Don’t apologise for being too young as an entrepreneur.

That’s the first of four rules serial entrepreneur Debbie Wosskow has shared in her latest LinkedIn blog.

Wosskow has just been appointed co-chair of the Department for Business and Trade’s Invest in Women Taskforce to try make the UK the best place in the world to be a female founder.

‘Never stop fighting’- Invest in Women Taskforce co-chair

Currently businesses with all-female founders receive just two per cent of all venture capital funding and the taskforce is focussed on creating the world’s largest funding pot totalling £250m for female founders.

Wosskow is the co-founder of the leading career network for women and said there are four things you should never apologise for as an entrepreneur.

  • 1. Being ‘too young’

I was 25 years old, managing and leading people way more experienced than me.
Don’t give into imposter syndrome.
You are where you are for a reason!

  • 2. Paying attention to the money

Profit and loss, cash flow, raising capital, balance sheets, etc are all critical areas of focus which you MUST keep tabs on.
In the UK, and especially for female entrepreneurs, speaking openly about money can be an awkward topic. Embrace the discomfort because these things matter more than you think.

  • 3. Storytelling is key

Stories open doors.
Stories help you sell.
Stories connect you with new people.
You can have the best, most powerful story in the world but unless you know how to spin it into a cohesive narrative effectively, it won’t matter.
I read somewhere that sales is really just storytelling and it’s stayed with me ever since.

  • 4. Being ‘too late’

My 40s have been the best and most successful years of my life.
I turned 50 this year and the one thing I’m reminding myself of in this decade: You’re never too late.
The older you get, the wiser you become and the higher chance you have of succeeding.