📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

This Founder Pitched Almost 100 Investors, and They All Told Her 'No.' Now, Christina Stembel's Business Is Approaching $100 Million in Revenue. James McKinney interviews Christina Stembel, the founder of Farmgirl Flowers, about her experience and why she dislikes the term 'female founder.'

By James McKinney

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Christina Stembel's company, Farmgirl Flowers, has blossomed into a booming business with $32 million in revenue by the start of 2020 and nearly double that to start 2021. She's also very aware of the fact that, no matter how successful she becomes, some people are going to open a business interview by asking her what her favorite flower is. She understands that if she creates DIY content, people will be tempted to view her as someone whose only job is to make things look pretty.

These are just a few of the reasons she dislikes the terms "female founder" or "female entrepreneur."

"Why isn't it female and then male entrepreneur?" she asks rhetorically in her interview with James McKinney. "I do see it and understand why people are scratching off the 'female,' because I have a heightened awareness for, 'Why do I have to be grouped into this female category?'"

For more about Stembel's story and experience with what it's like to be a woman in a male-dominated space, you can listen to the full podcast here.

James McKinney

Creator & Host, The Startup Story

James McKinney is the Founder & Host of The Startup Story, a multi-channel brand platform that brings the lessons of highly successful founders directly to the everyday founder. Whether it is through The Startup Story podcast or via the Startup Story LIVE event series, entrepreneurs everywhere can receive tactical and practical guidance from founders who are a few steps ahead.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

These 4 Words Make It Obvious You Used AI to Write a Paper, According to New Research

Scientists are increasingly using ChatGPT and other AI bots to write studies.

Science & Technology

Exploring How Virtual Reality is Changing Startups

Virtual reality's immersive environment is where startup marketing is headed, and early adopters will be the ones who profit.

Starting a Business

Clinton Sparks Podcast: How T.I. Achieved Massive Entrepreneurship Success in Music and Life

This podcast is a fun, entertaining and informative show that will teach you how to succeed and achieve your goals with practical advice and actionable steps given through compelling stories and conversations with Clinton and his guests.

Business News

'They're Scared': PNC Arena Bans New York Residents From Purchasing Tickets Ahead of Rangers, Hurricanes NHL Playoff Matchup

The two teams will face off in Game 1 of the second round of the Eastern Conference fight for the Stanley Cup.

Thought Leaders

It's the End of the Entrepreneurial Era As We Know It

With the rise of advanced technologies and AI, are we losing all sense of the independent business person and entrepreneur?