By: Danielle Cohn, Comcast Executive Director, Entrepreneurial Engagement
It’s no secret that I believe entrepreneurs need a culture of collaboration and a supportive community for innovation to thrive. That’s part of the reason Comcast NBCUniversal’s Entrepreneurial Engagement team exists, and why the company is expanding its support of startups through the launch of Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs.
It’s also why we seek out meaningful partnerships with organizations such as Dreamers // Doers, a worldwide community of trailblazing women entrepreneurs and business leaders. Led by founder Gesche Haas, a true trailblazer herself, Dreamers // Doers has established powerful networks in places such as New York City, Los Angeles, Berlin, and San Francisco.
A new partnership launched this week with Comcast NBCUniversal will expand the Dreamers // Doers movement to Philadelphia and further power multiple other locations nationwide. I am thankful that Philadelphia trailblazers Julie Krohner, founder of McDaniel Krohner Consulting, and Katie Everett, founder of My City Gives, will lead our city’s chapter.
“Philadelphia has so many incredible, high-potential female founders. Dreamers // Doers is a powerful enabler for supercharging communities like this,” says Haas. “We are incredibly excited about this partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal and the impact it will have in Philadelphia.”
The mission of Dreamers // Doers is to increase the number of successful ventures launched by women. That’s something we also want for female founders here in Philadelphia and around the globe.
Haas’ own story proves the necessity of partnerships like this. After five years of working in finance, Haas embarked on launching her very own venture from scratch. But she soon discovered a communal void. So, she started turning to other trailblazing women for advice – and doling some out herself – and Dreamers // Doers was born.
The Comcast NBCUniversal and Dreamers // Doers partnership began, in part, to address the unique challenges women face when starting a business. Whether, it’s being underestimated, needing a different approach to negotiations, or facing structural and societal hurdles, Dreamers // Doers and Comcast NBCUniversal are creating a community where local women can learn from each other’s experiences and turn obstacles into exciting challenges that can be solved by joining forces.
Dreamers // Doers’ localized, tight-knit communities include highly-motivated women with diverse backgrounds, skills, passions, and career paths. The benefits for members have been profound.
Many have received funding because of the resources they’ve acquired, the relationships they’ve formed, or the things they’ve learned through the organization. New companies have been started by members. Haas has even seen people quit their jobs after joining and finding the courage – and support – to become founders.
For Comcast NBCUniversal and Dreamers // Doers, it’s all about facilitating the next generation of female thought leaders.
“We are powering the sharing economy for women,” says Haas. “Partnering with Comcast NBCUniversal will help us give more female founders in Philadelphia and across the country the resources and opportunity to fulfill their incredible potential, and benefit society as a whole.”
Next for Dreamers // Doers? Emboldened by Comcast NBCUniversal’s support, Haas and company are developing their own social platform to support female founders and entrepreneurs across the globe, at scale. By creating a hub of insight and encouragement, Dreamers // Doers will continue to redefine the way business is done and stay true to their motto “Better together.”
There are now multiple ways for trailblazing women in Philadelphia to get involved with Dreamers // Doers:
- Join the Dreamers // Doers’ Philadelphia online community.
- Join the Dreamers // Doers national jobs group for job seekers and employers.
- Sign up for the Dreamers // Doers newsletter to connect with and stay in touch with female founders and the happenings beyond Dreamers // Doers in the female entrepreneurial world.
- Follow Dreamers // Doers via their Facebook page to find out about actionable entrepreneurial resources