Meta Celebrates and Supports Women Small Business Leaders Who Go Beyond

Throughout Women’s History Month and for International Women’s Day, Meta is celebrating and supporting women small business leaders who Go Beyond.

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.

Globally, women-led small businesses have been harder hit by the COVID-19 Omicron wave compared to businesses run by men. According to a new brief from Meta’s ongoing State of Small Business research program, women-led closure rates have risen 6% since July 2021, compared to little to no change from male-led counterparts. In the US, nearly a quarter (24%) of US women-led small businesses were not operational at the time of survey, compared to 18% of male-led small businesses. These latest findings are based on a survey of nearly 24,000 small business leaders across 30 countries, conducted during the height of the Omicron wave over 2 weeks in January 2022.

Despite a bleak picture, women continue to demonstrate resilience and adaptation shifting their business online. Globally, 57% of women-led small businesses report using digital tools to communicate with customers, compared to just under half of businesses led by men. And nearly half of US women-led small businesses report making at least 25% of their sales digitally, compared to 39% of small businesses led by men. On Meta platforms in the last year, 73% of Facebook Groups related to entrepreneurship have been created by women and 40% of Instagram businesses that self-identify as women-owned have been set up since the start of the pandemic.

“Small businesses led by women face a steeper road to recovery than those run by men. Throughout the pandemic, women-run businesses are more likely to have closed or struggled with cash flow. Our latest survey shows that 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.” —Sheryl Sandberg, Meta Chief Operating Officer

To continue its longstanding investment in the health of female entrepreneurship, Meta is expanding its #SheMeansBusiness program in North America to address an ongoing financial literacy gap we see between women and men. Beginning this month, anyone can sharpen their financial acumen for free with new trainings led by financial expert, Lauren Washington. Modules range from business financial basics to assessing financial health and will be rolling out on an ongoing basis throughout the year. A new quarterly MentHERship video series will also offer expert tips from women business leaders like Brittany Flory, Paid Digital Media Manager at Domino’s, who’s sharing her 5 tips to stay relevant on social media. Visit fb.com/shemeansbusinesshub for more information on trainings and additional content and resources.

Additionally, to celebrate International Women’s Month, Meta has created a cultural guide that provides insights on the global challenges and opportunities for women in business, along with inspiration and actions for business leaders to follow in their journey to driving women’s equality.

As a continuation of their investment in unique creators and providing a platform for people to grow their businesses, Instagram’s @shop account will be highlighting women who are best friends and who’ve co-founded emerging small businesses together in honor of Women’s History Month.

The economic recovery is underway, and it’s more important than ever before to support women-owned small businesses in your local community and across the world—not just in March, but all year long. Across our platforms, Meta will continue to celebrate the many ways that women are going beyond.