National Women's History Museum launched its newest exhibit, "From Ideas to Independence: A Century of Entrepreneurial Women," which celebrates and chronicles the legacies of entrepreneurial women, who forged through challenges 
and setbacks to create their own paths to economic and professional independence and open their own businesses. 

View Exhibit

This month’s tips come from Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s new book, “Lean In”. The book discusses not only empowerment in the workplace, but also serves as a career guide from one of Silicon Valley’s most powerful people.  Below are four examples from Sandberg of how women can overcome obstacles. To lend an entrepreneurial perspective we’ve included insights by Start ‘Her Up founder, Jill Fishbein.

Just wanted to share this article from today's Silicon Valley Business Journal: Women-owned businesses up 56.6%

As your company begins to gain ground, you will soon be considering how to incorporate. A question to ask yourself: what is your company identity? You may be a company that is offering a service to its customers. Or, your company may be doing more than just providing that service and making a profit—your company’s ultimate goal may be to offer a public benefit, making a positive impact on society or the environment.  Many companies have moved towards some form of a hybrid corporate identity, and California has kept up with the movement by offering two new types of corporations: the Benefit Purpose Corporation, and the Flexible Purpose Corporation. While both corporations aim to accommodate companies who want to identify themselves by the social benefits they create, the two corporations differ not only in identity, but also in purpose.

As your company starts to grow, and you begin to hire individuals to help you keep up with expansion, there is the daunting task of determining whether you should be hiring individuals as employees, or as independent contractors. Why does it matter? I’ll tell you why: the IRS cares, and so should you. If you misclassify your new hire, you will be liable for employment taxes for that worker. To avoid the unpleasant series of consequences, we offer guidance to avoid this misstep.