On the latest episode of the U.S. Chamber Small Business Update, host Shyann Malone is joined by Tom Sullivan, vice president of small business policy at the U.S. Chamber, and Amy Fazackerley, CEO and co-founder of carryall solution Lay-n-Go, to celebrate Women’s History Month and discuss the importance of collaboration between entrepreneurs and government officials.
Key Takeaways
1. Fazackerley details her journey with Lay-n-Go, highlighting her problem-solution-oriented approach. Her story exemplifies how necessity drives innovation, showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit that thrives on solving everyday challenges.
2. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce plays a significant role in assisting small businesses like Lay-n-Go. Fazackerley worked closely with the Chamber to address intellectual property issues and participated in the Amazon Patent Evaluation Express (APEX) program, which enhances the ability of small brands to protect their patents. The program illustrates the critical role the agency plays in advocating for entrepreneurs.
3. Sullivan and Fazackerley emphasize the celebration of women’s achievements in the business world, especially during Women’s History Month. Both Fazackerley’s success story and the initiatives mentioned by Sullivan highlight the ongoing efforts to support women entrepreneurs and business owners.
4. Fazackerley discusses the challenges her business faced with intellectual property rights, particularly in dealing with patent infringement issues on platforms like Amazon. This highlights the broader challenge many small businesses face in protecting their innovations in the marketplace.
5. The importance of community, peer learning, and mentorship can not be understated. Fazackerley values the peer-to-peer learning and advocacy provided by the Small Business Council, demonstrating the benefits of being part of a network of like-minded entrepreneurs who share knowledge and support each other’s growth.
"When you have issues like we've had over the past 12 years, the intellectual property, the tariffs, the supply chain breakdowns, warehouse issues, it's so great to have a resource like the U.S. Chamber to lean on, and we know they'll always be there to help lead the way in anything they can." — Amy Fazackerley
