The Best Cities for Women in Business
As a woman in business, it's important to take care of yourself, and that includes addressing the issue of loneliness that can often come with running your own business. It's totally normal to feel isolated, even if you're surrounded by people. It can be tough when you feel like no one understands what you're going through, but it's important to remember that there are others feeling exactly the same way.
The good news is that there are many ways to connect with other like-minded business owners. Whether it's through social media or in real life, it's crucial to find a way to feel connected to others as this can help you stay motivated and committed to your business goals.
If you're looking to meet and connect with other women entrepreneurs in person, consider exploring cities that are known for supportive women in business. Dell's Women Entrepreneur Cities (WE) Index is a great resource to help you find these locations.
The WE Cities Index ranks 55 global cities based on their ability to attract and foster high-potential women entrepreneurs (HPWE) who want to do more, scale faster, and thrive. Building on annual research since 2016, the growing WE Cities research ranks cities on the impact of local policies, programs, national laws, and customs to women entrepreneurs and the overall economy. Moreover, the Index showcases how technology connects all other aspects of the business environment – for example, markets, capital, talent, and culture. In this way, the Index works as a diagnostic tool to advise policymakers on how to better support women in business and profiles global centers of commerce by their overall suitability for women who scale.
Let's dive into this year's index and see which cities made the cut.
The WE Cities Index reveals that London ranks first in ‘magnetism’ for its power to attract people, capital, and enterprises from around the world.
London, New York, and San Francisco have been the golden tier for women entrepreneurship since the index was created, and this year, London took the top spot on the podium.
The city ranks highly in indicators related to projects on crowdfunding sites. London has the third-highest number of projects and fifth-highest dollars raised out of the 55 cities in the index. Crowdfunding can be an important source of funds for women entrepreneurs who still face many barriers when it comes to VC funding.
London's top 10 ranking in the culture pillar, led by its ranking in access to mentors & role models, shows how the city's vibrant entrepreneurial culture is enabling women to dream big. London ranks 2nd for both the number of city-level organizations for women entrepreneurs and the number of female leaders of major city business associations.
New York, the San Francisco Bay Area, Paris and Stockholm follow closely behind London in The WE Cities Index.
With the addition of five new cities this year, the competition is getting tighter. Cities fall behind by staying still. The 2023 Dell WE Cities Index saw an overall forward progress with median scores across all 55 cities improving by 3.3 points since 2019.
Whether you're looking to relocate or simply visit a new city, the WE Cities Index provides a wealth of information on the top-ranked cities for women entrepreneurs. So why not take the leap and embark on a new adventure in a city that is calling you? You never know who you'll meet, what insights you'll gain, and how it can positively impact your business. Other women in business are waiting for you!
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