The businesswoman is a professional responsible for coordinating and managing a company’s activities. This type of professional can have various types of academic backgrounds, or even none at all, attaining good positions and reaching this role only through her knowledge and strategies to help the company grow. It is not easy to define a specific class for businesswomen, since you may own a large company generating millions per year or be just a micro-businesswoman running a small neighborhood business. These differences mean that the path to becoming a businesswoman has many branches, in other words, there are various ways to become a businesswoman, whether by starting your own business or by joining an already existing company in the market.
Women in the Business Market
Although in common sense, we often think of men as company owners, nowadays more than 7 million women own their own business in Brazil, which represents an increase of 34% over the last 14 years.
This increase is due to several factors, such as women conquering higher positions within companies, not to mention the huge range of possibilities that the internet has brought with its evolution, making many people who had projects stuck in a drawer finally put them into action and pursue their dreams.
Research already shows that women make up more than half of those starting new businesses these days, indicating a new trend for the market, which is still mostly made up of men, but that, little by little, is opening up and creating new opportunities for women.
What Is the Profile of a Businesswoman?
A businesswoman can work individually or as part of a group, that is, she can manage a company on her own or in partnership with other people, so knowing how to work as part of a team is essential to being a successful businesswoman.
However, to become a businesswoman, it is not enough just to have the desire; several skills such as leadership spirit, planning ability, and determination are just some of the common characteristics for women who wish to follow this career.
The businesswoman’s profile usually features strong characteristics such as a sense of responsibility and good communication, which serves both to handle internal company issues and external relations.
We can’t leave out qualities such as optimism and perseverance, since, considering that a businesswoman’s life is full of ups and downs, these two traits can be fundamental for the success or failure of her business. Another important trait is organization, which is essential so that the company doesn’t lose track amidst issues like bills, payments, and production.
What Does a Businesswoman Do?
We usually imagine many functions and various types of activities when we think about a businesswoman’s work. This is true, because leading a company requires you to have knowledge in different areas, so that you can handle all the issues and problems that arise.
The main duties of a businesswoman are managing all company activities, forecasting risk calculations, organizing the entire schedule of tasks for her employees, and making investments, that is, analyzing the market to project the future of her business.
Types of Businesswomen
However, all these duties end up being rather broad if we do not imagine specific companies, so, to have a clearer picture of what these jobs really are, we can consider some types of businesswomen such as:
- Owner of Her Own Business
- Businesswoman in an Institution
- Investor Businesswoman
Although they have some duties in common, each of these types has its own specialties and needs to use certain skills more than others. For a woman to know what type of businesswoman she wants to be, she must understand the day-to-day life of each.
Owner of Her Own Business
This type of businesswoman is undoubtedly the one who faces the most risk, as she will start a business entirely from scratch. The strategies to be adopted, both in marketing and production within her business, will be fundamental for its success or failure. An owner of her own business especially needs to be communicative so she can attract and retain investors and clients.
Businesswoman in an Institution
This is a specific type of businesswoman, working as an employee in an institution or even as a non-majority partner, which can be a private company or in the public sector.
The main duties ultimately end up being much the same, but this type of businesswoman must be aware that she answers to other people within the institution, who are often her superiors. For this reason, agility and proactivity will definitely be standout points for a businesswoman in an institution.
Investor Businesswoman
The investor businesswoman is, among the types mentioned here, the one who most needs to exercise her analytical skills. To know what and when to invest in, this type of businesswoman also needs to be patient and have good economic knowledge.
The investor businesswoman must also closely follow the entire progress of the businesses she invests in, not just the numbers, but also the production and daily routine, to better understand how she can increase her profits.
Academic Background of a Businesswoman
There is no specific degree to become a businesswoman, but there are some key courses that can help in the education of this professional, such as economics, business administration, accounting, and marketing. It is important to remember that these courses only help a woman develop her skills for the profession and are not requirements.
