At Sketa Oz, our work is shaped not only by what we create, but by the realities of building, as a female-led creative enterprise.  The following reflection offers insight into the challenges that inform our approach, our storytelling, and our commitment to meaningful, enduring work...

Being a female artistic and a highly creative entrepreneur is an exhilarating journey, but it comes with challenges that are often invisible to those outside the creative world.  Each day, I navigate the delicate intersection of creativity, business, and my personal identity- pursuing artistic visions while also ensuring sustainability in a market that often - undervalues art. 

Balancing Creativity and Business
Artistry demands freedom - time to explore, experiment, and take risks.  Entrepreneurship demands structure, strategy, and efficiency. The challenge lies in wearing both hats simultaneously: creating a world that is authentic and compelling, while also managing budgets, marketing, partnerships, and the practicalities of running a business - even if it is at times, running in skeleton mode and we are just trying to keep it alive.

Visibility vs. Vulnerability
​As a woman in the creative industries, visibility is a double-edged sword.  Sharing work publicly invites connection and opportunities, but it also exposes you to judgment, criticism and comparison.  Each project is a vulnerable expression of self, and balancing confidence with humility can be exhausting - for me, this is an ongoing challenge.

Access to Resources and Networks
Female, artistically-inclined entrepreneurs often encounter limited access to funding, mentorship, and professional networks.  Building support systems requires strategic effort and persistent self-advocacy, even while juggling the demands of creating and sustaining a business.

Managing Time and Energy
The expectation to do it all - creative work, administrative tasks, marketing networking - can stretch time and energy to breaking points.  Prioritizing projects and saying "no" strategically are essential survival skills, yet still come with the constant internal negotiation of "Am I doing enough?"  And with that often comes with, "Am I enough?"

The Pressure of Consistency
Audiences, collaborators, and potential clients expect consistency in output, style and presence.  While consistency builds trust, it can also feel restrictive, especially when creativity thrives in unpredictability and experimentation.  Finding ways to innovate without losing your audience is a constant challenge.

Despite these challenges, the journey is deeply rewarding.  Every obstacle teaches resilience, strategic thinking, and self-awareness.  Each project completed, collaboration forged, or idea realised is a testament to perseverance and vision.

For female artistic entrepreneurs like myself, success is not just measured in recognition or revenue, but in sustaining creative integrity, carving out our space for unique expression, and inspiring others to pursue their artistic paths, unapologetically.

This perspective informs every project developed through Sketa Oz - where creative integrity and strategic execution are not separate pursuits, but part of the same process.

According to a 2024 report by PitchBook, only 2.3% of venture capital funding went to female founders in the previous year. This statistic shows a marginal increase from the 2.2% recorded in 2023, indicating that while some progress is occurring, it falls short of the leaps needed to achieve gender parity.
 
A broader analysis from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) in early 2024 found that female entrepreneurs are 28% less likely to seek venture capital compared to their male counterparts. When they do seek funding, they often encountered difficulties securing the necessary amounts, as they received, on average, $50,000 less than male entrepreneurs for similar business proposals.
 
Unconscious Bias and Stereotypes
 
The challenges that female entrepreneurs face can largely be attributed to unconscious bias and societal stereotypes. A 2024 study published in Harvard Business Review noted that investors often equate entrepreneurial traits with masculinity, viewing male-led ventures as more capable of high returns. As a result, female entrepreneurs frequently find themselves having to overcome both a funding gap and a confidence gap.
 
“I often feel that my business acumen is judged through a different lens,” states Laura Jenkins, a tech entrepreneur and founder of a fintech startup. “When I pitch to investors, it sometimes feels like I’m fighting against stereotypes rather than getting a fair hearing for my ideas.”
 
Personal Experiences from the Field
 
Two narratives stand out among the many challenges female entrepreneurs face, drawing on personal experiences shared by both female business leaders in established companies and newcomers in the startup phase.
 
Melissa Carter: A Journey from Startup to Success
 
Melissa Carter, founder of an innovative health tech startup, recounts her early struggles with securing funding:
 
“In my first round of funding, I faced rejection after rejection. Many of the investors seemed to focus more on my gender than my business model. I was often asked how I would deal with the stress of running a company—something no male entrepreneur encountered in conversations,” she explains.
 
Melissa’s perseverance eventually led to success, but her journey highlights the formidable barriers women still face. “Once I built credibility through initial achievements, funding became somewhat easier. However, it shouldn't have to be about proving myself over and over again,” she adds.

To celebrate 20 years is outstanding, but to make it to 60 years is a huge milestone for any international event – one that has not only grown in spirit and focus on their dedication to children and education, but also on their role in the publishing industry - to present to the world their best Italian foot, on the international stage.

For me to be invited me – both as an author and publishing house, allowed me an opportunity that I never anticipated, would occur.  The last few years has spelt much hardship for many people across the world, especially for publishing and sole trader businesses – it has been no different, for me.  Attending this year’s event, also meant putting aside the hesitations of CoVid, the financial strains of what that brought to the industry and saying goodbye to health concerns.  ​

It was a week of touching base with new ideas, meeting new people, believing in positive outcomes for everyone and coming away with lots of useful information, to implement into one’s business.
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With only one week on offer, it was a jam-packed event, pavilion and city - with so many things to see and do, and so many people doing their hardest to suck the marrow from the bone, to come away with a stronger understanding of books, publishing and yes – Bologna.  ​

If you'd like to know the latest on: Fem'preneurs making the news; want to know how to go about things or would like to read something inspirational to help you on your way, then this is the place for you.  We'll be delivering articles on all things females find difficult in the world of business and entrepreneurship.

Sometimes, it's hard and you have no one to listen to you. You need to vent.  You need a new take on the situation.  Then our interviews, thoughts and advice from some of the best women out there - making it great, could tip the scale of make or break in business. 

We know you've got it in you.  You can shine just as good as any of them, but they didn't get there all by themselves.  So let us be your rock, your ladder to get you out of that swamp.  We have lots of rope to spare.  We'll share business knowledge that will inspire, challenge and change the world and how they - see you!  ​

Reese Witherspoon has to be one of the most innovative women, on the planet.  A person who is not afraid to stand up and state the differences, the inequalities, the problems facing not only females in the film industry, but the imbalance, under representation and lack of appreciation of the female gender, in our everyday lives.  Weaving a story and creatively selecting an opportune time to voice that story is half the battle, in finding ears to listen and individuals to take action.  

I was so proud to listen to Reese delivering her speech.  It is one, I will never forget and is a huge inspiration to getting out there and delivering more than is expected.  Enjoy!  Thanks Ciara. :)