A significant chunk of women who work in the business sector work within SMEs, and the number of women entrepreneurs who own and run their own companies are steadily increasing. Women account for about a third of business operators in Australia, and almost a quarter of all startups founded in 2014 were founded by women. Obviously it's a trend on the rise, but that isn't the issue. Clearly women are gaining a foothold in the SME community but what is so noteworthy is the nature of their operations.

Innovative and on the rise

Women who run SMEs are running some of the most innovative and scalable ventures out there. Abigail Forsyth is a great example of an entrepreneur who took notice of environmentalist trends early on and found a customer-friendly way to integrate those ideas into another already huge market. Her now ubiquitous KeepCup, is the sustainable way of getting your take away coffee fix.

Kate Morris started Adorebeauty, a website that sells designer cosmetics, similar in concept to an Australian Sephora. She opened up shop when there were fewer options on the market and demonstrated the most crucial element to starting your own business - excellent timing.

Women-run companies that trade in goods and services as varied as fine wines, financial services, online parenting websites and the famous Street Swag. Street Swag was started to provide something affordable and practical to people without a decent place to stay. It highlights another important issue, the social cause venture. Jean Madden saw something and did something, and in the process she also started a business. These things are in no way contradictory - there is no reason not to earn money on your social engagement, or to neglect community involvement in your business venture.  

Getting the idea out at the right time

What these entrepreneurs demonstrate so well is that a good idea is always marketable, if you can get the timing right. This is pivotal to setting out on your own, and it's a skill these women have demonstrated well. Amongst the (absolutely valid) calls for our Prime Minister to include more women on the Innovation team and otherwise secure more places for women and girls in the IT-sector, perhaps we should also remember what we are doing right.

Maybe it's time we take notice of what talented women are already accomplishing?