In this Women’s Month, we continue to feature articles of interest for women in business. Irrespective of race, age or location, women in business tend to share very similar challenges. In an article in Entrepreneur Middle East, five successful women entrepreneurs offered their most valuable tips to succeed in the business world, all of which resonate with us. Here is what they had to say on various aspects of being a woman entrepreneur in the modern business world:

About being a woman in business…

Sara Mohammadi, the founder of Eventbox, says: “… don’t think about yourself just as a woman- you are not just a woman, you are a start-up entrepreneur.” As a woman in business, you should not think of yourself as a woman business – the minute you do, you are placing certain limitations on yourself and what you can achieve. As an entrepreneur, you should therefore think of yourself as an entrepreneur above anything else regardless of your gender, race, age, etc.

Another important tip from Mohammadi is to be stubborn and to not stop at anything to get what you want – she says: “Don’t be shy. Don’t be embarrassed. You are totally entitled to it.”

On pitching to investors…

The business world is still largely dominated by men and a lot of women entrepreneurs find it intimidating to pitch their business ideas to potential investors, especially younger women. Ambareen Musa, the founder and CEO of souqalmal.com feels that women should own who they are in these situations, regardless of age, gender or experience, and simply pitch their ideas to the investors and focus on the idea you are selling. She says: “If you’re 26, be 26 – you’ve got a great idea.”

On scaling your business…

A lot of business owners, including women, try to do everything themselves. According to Loulou Khazen Baz, founder of Nabbesh, trying to control and do everything yourself will prevent you from scaling your business. Do not be afraid to ask for help – “The only way to scale is if you hire experts in specific fields and you get them to help you.” Therefore, outsource, and start growing your business.

On staying motivated…

As a woman entrepreneur trying to grow a business, one of the most important tips is to stay focused. Know what you want to do, what you want to achieve, and do all that you can to reach your goals. Butheina Kazim, founder of Cinema Akil, says: “Keep focused on what it is you’re trying to do… Have the guts, have the courage and the belief in what you do.”

On persevering …

Kristine Lasam, the founder of Pink Entropy, feels that the most important tip for any woman entrepreneur is to persevere, no matter what. She says: “Don’t be afraid to knock on doors. If someone says, ‘No,’ – no means next… Trust your intuition. If you’ve done your homework, trust your intuition.”

Therefore, do not let anyone tell you that you cannot achieve your business goals. Focus on what you want to achieve, keep yourself motivated, and do not let the fact that you are a woman in business ever stand in your way!