It was just an instant, but it marked the beginning of the next stage of his life. When to Sheila Saad They asked her if she wanted to be part of a chat in which different women participated, without thinking too much she answered: “Yes, I want to be part of ‘The Entrepreneurs Club’”. And, as they say, the light bulb went on. She understood that she was facing an extremely interesting concept to explore. And after spending years entrepreneurship, both on her own and within the family business, she was facing the beginning of her new project: that of mentoring and accompanying women to give life and enhance her entrepreneurship.
Today, five years later, she is at the head of a community on Instagram with 235,000 followers and offers memberships, training and mentoring, both for women who are just starting out as entrepreneurs and for those who have been doing it for a while but are not seeing results. Plus, she just published her first book, “Entrepreneurial DNA”in which he proposes a guide so that each person can find “their superpower.”
News: How did you become a reference for entrepreneurs?
Sheila Saad: I come from an entrepreneurial family. I inherited something that already was and that could have been my life forever. I had stability, I was a wheel that turned constantly since before I was born. At home we never had to worry about money, but not because we were millionaires, but because we had a living business, the American Sports sports network, very famous in La Plata. When I finished school, I decided to study Clothing Design, and I worked for several years at that, I even had my own clothing brand. Until I closed it for various reasons, but above all because of the advice of my dad, who I always listened to a lot. The brand brought me problems and stress, the wheels did not turn as it did in the other business. And dad asked me why he didn’t put all my effort into what we already had. So I decided to get involved and put my touch on it. In fact, I managed the company, because two of my sisters became independent, and dad wanted to delegate, because it was a time when he traveled a lot. But even though he had a lot of ideas, he wasn’t with the right team and I had a hard time connecting with the employees. She was still “the daughter of”. Until my husband suggested we go live in the United States, and the first thing I thought was that he didn’t want to sell any more products. He wanted to be his own.
News: Is this how “The Entrepreneurs Club” began?
Saad: It began to take shape the day I answered that phrase to the person who invited me to a chat. That’s where the chip fell on me. I had been processing the idea for six months, ever since I knew I was going to live abroad. I knew I was going to be a mentor, but not to women, and this phrase enlightened me. I already had a little experience with networks, but at that time I focused entirely on the female audience. One of the first actions was to invite a chat, because in 2019 it was something that was done a lot to get to know people. And it went well from minute one: on the first day I had already called 200 people.
News: What is the club today and what does it offer?
Saad: It is a community of entrepreneurial women that offers a space for them to develop personally and professionally, while meeting others who are on the same path and with whom they can share experiences. We have many courses, a catalog of entrepreneurs, a benefits club, an exclusive chat in which I do what I did initially in the open chat: I give my all. You can ask me for anything you need, from a contact to advice.
News: And why were you interested in making a book about this?
Saad: I always had the idea of writing a book, it was like those dreams that one has awake. And finally I came to that project through the networks. I invited Helena Estrada, a reference in financial issues for women, to give a talk to my community. She was putting together a book at that time and I asked her how she was organizing it. And with total transparency, love and generosity, she shared with me her editor, who was able to help me organize my ideas and turn them into a book. I like this story because it also shows, contrary to what is usually thought, that in every woman there is a new opportunity, not a competitor.
News: What is the method revealed in the book?
Saad: This book helps women to develop, to believe in themselves, to empower themselves. Not only to work on what they love, but to discover what they are really passionate about. Because many have it repressed. And this book not only helps entrepreneurs, it helps all women to encourage themselves and listen to themselves. It has practical and psychological tools. I have no training in psychology, but it is an invitation to really look at yourself. We came into the world to fulfill a purpose, and if you don’t do it, you are wasting time and you will never truly feel fulfilled.
News: What would you say is the biggest problem for female entrepreneurs today?
Saad: I think it’s the lack of planning. They start executing. They do, they do, they do. But they do what they want when they want, when they can, what they can. And they think that entrepreneurship has to do with that freedom of where, when and what. But that’s not the case, because if you want to achieve something, you have to plan it. If you didn’t plan it and it happens, it’s just a coincidence. I would like to invite everyone to stop, take some time to get to know each other and know what they want so that, only then, they can chart that journey. In the same way that you plan to get a ticket, pack your suitcase and organize your accommodation, you should bring that whole plan into your life. It happens to me a lot when they tell me “I don’t have results”, but that happens when you start doing something you didn’t know how to do. You can have the most powerful cell phone in your hands, but if you don’t know how to use it, it’s of no use… Entrepreneurs are left looking at the tip of the iceberg, and the important thing is everything below.
News: Is there sisterhood among entrepreneurs?
Saad: In some cases yes, a lot. As in the example of Helena. In other cases, it’s pure marketing. There are many brands and startups that use female empowerment and sisterhood as a strategy to attract, and then do not practice it at all. Sisterhood speaks of unity between women, respect and support. And that I respect you does not mean that we have to think alike, but that I shut up and listen to you. Each entrepreneur has a unique essence, and we are all different. Precisely, it is essential to respect these differences.
News: When does it cost us women to value ourselves or recognize ourselves as ambitious?
Saad: Very much. The vast majority of entrepreneurs do not know how much to charge, and always think that they are charging too much. There are many limiting beliefs in this sense. But empowerment must also be economic, because otherwise the venture will have a short useful life or will make you suffer a lot. Or both at the same time! In the book I have a chapter on how to set the right price, but also one on spirituality, because there are issues in which we have to listen to intuition.
News: What advice can you give to an entrepreneur in Argentina today, in this context of such an acute crisis?
Saad: I think there is always a way out. And what they cannot stop doing is acquiring skills, because there is the key to get out. You always have to train. It’s also good to surround yourself with other entrepreneurs. Many are the first generation in their family to start a business, and they are very alone, so looking for like-minded people is important to motivate themselves. On the other hand, know that there is never a perfect moment… No matter how old you are, there comes a time when if you have an idea, you have to let it out.
News: Is every woman a potential entrepreneur or do some women not have that gene?
Saad: All those who want to be can come. Someone with desire and willing to do everything that needs to be done can get wherever they want. But there are people who were not born for this, who need a certain security and that is what makes them happy. Therefore, it is something you either have or you don’t. But if you feel like you have it, don’t let yourself be limited by the first obstacle. Entrepreneurship is a daily learning process, you have to be willing to learn something new every day. There is no routine, and every day is a lesson.
News: Dreams, ambitions, projects?
Saad: Now that I have done the book, I would love to do a reality show: “Escuela de Emprendedoras”. And let the winner take her project. I am a fan of reality shows, I love the format, and my dream would be to bring it to Netflix. After that, do the play. Just as “Mothers” was made, “Entrepreneurs” was made, because there are many stories worth telling.
News: What do you ask for in 2024 for the Club?
Saad: I ask for an illuminated path. It’s impressive how, when you have a clear direction, things come. Because the entrepreneur who makes the difference is the one who is true to herself and her purpose.
