Recently, through this very blog, I have had the pleasure of meeting Heidi Richards, founder of WECAI.org and the new site wherewomenprosper.com. She is a dynamic woman and her sites are powerful resources of information. She is truly an inspiration to all of us businesswomen!What prompted you to conceive your idea for the Women's eCommerce Association?
I was attending an event for Women and Minority Owned Businesses and the speaker talked about starting an organization for African Americans in eCommerce—I was with a couple of friends and we looked at each other and said at almost the same time, “Hey, why not one for WOMEN!” That was in 2001. It took 2 years to launch the organization and now the Women's eCommerce Association, Int'l will be celebrating our 5-year Anniversary to coincide with Women's eCommerce Days (which we created in 2004). We will be hosting a huge online event called How to Grow a Million Dollar Business. You can read more about it at wherewomenprosper.com.
What were your biggest challenges in starting your organization?
Learning technology—basic things like the best way to send emails, how to design html newsletters, and what tools we should be using and recommending to our members. We also made a few mistakes such as designing our own shopping cart system. We found ourselves stuck when we lost our technician and had to hire someone to make repairs to the site. We would have been better off finding shopping cart software that offered support.
What are some lessons you have learned so far?
Hire people smarter than you. I did that when I hired one of my daughters to help me with the website and then later she became a partner. I hired a blog designer to help me with my first blog and she has helped me get 5 up and running! We have hired a consultant to help with the basic layout of our new magazine, a virtual assistant to help with administrative things—details I don't really like to tackle and so on...
Don't be afraid to ask for help. About 2 years ago I realized I could not do it all alone and have since enlisted paid professionals and volunteers to help with a variety of initiatives we have in place and those we are in the process of creating.
Don't be afraid to try new things, even if they're not so new. Blogging is a good example. I resisted blogging for a long time and then in 2007 decided to start a blog to see what “all the fuss was about” and because I needed to educate myself so I knew what my members were talking about. And besides I loved reading blogs. Well long story short, I now have seven blogs and am converting two of my regular websites over to blogs as well. As you may have guessed by now, I tend to go to extremes.
What are the valuable tools WECAI.org offers to women in business?
We offer a variety of resources to help women become even better at what they do. Via our blogs, e-magazine, special reports, ebooks and audio tapes.
We have regular networking and educational resources including two major events a year—Virtual Woman's Day, and our annual Summit (which each year focuses on a different topic). And we just launched our newest initiative, WeCademy e-Learning Center. Our programs are designed by experienced coaches, trainers and facilitators in many disciplines; for entrepreneurs and professionals who want to take advantage of unlimited global business opportunities offered by internet technologies. Participants should be familiar with the Internet and willing to learn the vast technologies available online. You can learn more at www.WeCademy.com.
What is the most rewarding thing about what you do?
Without a doubt it is meeting women around the world, learning their stories
and sharing them with our members and others in our circles.
Tell our readers how to get in touch with you.
They can contact me via email at heidi@wecai.org, or phone at 954-625-6606
or 1-877-947-3337 or via our website at WECAI.org and
www.wemagazineforwomen.com.
