19 female entrepreneurs and business owners share the silver linings that are helping them through the pandemic

Cofounder and CEO of PiperWai, which developed the first aluminum-free, plant-based deodorant to use activated charcoal

How my business has been impacted by COVID-19: With the shakeup in our supply chain and especially with some of our largest sales channels shutting down, this situation forced us to refocus our attention on our own store. It's provided a new opportunity to complete the projects we had been putting off, and really use this time to grow and learn new things, as our whole team now realizes the focus will be on our own ecommerce store going forward. 

The surprising silver lining: It's been a major opportunity to refocus on what's important and find new ways to be resourceful. As a founder who bootstrapped this brand in a crowded market, I've always had to do more with less, but in these times that resourcefulness has been tested even further pushing me and the team to find more creativity in every area of our company. We had several product launches scheduled for 2020, and this time has given us a chance to connect even further with our customers and bring them into that decision making process. 

Medical director at JeffConnect, a telehealth program within an academic teaching hospital, and assistant professor at Thomas Jefferson University

How my business has been impacted by COVID-19: We have had to expand quickly to help during the pandemic — we wanted to screen, evaluate, and send patients for testing virtually. To do that took a quick expansion of our training and staffing, which we did in 72 hours. 

The surprising silver lining: I began working in telemedicine seven years ago when it didn't have much engagement. I found a lot of purpose being able to help when needed because of my experience and taking a chance on something new at that time. Also, I am getting a lot of reading and writing done since not traveling!

Founder of Rhea Wong Consulting, which provides fundraising, strategy. and leadership support to small- to mid-level nonprofit organizations

How my business has been impacted by COVID-19: The economic downturn, cancellations of spring galas, and rise in need of our most vulnerable populations have been a perfect storm for nonprofits. I have seen nonprofits scale back on my services due to budget constraints at a time when they most need support and extra hands. To that end, I've been offering pro bono support and free webinars to support the sector.

The surprising silver lining: While the crisis has been a bit of a financial setback, it has provided a wonderful opportunity to serve and demonstrate leadership. I have started doing Friday fireside chats with leaders and experts in the nonprofit, philanthropic, and social justice sectors which have proven to be a value add and source of support for many nonprofit executives. I've really learned that a crisis is an opportunity to pull communities together and to think about offering up what I can in the name of service. It has been a wonderful reminder of why I love nonprofit work. It is a reminder of the strength, generosity of spirit, and optimism of people who are committed to helping others.

Founder and CEO of Journy, which plans your perfect trip by pairing you 1-on-1 with a personal trip designer

How my business has been impacted by COVID-19: Our business went from growing 70%+ quarter-over-quarter to basically zero revenue. I've had to lay off some of our team, but the priority has been to make sure we can keep people on payroll and ensure they have healthcare through this pandemic. The past few weeks I've been applying for government loans and building out an entirely new product roadmap.

The surprising silver lining: On a personal level, it's that I really actually needed a forced slow down to refocus on my health and well-being. On a professional level, it's been taking a step back to deeply understand what makes our business valuable and having the time to lean in to and develop that instead of running a million miles a minute blindly chasing growth at all costs. We'll actually come out of this much stronger as a result.

CEO of O³, which invests in and advocates for women and the planet

How my business has been impacted by COVID-19: I've stopped all my investing save for one critical company. Instead I've been helping underserved founders get back-channel access to PPP loans when their banks turn them away. 

The surprising silver lining: The gratitude from business owners and their employees that my efforts might be just the lifeline they needed to make it through, it's been overwhelming and really touching. And the fact that so many women have stepped up to help and to support, it's been just wonderful to see the solidarity in action.

Founder and CEO of Rise, a future-forward career platform for ambitious women

How my business has been impacted by COVID-19: Rise's mission is to bring remote and flexible work to more women. Over the last few weeks, due to COVID-19, we've seen an unprecedented growth in our platform. Traffic is up over 417% as unemployment and underemployment soar. 

The surprising silver lining: Our company has been a champion of remote and flexible work, but we used to hear "No, remote is not for us" over and over again from companies who simply did not believe in the viability of the model. Overnight, those companies had to adapt and change. Before COVID-19, flexibility and remote work were a nice to have. Now it's a must-have, not only for workers but for employers as well. It turns out we weren't crazy, we were just ahead of the curve. 

Vice president of Capalino, a leading urban business advisory firm servicing companies and non-profit business in New York City.

How my business has been impacted by COVID-19: I have witnessed the disparities across businesses and resources magnified at this time firsthand. Growing up in the New York metropolitan area and now being a New York resident, it is evident how dense areas with primarily low-income and communities of color are being disproportionately impacted at this time. Close relatives of mine have lacked adequate resources and the appropriate means to battle the virus and mitigate its impact on their daily lives, a common narrative at this time.

