The Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame annual induction ceremony will be held in November. Because Arvest Bank is one of the sponsors, we have asked Randy Southerland and Anna Beth Gorman to have a conversation about the contributions women make to the Arkansas economy.
As many of you know, Randy is a North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce board member and commercial lender with Arvest Bank. Anna Beth sits on the Arvest Bank Central Arkansas Board of Directors as well as the board of the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame. She is also our incoming Chamber Chairman.
Anna Beth: Randy, I just can’t tell you how happy we are to have the support of Arvest Bank for our 2021 Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Nov. 4. Share a little about why Arvest chose to sponsor us.
Randy: Arvest believes in corporate social responsibility. We know Arkansas is full of opportunity and there are incredible people, businesses, and organizations that want to help women access those opportunities.
Navigating opportunities, especially when women already juggle so much, is hard. But I want all women in this state to not get discouraged and to know that they have access to organizations like the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas (WFA) and Arvest Bank that are working hard to help them.
Randy: Let me ask you, why are you so passionate about the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas?
Anna Beth: I have always been inspired by the potential of women and girls in our society, and through the Women's Foundation I’m allowed to be the premier advocate for the role and value women have in strengthening the Arkansas economy. Through the work of the WFA I am able to showcase the many opportunities that our state has to improve the lives of all Arkansans by investing in our women and girls.
Randy: Let’s talk a little about statistics. What can you share about female entrepreneurship or the economic investment of women-led businesses in Arkansas?
Anna Beth:In our 2018 Economic Indicator benchmark report, we found that in Arkansas, almost half of women who head their own households and have children under 18 live in poverty. So, we looked to other economic indicators to better understand opportunities to support women and their economic mobility out of poverty.
Our same research found that statewide, women own about a third of our businesses. However, when you look at black women, they own 60 percent of business compared to their black male counterparts.
Moreover, our research shows us where we see the highest concentration of businesses owned by women. In 15 counties in Arkansas, these ownership rates outpace the national average.
The WFA is leading the charge to better understand and support women entrepreneurs, particularly those entrepreneurs who are women of color. We see business ownership as a vehicle for economic mobility not just for the women, but for the viability of their communities.
Anna Beth: You know Randy, Arvest’s sponsorship is encouraging because it shows a corporate commitment to getting more women in the C-Suite and showing more girls that they can do the same. Why is it important to have women represented in the C-suite?
Randy: There is so much research that demonstrates how it helps a business’ bottom line to have women in leadership roles, both in the boardroom and in the C-Suite. Yet, there are still significant gaps in representation.
For companies to truly understand their clients and consumers, they need diverse perspectives and experiences in these critical roles. Corporate culture will never change without the commitment to address top-down leadership.
I point to you as an excellent example. While we still have a long way to go, female leaders like you continue to pave the way for those yet to come.
Randy: Speaking of setting examples, what can women business leaders do to support other women in their careers? And not just women, what can we men do as well?
Anna Beth: Business leaders, regardless of gender, are the greatest allies in launching women in their careers. Women who hold positions of power and influence can use their positions to not only open the door to opportunity, but to call out barriers that make it harder for women to get past the threshold.
And it shouldn't solely be on the shoulders of women leaders to address systemic and historical barriers. Male business leaders have enormous influence and should talk to their female peers about more inclusive strategies to ensure all people have upward mobility in their careers – that all people have an equal opportunity to succeed.
Randy: It sounds like you’re also saying we need a deeper bench of emerging women leaders.
Anna Beth: Yes. Intentional investment in young women and programs for young women are critical to the success of emerging women leaders. Young women continue to be influenced by their environments and receive mixed messaging about their potential and value.
As business leaders we have a responsibility to combat the messages perpetuated by society and consumed by young people at an alarming rate because the future of our workforce depends on it. A workforce without women and women leaders is not viable if Arkansas wants to be competitive in the national and global economy.
Intentional investment could include supporting programs like our Tjuana Byrd Summer Internship Program for women of color pursuing STEAM degrees in Arkansas, or our annual Girls of Promise Conference for 8th Grade Girls.
Randy: Any closing advice for women or readers in general?
Anna Beth: Yes. Become an advocate for yourself and others. Seek to understand the resources available to you and take advantage of them.
The North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the 2021 Annual Golf Classic, a Four-Man Scramble on Thursday, August 19th and Friday, August 20th at Burns Park Championship Golf Course.
The scramble will be held across two days with tee times assigned from 9 am-1:30 pm, 12 minutes apart.
The North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce "A Night at ACT," a preview of a theatrical presentation at the Argenta Community Theater. The evening of Wednesday, September 15th will begin at 6 p.m. with a reception followed by a performance of STEEL MAGNOLIAS.
Tickets are $35 and include food and drinks, invaluable networking and a delightful evening of theater. We encourage you to bring a friend, a colleague or family members. SEATING IS LIMITED!
3 Non-Competitive Leads Groups! We are looking for members in the following categories:
Commercial Lending
Commercial Real Estate
Construction
Credit Card Processing
Credit Unions
Hospitality
HVAC
Pest Control
Plumbing
Promotional Products
Signs & Graphics
Exchanges leads, ideas and information through the fellowship of members of diverse professions.
Quarterly dues: $25.00
(First quarter free!)
Please email Brenda if you are interested in joining!
Member News & Events
North Little Rock “sets the table” to become Arkansas’s next culinary destination
North Little Rock announced a new culinary initiative called "Setting the Table" in an effort to define and strengthen culinary tourism which will optimize the local food ecosystem as a key driver for the city’s brand.
To lessen the incidence of COVID-19 infections in Arkansas, the State Chamber/AIA has developed signage encouraging Arkansans to wear face masks in indoor settings. The signs can be accessed and printed here and affixed to entrance doors of your company or organization.
North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce | nlrchamber.org