Empowering Female Veteran Entrepreneurs: Lessons from Angel Shuford

The entrepreneurial spirit of female veterans reflects the strength, discipline, and leadership cultivated during their military service. Yet, despite these inherent qualities, female veteran entrepreneurs face systemic challenges that hinder their ability to start, scale, and sustain successful businesses.

Angel Shuford, Vice President and CFO of National Invest in Veterans Week® (NIVW), has championed initiatives like FeMil℠ and FeMil Lead℠ to bridge these gaps. Drawing from her vision and experience, Angel’s lessons emphasize resilience, adaptability, and the power of mentorship in transforming entrepreneurial challenges into opportunities.

This comprehensive article explores these lessons, outlines actionable strategies for addressing systemic barriers, and presents a compelling call to action for legislative support to empower female veteran entrepreneurs.

Lesson 1: Resilience is the Foundation of Entrepreneurship

Angel Shuford likens female veterans to Fe (iron)—strong, resilient, and unyielding under pressure. This strength, she believes, is the foundation upon which female veterans can build thriving businesses.

How Resilience Translates to Business Success

• Overcoming Adversity: The military instills the ability to face challenges head-on. In business, this translates to tackling setbacks like funding rejections or market competition.

• Focus Under Pressure: Entrepreneurs often operate in high-stakes environments. Female veterans, accustomed to making critical decisions, excel in these conditions.

Actionable Takeaways

• Build daily habits that reinforce mental resilience, such as goal setting and reflection.

• Cultivate a mindset of persistence, viewing obstacles as opportunities for growth.

Lesson 2: Adaptability Leads to Transformative Leadership

While resilience provides the strength to endure, adaptability transforms challenges into opportunities. Angel highlights the symbolism of Pb (lead)—a material known for its flexibility and ability to bear weight—as the essence of transformative leadership.

The Importance of Adaptability in Entrepreneurship

• Navigating Change: In rapidly evolving industries, adaptability allows entrepreneurs to pivot strategies and embrace innovation.

• Carrying Responsibility: As leaders, female veterans must guide teams, manage resources, and make decisions that impact the future of their businesses.

Actionable Takeaways

• Develop a learning mindset by staying informed about industry trends and emerging technologies.

• Practice flexibility by experimenting with new approaches and remaining open to constructive feedback.

Lesson 3: Mentorship Accelerates Growth

Mentorship has been a cornerstone of Angel Shuford’s initiatives, offering female veterans access to seasoned entrepreneurs and industry leaders. She emphasizes that mentorship is more than guidance—it’s a pathway to building confidence, expanding networks, and accelerating growth.

Why Mentorship Matters

• Knowledge Transfer: Mentors share insights and strategies that help mentees avoid common pitfalls.

• Networking Opportunities: Mentors open doors to partnerships, collaborations, and funding opportunities.

• Confidence Building: Support from experienced leaders empowers female veterans to pursue ambitious goals.

Actionable Takeaways

• Seek out mentors who align with your business goals and values.

• Leverage mentorship opportunities by preparing specific questions and actionable plans.

Lesson 4: Collaboration Drives Innovation

Angel advocates for fostering collaboration among female veteran entrepreneurs to drive innovation and collective success. By sharing resources, expertise, and support, women can overcome systemic barriers more effectively.

Benefits of Collaboration

• Shared Resources: Collaborative networks provide access to funding, technology, and market insights.

• Collective Learning: Entrepreneurs can learn from each other’s successes and challenges.

• Stronger Communities: Collaboration fosters a sense of unity and shared purpose.

Actionable Takeaways

• Join industry groups or veteran-focused networks to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs.

• Participate in events, workshops, and initiatives that encourage knowledge sharing.

The Role of FeMil℠ and FeMil Lead℠ in Supporting Entrepreneurs

Angel’s leadership has driven the development of FeMil℠ and FeMil Lead℠, two transformative programs that embody these lessons.

FeMil℠: Building Resilience

FeMil℠ equips aspiring entrepreneurs with foundational tools and resources, including:

• Networking opportunities to connect with peers and mentors.

• Guidance on business formation and strategic planning.

• Financial education to secure startup capital.

FeMil Lead℠: Fostering Leadership

FeMil Lead℠ focuses on scaling businesses and cultivating leadership skills, offering:

• Advanced training in strategic decision-making and team management.

• Access to cutting-edge tools for business growth.

• Personalized mentorship tailored to individual goals.

A Legislative Call to Action: The Invest in Veterans Stimulus Act

To fully empower female veteran entrepreneurs, systemic barriers must be dismantled through legislative action. The Invest in Veterans Stimulus Act provides a framework for addressing these challenges.

Key Provisions

1. Startup Tax Credits

   • A $15,000 tax credit for veteran-owned businesses in high-growth sectors like technology, renewable energy, and healthcare.

2. Low-Interest Loans

   • Expanded Small Business Administration (SBA) programs with a 2% interest rate reduction for veteran entrepreneurs.

3. Mentorship Networks

   • Federal funding to establish structured mentorship programs, ensuring long-term support.

4. Public-Private Partnerships

   • $300 million in annual grants to foster collaboration between veteran-owned businesses and corporations.

5. Streamlined Federal Contracting

   • Leveraging AI to simplify federal contracting applications and reserving 12% of contracts for veteran-owned businesses.

Why Legislators Must Act

• Economic Impact: Veteran-owned businesses contribute over $1.2 trillion annually to the U.S. economy. Empowering female veterans will amplify this impact.

• Job Creation: The Act is projected to create 1.5 million new jobs by 2030.

• Innovation Leadership: Female veterans bring unique perspectives to industries like AI, cybersecurity, and sustainable energy.

The Global Expansion of FeMil℠ and FeMil Lead℠

Recognizing the universal value of veteran leadership, FeMil℠ and FeMil Lead℠ have expanded to 62 global markets, creating opportunities for female veterans worldwide.

Key Platforms

• FloridaVeterans.com: Supporting healthcare and tourism industries.

• GermanyVeterans.com: Driving innovation in green technology.

• PhilippinesVeterans.com: Encouraging growth in agriculture and e-commerce.

Forging Legacies: A Path Forward

Angel Shuford’s lessons remind us that female veterans are not just building businesses—they are forging legacies. By combining resilience (Fe) with adaptability (Pb), these women are creating a future where they lead with purpose, strength, and innovation.

Through initiatives like FeMil℠ and FeMil Lead℠, supported by the Invest in Veterans Stimulus Act, we can ensure that female veteran entrepreneurs thrive. Legislators, businesses, and communities must come together to honor their service and support their success.

Join the movement to empower female veteran entrepreneurs:

• Visit Invest in Veterans Week.

• Advocate for the Invest in Veterans Stimulus Act with your local representatives.

Together, we can create a legacy of resilience, leadership, and opportunity for future generations of female veteran entrepreneurs.