We’re Officially WBENC Certified—and Here’s Why That Matters

I’m excited to share that Left Hand Agency is now a Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)-certified women-owned business.

It’s a milestone I’m proud of. Not just for the badge, but for what it represents: the opportunity to support, connect with, and grow alongside other women business owners.

I’ve always believed in women helping women.

For me, that starts with genuine networking—not the business-card-exchange kind, but the kind where you really get to know the women around you, learn about their businesses, and find ways to support each other.

It’s powerful. It’s not surprising, but it’s incredibly refreshing to see what happens when women lift each other up.

Getting certified through WBENC felt like a natural extension of that belief. Not only is it one of the most universally recognized certifications in the U.S., WBENC is also incredibly well-organized at the regional level, providing meaningful support and resources to women-owned businesses.

I’m genuinely excited to be part of this community.

What I Hope This Opens Up

Right now, I’m most excited about the potential for community.

We already work with one client who’s WBENC-certified, and it feels great to now be in the same network.

I hope this opens doors to more partnerships with other certified businesses. And, frankly, I’m just excited to learn what’s possible. This is new territory for me, and I don’t have all the answers yet.

Ask me again in a year and I’ll probably have a list of reasons why this was a game changer.

What Surprised Me About the Process

Like many certifications, WBENC required multiple layers—paperwork, documentation, and even an in-person interview. I’ve been through similar certifications before and they can take months, sometimes even a year.

WBENC’s process was smoother than others, but still rigorous in all the right ways.

Along the way, I found myself reflecting on how rare it still is to be a woman running an agency in this space.

Only about 2% of advertising agencies are women-owned.

That number sticks with me. I also recently learned that only a small percentage of women-owned businesses ever make it past $1 million in revenue.

So being able to claim that milestone, and then join a network designed to help more women reach it, feels significant.

On Being a Woman Business Owner

There’s a tricky line women founders often have to walk: leading with authority and confidence, but without being labeled as aggressive.

It’s a tension men don’t typically face in the same way. I’ve had to unlearn my habit of over-apologizing, or softening emails to avoid seeming “too direct.” I’ve worked to stop asking for permission to be in the room—even in subtle ways—and start showing up fully.

I’ve also learned that business development can be more challenging when you don’t fit the traditional mold.

I’ve been in situations where I’ve lost business to men who were more charismatic but less honest, and it stung.

It made me wonder if other men simply trusted each other more quickly. That’s a hard thing to admit, but I think a lot of women in leadership roles have felt it.

What’s changed is that I’ve grown more confident in my voice, and more comfortable not playing it safe.

I’ve also figured out the types of clients we don’t want to work with, which has been just as valuable as finding the ones we do.

What I’m Proud Of

I didn’t start this business because I always dreamed of being an entrepreneur. In fact, I’d describe myself as extremely risk-averse.

Running a company has forced me to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. It's stretched me in ways I never imagined.

I’m proud of the internal growth I’ve done—learning to delegate, identifying my strengths and weaknesses, and becoming more confident in my point of view.

Imposter syndrome hasn’t disappeared, but I’ve learned to recognize it for what it is: a liar.

I’m also incredibly proud of the culture we’ve built at Left Hand Agency.

That didn’t happen by accident, and it wasn’t just my doing. It took a team of thoughtful, values-driven people who wanted to build something meaningful together. As a leader, my job has been to make space for that kind of culture to take root.

And honestly? I’m proud that we’re still here. This agency has been through some major ups and downs, including economic shocks that hit well before the current climate.

The fact that we’ve stayed standing and grown means a lot.

What I Hope for the Future

I didn’t get WBENC-certified to say women are better or worse than men in business.

That’s not what this is about. It’s about visibility. It’s about representation. And it’s about the very real impact of working with underrepresented founders.

The numbers speak for themselves:

• Women-owned businesses have grown by 114% over the past decade. That's more than double the growth rate of male-owned businesses.

• They employ over 10 million people.

• Studies have shown that businesses led by women often create more inclusive cultures and foster higher employee satisfaction.

Yet we’re still vastly underrepresented in higher-revenue business categories and in leadership across industries.

To change that, we need everyone. I hope that men-owned businesses, too, will seek out women-owned partners—not as a checkbox, but as a meaningful step toward closing the economic gap.

I can personally attest: we’re here, we’re qualified, and we bring a ton of heart and strategy to the table.

Final Thought

If there’s one thing I hope readers take away, it’s this:

Working with a women-owned business isn’t just a feel-good decision. It’s a smart one. It drives economic growth, fosters great workplace cultures, and helps build a more equitable future.

WBENC certification isn’t the finish line.

It’s a resource. A tool. A way to connect, collaborate, and move all of us forward.

If you'd like to partner with a newly WBENC-certified media buying agency, let's talk!