Economics
The economics course offers a good theoretical foundation, giving students a general view of economic history and the schools of thought that dominate the world today. All this theory, combined with subjects such as calculus, accounting, and quantitative economics, makes the course perfect for anyone who wants to manage a company, as it provides an overview of how the market operates while preparing students for business life.
Main Economics Universities in Brazil
- Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul – Rio Grande do Sul (RS)
- University of Brasília – Brasília (DF)
- Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro – Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
The monthly tuition for economics universities in Brazil ranges from R$500.00 to R$3,500.00, depending on the region and institution where you wish to study.
Main Business Administration Universities in Brazil
- Federal University of Juiz de Fora – Minas Gerais (MG)
- Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná – Paraná (PR)
- Anhembi Morumbi University – São Paulo (SP)
Monthly tuition fees can also vary a lot, ranging from R$300.00 to R$3,000.00.
Main Accounting Sciences Universities in Brazil
- Presbyterian Mackenzie University – São Paulo (SP)
- Blumenau University – Santa Catarina (SC)
- State University of Minas Gerais – Minas Gerais (MG)
Monthly fees range from R$500.00 to R$2,500.00.
Main Marketing Universities in Brazil
- Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná – Paraná (PR)
- University of São Paulo – São Paulo (SP)
- Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Norte – Rio Grande do Norte (RN)
Tuition fees range from R$400.00 to R$2,000.00.
Specializations for a Businesswoman
As mentioned before, universities are just tools so businesswomen can manage their businesses more efficiently and are not mandatory requirements for practicing the profession.
With this in mind, and knowing that the market increasingly demands knowledge and qualifications, a businesswoman can specialize in various areas to keep up to date with market changes. Some of these are:
- Business Logistics
- Controllership and Finance
- Entrepreneurship
Business Logistics
This specialization is aimed at businesswomen who want to work in industry or logistics fields. The professional specialized in business logistics learns how to solve production problems, storage, and market demand, as well as gaining knowledge in freight transportation.
Controllership and Finance
The professional who chooses to specialize in controllership and finance is capable of analyzing company data and, consequently, controlling all its financial and accounting planning.
All the data obtained by a professional with this type of specialization becomes useful for the company’s future decisions and gives a clearer view of the investments that can be made. For these reasons, this specialization fits very well within the professional profile of a businesswoman, whether owning her own business or within an institution.
Entrepreneurship
Being a businesswoman does not necessarily mean being an entrepreneur, as the term is more related to a type of behavior than a profession itself. Therefore, an entrepreneurship course can be perfect for both a woman who wants to start her own business and for a businesswoman who wants to renew and change the way her company operates.
How Much Does a Businesswoman Earn?
Since the profession is not something that is officially registered, and it varies for each person who practices it, in addition to covering literally any and all segments, it is very difficult to determine how much each businesswoman will earn, as it all depends on how the business develops and countless factors that influence the growth or not of each company. Even so, there is an average salary calculated based on each businesswoman’s company size.
How Much Does a Small Business Owner Earn?
Lowest salary: R$ 2,500.00
Average salary: R$ 5,100.00
Highest salary: R$ 10,000.00
How Much Does a Medium Business Owner Earn?
Lowest salary: R$ 10,000.00
Average salary: R$ 13,000.00
Highest salary: R$ 16,500.00
How Much Does a Large Business Owner Earn?
Lowest salary: R$ 15,000.00
Average salary: R$ 24,000.00
Highest salary: Above 40,000.00
It’s always important to think about the future by considering how it can be built through the present and, in summary, the big task for any businesswoman is this: Knowing how to move her business forward while considering all the steps being taken right now.
Being a businesswoman is not an easy task and being successful in this profession is not something that happens overnight, as many may imagine. That’s why persistence and determination are fundamental for any woman who wants to become a businesswoman, whether by starting her own business, acting as an investor, or working within companies.
See Also: Social Worker – What Does the Job Involve and How Much Does It Pay?
Photos: geralt, maura24