Have you asked yourself, “Should I get a business degree?” What’s holding you back from stepping into the career you’ve always imagined? With expanding industries, ever-evolving technologies, and the changing needs of consumers, there are countless new opportunities for successful leadership in business — especially for women.
Women-owned businesses are becoming more successful, and women are likelier than ever to become confident, influential leaders in a wide variety of sectors.
Whether you’re a professional looking to bolster your influence or an entrepreneur looking to turn your startup into a thriving business, here are seven reasons why now is the time to earn your business degree.
Promising Opportunities for Women in Business
Women-owned businesses are continuing to grow year after year. According to a recent report from the National Women’s Business Council, women-owned companies in the United States generated $3.3 trillion and employed 12.9 million people in 2024.
Recent success stories have shown that women business leaders are also having a growing impact on the global economy. Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX, has grown the company into a $210 billion company, leading the company into the trust of NASA, and other major agencies for important missions.
Bela Bajaria, chief content officer of Netflix, controls the algorithms and data which determine what billions of people watch, continuously shaping global choices by choosing the voices and stories that audiences consume. Even in sectors that have been historically male-dominated, the leadership of women managers and leaders is increasingly making its mark on the world.
______
Who are you called to be?
Pursue your purpose at PLNU.
______
Top Industries where Women are Thriving
There’s a wide range of industries that businesses owned by women are succeeding in. A study done by Guidant Financial shows that the primary sectors of business that women are currently thriving in are retail (26%), health, beauty, and fitness services (17%), and food and restaurants (14%).
Spectrum News reports that the top percent gainers for women-owned businesses are home services (+136%), food service (+99.8%), and retail (+45.1%). Women are most often finding success in businesses around wellness, personal and home development products; however, as established above, we also see success stories in technology and media.
Women in Entrepreneurship
Running a business is not an easy job; it takes a good work ethic, effective communication, and, most importantly, passion for the type of business a person is running. The Guidant study showed that women entrepreneurs are 20% more likely than men to establish a business that is rooted in their passions, and 27% of women business owners expressed their aspiration for the freedom that comes with being their own boss.
Fulfillment and Success
This study also found there is a specific kind of happiness and self-fulfillment that comes with running a successful business. 60% of women business owners expressed their happiness as business owners, and the same percentage displayed considerable profitability.
Balancing a day-to-day job while trying to reach the business goals you are excited about can seem like a daunting task. PLNU’s BBA program helps entrepreneurs gather the skills, experience, and guidance they need to succeed and is dedicated to helping aspiring business owners thrive in the sectors they are passionate about.
Business Leaders in San Diego
San Diego has been ranked as the top city in the nation for women-owned micro-business starts over the past year. It’s an ideal setting to launch your business idea or rise to the top of your small or mid-sized company.
Libby Lefanowicz is just one example of a woman business owner thriving in San Diego. Lefanowicz is the founder of Kula Ice Cream, San Diego’s first and only completely gluten-free and vegan ice cream company. Unlike many dairy-free options, Lefanowicz’s ice cream tastes like real ice cream, and her customers love it.
Third Avenue in Chula Vista is a hot spot in San Diego for businesses, per a CBS feature highlighting the region. The street is surrounded by a wide variety of shops, from clothing to food. Several of these businesses are owned by women, which is inspiring for the next generation of women entrepreneurs.
One woman-owned business on Third Avenue is Mujer Divina, a coffee and burrito shop owned and operated by Pricilla Curiel. Curiel opened the first Mujer Divina location four years ago in National City. Now as a business owner and mother of three, she is ready to expand her business onto Third Avenue.
Third Avenue also holds special pop-up markets for local vendors. One of the vendors that a bakery called “it’s in the filling.” Samantha Regalado started this business about 12 years ago while she was in school, but because of her skyrocketing success, it quickly became her full-time job.
Minority-owned Business Successes
As the entrepreneurial scene continues to grow, the representation of minorities grows with it. Minority business owners showcase a higher representation of women entrepreneurs, and their businesses keep growing.
In the past decade, there has been a rise in women-owned businesses, and Black women account for 42% of these business owners while Latina women account for 31%.
Pricilla Curiel’s restaurant Mujer Divina has seen great success in San Diego. The restaurant advertises itself as a “Burrito and Coffee House,” and allows Curiel to bring her Hispanic heritage into a fun new concept. Curiel stated in her interview with CBS, “‘I wanted to bring something that was very traditional and put it on with a twist with lattes.’” Curiel’s second location of Mujer Divina and first location of Tuetano Taqueria is set to open in the near future.
Minority communities provide a different perspective to the world, something that is extremely valuable within the business community. Women business owners that are part of these minority groups continue to grow and become more and more successful.
Why PLNU is the Place to Earn Your BBA
Now is the time to invest in your career and personal growth. PLNU is ranked as the #12 best business colleges in California, and it offers both in-person and online programs to earn a BBA. The online program provides flexibility to learn wherever and whenever you want; there are instructional videos, audio lectures, and much more to view and study.
Especially in San Diego, commuting can be stressful. PLNU’s online BBA program offers meaningful connections with other students without having to commute to and from campus. You’ll be able to earn BBA benefits without interrupting your professional life.
Both the online and in-person programs provide access to top-tier mentorship from professors and advisors. These connections will help you build career opportunities and connections.
An academic counselor will personally help you through every step of the program, whether you are transferring credits into the program or starting from scratch. You are never alone in your journey to your bachelor’s degree. We design our business degree for women like you — so you can fine-tune your career goals and achieve them.
Reach Your Highest Potential — Apply Today!
Ready to take the next step toward becoming a leader in business? Explore the benefits of a business degree and start your journey today. Contact us today to learn more about PLNU's BBA program, or look ahead to our MBA offerings.