S.H.E. Matters: 10 Women-Owned Businesses in Jacksonville
In Jacksonville, Florida, women entrepreneurs are making waves, contributing to the city’s economic and social vitality through their successful businesses. From cozy cafes to innovative startups, women are shaping the business landscape with their ingenuity and leadership!
Join us as we explore 10 standout women-owned businesses that are not only prospering but also making a significant impact in the community.
Women Trailblazers in Jacksonville Business
Explore Jacksonville’s business scene, where ten women entrepreneurs stand out with their innovative and spirited ventures:
Mixed Fillings Pie Shop: Local pie shop in the heart of the Riverside neighborhood owned by Chef Natasha Burton! It’s celebrated for its innovative and delicious sweet and savory pies.
1928 Cuban Bistro: Where flavor meets tradition. Serving authentic Cuban fare with a contemporary twist! Owned by Rebecca Gonzalez – a Cuban-American mother of three.
The Antibride: Wedding planning and floral design for a one-of-a-kind celebration! Owned by Calli Webb and located in the heart of the Murray Hill neighborhood.
Levity Interiors: Vintage furniture shop and design services located in historic Avondale! Owned and operated by Levity E. Tomkinson.
Spruce Jax: Plant shop, bar, and mercantile! Located in Jacksonville Beach and owned by Ida Uffelman. The perfect spot to grab a drink and snag a beautiful houseplant!
Emory Clothing: Modern and fun clothing boutique in Avondale that carries a huge variety of indie clothing brands!
Culhane’s Irish Pub: Modern Irish pub owned by sisters Lynda, Michelle, Mary Jane, and Áine! These native Irish sisters strive to bring the unique flavors of Ireland to their customers.
Alewife: A community-focused establishment in the heart of Five Points serving up various selections of handcrafted ales and lagers!
Community Loaves: A locally-owned bakery serving up pastries, coffee, sandwiches, and more in a beautiful historic home located in Murray Hill!
BB’s Restaurant & Bar: A groovy culinary experience located in historic San Marco! Serving up innovative American cuisine and a dessert selection you don’t want to miss.
Lighting the Way for Future Female Entrepreneurs
Recognizing and celebrating the vibrant, women-led business scene in Jacksonville offers a glimpse into a world where innovation, community, and delicious flavors converge!
From delectable pies to the hearty allure of Cuban cuisine, the diversity and innovation within these businesses not only elevate the city’s commercial and culinary landscapes but also carve out spaces where inspiration, community, and leadership coalesce.
Want to share your favorite women-owned businesses with us? Feel free to reach out to our team or visit our S.H.E. Matters page!
S.H.E. Matters: The Success Story of Dr. Jane Goodall
In the realm of scientific discovery, few names have become as synonymous with relentless passion, unyielding curiosity, and groundbreaking research as Dr. Jane Goodall. Often seen with her notebook and binoculars, Goodall ventured into the depths of the Tanzanian jungle not as a seasoned primatologist but as a young woman with an extraordinary love for animals.
There, she challenged the status quo of both the scientific community and societal expectations of women, carving her own path in an otherwise male-dominated field. It’s an inspirational journey through the life of a woman who showed the world that indeed, she matters.
The Notable Work of Dr. Jane Goodall
In her early career, young Jane Goodall set sail from her native England to Kenya. Upon arriving, she sought out Dr. Louis Leakey, the famed paleontologist and anthropologist, convinced that he could guide her toward her dream of working with animals.
Impressed by her knowledge and passion, Leakey saw in Goodall someone who could help him answer fundamental questions about humankind’s closest relatives: the great apes. Despite Goodall’s lack of formal scientific training, Leakey entrusted her with a groundbreaking study of wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania.
Some of Goodall’s most profound discoveries and scientific contributions include:
- Chimpanzee Social Structure: Goodall’s research provided insights into the social lives of chimpanzees, including the complexity of family relationships, hierarchies, and interactions.
