New Film Documents the Quiet Revolution'The Rise of Women Entrepreneurship - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

New Film Documents the Quiet Revolution'The Rise of Women Entrepreneurship

This article was originally distributed via PRWeb. PRWeb, WorldNow and this Site make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.

SOURCE: SheMeansBusiness

Key Issues and Differences for Women Business Owners Explored Through a Variety of Experiences

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) June 14, 2012

Successful entrepreneur Jacqueline Baptist and Independent Film Producer Elizabeth Dell today announced the upcoming She Means Business, a documentary that throws light on the challenges and triumphs of women entrepreneurs.

Executive Producer Baptist disclosed that the documentary was born in part from the disproportionately low representation of women entrepreneurs in popular media. As Baptist asserted, “Women entrepreneurs face more challenges than their male counterparts in their journeys towards business success, especially with regard to raising capital.” This is, she says, in spite of women-owned businesses accounting for approximately 40% of all privately-held business in the USA, employing more than 13 million people and generating $1.9 trillion USD in sales as of 2008.

“Our documentary will be a major step in addressing this inequality by raising the stature of women in business and making their voices heard and this is very important for our economy and our country,” stated Baptist. “Women make great entrepreneurs. I have funded many and in general, they have been hard working, determined and frugal. I support this documentary because women-owned businesses expand and create opportunity even in difficult times – testifying to their important role driving economic recovery and growth. It is important to that we tell their stories and create role models for other women entrepreneurs. “stated Timothy Draper of Draper Fisher Jurvetso, a She Means Business supporter.

The documentary features the personal struggles of a select few women entrepreneurs who encounter adversity and success. Through the lens of these specific individuals and their experiences, the documentary explores key issues such as similarities/differences in female-led versus male-led companies; women’s access to capital and entrepreneur training / business skills; and successes and strategies of woman-led businesses.

Stewarded by advisors including Sonja Hoel Perkins of Menlo Ventures and Broadway Angels, Jeanne Sullivan of Starvest Partners, Judy Robinett of Illuminate Ventures, Joy Marcus of Draper Fisher Jurvetso, Janet Hanson, CEO of 85 Broads and successful entrepreneurs and filmmakers Jacqueline Baptist and Elizabeth Dell, respectively, She Means Business has already garnered attention from successful women and various media outlets. It counts among its supporters Paul Holland, Foundation Capital, Monica Smiley, Publisher/CEO of Enterprising Women, Marsha Firestone, Founder & President of Women Presidents' Organization and many others.

The documentary has been featured on award-winning online women’s business magazine The Next Woman (http://www.thenextwomen.com/2012/05/15/support-documentary-women-entrepreneurs) and Jacqueline was recently interviewed by Inc. magazine at Small Business Week in Washington D.C (http://www.inc.com/caitlin-berens/small-business-week-entrepreneurs-money-woes). Its Twitter handle (@shemeansbusines) was launched on May 1st and already has 12,000-plus followers and counting. For more information, visit http://www.shemeansbusiness.org. To support this effort, visit http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1118297434/she-means-business

About the team

Executive producer Jacqueline Baptist was born in Malaysia and immigrated to the United States in the 1980s. Her first job was in international banking working for the World Bank, where her first project involved helping young girls in Yemen gain access to education. After the World Bank job that took her to the Middle East, East Asia, the Pacific Islands and Europe, she developed a career in the consumer products and the high-tech industry focusing on finance and marketing, which included stints at Microsoft and Mattel. Subsequently, Jacqueline was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug and started her own business. She is an advocate of women’s involvement in business and espouses the cause in multiple forums. She has an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Producer Elizabeth Dell has a history of award-winning films, primarily in collaboration with her directing/writing partner (and sister) Emily Dell. Elizabeth most recently produced B-GIRL, a narrative feature film about a female breakdancer that was distributed worldwide and is currently featured on SHOWTIME, STARZ, and NETFLIX. In addition to her production experience, Elizabeth has an extensive background in science and healthcare with an undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Amherst College and a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/6/prweb9596991.htm