North Texas Daily

Women are a growing force in U.S. business as the gap narrows between men and women in the professional world. Denton is home to a number of powerful females in a number of industries, hinting at a progression regarding representation in the workplace.

Carolyn Corporon, former vice president of marketing for Sally Beauty Supply, is currently serving as chair of the Women in Commerce Committee (WINC) in Denton. WINC is centered around affecting positive change for females in their work lives.

“I wanted to assist women in their professional development,” Corporon said. “Women do need to learn how to have their voice and ideas heard in a room full of men.”

After retirement, Corporon was interested in focusing her time on an organization whose motives she agreed with. Her goal is to simply help women like her succeed.

“Be bold, be confident and listen carefully,” Corporon said.

Sonja Borda, who has lived in Denton for two years, is another successful businesswoman in Denton. She works at a community firm as a wealth advisor for Stocker Woods Financial in Denton.

“In about a 20-mile radius, I am now the only female certified financial planner in the community,” Borda said.

Borda is also involved with WINC and utilizes her place in the committee as an opportunity to help fellow women.

For many women, being the only female in their respective workplaces can be daunting and intimidating. In a society where sexism still has a presence, men tend to hold higher positions above their female counterparts.

Borda, being a businesswoman in a math-heavy field, faces the struggle of being one of the few females in her field and having to prove herself powerful even among men.

“I am always the only woman anywhere I go in finance,” Borda said. “It is a barrier when I talk to people and introduce myself. They often are in disbelief. Many people will assume that girls don’t do math, and I say, ‘Yes we do, and this is how we do it.'”

Even though she worked for a business targeted towards women, Corporon also found herself in a place dominated by men during her time as an executive for Sally Beauty.

“I sat in executive meetings in a room with the president and eight or more vice presidents that were all male,” Corporon said.

Although many women have proved themselves successful in positions of high power in business, Borda believes that some of them still have difficulty understanding just how much they truly are capable of. Borda wants all women to believe that there is a place for them in the workplace.

“What we know is women have a longer life expectancy than men, and we will be inheriting some money at a point in time,” Borda said. “It is important to understand the financial part before we are 80 years old and learn about it now. Getting women to realize [the financial part] and gain control of their own lives financially is a passion I have.”

Cindy Tysinger, CEO and founder of GSATi, is a longtime entrepreneur. In addition to operating her Denton-based marketing and technology firm, she also serves as a chair with WINC.

“I have worked 40 years in technology in a pretty male-dominant environment and worked hard to overcome the challenges that can come with that,” Tysinger said.

However, Tysinger feels fortunate to have worked with men who served as mentors during the earlier years of her career.

GSATi, which is located on the Square on the second floor of the Texas Building above the restaurant Barley and Board, was formed around 2008 and has grown massively since. Tysinger has founded other companies in addition, which allows her to create her ideal corporate culture for herself and her employees.

Tysinger’s employees are comprised of 50 percent females, and the work environment is full of individuality and strong relationships.

“I am all about culture and diversity,” Tysinger said. “I make sure everyone is very inclusive and respected because I [think] it can be difficult to find in other companies.”

WINC is full of many inspiring and powerful businesswomen working to promote a positive and encouraging environment for women in the business world, and Denton’s setting serves as a great example of women doing just that.

“I like the youth of Denton and have hired a lot of interns that have become full time,” Tysinger said. “There is a vibe of welcomeness and inclusion in Denton, which is why I wanted to start [my business] here.”

Featured Image: Women-ran business, GSATi, headquarter their technology and media services from the Texas Building on West Oak Street, right off the square. GSATi was named Denton’s Small Business of the Year in 2016. Sarah Schreiner