The New Power Girls: Fierce, Fearless Female Trailblazers in Life and Business

Of all the New Power Girls articles I've written so far, I think this may be a favorite. It's also had the highest response from the email subscription list of women entrepreneurs and elite level executives I tap as sources each week for articles.

I'm not surprised. Today's topic is fearlessness.

It's without question one of the most common traits I've seen among the new modern women entrepreneurs I've met and know: They take enormous risks every day. In fact, they almost live by it.

It takes a lot of guts to go to an investment firm on your own credibility and explore the potential of funding a company whether you're a woman or a man. Just the same, it takes courage to stand in front of an esteemed audience on your know-how and make an intelligent argument. It takes this and more to boldly storm the gates of a company fueled by your value, like Turner, Ford, or a major television network and ask for what you want - then get it.

Of course women doing this everyday are going to have a lot to say about it.

"There's been a couple of times I've had to stop forward and do something unexpected - two recent examples come to mind: in 2002 moving to Fiji for a year with my family to show free movies at the 180 Meridian Cinema, then allowing the last month to be documented in a film directed by the great documentary director Steve James. And now, taking over as head of SXSW Film Conference and Festival," said Janet Pierson, SXSW Film's Producer. Working closely with her husband John, Pierson has also been credited as a force behind hit films by big names like Kevin Smith and Michael Moore.

"More and more over time I've learned to not say no - to believe that things are possible, and challenges are worth experiencing," she adds.

Power Girls see the huge leap of faith ahead. Then, they run at it.

"I make jokes about how I am driven by fear," said entrepreneur and internet industry veteran Susan Mernit, who led a huge Yahoo! Personals redesign in 2008 and is in the process of launching a new business. She joins the chorus of women I've met and know that are facing big time stakes with start-ups, gun it and don't look back.

Most of all, they're not afraid to turn on fear and leverage it to their benefit.

"At times, fear can be a good thing," shared Heavy Bag Media co-founder Jackie Peters. Peters has courted the attention of companies like Getty Images and Yale University for her social media and internet savvy. It was a sentiment echoed among other women who responded for this week's article: No one let's fear hold them back.

"It almost boils down to just saying 'what's the worst that could possibly happen?', and realizing that in most cases even if you don't achieve your goal, the outcome won't really be all that tragic," added Peters.

It's a page right out of history. Like dozens of Power Girls who blazed the trails in business over the past 250 years, the new generation of successful women fearlessly know what they want, and above all, fearlessly work to get it.

Comments

[Eres]

After nearly 20 years in the work force (and I am still relatively young) I have finally realized that the only shot at success women really have is to venture out on their own and to take the helm of their own ship, so to speak. I am more afraid of spending another 20 years contributing my hard work and best ideas only to have them either stolen or dismissed by the "boys club" than to take the risk of driving my own destiny. Comfortable or not, this is the year to make that happen!

[astia ceo]

This is a great piece. I look forward to following the conversation.

I work with women-led high-growth companies as they raise venture capital and grow their businesses (nonprofit headquartered in Silicon Valley). Along with fearlessness, entrepreneurs have to be willing and able to fail - and through business failure still find personal professional success. Success that can lead to the next big opportunity. Every investor loves the entrepreneur who already has her failure under her belt so that now she can take what she learned and excel.

[Patricia Handschiegel - Huffpost Blogger]

I love that you've said this. It's so funny but that was my exact "enterpreneur tip" on my personal blog (which is an online documentary following my work):

http://patriciahandschiegel.tumblr.com/post/64925718/23-take-the-lumps

I agree with you 100%!!!

[ChiquePlus]

I'm loving this series! I guess the key is moving forward *despite* the fear. Is that the definition of fearlessness?

I have fear all the time - not enough capital, not enough sales, not the right inventory mix, not enough...

But I do keep moving forward despite it because I love building my business and talking to other entrepreneurs about their businesses.