Circuit Media is honored to be awarded as one of the top 50 woman-owned businesses by ColoradoBiz. This recognition goes beyond accolades; it is a testament to the commitment and impact that CEO Rebecca Askew and the Circuit Media team have made in the government contracting sector.
“Often, when you are working in the business, you don’t step back to look at what [you’ve] built. This award allows us to be aware of our accomplishments,” says Askew.
As a woman-owned business, Circuit Media has faced many challenges in the competitive business landscape. Askew explains that it’s hard to get financial institutions to understand government contracting and economics; they don’t see the value in it from a financial perspective. She has developed a good relationship with her current business banker, a woman who advocates on the company’s behalf.
Circuit Media appreciates the efforts of the Small Business Administration in ensuring government entities are accountable for awarding contracts to small businesses. A particularly beneficial aspect of this is the use of set-asides. These set-asides help identify businesses owned by people who get denied certain opportunities. By designating contracts as set-asides, government agencies can limit the pool of businesses eligible to bid, thereby increasing opportunities for those small businesses.
Circuit Media is an EDWOSB, WOSB, and ISBEE company which allows us to access more of these set-asides and win the contracts. Even though Circuit Media doesn’t qualify for every opportunity due to the set-asides narrowing down what kinds of businesses may respond, Askew still believes they are beneficial in allowing small businesses to have an opportunity to flourish.
Since Circuit Media has been in business for 21 years now, Askew has known the hardships of becoming an entrepreneur and running a successful business. For all of the women out there thinking of starting a business, or may already own one, Askew has some words of wisdom for you. As a female business owner, you should be aware of the biases you may face. Be prepared for hard-hitting questions by writing out talking points/strategies. Take advantage of your status and apply for loans, grants, etc. that are aimed at women entrepreneurs. Finally, develop a support system by finding businesses, mentors, groups, or colleagues that support women lead businesses, “Creating a supportive environment around you while you grow your business will help you create a sustainable company from the start.”, says Askew.
