How Women Entrepreneurs Can Own Their Value and Build Fearless Businesses

Every woman who launches a business deserves to feel confident and empowered – yet many of us struggle with self-doubt. A worth mindset is the radical shift of believing in your own value as a founder. It means recognizing your skills, experiences, and voice truly matter. For women entrepreneurs, this shift is critical: studies show that 84% of business owners (men and women) report feeling imposter syndrome at some point , and even highly accomplished leaders admit to self-doubt. (Legendary author Maya Angelou once said of her 11 books, “each time I think, ‘Uh oh… they’re going to find me out’” .) By cultivating a worth mindset, women stop shrinking themselves. Instead of asking “Am I good enough?” they assert “I am worth this opportunity.” This change unlocks bolder actions – charging fair prices, speaking up confidently, and taking risks that build fearless businesses.

Common Mindset Barriers Women Face

Before owning your worth, it helps to know the hurdles many women entrepreneurs encounter.

• Imposter Syndrome & Perfectionism: Many women fear being “found out” as unqualified. This self-doubt often pairs with perfectionism – waiting for everything to be flawless before taking the next step. As Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani advises her team, “Do 10% of your job shittily. It’s okay to do something shittily. Perfectionism prevents us from taking double steps in our career… We think we have to be perfect, but we don’t” . In other words, waiting for perfect work can paralyze progress. Overcoming this starts by giving yourself permission to be a beginner. (In fact, Inc. magazine suggests keeping an achievement log – a list of your wins big and small – to counteract the inner critic and remind you of your competence .)
  
• Undervaluing Work (Underpricing): Many women charge too little because it feels “safer” than demanding a high fee. But undercharging hurts business – it signals that your skills aren’t worth much. As one expert notes, when we underprice we’re “basically telling the market our skills aren’t worth much” . Worse, societal conditioning can make this feel normal: women are often taught to “avoid taking up too much space” or to feel guilty about money . The result? Fewer raises, lower profits, and burnout. Changing this means explicitly valuing your expertise. Remember: your time and knowledge have value, and clients will respect you more when you set prices that reflect it .
  
• Fear of Visibility: Raising your profile – through pitching, marketing or social media – can be scary. Many women worry about being seen as too “self-promotional.” But holding back limits your business. Tech entrepreneur Amy Wibowo puts it this way: when women fear promoting themselves they think it’s bragging – but actually “you are doing people a favor by letting them know what awesome things you’ve done!” . In short, sharing your work isn’t arrogance – it’s how the right clients, partners and investors find you. If you stay invisible, opportunities slip by. Embracing visibility is a key part of a worth mindset.
  
• Comparison and Conditioning: It’s easy to look around at other businesses and feel behind. But comparing yourself can steal joy and confidence. As Inc. advises, “Comparison is the thief of joy” – everyone’s journey is different. Also, many women grow up with subtle messages that they should be modest or “wait their turn.” Recognize these as learned behaviors, not truths. Entrepreneurs like Sara Blakely (Spanx founder) remind us to flip the script: “Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know. That can be your greatest strength…” . If a male colleague doesn’t know something, it’s fine – why should it intimidate you? With a worth mindset, you stop needing others’ permission and start believing you belong here.
  

Voices of Experience: Quotes & Examples

Learning from women who’ve been there can light the path forward. Here are a few insights from successful entrepreneurs:

• “If you push through that feeling of being scared… really amazing things can happen.” — Marissa Mayer (former Yahoo CEO) .  In practice, this means act in spite of fear: sign up for that pitch event, post about your product, or have that hard conversation. Often, action leads to confidence.
  
• “When I look back to my younger self, I would tell myself to be confident first and foremost… because if I believe in myself, then others will too.” — Tiffany Pham (founder of Mogul) .  Let this be a mantra: start by trusting your own goals. Your confidence will naturally draw in support and make others take notice of your passion.
  
