Gail Becker, founder of Calipower.
Women are leaving the workforce at an unprecedented rate. Workplace flexibility, unequal pay, microaggressions, and a lack of transparency in leadership combine to push women, especially women of color, toward entrepreneurship. Is there a perfect way to transition from corporate America to entrepreneurship? Gail Becker, founder of CAULIPOWER, took that risk almost a decade before he did.
Becker realized that various elements in her life were coming together at the same time to create the perfect situation for her to jump. “I became disillusioned with corporate America. When I finally got to the top of the “corporate ladder,” I realized that I didn’t really like the view. Around the same time, his father passed away. He was an immigrant who came to this country with nothing, started a small business, bought a house, and lived the American dream. When someone close to us dies, we are reminded of the fragility of life and think that what we have left is better spent doing what we love and are working hard at. I knew there was no better way to honor him than by following his entrepreneurial journey. He always said to me, “Why do you want to work for someone else?” To be honest, I didn’t really understand what he meant until he was gone. I became one of her 1,800 women who start new businesses in America every year. single. Day. This equates to her 14 million businesses that we have already established, with annual revenues of almost $2.7 trillion. ”
For women trying to balance both their corporate jobs and entrepreneurship, Becker suggests trying both at first. “I gave it a try, but quickly realized that starting a business between 2 and 4 a.m. was tough. Thankfully, since the pandemic and the work-from-home phenomenon, striking that balance has become much easier. A recent report in Harvard Business Review reveals that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an incredible boom in entrepreneurship. More than three years after the pandemic began. As of October 2023, Americans are still filing 59% more applications to start new businesses than before the pandemic.Furthermore, research from First Round Capital shows that women-led businesses outnumber men-led businesses. “Looking at it another way, for every dollar raised, female founders bring in 78%. Male founders? 31%,” she shared.
Women are leaving corporate America to start their own businesses.
For Becker, America was no longer a company, but it taught her the importance of creating a corporate culture. When she launched CAULIPOWER, her priority was to create an environment where people want to grow, stay, learn, contribute and thrive. Mr. Becker is a strong believer in hiring great people, letting them do their jobs, and listening to them. She says, “Although you may ultimately be the one making the decisions, giving your team a voice is paramount to mutual success.”
CAULIPOWER is sold at over 25,000 stores nationwide.
CAULIPOWER is now worth well over $500 million and is sold in over 25,000 stores nationwide. Becker shares his four tips for transitioning from corporate America to entrepreneurship.
Don’t let perfection be the enemy of good
A good idea costs 10 cents. The difference for entrepreneurs is to act on it. Of course you need a plan, but you’ll never get started if you aim for perfection. As any entrepreneur knows, you’ll have to make adjustments along the way anyway. Don’t fall victim to analysis paralysis. Execute. Execute. Execute.
Don’t be afraid to admit what you don’t know
Company culture puts pressure on you to have all the answers, or at least give the impression that you do. When you are a founder, have the confidence to surround yourself with better subject matter experts. Hire people who can use their expertise to teach you and help you learn. Be honest with yourself about what you know and don’t know, and don’t be afraid to buy, borrow, or ask for help.
Even if you think you’re alone, you’re not alone
There is a community of like-minded entrepreneurs that you can rely on for ongoing advice and comfort. The path to entrepreneurship is risky, and no one will understand that better than those who have been through it.
Think of new ways to introduce yourself
In the corporate world, we are defined by our hard-earned titles. When he first quit his job, and he hadn’t told anyone about CAULIPOWER yet, he went to an event and was given a white sticky note and a black pen and asked to write his name and title. I was numb. I consulted a friend of mine who happened to be a successful founder. She looked me straight in the eye and said emphatically, “Write ‘entrepreneur’!” It was terrifying and at the same time liberating. And to my surprise, everyone I met that day wanted to know more about me. Needless to say, this remains my favorite pro title.
