“The success of every woman should be the inspiration to another,” award-winning professional tennis player Serena Williams once said. We couldn’t agree more, which is why we’re highlighting some of the passionate, resilient, intelligent, business-savvy women paving the way in Portland. From custom jewelry to power tool workshops, fitness, aquaculture, dentistry, and the city’s only coworking space for anyone who has felt unwelcome a work environment, these leading ladies prove women really can do it all.
Julie Marchese, CycleBar Portland
What is it like to co-own CycleBar Portland with your daughter?
It’s been a joy to see my daughter grow into the woman she is today. Each challenge and success we share together is a wonderful experience—we've navigated through many firsts, learned a lot, and grown even more. Nothing in life is easy, but not many people get to open and sustain a business with their daughter—it’s so special. Plus, we get to make people feel good! It's very rewarding to see the CycleBar community that we've created flourish. It may be a bike that goes nowhere, but it takes you many places.
Why is helping women get active important to you?
My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999, I was diagnosed in 2004, and I lost my mom to lung cancer in 2014. There are far too many women that hear the words “You have cancer.” Taking care of your body is the best way to fight this disease, so getting women active is the only way I know how to help. You have one body—nourishing it and taking care of it is the best medicine out there. Of course, many men are helped by these endeavors, too. When the woman becomes active, the rest of the family follows!
Janice Sears, Chart Metalworks
What’s unique about leading a woman-owned business in Maine?
Maine is an amazing state filled with pride and wonderful people. The enthusiasm, love, and support I experience every day—from customers, friends, my employees, and other businesses—is bountiful. I always wake up with a smile on my face.
What do you find most rewarding about your work?
When our customers absolutely love their pieces and share with us how meaningful it is for them or for their recipient. We don’t mind taking the time to make sure every piece is perfect by working with each customer to design their unique graphic.
Where do you find inspiration?
What moves me is experiencing a beautiful place I have yet to discover. Nothing inspires me more than the days I take to explore up and down the coast.
Dr. Heather Keeling, The Dental Loft Maine
The Dental Loft team consists of only women. Was this intentional?
I wanted to surround myself with a team that is as passionate about preventative medicine as I am. I'm lucky to have a team of like-minded individuals—and they all happen to be amazing women.
If you could speak with your younger self, what’s one thing you would tell her?
One of my yoga instructors once said “Wherever you are, be there,” and I wish I had heard these words years ago. The best part of my day is when a new patient comes in and says, “This is the first time a dentist has been so thorough,” or “Thanks for spending so much time with me.” My response is simple: the only place I have to be is right here, and you have my undivided attention.
Sandrine Moser, Studio Artisane
How do you help women overcome the stereotype that woodworking is for men?
In my experience, woodworking isn't typically taught to women, but I wanted to reach out to them, and I found the best way to do that was not to advertise a gigantic bookshelf or a full kitchen renovation but small interior decor pieces like frames or side tables. Starting small is so important, and planting the seed allows for the interest to grow until the women I teach feel confident with their tools and are able to build a bed or redo a whole bathroom.
What is the best part about teaching other women how to use power tools?
It sounds cliché, but it's really seeing women smile at the end. I have seen so many women in genuine disbelief with the work they’ve created, and nothing makes me more proud. I’m proud of them for stepping out of their comfort zone and coming to Studio Artisane to create, but also I’m proud of myself for having created a space for them to do so. Women are incredible people who are often overlooked, and I have made it my mission to create a safe, accessible space for them to use their creativity and their muscles to craft a piece of furniture.
Heather Ashby, coworkHERS
How did you develop the concept behind coworkHERS?
When thinking about opening a coworking space, I knew having a niche would set me apart. I imagined a place where women dominated the space— I wanted to witness women calling the shots, sharing the leads, and not having to compete with the boys' club to get opportunities. My feelings were solidified when researching and touring coworking spaces in Portland and Boston: the constant scene was men connecting, drinking pints, playing foosball. The few women I saw stood out because they had their heads down and looked uncomfortable. I thought about how these men weren't even recognizing that she was the hardest working person in the room. It was not the environment I could see myself working in, nor what I wanted other women to experience.
What advice would you give to young women looking to become entrepreneurs?
Your passion must be palpable and contagious when discussing your idea. If you don’t feel that magical, doubtless feeling in your gut, you need to rethink. Document your emotions, motivations, and your "why" for embarking on this journey, and regularly revisit these during moments of uncertainty. Also, you may feel compelled to say “yes” to everything, but think about self-care before committing to too much.
Libby Davis, Lady Shuckers
Tell us more about your mission to support women in aquaculture and amplify underrepresented voices in the industry.
The idea for Lady Shuckers mobile raw-bar and event company started when I was shucking in a local raw-bar that featured all Maine-grown oysters and fell in love with their sustainability story. I forged many friendships with female farmers and other women in the industry during that time and wanted to create a business where I could support their efforts and share their stories with others. Our mission to source from women-owned farms stems from wanting to create more representation and visibility for women, and other traditionally marginalized communities, in an industry that is largely male dominated. Through buying and marketing women-owned products, we are able to build community and reach wider audiences about the positive impacts of sustainable aquaculture.
What’s special about the community of women-owned businesses in Maine?
It’s really unique to be a part of such a vibrant group of like-minded entrepreneurs going through similar challenges where you feel genuinely supported, both personally and professionally. I feel really lucky that I get to access the best of many different networks.
Owning a business is never easy, but my “why” is simple: making a positive difference in peoples' lives makes the hard so worth it.
I’m proud of them for stepping out of their comfort zone, but I’m also proud of myself for having created a space for them to do so.
I wanted to witness women calling the shots, sharing the leads, and not having to compete with the boys' club to get opportunities.
It’s really unique to be a part of such a vibrant group of like-minded entrepreneurs going through similar challenges—I feel genuinely supported, both personally and professionally.
