The World Needs Your Leadership - Belinda Clemmensen

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Belinda Clemmensen, founder of Women's Leadership Intensive, located in Huntsville, ON, Canada.

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

The Women's Leadership Intensive provides leadership development by women for women. Our mission is to inspire, empower, support, and equip women to lead the change the world needs. Our customers are organizations who actually want to move the needle on gender equity and support and invest in their high-potential women with meaningful development opportunities. We support women in leadership roles or help them get promotions ready for leadership roles. We also support women entrepreneurs who have a vision for creating purpose and values-driven companies.

Tell us about yourself

I have been working in leadership development for over 25 years. Several years ago, I had a crisis of consciousness and realized my work was upholding systems and structures that I wasn't sure I believed were best for people (or the planet). I also could no longer deny the deep inequities in leadership in business. Digging into the research on the benefits of diversity and, in particular, women in leadership, I became even more convinced that if we had representative diversity in leadership and decision-making tables, then we would be making better decisions for all, with more diverse perspectives and stakeholders included and considered. The business case for women in leadership is irrefutable at this point. That research has been done and documented. Now the work is to make it happen. That's where we come in. We help companies set and achieve those women in leadership goals and strategies.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Building values and purpose-driven company and truly making decisions based on those factors first and foremost, even when it goes against traditional business wisdom. Launching my first book in January 2023 - Women, Leadership & Saving the World, Why Everything Gets Better When Women Lead.

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

Growth is a challenge. How do we grow while still maintaining quality, integrity, and meaningful connections? How much growth is enough? We live in a world where growth is seen as the goal in itself, but I think we can get lost in that if we don't stay connected to why it's meaningful and how it serves our mission.

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

In the early days (and sometimes longer than that!), be prepared to wear many hats (sales, marketing, execution, admin, etc.) and be prepared that you won't love them all! That's good learning for how you might want to build your team.
Stay true to your inner compass - your values and purpose/mission. Otherwise, what's the point? Running a business is hard work, so make sure you're doing what matters and what you love. Find your team, even if it's not formal "employees." Running a business and doing the work is way easier and more fun when you do it with awesome people.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.womensleadershipintensive.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womensleadershipintensive
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womens.leadership.intensive/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/belinda-clemmensen/

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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