Owning a Small Business

Being an owner of a small business was never something I thought I would do. Growing up, I always assumed that I would be a psychologist or a teacher, but life had other plans. However, now that I am a small business owner, I truly am amazed at how fulfilling it is. In addition to my personal and professional growth and development, I have had the privilege of watching others grow as well and that has made the journey all the more worthwhile.  

Today, BRI is a CA Certified Small Business Enterprise (SBE) and Woman Business Enterprise (WBE). It is a privilege to lead this company and watch others grow.    

I always knew I never wanted to work for a large corporation, where too often staff members become just ‘a number.’ I sought a small company with a more personal touch. People spend more time at the office than at home most days, so it was important for me to be able to laugh, collaborate, and care about the people I worked with.

When I started at Bender Rosenthal Inc., I never dreamed that I would one day own and run the business. I began working in the Land Rights department, working predominantly on utility projects. Within a few short years, I was managing a team of over 100 staff members and was asked to become a shareholder in the company. I am now a majority shareholder and Chief Executive Officer, tasked with providing the highest quality deliverables, ensuring profitability, and fostering an exceptional work environment.

One of the things I like best about owning and working for a small business is the unique ability to allow staff members to ‘wear multiple hats’ to increase efficiency, diversity, and most importantly, stay engaged. Learning new skills boosts morale and allows for collaboration across departments, while demonstrating that I am investing in my staff. Additionally, I always make sure to celebrate all milestones and achievements, both professionally and personally, for every staff member (especially the new babies!).

In life, I have always liked a challenge and owning a business certainly qualifies! Sometimes it isn’t the most glamorous job, but it does keep you on your toes. I am constantly learning new things and trying to help bring even more efficiency to the workplace. In my opinion, one of the most damaging traps is stagnation, and not challenging your own thinking and methodologies. Embracing technological advances and new ideas is critical to long term sustainability and advancement.

According to the most recent US Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, of the 33.2 million small businesses in the United States, nearly 13 million of them are women-owned and those businesses are responsible for generating approximately $1.8 trillion in revenue. As the number of woman-owned businesses continues to climb, and state and federal agencies continue to develop their supplier diversity programs, I am honored to have the opportunity to have the opportunity to run and own Bender Rosenthal Inc. I may not have grown up to be a teacher or psychologist, but I am excited to look back in five to ten years and have a true sense of accomplishment.