National Women’s Small Business Month 2024 was celebrated during the month of October. This was a time to recognize and celebrate all of the hard-working women entrepreneurs that are so crucial to the business world and the economy. At Forge, we believe that fostering a supportive environment for women entrepreneurs is crucial for driving innovation and community growth. Running a small business can be both challenging and immensely rewarding. We truly admire the women who have dedicated themselves to building successful business. We encourage everyone to support women owned small businesses!
Not only is Forge a woman owned small business, but we also have several female small business owners and employees as part of our Forge community. We have showcased a few below:
Shea Doriety: Shea Shea Beauty&Brown
We are excited to highlight: Shea Doriety with Shea Shea Beauty&Brow !!
Tell us about what your business does: “My business is dedicated to working with clients natural beauty. We work on creating a new look according to each individual clients brow and face goals.”
What is your favorite part of your job?
“I love being able to not only help my clients feel better about their look, but also about themselves. Empowering each client that leaves my door is my goal and highlight of my career.”
How has being a female entrepreneur shaped your business? Shaped you personally?
“I started in the beauty industry in 2004 when I was 17 years old. There’s no doubt that being around so many strong women my whole life gave me the confidence to branch out and start my own business.”
What challenges have you faced in running a business?
“I opened my location full time two weeks before Covid shut it down for two months. Learning how to navigate proper safety, countless last minute cancellation due to Covid, and rebuilding my clientele at a new location.”
What is one of the biggest things you have accomplished in the past year?
“My biggest accomplishment this past year was finally taking the time to upgrade my office suite. Since I found out one day before I re-opened I’d be allow to work again I never took the time to make my office suite my dream work space!”
What female entrepreneur inspires you?
IG: @sheasheabeauty
K’la Inman: Getting Starting Acting and Modeling LLC
We are excited to highlight: K’la Inman with Getting Starting Acting and Modeling LLC !!
Tell us about what your business does:
“My business is dedicated to helping parents navigate the entertainment industry and launch their children’s careers the right way. We specialize in securing opportunities for print work, commercials, television shows, and films, ensuring that each family has the guidance and support they need to succeed in this competitive field.”
What is your favorite part of your job?
“I love seeing dreams come true! Our tagline is- your dream, our team, real results.”
How has being a female entrepreneur shaped your business? Shaped you personally?
“Being a female entrepreneur has truly shaped both my business and my personal growth. As women, we’re often naturally nurturing and emotionally attuned, and that side of me helps me build deep, meaningful connections with my clients. I don’t just see them as numbers or projects; I care deeply about their success and their journey. That emotional investment drives me to go above and beyond to deliver results. It’s about creating a genuine partnership, and I think that personal touch is what sets me apart.”
What challenges have you faced in running a business?
“One of the biggest challenges I faced was learning how to effectively delegate tasks and build a solid team. As an entrepreneur, it’s tempting to try to do everything yourself, but I quickly realized that to scale and grow, I needed to trust others and create a strong support system. Building the right team has been key to expanding my business and allowing me to focus on the bigger picture.”
What is one of the biggest things you have accomplished in the past year?
“I won Entrepreneur of the Year in Birmingham!”
What female entrepreneur inspires you?
“Jordan Hosey, a realtor here in Birmingham, truly inspires me. She’s constantly innovating and disrupting the real estate industry, pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo. What I admire most is how she fearlessly tests limits and shows others what’s possible when you think outside the box. Her drive and creativity are a constant source of motivation for me.”
IG: @klamodelmaker
FB: K’la Inman
Melissa Ralph: R Consulting
We are excited to highlight: Melissa Ralph with R Consulting !!
Tell us about what your business does:
“Media & Tech Consulting”
What is your favorite part of your job?
“Learning about my client’s businesses and goals”
How has being a female entrepreneur shaped your business? Shaped you personally?
“Starting my business empowered me to have the confidence to know my worth and value.”
What challenges have you faced in running a business?
“The continual fight for room, space, time, attendance, acceptance, etc.”
What is one of the biggest things you have accomplished in the past year?
“I’ve finally started telling people the name of my business and calling myself a business owner”
What female entrepreneur inspires you?
“Kim at Forge!”
IG: @MelissaRalph
LinkedIn: @melissaralph
Kim Lee: Forge
We are excited to highlight our owner: Kim Lee with Forge !!
Tell us about what your business does: “Forge is a membership based coworking space in the heart of downtown Birmingham above the Pizitz Food Hall. Our memberships include Private Offices, open Coworking Memberships and Virtual Office memberships. We also have conference rooms and event space. We primarily serve small business owners, entrepreneurs, remote workers and remote teams!”
What is your favorite part of your job?
“At Forge we say we are in the “business of growing businesses,” it brings me so much joy that we can provide a place and resources to help other businesses succeed. I love that we get to play a role in helping and supporting other businesses! Our day is always made when one of our members comes in and tells us about a win they just had with their business.
Most of the time people come to Forge because they have a need for a place to work. But the real magic of Forge happens when our members start to get to know each other and then become the biggest champions for each other. So, the other favorite part of my job is the community that is built among our members and seeing the impact that the our community has on each other. And I include myself in that, the community at Forge has played such a huge role in supporting me on this Small Business journey!”
How has being a female entrepreneur shaped your business? Shaped you personally?
“Honestly, this is not something that I think about a lot. But looking back at the growth of Forge over the years and the culture we have created for our members at Forge it is clear to see the impact that my leadership style has had on the business. From day one I have wanted to create a community and a space where our members feel known and valued. Being a small business owner is very hard and can be isolating. At Forge we want each of our members to know they are not in isolation! We are always there for them – on their really hard days and on their really good days! I do believe that being a female, this comes more naturally. I naturally lead my team to always look for ways to support, cheer on and care for our members!”
What challenges have you faced in running a business?
“Some of the biggest challenges I have faced over the years all revolve around learning how to become the type of leader that I really desire to be. I have had some great bosses over the years that led with mission and vision. They led with grace and inspired me to be the very best I could be. I have learned that this type of leadership takes a lot of work on myself! You don’t just wake up one day and all the sudden are this great leader! Over the years I have had fantastic team members that have been very gracious with me and helped me learn how to lead and create the culture that I desire to have on our team.”
What is one of the biggest things you have accomplished in the past year?
“This year we changed our team structure. We hired two new employees and one to a new position. Over the last six months, I have watch them fully embrace the mission and vision of Forge. They are fantastic at what they do and love serving our members and helping Forge full it mission to every one of our members. To me, that is the best accomplishment I could have!”
What female entrepreneur inspires you?
“Being a small business owner is hard! There are so many ups and downs. Jacqui Jones has been a member at Forge since day one. She started One Degree around the same time that I started Forge. We have had many ups and downs together. Her positive attitude, resilience, leadership, creativity and determination, regardless the situation always inspires me to keep going and push myself a little bit harder every day!”
IG: @workatforge, @kimblee123
FB: @workatforge, @kimblee123
It is an honor to have these female small business owners as members at Forge, along with so many others! We admire and celebrate all the hard work each of them does! Are you a small business owner that needs a place to work and further your business? Join our supportive community at Forge! Sign up for a tour today!