• “You’re not being braggy… you are doing people a favor by letting them know what awesome things you’ve done!” — Amy Wibowo (founder of HelloFlo) .  Feeling shy about your achievements? Remember that you are a role model. By sharing your story and successes, you inspire others (and invite opportunities).
  
• “Society’s conditioning: women are often taught to avoid taking up too much space.” .  This isn’t a direct quote from an entrepreneur, but a truth pointed out by mindset coaches. It means messages like “don’t ask for too much” are baked into us. Realize this conditioning is a barrier, and practice claiming more space – in pricing, in meetings, and on stages.
  
• Example – Overcoming Gender Doubt: Rain Wang, cofounder of a tech startup, faced gender bias in her industry. She overcame it by focusing on confidence: “The most important challenge is to keep confident in this context. I have stopped worrying if people will treat me differently in business because of my gender.” . Rather than shrinking, she shifted attention to her vision and skills. Her words remind us: worrying about others’ biases only holds you back. Keep confidence front and center.
  

Tips to Cultivate Your Worth Mindset Today

Changing your mindset is a practice. Here are some small shifts you can make right now:

• Challenge Your Inner Critic: Notice when self-doubt pops up, and ask yourself, “Is this really true?” Inc. Magazine advises replacing each negative thought with a positive counterstatement . For example, if your critic says “I’m not ready,” counter with “I’ve learned new skills and I can handle the next step.”
  
• Keep an Achievement Log: Start a list (or journal) of every win – big or small. Record compliments, completed milestones, or solved problems. Experts say a tangible record of successes can “silence the little voice” telling you that you’re a fraud . On tough days, review this log to remind yourself of what you’ve already accomplished.
  
• Embrace Learning, Not Perfection: Give yourself permission to be a learner. As Reshma Saujani said, doing something “10% shittily” is better than not doing it at all . Instead of waiting until you know everything, launch that product or offer that service in a basic form, then improve as you go. Each failure or critique is a lesson, not proof of failure.
  
• Speak Up and Share Ideas: Push a bit outside your comfort zone. Schedule a one-on-one meeting, post about your business, or pitch an idea to a friend. Remember Amy Wibowo’s words: by sharing your projects, you aren’t bragging – you’re helping others by showing what’s possible . Practice talking about your work with a mentor or peer until it feels natural. Over time, visibility will feel less scary.
  
• Build a Support Network: You don’t have to go it alone. Find mentors and peer groups (like Y-DOoU’s community) that understand your journey. Research shows that having a mentor can “significantly boost the confidence” of women entrepreneurs . In these spaces, you can admit fears, ask for advice, and celebrate successes. Hearing others say “I felt that way, too” makes your challenges normal, not something to be ashamed of.
  
• Price Your Work with Confidence: Resist the urge to undercharge out of guilt. Think about the transformation you offer your clients. What outcomes do you deliver? Then set your price to match that value. Mindset coaches emphasize that charging well isn’t greedy – it’s sustainable business. As The Gal Project puts it, “your service has real value, and it’s okay to be paid well” . Even if it feels uncomfortable at first, raising your rates often attracts clients who truly respect your expertise.
  

How YIPPITY DOOEmpowers You to Own Your Worth

At Yippitydoo, we know that success is as much mental as it is practical. Our mentorship programs are designed to instill this worth mindset. Each founder is paired with experienced mentors who share not only business advice but also personal stories of doubt and triumph. In workshops and coaching calls, we openly discuss common fears – from self-doubt to fear of negotiation – and work through them together. Our mentors help entrepreneurs reframe setbacks (seeing a “no” as “next opportunity”) and celebrate small wins.

Research backs this up: according to Women in Tech experts, mentorship and community “provide a confidence boost, tailored advice, and motivation” . At Yippitydoo every program includes mindset coaching alongside skill-building. Whether it’s a pricing exercise, a role-play negotiation, or simply a pep talk, the goal is always the same: you finish knowing exactly why you’re worth the success you pursue.