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W
omen-owned firms comprise 40 percent of all firms in the UnitedStates, according to the Center for Women’s Business Research. Theyhave implemented imaginative strategies to launch and expand theirfirms, including going global.According to the 2005 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Reporton Women and Entrepreneurship, published by Babson College,London Business School, and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation,there are over 30 million women entrepreneurs in the world.These businesswomen are seeking new opportunities, taking risks,sharpening their business skills and crossing borders faster than youcan say “worldwide.” 
 
My observations, garnered from running a successful global businessand serving as a consultant to countless global women businessowners, indicate that women entrepreneurs – and, in fact, all --entrepreneurs must condition themselves to be Risk-oriented,Innovative and Proactive (RIP) in order to achieve any reasonable levelof success in the global e-marketplace.They must also have several elements of education and experience inplay before venturing out beyond their current borders, includingmental and operational readiness, successful business ownership, theability to utilize modern technology, and a business with globalpotential.How, then, can local entrepreneurs grow global and find success in theworldwide e-marketplace? Some of the world’s best and brightestbusinesswomen share their top 10 tips with us here:
1. Develop trust on a global scale.
Nobody knows this better thanDr. Marsha Firestone, founder and president of Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO), an 11-year-old nonprofit membershiporganization of women presidents running multimillion-dollarbusinesses. “Recently, we celebrated five very successful years in Canada, and inthose five years, we have grown four chapters and are looking forwardto launching a fifth,” she proudly states. “Our rapidly effectiveexpansion could never have happened without a basis of leadership,trust and commitment.” How did she do it? She connected with an influential leader in theCanadian women’s business community. After numerousconversations, they established trust because both parties conveyed aclear dedication to their causes. “To further validate the WPO as an effective organization, we put ourCanadian potential members in touch with our USA members. OurWPO-USA members were knowledgeable ambassadors for theorganization and supported our claims with concrete examples fromtheir experience. That’s how we launched our first chapter in Canada,” she adds.Lesson Learned? Show your future partners that you support them.Also show them that you have support. Have clients, members and
 
partners who can validate your claims and speak on your behalf.Referrals from happy clients are the best entry into the global market.
2.
 
Think globally.
Before going global, you must develop the rightmindset. That’s exactly what Giselle Rufer, founder and president of Delance SA, did before she launched her Swiss watch company. Shethought globally.Famous for successfully launching the children’s watch called Flik Flakduring her tenure with The Swatch Group, Rufer says it is time forwomen everywhere to join forces and make the world a better place.Once Rufer refined her design concept and target market, sheidentified the pros and cons of embarking on a global venture. Thepros: She is an engineer and artist and speaks three languagesfluently. The cons: She was a woman over 50 with limited capital in acountry where men between the ages of 35 and 40 are responsible formost new business start-ups.She overcame her weaknesses and leveraged her strengths by turningher cons into pros. “First, I had to bridge an internal psychological barrier by refrainingfrom feeling that my femininity and my age were both impediments tomaking progress professionally. They are and continue to beadvantages for me,” Rufer says. “I began to flaunt my maturity, experience, and well-established namein the watch industry in new and powerful ways. To combat thefinancing problem, I became more creative, used synergy andcaptured opportunity whenever it came knocking at my door.” Lessons Learned? “Use a universal language that everyone canunderstand. Create your own international network. Concentrate oncommon values for your product and your company. Find a uniqueselling proposition. And choose a brand you can live with forever,” advises Rufer.
3.
 
Build a global brand that works locally
. Great brands transcendgeography. But to build a great global brand, you must understand thevital role that your company’s electronic face plays in your success,says Marilynn Mobley, senior vice president of Edelman, the world-renowned PR firm.
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