#InspiringWomen -Managing Priorities: The Key to Success

Globally, 46% of small and medium-sized business owners report working more hours than the legal limit. And 12% even state that they work more than 9 hours a day throughout the week.^[1] In addition to generating stress and discontent, this level of engagement has a negative impact on their health^[2] and personal growth, with 36% of them forced to put aside their family life.[3] While this work overload is common to all entrepreneurs, it is even more burdensome for women, who spend on average 1.5 hours more per day than men on domestic tasks.[4]

As head of the world's second largest lime plant for Belgian-based Lhoist Group, Valentine Berghmans is confronted with this problem and must optimise every minute of her day. To do so, this Women Entrepreneur Program participant makes a daily list of priorities and sets a goal of meeting the first three.

To avoid being carried away and to manage one’s entrepreneurial and personal life more calmly, it is vital to learn to distinguish between what is important and what is urgent. These types of organisational skills, which are essential for women entrepreneurs, can be learned through mentoring programs such as the Women Entrepreneur Program.

“Setting my priorities and asking myself what are the most important things for me. All the things that are not in the top 3 to 5 top items, I do not spend too much time on them […]. If it’s not done, that’s fine.”

Every year since 2014, the Women Entrepreneur Program invites about 40 women entrepreneurs such as Valentine to a week of dialogue and training at Stanford University. University conferences, visits to innovative companies in Silicon Valley and networking sessions all contribute to developing professional opportunities and assisting participants in their success.  This Program is in partnership with the Women Initiative Foundation.