The surprising silver lining: A silver lining I have found at this time is my grandmother's recovery as well as my team's nonstop commitment to serve all communities throughout New York. From companies to nonprofits and government stakeholders, we have positioned ourselves as a resource for providing PPE to those who need it the most, setting up testing sites in underserved communities, and servicing the community-based organizations that are on the ground. I am grateful for the increased cross-sector collaboration and I look forward to continuing to launch creative solutions to support the residents of the city we love.

Founder and chief art advisor of smART Advisory, which helps to build legacies of artists and their work through cutting edge technology. 

How my business has been impacted by COVID-19: The art world is a very social and interactive industry. Although there are many online platforms to view and purchase artworks, the technology does not replace the real emotional experience of seeing artworks in person. Even before COVID-19, I've been exploring some ideas to enhance the art-viewing and connection experience, combining in-person and technology.

The surprising silver lining: I have seen this unprecedented time as an opportunity for innovation. I see this as an opportunity to make adjustments that the art world has been missing. I've been able to slow down and take some time to reflect and improve skills that my business needs to help artists succeed.  

Founder and CEO of Perfect Strangers, a roommate matchmaking service based in NYC.

How my business has been impacted by COVID-19: My business has completely come to a halt. People who were planning on moving to New York City have put their move on hold. We also have many clients who currently live in New York looking to sublet their room, but unfortunately we don't have the clients to help refill their available rooms.

The surprising silver lining: One of the silver linings of my business coming to a halt is that it's allowed me time to invest in building our technology and platform. Before, I was always entrenched in working in the business, I never had a chance to work on the business. We are now working on new features of the platform that has been on our to-do list for years!

Founder and CEO of Soma Nutrition, a wellness company that creates personalized dietary plans, programming, and products to optimize health in clients around the world.

How my business has been impacted by COVID-19: At the end of 2017, in the heart of New York City, I launched a concierge kitchen that offers personalized meal delivery for my nutrition clients. When the pandemic hit, I had to shut down delivery services despite high demand. Now I'm balancing being the primary caregiver to my infant son, providing virtual meal plans for my clients, and attempting to refocus my business to broaden my impact.

The surprising silver lining: I've provided nutritional services for a decade, but the global health crisis has increased demand for my services significantly. There is a renewed collective focus on self-care and wellness activities; not just for individuals but entire families. Children and adolescents are now routinely involved in my check in calls and meal preparation, as parents are instilling in them the importance of food as medicine. I'm hopeful that many families are building a stronger foundation of health and that will help reduce preventable chronic diseases moving forward.

CEO of Scout Lab, a boutique full service creative agency building purpose-driven brands.

How my business has been impacted by COVID-19: My agency has been in overdrive finding creative ways for our clients to pivot business plans. For example, many of the founders we work with are building tech-enabled platforms and had plans to raise money. Scout Lab launched BYOB ("Bring Your Own Background") Digital Demo with The New Company to offer our clients the opportunity to pitch in front of a curated group of investors from our network. 

The surprising silver lining: The key has been to be of service, and to use what I know to help. For example, my agency launched the #InMyScrubs Challenge, a fundraiser to feed hospital workers with meals from local restaurants, in partnership with Jump450, Open Influence, and our client Teressa Foglia. We've delivered over 20,000 meals to 24 hospitals and have raised over $115,000. It's the tough times that give businesses an opportunity to lead with their values, which has been top priority for us.  

Owner of Sorted by Anna, a professional organizing company with home, business, and moving services.

How my business has been impacted by COVID-19: Our business requires us to be in clients' homes or businesses working with them one-on-one. Given we are all sheltering in place, all of our work has halted completely. We do offer our expertise virtually, however, the majority of our network thrives with in-person sessions. Clients are wanting to wait everything out in order to work with us in person when it's "safe" again. 

The surprising silver lining: My team has rallied together. I've learned I can really lean on them regardless of if a client is involved or not. Whether it's working on social content, talking through government assistance, or just venting. It's been really nice to build an even stronger bond with them knowing when we do come out of this we'll be stronger for it. 

Founder of Yunus & Youth, which combines social entrepreneurship training with technology to remove educational barriers between countries and generations.

How my business has been impacted by COVID-19: During COVID-19, the demand for Y&Y's programs and services has spiked simply because we have been offering these virtually for about five years. Yunus & Youth has built a virtual platform to connect social entrepreneurs with corporate professionals to build successful and financially sustainable solutions to address the world's most pressing needs. With the unfortunate consequences of COVID-19, we received a spike in the interest of both social entrepreneurs, and corporate professionals. 

The surprising silver lining: The time at home gives more time for people to connect remotely, especially innovators with experts and business professionals that together can help shape more sustainable ventures. So while every crisis is an opportunity to innovate, this crisis is an opportunity to innovate with more virtual feedback than anyone could get in normal circumstances.

Marketing director at true[X], a Walt Disney Company that delivers effective advertising for on-demand, interactive media.

