RubyScanlan

The Global Women’s Forum (GWF) aims to celebrate the achievements of women to inspire empowerment and growth in the community. Held each March, the forum features female entrepreneurs and change-makers from the Omaha community and beyond. 

This year, the keynote speakers were Melissa Butler, the founder of the Lip Bar, and Taryn Smith, a Nebraska native and first woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. 

Butler first appeared on Shark Tank, pitching her vegan lipstick brand, The Lip Bar, but was unsuccessful in garnering any support. However, she did not give up. She continued, her drive and determination overcoming the rejection. 

On her website MelissaR.Butler.com, she says: “I’m the woman who doesn’t believe in saying No.” She has gone on to be praised in several magazines as a top entrepreneur with notable praises from Forbes and Inc. magazine. The Lip Bar itself can be found at lipbar.com.

Smith became the first woman to row across the Atlantic Ocean, from the Canary Islands to Antigua in 46 days, three hours and 37 minutes. The route she took is known as the Atlantic Row, a 3,000 mile stretch of harsh conditions and social isolation. 

These challenges did not faze Smith as she embraced the beauty of the ocean and learned to “be comfortable in an uncomfortable situation,” as she said on her website tarynsmithmovement.com.  

Local women-owned businesses from the Omaha area were featured as well, like the Boba Bar, co-owned by senior Maddie Bergmann and her dad. She catered the event and received a scholarship for young female entrepreneurs who are going to pursue a higher education in a business-related field. 

This was Bergmann’s first year truly introducing herself to the scene. “This is my first year really getting into networking,” Bergmann said. “I’m really starting to… get connections.”

Last March, the Boba Bar catered an event for women in finance and it gave Bergmann the opportunity to meet many different women and hear about their stories. “I got to meet a bunch of people…mainly women, that had struggled being in finances in other places in kind of, like, a male-dominated field and just making their passion their own instead of others,” she said.

Bergmann draws her strength from the encouragement and model of her parents. “There’s my parents honestly. My mom was super big into entrepreneurship, even though she never got to own her own business,” Bergmann said. “She constantly had ideas, and I take a lot from her.” 

Support was crucial to achieving success for Bergmann, in all aspects of her life. “She really just always encouraged me to do what I love and to be who I want to be… ignoring what everyone else thought of me,” Bergmann said. 

The main message that Bergmann took away from the forum this year was “to keep going.” 

“It’s really hard as a young entrepreneur, especially as a female entrepreneur at that. So a lot of it was just, ‘don’t give up on what you love,’” she said. “It was kind of… inspiration to keep going and to stay creative.”   

Marian takes pride in women’s successes, often acknowledging “Big Deals,” students who have won awards, opportunities and well-deserved recognition. If students want to support “Big Deals” off-campus, then they should sign up for next year’s forum.  ”I recommend going next year if you can. It’s really good,” Bergmann said. 

The forum features influential keynote speakers from around the world, a number of insightful panels of female business leaders and spotlights local female-owned businesses. In between panels, attendees are able to explore each business, interact with entrepreneurs, purchase merchandise and try tasty food.

In the past, Marian girls and their families have showcased their businesses for the community, like senior Eliora Agbenohevi and her mother, who own Eli Hair and Beauty. 

According to Elihairandbeauty.com, “Eli Hair and Beauty is owned by a passionate and dedicated woman of color who places your beauty and you at the forefront of your daily life.” With the goal of helping African American women to express themselves creatively, Eli Hair and Beauty provides beauty and hair care services and a variety of products like curly hair products, hair dye, extensions and beyond. 

To find out more, check out their store Eli Hair and Beauty on 2327 North 90th Street, and their social media at @elihairandbeauty on Instagram, Tik Tok and Facebook.

The range of businesses diversifies every year, inviting in more people who seek to support local female-owned businesses. With this increasing support, the GWF attendance has been rapidly increasing. “I attended last year… it was not super big, probably 150 people. We had probably close to 350-400 people this year,” Bergmann said.

 Although this can be a challenge for caterers like Bergmann, the support of the community is vital to recognize the accomplishments of women. In a world where such accomplishments are brushed under the rug, the Global Women’s Forum seeks to shine a light on the entrepreneurs of the present and future.