Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dorothy Dalton, Founder of 3Plus International, located in Brussels, Belgium.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

3Plus International offers a portfolio of business services to build workplaces based on gender balance, diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Our mission is to strengthen the female talent pipeline within organizations to allow them to achieve business success. This allows them to reap the "gender dividend," the bonus associated with inclusive and gender-balanced organizations. Our customers are organizations of any size, in all sectors, looking to build diverse and inclusive workplaces, as well as women who want to achieve their potential, whatever that may be.

Tell us about yourself

With a background in H.R., I have always been a champion for gender balance, addressing sexism and discrimination to create equal opportunities for women. Some of my later activities were around sexual harassment and bullying (so exclusionary activities), and all this eventually morphed into Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I don't have one. Maybe staying afloat and surviving all the different crises! When you work in this sector, you take the small wins! It might be working with an organisation that agrees to implement a D & I policy or a coaching client getting that great promotion. They all add up!

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Probably the biggest challenge is managing the workload and knowing when to walk away and say no. Sometimes the fit isn't right. There is always a worry that there will be a hole further down the line.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Make sure you have a financial safety net. Entrepreneurship is not for anyone who likes certainty, but there are ways to mitigate the risks.
  2. Surround yourself with the right people. This should be those who can cover the things you are less good at, as well as people who will stretch and challenge you.
  3. Be open, flexible, and keep learning. The world is changing at a fast pace, and this is no time to get stuck in the "this is the way we do things here" mentality.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://3plusinternational.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/3PlusInt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorothydalton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dorothydalton
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorothydalton/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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