How my business has been impacted by COVID-19: We went from having 15 client events and conferences on our calendar to everything cancelled overnight. There is so much uncertainty in the market leading brands to pause advertising, but with viewing increasing significantly, there's more opportunity to run advertising, but not even ads to put in the placements. So we've instead been focusing on engaging events to give our sales reps reasons to continue connecting with clients. We built true experiences which focuses on a new event each week that supports small businesses affected by COVID-19 through a different activity and incentivizes participation by donating to a different charity each week for every guest who attends the virtual event.

The surprising silver lining: I've been having a lot of discovery and information calls with other professionals in the event industry and each time has been a wonderful learning experience seeing companies have pivoted in this challenging time and I think the entire event and entertainment community is going to be stronger because of it. Everyone is leaning into the idea of sharing their expertise, letting go of their ego, learning from each other, and supporting one another.

Cofounder of Bark Buildings, which partners with residential apartment buildings to create a pet amenity program and provide services for resident pets.

How my business has been impacted by COVID-19: As a business that operates in residential apartment buildings and generates the majority of its revenue from dog walking services, our company has taken a huge hit over the last couple months. We've had to rethink a lot of our processes to ensure safety for our dog walkers and the residents we service. Most notably, we've implemented a very successful new pickup and drop off process where the walker never enters the resident's home. 

The surprising silver lining:We've been absolutely blown away by the generosity and empathy of our clients. We held a community initiative to keep our dog walkers employed while dog walking services were down and simultaneously give back to local homeless shelters. We collected over $6,500 in donations that went to supplies and paying our team members to assemble sandwiches and toiletry kits for the shelters.

Owner of Squish Marshmallows, a small batch, hand-crafted marshmallow company focusing on unique flavors and confections.

How my business has been impacted by COVID-19: I have a brick and mortar in New York City, and being a nonessential business, I've been closed since March 16 and had to furlough staff. A large part of the business was catering and special events, and when this hit, all of that was lost, due to cancelations. It's a pretty shocking situation to look at the world around you where people are being hospitalized, falling ill, and colleagues are struggling or losing their businesses. I've filled out more applications within the past two months than I have in my entire life, and, unfortunately, haven't received funding. 

The surprising silver lining: One thing I'm very grateful and fortunate for is that I can ship nationwide. However, order intake and administrative duties, kitchen production, packing and order fulfillment, inventory, supply ordering, cleaning, on top of spending hours with applications for funding, and trying to "attend" as many informational webinars as I can, as one person, is a lot. I work seven days a week, usually eight to 10 hours, to make it work. I never really think about my capabilities, but this has definitely allowed for some reflection, and I can take a step back and be proud of all the things that I can hustle to do, alone. 

Founder and principal of Monaghan McGuire LLC, a presentation coaching business for innovators with big ideas.

How my business has been impacted by COVID-19: My business is presentation coaching and most of it is done in person. I've been working on creating a software version of my coaching, automating much of the assessment I provide, not just lessons I teach. COVID-19 has actually given me the space and time to reassess the biggest value I can provide my clients, which is scaling my services.

The surprising silver lining: Because work is now remote, people are so much more aware of how they present — it's not just speaking in front of a large crowd! From presenting to an important customer to presenting a report to a team, it's all online. I've shifted to create a high-touch online course that gives people with big ideas the ability to communicate with confidence, presenting as their best self. 

Founder and CEO of Voice Body Connection, which provides vocal health and speaking training to help students to find and amplify their voices with confidence.

How my business has been impacted by COVID-19: I had been preparing for months to enroll a small-group mastermind before COVID-19 hit. However, I realized that the higher-ticket offering I had planned had not only become less economically feasible, but it was only available to a very small percentage of my audience. I decided instead to open up my private community and offerings to anyone for free. Instead of trying to force my original business plan to work, I decided to be of service to my community at large. Since that decision, I have seen an influx of new people who want to get in touch with their voice and express themselves confidently.

The surprising silver lining: I have rediscovered my purpose as an entrepreneur. The most important action I can take as an entrepreneur is to be of service. I feel so blessed at this time to know that my skills can truly serve and provide immediate value to others. No matter how complex my marketing plan is, no matter how many Facebook ads I run or how sophisticated my sales funnel is — none of this is impactful if I am not being truly of service to my community at large. 

Founder of Yoga With Maria, a digital yoga studio in New York.

How my business has been impacted by COVID-19: Almost instantly, all of my in-person leads had vanished. I was on the brink of a big opportunity to reach a much larger network of yoga professionals and practitioners that's been completely paused, and connecting with people in person has been really important for me as I'm building.  

The surprising silver lining: More people are looking for what I'm offering online and willing to spend resources to do it. And, it turns out, we can create really rich connections and experiences over the internet. In my opinion, there will always be something magical about being in person, but I've been pleasantly surprised at how some connections are even deeper as we all share this global burden.