Female Entrepreneur Professional Identity: Unlock Your CEO Power

Beyond 'Mompreneur': Why I Champion 'Female Entrepreneur' for Professional Identity, Respect, & Unlocking Our Full Potential

Are you a "mompreneur" or a "female entrepreneur"? Carlene explores why the label matters for your success. Read now!

Hey lovely people,

It’s Carlene here, & today I want to dive into something that’s been on my mind for a while. It sits right at the heart of how we see ourselves & crucially, how the world sees us as women building incredible businesses. We’re talking labels. Specifically, that often-debated term: "mompreneur."

Now, as a mum to four amazing children – from a whirlwind toddler & a curious six-year-old, right up to my dynamic teenage daughter & my precious new baby boy – & the CEO of Femmeprenista, I’ve heard this term a lot. I’ve seen it celebrated, I’ve seen it critiqued, & I’ve given it a lotlot of thought. & I want to share, from my heart & my experience, why I personally champion the term 'female entrepreneur' (or, quite simply, 'entrepreneur') & why I believe this choice is fundamental to our professional identity, the respect we command, & ultimately, unlocking our full, magnificent potential.

You know, it’s funny, isn't it, how a single word can carry so much weight? I remember when I was first navigating the exciting, slightly terrifying, world of building a business while juggling new motherhood with my eldest, my teenage daughter. The term "mompreneur" was starting to gain traction. & while I understood the intention – to acknowledge the incredible feat of balancing motherhood & entrepreneurship – something about it just didn’t quite sit right with me. It felt… incomplete. Like a label that highlighted one very important part of me, but somehow overshadowed the ambitious, strategic, qualified businesswoman I was also striving to be. Honestly, it felt a little like being defined by only one slice of a much bigger pie. If you want to know a bit more about my own journey & the ‘why’ behind Femmeprenista, you can read more About Femmeprenista (Carlene Nisbett's Story & Mission).

My Personal Stance: More Than Just Semantics

Let me be crystal clear: being a mother is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most profound, challenging, & rewarding roles I will ever have. My children are my world, my inspiration, & a huge part of my 'why'. They are the beautiful chaos in the background when I’m trying to get a quiet moment to think (yes, sometimes Dora the Explorer or the latest TikTok sound is the soundtrack to my strategic planning!). They are the reason I push for flexibility & the drive behind my ambition to build a lasting legacy.

But – & this is a big but – my identity as a mother, as cherished as it is, is one facetone facet of who I am. I am also a CEO, a PhD researcher digging deep into Black female entrepreneurship, a strategic thinker with an MBA from Cranfield, a mentor, a partner, a friend. & when I step into my professional capacity, I am a female entrepreneur. Full stop.

Why is this distinction so important to me? Because I believe the language we use to define ourselves has a powerful impact on our mindset, our ambitions, & how we are perceived by the wider world. It’s about owning our narrative, a core part of what we believe in here at Femmeprenista – that sense of Personal Responsibility & Ownership in shaping your own journey. Honestly, it's about defining ourselves, not letting others do it for us. I’ll be honest, there was a time when I, too, wondered if embracing the 'mompreneur' title might make things easier, almost like I was seeking permission to be taken seriously. It took a few hard knocks – a couple of business meetings where I felt subtly dismissed – to realize that my professional identity was mine to define, not for others to bestow. Even after making this shift, there were times when I doubted myself & felt like I had to prove myself even more, but I knew I was on the right path. That’s when I started truly embracing ‘female entrepreneur,’ and everything shifted.

The "Mompreneur" Debate: Why It Can Feel Limiting

Over the years, I've heard many discussions & read numerous articles about the term "mompreneur," & certain common observations really resonate with why I feel it can be limiting for many of us.

Here's why this label can sometimes feel limiting:

The Shadow of Gendered Labeling: Let's be honest, have you ever heard a father in business commonly referred to as a "dadpreneur"? Not so much, right? As one brilliant critic I read pointed out, “What does one call a father who is an entrepreneur? An entrepreneur. ... Then why is a mother who is an entrepreneur a mompreneurmompreneur?” This immediately highlights a double standard. It subtly implies that a mother running a business is a special category, perhaps an exception, rather than simply an entrepreneur who also happens to be a mother.
Undermining Professionalism?: For some, the "mompreneur" label can unintentionally diminish the perceived seriousness or scale of our ventures. It can conjure images of passion projects or side-hustles run from the kitchen table (which, by the way, is a perfectly valid place to start a global empire!), rather than the ambitious, scalable, impactful businesses many of us are building. This isn’t about where you work from; it’s about the perception of professional gravity.
Pigeonholing Our Potential: The term can sometimes pigeonhole women into businesses perceived as traditionally "feminine" or child-focused. While these businesses are absolutely valuable, many female entrepreneurs are innovating in tech, finance, engineering, & countless other sectors. We risk limiting the perceived scope of our ambition & capabilities if our primary professional identifier is tied to our parental status.
Who Defines Us?: Many women I’ve spoken to, & indeed, my own feeling, is that we want to be defined by our professional achievements, our expertise, & the value we bring through our businesses, not solely by our role as mothers. It’s about autonomy in crafting our professional identity.
A Feminist Lens: Some argue that the term, while perhaps well-intentioned, can inadvertently reinforce traditional gender roles by hyphenating our professional identity with our maternal one, rather than challenging the status quo that often expects women to be primarily defined by their family roles.

