wilson, founder of She’s In Business, a global not-for-profit business platform.
Dr. Wilson is a PhD in Business, an autistic domestic abuse survivor turned award-winning entrepreneur, and her platform has helped more than 14,000 women across 85 countries move “from welfare to wealth” through fully funded, accredited business training.
Her work specifically takes aim at the rise of what she describes as “performative” female empowerment: think the glossy panels, hashtags, and campaigns that claim progress but rarely deliver real backing. UK government data shows women-led businesses have dropped from 19% in 2021 to 15% in 2023. Instead of true innovation, many women are pushed into franchises or survivalist side hustles that function more as jobs than scalable enterprises.
Dr. Wilson argues that this performance feminism doesn’t just fail women, it actively segregates men and women, fostering a false narrative of empowerment while leaving systemic inequities untouched. She describes how we, as a culture, are happy to celebrate women on stage but fail to fund them in practice. And with only 2% of global venture capital reaching women, the cost isn’t just to women themselves but to society, innovation, and GDP growth.
In our chat, Dr. Wilson discusses the complexities of female empowerment and entrepreneurship, highlighting the challenges women face in the business world. She shares her personal journey of overcoming adversity and the systemic issues that lead to gender disparities in business and critiques performative empowerment initiatives that fail to address the genuine needs of women entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of recognizing women’s contributions beyond their monetary value.
The discussion also explores “survivalist entrepreneurship”, which is a term I had never heard of, and the role of policy and societal change in fostering authentic female leadership.
Takeaways:
Dr. Wilson’s journey began in an addictive household, leading to her advocacy for women’s empowerment.
Many women start businesses out of necessity rather than innovation, termed ‘survivalist entrepreneurship.’
Performative empowerment initiatives often fail to deliver real support for women entrepreneurs.
Women contribute significantly to the economy through unpaid labor, which is often overlooked.
The narrative around women’s roles in the economy needs to shift from monetary value to holistic contributions.
Women face systemic barriers in accessing funding and support for their businesses.
The majority of women entrepreneurs operate in low-profit sectors, making them vulnerable to economic crises.
Societal expectations often place a dual burden on women to balance work and caregiving responsibilities.
Data shows that women are often at a financial disadvantage compared to men, especially in retirement.
Policy changes are needed to create a more equitable environment for women in business.
This episode addresses some hard truths that many people may find uncomfortable… but if you think someone may enjoy it, then please share it with a friend or family member.