- Meat-Eating Behavior: She documented that contrary to prevailing belief, chimpanzees are not strictly vegetarian and do engage in hunting and meat-eating behaviors.
- Chimpanzee Emotions: Her work showed that chimpanzees have emotional lives, capable of expressing joy, sorrow, and even mourning, changing our understanding of the emotional complexity of non-human animals.
- Long-Term Field Research: Her commitment to longitudinal study in Gombe Stream National Park is considered one of the longest and most detailed studies of a non-human species.
- Conservation Efforts: Founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977, which plays a crucial role in conservation, education, and advocacy for primates and their habitats.
- United Nations Messenger of Peace: Appointed in 2002, Goodall uses this platform to spread her conservation and humanitarian messages globally.
Blazing The Trail For Others To Follow
The story of Jane Goodall is not just a tale of a woman who ventured into the wilderness to study our closest animal relatives; it is the narrative of a trailblazer who defied societal norms and prejudices to carve out her own space in the world of science.
Her work set the stage for generations of women who dare to dream big in the fields of primatology, ethology, anthropology, and beyond. As she herself has said, “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
Want to share your own success story? Feel free to reach out to our team or visit our S.H.E. Matters page!
S.H.E. Matters: Unpacking the Burnout Baggage
In today’s fast-paced work environment, the term “burnout” has become all too familiar, almost a buzzword — but its impact is anything but trivial. For women in the workplace, the experience of burnout is often intensified by unique challenges that range from gender biases to the “double shift” of work and domestic responsibilities.
While the concept is not exclusive to women, the disparities that persist in today’s professional landscape make it especially critical for women to recognize the signs, understand the underlying issues, and take proactive steps to prevent burnout.
Cracking The Glass Ceiling, But At What Cost?
What exactly is burnout? According to the Mayo Clinic website, “Job burnout is a special type of work-related stress — a state of physical or emotional exhaustion that also involves a sense of reduced accomplishment and loss of personal identity.”
As stated by the World Health Organization, burnout is characterized by these three dimensions:
- Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion
- Increased feelings of cynicism or negativity towards one’s job
- Reduced professional efficacy
Work stress for women often extends beyond the typical pressures of job performance and deadlines. Many women face the additional strain of gender biases, unequal pay, and the emotional labor of balancing workplace responsibilities with domestic roles.
These unique stressors can compound over time, making women more susceptible to burnout. The lack of supportive workplace policies, such as flexible work hours and parental leave, can further exacerbate this stress, leading to emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment — the key markers of burnout.
Is There A Way to Avoid Burnout?
Avoiding workplace burnout is a multi-faceted endeavor that involves personal, organizational, and systemic approaches. On an individual level, there are ways that women can reduce their chances of experiencing burnout!
These include:
- Prioritizing self-care: set boundaries, take breaks, and try exercising for short periods daily
- Managing your workload: delegate tasks, clarify expectations, and batch similar tasks
- Fostering healthy relationships: seek support from loved ones, communicate openly, and seek a mentor
- Advocating for systemic change: push for fair policies and challenge gender biases
- Practice healthy emotions: be mindful of your emotions, experiment with meditation, and keep track of your accomplishments
While some of these tactics are general, they can be particularly impactful for women who may face additional pressures and biases in the workplace. The goal is to create a holistic approach to work-life that respects your time, values your emotional well-being, and contributes to your professional success.
Do you have any tips for avoiding burnout? Let us know!
Feel free to reach out to our team or visit our S.H.E. Matters page to send in a submission for our review, and stay tuned for more S.H.E. Matters content!
The History of Women’s Equality Day and Why Intersectionality is Still Important
August 26th marks Women’s Equality Day, a holiday that commemorates the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which granted women the right to vote.
That being said, while the suffrage movement was a milestone for women’s rights, we must also acknowledge that it did not fully encompass the experiences of all women.
