Top 3 Moments from Our ACFC Panel Future Founders Need to See

The journey of an entrepreneur is not an easy path to follow. There are many twists and turns, ups and downs, and difficult moments. Many people who want to start their own small business struggle with taking the leap into entrepreneurship. Are you ready to strike out on your own? Is the timing right?

The idea of making a career shift is something everyone experiences in their career — even for those who don't become founders. But for entrepreneurs, considerations like decision-making, risk appetite, and trusting your gut take a front seat. Hearing perspectives from others who have paved the way can be a helpful reminder that you're not alone.

Related Article: Building Confidence as an Entrepreneur 

That's why we're excited to share some special moments from our recent event with Angel City Football Club (ACFC) called "Pivot Like a Pro", inspired by ACFC's Player 22 Program in partnership with IFundWomen. Player22 supports former athletes and future entrepreneurs to build their small businesses with grants and resources. As an ACFC sponsor, Justworks is thrilled to support this social impact program.

The "Pivot Like a Pro" panel brought together three unique perspectives to share their stories and insights. If you're considering starting your own business, you won't want to miss these stand-out moments from each of our panelists.

1. When Christen Press Followed her Inspiration to Become a Founder

Christen Press is a current player for ACFC as well as an entrepreneur. Christen founded gender- and body-inclusive lifestyle brand re—inc with her former USWNT teammates, Tobin Heath, Megan Rapino, and Meghan Klingenberg. 

It was during Christen's journey on the US Women's National team competing for (and winning) World Cups that she took part in the fight for equal pay. That experience greatly inspired her entrepreneurial journey. "I started to tackle some of the issues that I faced as a player from a different lens," she said.

Christen said she sees soccer as the beginning for her. It gives her a platform to pursue a business and to "continue to look up at the next challenge". 

Consider whether you might also be at the beginning of your journey, and if it might be time for you to pivot to your next challenge!

2. When Karen Cahn Called Out How Tech Makes Setup Easier

Karen Cahn is the founder of IFundWomen, a funding platform for female entrepreneurs. She supports founders through IFundWomen and the Player22 Program.

Karen acknowledged that starting a business today is difficult, and it can be a real challenge to break through the noise. But, is it easier now from a technical standpoint to stand up a business? "100%", she said.

There are more software and tools than ever before that are tailor-made to manage the many administrative and back-office tasks of a business. For new founders, this is especially helpful to getting up and running without a lot of technical knowledge. "There are so many ways that people can start a business because of the SaaS solutions that are out there," Karen said.

If a lack of technical know-how is holding you back from entrepreneurship, explore what software options might be available. There is a world of tools that can take care of what you don't know so you can focus on your business plan and your strengths.

3. When Rachel Quon Asked 4 Crucial Questions

Rachel Quon is Head of Operations at Just Women's Sports, a media company focused exclusively on women's sports. Rachel played soccer with Christen in college before entering into a corporate career in venture capital. She eventually reached a fork in the road and had to decide whether she wanted to strike out on a more risky startup journey.

Making that career pivot comes with considering the potential risks. Rachel spoke about talking with her father, who posed questions for her to ask herself to understand if moving to the startup was the right choice. 

The questions balance the practical ("Did you do your research?") with the intuitive ("What does your gut say?"). It's always important to consider both sides, especially when taking big risks! If you're thinking about taking the plunge as an entrepreneur, try going through the exercise of answering Rachel's questions to see where you land.

Are you thinking about taking the entrepreneurial plunge and starting a business? Explore our content around Becoming a Founder for more inspiration and practical tips. 

And of course, remember that Justworks can help you run your new business with confidence. Compare our plans and products when you're ready to get up and running!