“Never apologize for being a powerful woman.”
Each year on September 22nd, we honor the many accomplishments of businesswomen across the nation. In 1982, American Business Women’s Day was established to acknowledge and reflect on the impactful contributions and achievements of the millions of working women.
This Business Women’s Day we had the honor to speak with Avivit Ben-Aharon, founder and CEO of Great Speech, a proud Bennie partner. Ms. Ben-Aharon has made enormous strides for women in the workplace and is considered an influential business leader in her field.
Let’s meet her.
Meet
Avivit
Ben-Aharon
When Avivit Ben-Aharon was 14 years old, her family immigrated to the United States. At the time, she didn’t speak English, and she struggled to communicate at school. This inspired her to help other people avoid the frustrations she experienced. Today Avivit is the Founder and Clinical Director at Great Speech, Inc, founded in 2014. She trailblazed virtual access to speech therapy, allowing anyone who is committed to improving their communication to receive expert services--regardless of location or scheduling limitations. Her work has been featured on Good Morning America, the US News and World Report, the Miami Herald, and more.
Let’s take a look at her responses.
Q: As a Female CEO, what advice would you give to women who want to be leaders?
A: It may sound cliché, but my favorite piece of advice is to love what you do and do what you love.
Being passionate about your work helps you deal with the inevitable challenges you will encounter along the way. I am a firm believer there are solutions to every problem and with the right frame of mind and a strong sense of confidence in the service you are providing, you can figure it out.
My final word of advice: be kind to yourself. Some days are just better than others. Tomorrow is a new day and offers a new opportunity to do things differently.
Q: What do you see as the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?
A: It is always challenging for any leader to find team members, both male and female, who share your vision and are committed to promoting and expanding your brand’s mission.
But for female leaders in particular, there is the unique challenge of work-life balance. Finding the time to run a national company, act as a professional mentor and role model to others while dedicating time and effort to raising children is an all-encompassing and evolving monumental task. Being organized, making lists, delegating tasks and good communication are simple solutions but work-life balance will continue to be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders.
Q: What was the organizational culture like 10 years ago for women? Do you feel companies are making efforts towards improving the culture for this cohort?
A: Thankfully the culture has changes and women have more resources and mentors available to guide their career path.
Q: What motivates you?
A: I am motivated by making a difference in people’s lives. Communication is such an important skill and the positive changes we make as a virtual speech therapy company inspires me to find alternative ways to reach those who do not have access to speech therapy services.
Q: Define a great leader—what are some traits you think great leaders possess?
A: I believe great leaders should possess strong interpersonal skills, as well as organizational skills and, are effective listeners. Leaders should be assertive yet be flexible and kind. It feels like a tall order but the combination of those skills is my ultimate goal.
Q: What are some strategies you’ve learned that can help women achieve a more prominent role in their organizations?
A: Here are my top four:
Perfect opportunities do not always present themselves. Sometimes you just have to seize the moment and run with your idea.
Mistakes can and will happen. Own them, learn from them and then move on.
Surround yourself with good people. Find mentors and connect with them regularly to make sure you, as well as your brand, are moving in a forward direction.
Being a superwoman is overrated. As a mompreneur of four boys, ages 5-20, it can be challenging to find enough hours in the day to do it all. Learn to ask and accept help from family and friends and outsource whenever possible. Finding the work-life balance is key.
This #AmericanBusinessWomensDay give a shoutout to a businesswoman you know. Support those businesswomen in your area. Let’s all make an effort to join forces with other business leaders and work towards creating a positive environment for women in business.