During Women’s History Month, Meta is offering free training, insights, and video guides to support post-pandemic, women-led small businesses.
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Meta is renewing its #SheMeansBusiness program, first launched last year, to extend its support for female entrepreneurs in North America.
The program seeks to bridge the financial literacy gap existing between men and women by providing knowledge resources from a financial expert, Lauren Washington, for free.
In the post-pandemic world, where women have been disproportionately affected in economic terms, #SheMeansBusiness extends the educational resources necessary to help female-led businesses on the path to recovery.
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The new training includes modules ranging from business financial basics to assessing financial health. The course will also highlight Meta-specific insights into boosting social media marketing performance on its platforms. According to the company announcement, these modules will be rolling out on an ongoing basis throughout the year.
Meta is also launching a new ‘MentHERship’ video series alongside #SheMeansBusiness – a combination of video resources offering expert tips from female business leaders made available on the #SheMeansBusiness site.
In addition to this, Meta is also launching a new 34-page cultural guide highlighting the challenges and opportunities for women entrepreneurs, as well as tips and notes on how to maximize success.
According to Meta’s January State of Small Business Report, women-owned businesses have capitulated 6% more since July 2021, whereas their male counterparts have seen little or no impact on their businesses in the sale period.
“Two years into a global pandemic and the ‘new normal’ is not what anyone signed up for. Many women are still precariously balancing work and family, and are increasingly burnt out. Yet they are still opening businesses, still pushing the bounds of what’s possible, and their businesses are contributing to the economic and social fabric of our communities. Women are rising up, persevering and succeeding,” the announcement reads.
According to Sheryl Sandberg, Meta Chief Operating Officer, “women have been hit harder during the Omicron wave too. Despite these challenges, many women are finding success by shifting their businesses online. Women are leading the way with the use of digital tools during COVID. Our survey shows women are more likely to make at least a quarter of their sales digitally than men. This Women’s History Month, we should celebrate and support the entrepreneurs who have not only survived against the odds, but thrived.”