Five Women, Redefining Entrepreneurship Building One Common Spiritual Legacy

If no man is an island, then every woman is an archipelago, inseparable from the other women who support her through time and space. This is the overarching and heartwarming lesson from "Five" (opens in new tab), a new documentary short film series produced by Mastercard (opens in new tab) in collaboration with ShortsTV (opens in new tab).

Each woman, based in Brazil, India, Lebanon, Croatia, and the United States, began her enterprise with a desire to make meaningful change in her corner of the world. This is empowering storytelling that reminds us of our interconnectedness.

Five women and their businesses include Carolina Ignarra, who founded Talento Incluir (opens in new tab), a São Paulo-based consulting firm that helps businesses understand the value of inclusive employment regardless of disability, Ekta Jaju, an Indian entrepreneur who founded ONganic Foods (opens in new tab), a business that champions sustainable and organic farming practices; Sarah Beydoun, founder and creative director of the Lebanese company Sarah's Bag (opens in new tab), Sarah, who teaches women how to create unique handbags to support their families; Irena Orlovic, owner and editor of Croatian publisher Harfa (opens in new tab), which promotes literature and games for children with developmental disabilities; new taste profiles and food insecurity Maya-Camille Broussard of Chicago's Justice of the Pies (opens in new tab), a community-oriented bakery that equally addresses.

A purpose-driven spirit permeates their drive. 'I can't quit because the spirit of my ancestors is looking down on me. We built this during the civil rights movement. If we could do this with the education and resources we had, you can do so much more.' ' That's what drives me. Her firm was born out of a desire to honor her late father's love of pie and his work as a criminal defense attorney. 'I am a company with a social mission first and foremost,' she said. 'I just happen to bake pies.'

Building a Legacy

In that sense, Five, which MasterCard backed as part of its commitment to support 25 million women entrepreneurs by 2025 and bring 50 million small businesses worldwide into the digital economy, honors legacy and building it and passing it on in challenging circumstances; all five women spoke extensively about the importance of looking beyond their own businesses and recognizing the place of their work in a wider web of social impact.

Beydoun believes that all businesses should be proactive about their social contribution potential. He said, "What the world needs is not one more brand, one more good bag, one more nice shirt. I think the world needs more people supporting missions."

Beydoun's own journey to start a fashion house began while studying sociology in Lebanon. She learned that many women did not have a support system to help them escape their disadvantageous situations, be it economic or otherwise. So she set out to launch a business that would teach women a set of skills to help them earn their own livelihoods and avoid dependence on toxic partners and environments.

The company was set up to provide women with skills in designing, sewing, and selling bags; Beydoun's hope was to give women not only the skills to earn their own money, but also the confidence to eventually become their own bosses, to give them the confidence that their lives and the change the trajectory of the lives of the women they will influence. She didn't start out as a business. She first discovered suffering."

Redefining Entrepreneurship

Filmed before the COVID-19 epidemic began, Five reveals the forces that drive women to entrepreneurship, and the bonds of mentorship and love that keep them going despite the challenges and backlash they may face.

Call it encouraging, daring, or inspiring, these five women would call their work their mission in life. And they hope to be an inspiration to other women looking to launch their ventures.

"I believe that being an entrepreneur is something you are born with, not something you learn," explains Ignara, founder of Talent Inquirer, in the film. 'I am a questioner and a nonconformist.'

Watch "Five" (opens in new tab), presented by Mastercard, on ShortsTV (opens in new tab).

A portion of the proceeds will support the Women's Empowerment Initiative.