Empowering Women Entrepreneurs

Their meeting seemed to be predestined. Shirley operated as the Assistant Director at Biz Works where Tywan had an office.

There, the two met and had an immediate connection. Tywan even had a gut feeling that she and Shirley would one day work together and she told her so. That gut feeling led to the realization of a dream in the form of the Women’s Business Center RVA.

The WBCRVA, nestled across the street from the Willow Lawn Shopping Center, boasts co-working spaces, training rooms, and virtual memberships. It prides itself on providing not just physical spaces, but also tailored tools and resources to address the specific needs of women entrepreneurs. The goal is to foster a vibrant environment that encourages growth, collaboration, and success. - M.M.G

Founded in 2018, the Women's Business Center RVA (WBCRVA) continues to make its mark in Richmond, Virginia with a mission to provide a robust support system for women entrepreneurs. Located at 1510 Willow Lawn Drive, the center offers a range of resources to help women-owned businesses flourish, recognizing the unique challenges they face in the business world.

One of the center's core offerings is, “one FREE consultation to anyone, man, woman or child” in addition to providing each member with unlimited one-on-one business consultation, ensuring that each member receives personalized guidance. The WBC also aims to create a sense of community through a reception area and conference rooms, mailbox panels, and even designated "chill zones" for relaxation.

Statistics indicate that women-owned businesses are the fastest growing segment of small business but they can face the greatest hurdles, with a significant percentage not surviving past their early years. As the founders of the WBC RVA, Shirley Crawford and Tywan Lee work tirelessly to change this narrative. Their entrepreneurial spirit seemed to be inevitable.