Three women entrepreneurs talk about their experiences starting their own businesses, and whether it helped them get better pay and flexibility.

“Stereotypically, poker is a boys’ club. It’s booze, it’s betting, it’s a smoky basement. It’s all the places that women don’t feel comfortable. And that’s what we’re trying to shift,” said Erin Lydon, president of Poker Power.

Dylan Demery opened Colorado-based She’s Fly with two friends to provide outdoor clothing and gear that were comfortable for women.

“Sharing a room with another alpha female is not easy. […] We know how to work with each other at this point,” says Yvette Rodriguez.

“There were days when I didn’t even make enough money to cover my labor costs, but we made it,” says Angeli Rodriguez, owner of The Witty Whisker.

In this book excerpt, author and investor Kathryn Finney explains why having a personal advisory board is just as important as having a company advisory board.

“The supply chain for floral is just crazy right now,” said Gretchen Culver of Minne Weddings.

“Sometimes my husband jokes that I’m running a gelato non-profit, and it certainly does feel that way,” said Uli Nasibova, owner of Uli’s Gelato.

Adella Colvin began her yarn-dyeing business, LolaBean Yarn Co., after noting how few makers of color there were in the industry.

Women and people of color still earn less than white men, even with the degree.