Mount Pleasant Magazine May/June 2018

www.ChsWomenInBusiness.com | www.LCWomenInBusiness.com | www.LCwib.com WIB - 9 W e hear the phrase “girl boss” constantly. The word combo often appears as a caption under the glow of an Instagram post, trends on Twitter and can even be heard escaping from the mouths of celebrities looking to give a shout-out to female go-getters. But, behind the overused hashtag are numerous stories of women striving, and at times struggling, to make their economic mark on an ever-changing business landscape. One Mount Pleasant resident is working to empower other female leaders to reach their goals, thrive and navigate the often rocky paths that appear when they decide to jump headfirst into self-employment. Melissa Barker, founder of Women Entrepreneurs of Charleston (WEofC), has crafted a space where synergy and sisterhood overlap. “Charleston has an incredible ecosystem for entrepreneurs,” said Barker, who since launching WEofC in 2017 has worked with more than 75 members. “I saw a unique opportunity to build a platform for women not typically seen on the local circuit, to share their expertise and to be a place for women to go when they want to develop new skills and gain more knowledge across all key areas of running a business.” Following a successful career in Atlanta, doing digital marketing and branding for household names such as Coca-Cola, Sears, The Weather Channel, FIFA World Cup and The Olympics, Barker made the move to start her own business. After the birth of her son, seeking coastal charm, she relocated to Charleston. Her desire to start her own digital marketing firm, Mel Bar Mar, was also fueled by the significant pay cut she would have to endure if she chose to take on a similar position in the Lowcountry. “I learned most of what I know about running a business by doing it wrong,” said Barker. “Through a combination of wins, losses, business books, webinars, Google searches, late nights and conversations with other By Kalene McCort Synergy and Sisterhood Women Entrepreneurs of Charleston Photo courtesy of Melissa Barker.