The country is experiencing a major surge in entrepreneurship. In January alone, more than 500,000 new business applications were filed nationwide—an increase of over 36% from last year. Washington is among the fastest-growing states in the nation for entrepreneurial activity.
Women are leading much of that momentum. Nearly 42% of small businesses in Washington are owned by women, the highest share of any state in the country. Even more compelling, 34% of women-owned businesses here generate $1 million or more in annual revenue, also the highest proportion nationwide.
This is not just participation. It’s performance. It’s an economic force.
And yet, every March, I see a different side of entrepreneurship.
The Dark Side
Business owners who started the year energized and optimistic suddenly feel behind. Revenue hasn’t quite matched projections. The to-do list is growing. Questions start creeping in: Should I pivot? Is this working? Did I miscalculate? In a culture conditioned for instant results, where we click away if a screen takes more than two seconds to load, patience can feel like failure.
But business growth doesn’t work that way. Seeds planted in January rarely bloom by February. Strategy requires nurturing. Metrics require interpretation. Momentum requires steadiness.
In my experience, it’s rarely market conditions that stall growth; it’s second-guessing.
When leaders pivot prematurely, overhaul messaging too quickly, or abandon strategy based on emotion rather than data, they break the very momentum they’re trying to build. The cost of doubt can be higher than the cost of patience.
For many founders, entrepreneurship can also feel isolating. Like standing alone on one of Washington’s uninhabited San Juan Islands: surrounded by opportunity, yet alone in decision-making. That isolation amplifies self-doubt.
A Collaborative Community
This is exactly why I’ve built my work around collaborative environments where women don’t have to navigate growth alone. When serious entrepreneurs come together to share perspective, challenge assumptions, and interpret the landscape instead of reacting to it, clarity replaces confusion.
I’ve seen this play out again and again.
In one case, a business owner came in knowing she needed to reposition her company. Her original model had plateaued, and while she sensed a new direction was possible, she didn’t fully trust it. Through peer-to-peer masterminds and focused dialogue, she clarified her vision, identified measurable benchmarks, and built a roadmap instead of reacting to uncertainty.
As we approach Q2, she’s no longer second-guessing her next move. She’s executing it.
That’s the CEO shift.
The CEO Shift
Operators react; CEOs evaluate. Operators pivot emotionally; CEOs interpret data, consider timing, and move strategically. The difference is subtle, but it determines whether momentum compounds or collapses.
With Washington leading the nation in both female business ownership and women-owned enterprises reaching the $1 million revenue mark, the opportunity before us is significant. The question is not whether women are launching businesses—they are. The question is whether we are building the leadership structures to sustain and scale them.
That’s exactly why I’m bringing the Women’s Success Summit to Bellevue on April 13.
The event is designed for women who are ready to stop second-guessing and start executing with clarity: aligning strategy, community, and practical action as we move into Q2 and beyond.
The upcoming summit was recently highlighted on KING 5’s New Day Northwest, where host Kelly Hanson interviewed me about the event and the growing impact of women business owners across Washington.
Women-Owned & Thriving
The country’ entrepreneurial momentum is undeniable. The next phase requires clarity, patience, and strategic leadership.
When women step into that level of leadership together, the impact extends far beyond individual businesses. It strengthens the entire economic landscape of our country.
Lynn Whitbeck is the co-founder and President of Petite2Queen. She is focused on identifying and evaluating opportunities for women at work, helping them define their personal roadmap. She dedicates herself to delivering tools and insights, embracing visualization of the big picture, and identifying and implementing the minutiae of detail. Lynn aims to share lessons learned along her journey and enable positive uplift for women.