Bee Downtown's founder, queen bee applauds men who empower, support women
As a CEO working in agriculture, Leigh-Kathryn Bonner said it's a daily occurrence for her to be the only woman at a boardroom table.
But while Bonner said her female mentors have been invaluable to her success, the best piece advice she has ever received came from a male supervisor when she was a college intern.
He told her to never apologize for her brilliance.
The advice came when she discounted her idea before pitching it, something she feels women do too often.
“Wear your crown and wear it proud and know that you’re in the room for a reason,” Bonner said. “Be bold and strong and who you are and don’t ever apologize for being brilliant.”
Bonner, the founder and CEO of Bee Downtown, was recently named one of the most inspiring young entrepreneurs by INC magazine.
The Raleigh native’s company is trying to promote sustainable honey bee communities in urban areas during a time when the species is under an existential threat from climate change and pollution.
In 2015, the United States alone lost 44 percent of its beehives, the highest losses reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 10 years.
Many environmentalists fear the decline could have damaging, long-term effects on agriculture.
Businesses like Chick-fil-A, Delta, SAS, AT&T, Burt’s Bees and IBM have sponsored hives cared for by Bee Downtown beekeepers, who also teach beekeeping classes, collect hive data and harvest the company’s honey.
What started as three hives in 2014 has now grown to nearly 200 in the greater Triangle and greater Atlanta area.
Bonner’s unwavering confidence in herself and her company is obvious, but she said it hasn’t always been that way.
“A lot of times in the South, we grow up as young girls and we’re supposed to be polite and sweet and demure,” she said. “But we should also be bold and strong.”
Bonner said she has since developed a tenacious voice, which she credits partially to her mentors — many whom are men.
Bonner said that while stories of gender discrimination are important to expose, her story of success is one of encouragement from both men and women in leadership.
“There’s a wage gap, and there are women who aren’t treated fairly, and those stories need to be told,” Bonner said. “But the story I have the privilege of telling is that I’ve had so many people cheering me on.”
Bonner wants to reinforce and applaud the many men who are supporting and empowering women in the workplace.
“Very rarely am I not getting the same respect as the men in the room, and that is the truth,” she said.
For young, professional women, Bonner stresses the importance of finding mentors early and strengthening those relationships.
“I’m eternally grateful for them,” she said. “I’ve (also) had so many female mentors and advisors that have helped me find my voice and stand up for myself if someone says something they shouldn’t.”
But Bonner said she doesn’t wanted to discount the progress necessary for many women entrepreneurs to have equal opportunities.
Female CEOs only received 3 percent of all venture capital funds between 2011 and 2013, according to a study out of Babson and Wellsley colleges that CNN reported.
“Women don’t just deserve a seat at the table, they deserve the head seat at the table if they’ve earned it,” she said.
Bonner said she hopes the next generation of female entrepreneurs will have an equal opportunity for their venture to succeed.
“Every little girl should do whatever sets her soul on fire and do it with all her heart,” she said. “I can’t wait to cheer (her) on.”
