Four Gainesville business owners swapped success stories Monday night, encouraging a generation of young women to follow in their footsteps.
The Women’s Student Association hosted a panel discussion, “Breaking the Glass Ceiling,” Monday night at the Reitz Union as part of Women’s History Month. About 30 people attended the event.
Christine Delgado, a 20-year-old management sophomore and professional development director for Women’s History Month, said she hoped the speakers encouraged female students who are thinking about starting a business.
Analia Davis, a 19-year-old accounting sophomore, said she was encouraged by the speakers’ advice to take on one problem at a time in order to find solutions.
“It’s reassuring to hear they’ve gone through the struggles you might go through in the future,” she said.
Although the event was focused on women and their struggles in the business world, the speakers said they found other factors — such as being young — to be a greater challenge.
“I don’t see being a female as being a challenge or even an advantage,” said Kristen Hadeed, 24, owner of Student Maid Inc.
The other three panel speakers — Rebecca Barborak, owner of Corks & Colors Studio, and Susan and Stephanie Browning, owners of Sarkara Sweets — agreed with her and said being a woman wasn’t a challenge.
But the entrepreneurs agreed that being young can be a barrier, especially when applying for loans.
Hadeed said she was denied loans several times, but she kept trying and was finally approved for $10,000. She stressed that students strive for good credit.
Susan and Stephanie Browning, both 25, owners of Sarkara Sweets, speak at the Women’s Student Association “Breaking the Glass Ceiling” panel discussion on Monday night in the Reitz Union as part of Women’s History Month.
