On Centre-stage: Some inspiring women entrepreneurs in Oklahoma
#WomenInBusiness #OKCEntrepreneurs #FemaleLeadership #WomenEmpowerment #OklahomaPride
Oklahoma City has become a beacon for female entrepreneurship, achieving the second spot on the list of top metropolitan areas with the most substantial growth in women business owners.
Thriving Female Business Ownership in Oklahoma City: A Growing Trend Research has revealed a remarkable surge in the percentage of female business owners in Oklahoma City – climbing from 24% in 2019 to 30% in 2023. This growth trajectory underlines the city’s commitment to fostering a supportive environment for women entrepreneurs.
Oklahoma City’s vibrant business landscape is teeming with diverse, female-owned enterprises – from PR firms to unique gift and coffee cocktail shops. These businesses are a living testament to the creativity and dedication of women entrepreneurs, who are shaping the city’s economic and cultural fabric. Highlighting a selection of these remarkable women and their enterprises provides a glimpse into the thriving business ecosystem they have helped to build.
Now, let us explore the stories of inspiring women entrepreneurs in Oklahoma, celebrating their achievements and contributions. Through their unique ventures, these women exemplify resilience, innovation & leadership – paving the way for future generations of women entrepreneurs.
> Debbie Anglin, Owner, Anglin PR
For 25+ years, Anglin PR has been a trailblazer in the world of marketing and Public Relations in Oklahoma City. The vision was – to provide businesses in Oklahoma with high-quality PR services that were typically found only in larger cities. Anglin PR is a powerhouse of digital media experts, writers, web creators and graphic designers who understand the intricacies of marketing and messaging.
Sharing her perspective, Debbie Anglin, Founder highlighted the unique challenges women encounter in entrepreneurship. She feels that women often struggle to secure business loans and early-stage capital compared to their male counterparts, which can hinder growth; and the demands of entrepreneurship, particularly the long hours, can be burdensome for mothers.
> Julie Miller, Founder, Tin Lizzies Gift Shop
Having established a delightful haven for handcrafted items, perfect for gifting, home decor and self-care since 2017, Tin Lizzie is a charming gift shop in the heart of West Village. Tin Lizzies is unique for its collaboration with local small businesses, showcasing other Oklahoma-owned boutiques through shop-in-shops and pop-up experiences.
They offer a crafted selection for gift- giving, sprucing up your home, and pampering yourself, by bringing you a great selection of unique items across every price point! They also supports other locally-owned small businesses, artists, and authors.
The entrepreneurial journey of Julie Miller, Founder, demonstrates perseverance as a wife, mother and small business owner – having encountered a unique set of challenges each year, including issues related to inventory, supply chain disruptions, relocations, inflation today, and, notably, the challenges posed by pandemic-related closures. But she saw that each challenge represented a significant opportunity for adaptation and improvement. And, the pandemic, was an opportunity for their e-commerce launch, which is now their most, significant, fastest growing part of the business.
> Brittani Hunter, Founder, Spiked. A Coffee Concept
Spiked. has been serving coffee, cocktails, and, most importantly, fostering connections since its inception in 2020; and has been providing valuable opportunities for the northeast OKC community. Going beyond being just a coffee cocktail shop, it is a dedicated space committed to investing in others. Owner and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) agent Brittani Hunter emphasized her goal is – to make a positive impact.
She wanted Spiked. to be a hub for the black community – a safe space where people could come and feel safe. So, this vision led her to make challenging, yet impactful, decisions as an entrepreneur.
> Christin Lynch, owner of the Edmond, Oklahoma stores Lil Dudes and Divas
Christin Lynch, owner of the Edmond, Oklahoma stores – Lil Dudes and Divas and Pickles and Ice Cream actually loved being home with her kids and spending time with them. But, she was also very much a career woman and wanted to launch her own business too.
Her first venture was – Pickles and Ice Cream, a maternity clothing store. The idea came about while she was pregnant with her daughter. She realized they didn’t have a whole lot of options as far as places to go shopping for maternity clothes in the Oklahoma City area.
From her friends, she heard a lot of buzz about the Dallas location of Pickles and Ice Cream. That’s when she did some research and discovered it was a franchise. That began her career as a business owner, opening Pickles and Ice Cream in 2008. She was indeed glad she went the franchise route, because she was given a lot of help with the preliminary set up.
She was offered another opportunity to expand with – Lil Dudes and Divas. Of course, opening and running a business is a lot of work. But she loves her job, and wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
> Umi Chahal, who owns Choice Hospice and Choice Home Health
Business woman Umi Chahal, who owns Edmond, Oklahoma Choice Hospice and Choice Home Health, advises women who want to open their own businesses by pointing out – know the industry you want to go in.
In her 20s, she had worked with patients at a nursing home, and it bothered her that there was no place for these people to live in their own homes. Then she began working with a home health agency and read up on alternative methods of care. She started Choice Home Health in 2001. Since then, it has won the Home Care Elite award placing it within the top 25 percent of home care agencies in the United States.
Through her work in home health, she says she recognized the need for end of life care and decided to start Choice Hospice in 2004. Chahal was recently awarded the Riata Inspire Distinguished Women Entrepreneur award for 2010.
> Gina White, Co- Founder, Millennium Personnel in Edmond, Oklahoma
Gina White, began Millennium Personnel in Edmond, Oklahoma with business partner Regina Duvall in December of 1999. Her business is a clerical and administrative staffing company. They find people jobs for a living which they find very rewarding indeed.
Coming from a long line of entrepreneurs, she had the courage to start her own business because she. Her advice to aspiring businesswomen is – to surround yourself with great people! She admits that once you get professional advice and the right advice, it’s worth all the investment.
Her business’ success has made all of the hard work worthwhile. This really reveals an exclusive pioneering spirit!
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