Now, it's also important to acknowledge that some women absolutely embrace the term "mompreneur." They wear it as a badge of honour, a way to highlight the unique juggle they navigate & to foster a sense of community with others in a similar position. & that is entirely valid. My intention here isn’t to dictate what anyone calls themselves, but to open up a conversation & share why II believe a different approach can be more empowering for us collectively. You know, it really does come down to whatever feels most authentic for youyou.

The Power of Professional Identity: Cultivating Your Inner CEO

This brings me to a core belief we hold dear at Femmeprenista, deeply embedded in how we approach building flourishing businesses: the power of a strong, consciously chosen professional identity. This is where we truly step into our Focus – sharpening that resilient entrepreneurial mindset & clarifying our vision.

Choosing to identify as a "female entrepreneur" or simply an "entrepreneur" is more than just words. It’s a declaration. It’s about:

Cultivating a Leadership Mindset: When you identify as an entrepreneur or CEO first & foremost in your professional life, it shifts your internal dialogue. It encourages you to think bigger, to strategize more seriously, & to own your role as a leader, regardless of the current size of your business. I remember when I was first starting out with Nisbett & George after university; even though it was a small venture, consciously thinking of myself as a co-founder, an entrepreneur, helped me approach challenges & opportunities with a different level of seriousness. I wasn’t just playing at business; I waswas the business.

To cultivate this yourself:

Carve out 15 minutes each morning to visualize yourself in that leadership role – confidently leading your team, securing that major deal, or launching that amazing new service.
Delegate one task you usually handle yourself to free up your time and empower someone else.
Schedule a 30-minute 'strategy session' with yourself each week to review your progress and plan for the coming week.

Journal about what that future-you looks like, how she acts, & what decisions she makes. What’s one small step she would take TODAY to get closer to that vision?

Commanding Professional Respect: How we introduce ourselves often sets the tone for how others perceive & interact with us. Using a strong, universally understood professional title can command greater respect in business negotiations, networking, & when seeking funding or partnerships. It signals that you are here to do serious business.
Unlocking Your Full Potential: Sometimes, labels can become unintentional containers. By shedding a qualifier that might subtly limit perceptions (our own or others’), we open ourselves up to the full spectrum of our capabilities & ambitions. We stop playing small.
Attracting the Right Opportunities: Your professional identity is part of your brand. A clear, strong identity helps attract the ideal clients, collaborators, & mentors who resonate with your ambition & expertise. It’s about signalling what you stand for & the level at which you operate.

For those of you who might be at the earlier stages, perhaps women who are building their brand & defining their path– what we at Femmeprenista call a ‘Foundation Builder’– thinking about this now can be incredibly powerful. Establishing this strong sense of professional self from the outset can lay a brilliant foundation. Our Spark Program often touches upon building this clarity & conviction as you define your path. Honestly, it's a foundational step towards building a brand that trulytruly reflects your ambition.

Embracing Your Beautifully Complex, Multifaceted Self

Being a female entrepreneur, especially if you’re also a mother, means you are, by definition, a master multitasker, a juggler of epic proportions, a wearer of many, many hats! & that’s something to be incredibly proud of. My life is a whirlwind of school runs, nappy changes, deadline sprints, team meetings, strategic planning for Femmeprenista, & somehow finding a quiet corner for my PhD research – often with the delightful chaos of our two Miniature Pinschers, Cappuccino & Espresso, adding their own unique brand of mayhem to the mix! This morning alone, I was trying to get ready while cleaning up some rogue Rice Krispies & juice from my toddler after a slightly chaotic breakfast!

The point is, our lives are rich & multifaceted. Motherhood is a huge, beautiful, demanding part of that tapestry for many of us. But it doesn't have to be the onlyonly thread that defines our professional selves. Embracing the title "female entrepreneur" allows us to acknowledge our gender & our role in breaking barriers, while still standing firm in our primary identity as business leaders.

It’s about a holistic view of who we are. Our businesses should energise us, fulfil us, & support the rich tapestry of our lives, ensuring we prioritise our well-being so we can show up as our best selves in every role. This is so central to our philosophy at Femmeprenista – helping you build a business that truly flourishes alongside your life.

A Call for Conscious Self-Definition: Own Your Power

So, what’s the takeaway here? It’s not about getting caught up in a war of words. It’s about empowerment. It’s about encouraging every single one of you amazing women to consciously choose how you define yourselves professionally.

Ask yourself:

Does the label I use for myself truly reflect the scale of my ambition?
Does it empower me to step into my full potential as a leader?
Does it command the respect I deserve in the business world?

If you resonate with "mompreneur" & it feels empowering to you, then own it with pride! But if, like me, you feel that "female entrepreneur" or simply "entrepreneur" better captures your professional essence & ambition, then I encourage you to embrace that with unwavering confidence. As Lisa Nichols says, “Don't allow people to dim your shine because they are blinded. Tell them to put on some sunglasses.” Let your brilliance radiate!

This is about claiming our space, our expertise, & our right to be seen as serious, impactful leaders in the business world, mothers or not. It’s about ensuring that our identity as mothers enriches our journey, rather than inadvertently diminishing our professional standing.

Our professional identity is a powerful tool. Let's wield it wisely & with intention.