TD Bank has long recognized the substantial role women entrepreneurs play in the U.S. economy. In fact, according to the National Association of Women Business Owners, there are 14 million women-owned firms that employ nearly 12.2 million people and generate $2.7 trillion a year in revenue.
In Pennsylvania, women own nearly 370,000 small businesses — just under 40% of all small businesses in the state — according to the U.S. Office of Advocacy Small Business Profile.
To support women-owned businesses in Philadelphia and the surrounding area, TD Bank hosted a networking reception at its downtown store in the University City district and in the adjacent TD Workshop, an innovative meeting space designed for researching, collaborating and bringing the community together.
Offering women entrepreneurs trusted advice and diverse funding programs
TD Bank Store Manager Bianca Otero welcomed guests to the event, emphasizing TD’s commitment to empowering small businesses, especially women-owned ventures.
“At TD, we’re here to support your success with funding through our traditional lending services as well as via SBA loans and other financial solutions we can tailor to your needs,” she said. “To determine those needs and recommend the best way forward for you, we take the time to learn more about your business, its goals, and your current situation. We also combine financial education where it’s appropriate to help you make the most of your wealth potential both in your businesses and in your personal lives.”
The event included representatives from various TD business lines, including Retail, Commercial, Small Business, and Merchant Services, who provided guidance on how attendees could improve their financial positioning, both for their businesses and themselves. Also present was Paycor, an HR, payroll, and talent solutions provider not affiliated with the bank.
TD provided complimentary professional headshots, which many planned to use for business cards, websites, and online profiles.
Providing business and social connections
Many women owners of small businesses operate as sole proprietors or manage small teams. That’s one of the reasons why TD Bank Regional Community Manager Kristin Russell says networking events like this are so important to provide opportunities for business owners to make both business and social connections.
“Meeting other entrepreneurs, such as the women who attended our event, provides them the chance to share their experiences and also explore potential business opportunities with each other,” she said.
“At the same time,” she added, “the many financial and credit options available today for small business owners can seem bewildering, so it helped to have our TD colleagues from different business lines on hand to answer questions and share their contact information for future insights and guidance.”
Supporting community development by supporting women entrepreneurs
TD Bank is proud to be a resourceful, supportive partner for small business owners of all origins, especially those needing an assist to help them realize their dreams. The goal of these events is to empower women to increase their visibility in the business world and learn how to better build their business.
One of TD Bank’s many Philadelphia commercial customers includes Tomeka Lee. She is a Senior Partner and Co-Founder at TriZen — a certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Business Consulting and Leadership Development Company.
After the event, Lee shared how the bank’s support of her enterprise through her personalized relationship with Community Business Development Officer Tommy Berner and Small Business Relationship Manager Kevin Dunn, has contributed to its success. “TD Bank has been a crucial partner in every stage of our business journey, providing us with the resources and guidance we needed to fulfill our mission of helping our city’s economic growth and supporting its future leaders,” she said. “During our initial growth phase, they offered tailored financial products and expert advice that helped us lay a solid foundation.”
To this, she added: “As TriZen expanded further, TD provided growth funding and valuable connections, allowing us to seize new opportunities and scale efficiently. Beyond financial support, TD’s team has been a source of constant mentorship and insights, making them more than just a bank. They’ve truly been a long-term partner in our success.”
At the end of the night, both guests of the night and TD colleagues left feeling inspired for the bright prospects of women-owned businesses in the Philadelphia area — and confident in TD Bank’s commitment to fostering a community to support their business success.
For more on personal finance topics
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We hope you found this helpful. This article is for informational purposes only and is based on information available as of November, 2024 and is subject to change. This content is not intended to be used or acted upon with respect to any client's specific circumstances. For specific advice about your unique circumstances, consider talking with your qualified professionals.