Here’s why we must keep the concept of intersectionality in mind as we celebrate this holiday:
The History of Women’s Equality Day
Women’s Equality Day was designated as a national holiday in 1973, created in order to recognize the hard-fought battle for women’s suffrage in 1920. Mere days prior, on August 18, Congress officially ratified the 19th Amendment, which solidified the right of most American women the right vote.
That being said, it only represented one step towards equality for all women.
Black women and women of color were still facing significant barriers to voting, as well as employment, education, and other opportunities. In fact, it wouldn’t be until 1965 — a full 45 years later — that Black women would be granted the same voting rights.
All About Intersectionality
As we celebrate Women’s Equality Day, it’s crucial to recognize the importance of intersectionality in our understanding and advocacy for gender equality.
Intersectionality, a term coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, reminds us that women’s experiences are not homogeneous and are significantly influenced by other aspects of their identities such as race, class, sexual orientation, and disability status.
Recognizing intersectionality ensures that we don’t just fight for the equality of women in a monolithic sense, but that we advocate for all women, acknowledging and addressing the unique challenges faced by those who belong to multiple marginalized groups.
In this way, intersectionality enriches our understanding of women’s rights and helps us build a more inclusive and equitable society.
S.H.E. Matters During and Beyond Women’s Equality Day
Employers must consider the ways in which various systems of oppression can impact their employees.
The pay gap, for example, is not simply an issue of gender; it is influenced by race and ethnicity, as well as other factors. Understanding these intersections is crucial when working to create an equitable workplace.
Overall, Women’s Equality Day is an important reminder of the progress that has been made over the years, but it is also an opportunity to analyze the work that still needs to be done to achieve true equality.
But what do you think? We’d love to hear from you!
Please reach out to us or visit our S.H.E. Matters page to send in a submission for our review, and stay tuned here for more information!
S.H.E. Matters After She Retires: Long-Term Effects of the Gender Pay Gap on Women’s Retirement Savings
Retirement planning isn’t an easy task for anyone, regardless of what stage of life they’re in. However, recent retirement discussions have highlighted that women face an additional challenge in saving for the future: the gender pay gap.
As employers or business owners, it’s vital to address this issue for the economic security of your female employees.
Let’s take a look at the long-term effects of the gender pay gap on women’s retirement savings and the steps that businesses can take…
Lower retirement savings mean lower Social Security benefits
The gender pay gap means women are paid less during their working years, resulting in lower retirement savings than their male counterparts. Since Social Security payments are based on an employee’s income during their working years, a lower salary would result in a lower benefit amount.
This issue would also result in women having a smaller retirement nest egg to rely on during their retirement years.
Longer life expectancies
Women, on average, live longer than men. According to Harvard Health, “57% of all those ages 65 and older are female. … The average lifespan is about 5 years longer for women than men in the U.S., and about 7 years longer worldwide.”
Due to these longer life expectancies, women have higher medical expenses, living expenses, and caregiver expenses, which, combined with lower retirement savings, often result in greater financial insecurity later in life.
Lack of retirement plan access
Women face an additional challenge as they are often employed in small businesses that don’t offer retirement plans like 401(k) and pensions.
In fact, “About 50% of women ages 55 to 66 have no personal retirement savings, compared to 47% of men,” as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. The lack of retirement plan access means that women have to be even more proactive about saving for retirement.
Other factors
Women face additional challenges in saving for retirement due to factors such as career interruptions, taking time off for caregiving, and other responsibilities. These challenges result in women earning less from work, saving less for retirement, and relying more on Social Security in retirement.
What employers and business owners can do
Simply put, businesses can address these issues by implementing transparent compensation policies and practices. This step would ensure that all employees are paid equitably, regardless of gender.
Additionally, offering retirement plans like 401(k) programs can improve access to retirement planning for all employees in the company. Employers can also support career development opportunities for women, to improve their earnings and increase their ability to save for their retirement years.
But what do you think? Are you a woman with a unique perspective on saving for retirement or a business owner that offers these kinds of benefits? We’d love to hear from you!
Please reach out to us or visit our S.H.E. Matters page to send in a submission for our review, and stay tuned here for more information!