Growing a business isn’t just about the numbers – it’s about having the right support, knowledge, and community around you.
The Fellowship connects established women entrepreneurs with the mentorship, resources, and peer network they need to keep evolving.
We are business owners who have moved beyond the startup phase—generating around $1 million in annual revenue with established teams and proven business models. If you’re navigating the complexities of growth, compliance, talent management, and strategic planning, this fellowship is designed for you.
Our program acknowledges the unique challenges women entrepreneurs face in scaling their businesses. Women-owned businesses represent 39.2% of all U.S. enterprises, generating $3.3 trillion in annual revenue, yet they received just 32.6% of SBA loan approvals and 28.4% of the dollars offered in fiscal year 2023. Research shows that 91% of women business owners report that gender bias is prevalent in business, while 53% to 75% of women entrepreneurs rely on personal savings to finance their businesses.
The fellowship provides a safe space where these walls can come down, where women can share their real struggles and find solutions together. Our program recognizes that generic programs often overlook additional complexities women entrepreneurs face.
Kim Bode is the founder and owner of 8THIRTYFOUR, an integrated communications agency delivering strategic marketing for clients across defense, technology, international business, and community sectors. Known for her authentic, direct communication style and irreverent humor, Bode has been teaching and coaching around personal branding since the early 2000s, focusing on being “unapologetically direct” while prioritizing relationships and community impact. Her approach emphasizes showing up authentically, giving more than taking, and never pretending to have everything figured out.
Her leadership has earned 8THIRTYFOUR national recognition, including Forbes Top 200 PR Agency, Michigan’s 50 Companies to Watch, and Michigan Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year. Kim was named a Notable West Michigan Leader in DEI by Crain’s Grand Rapids and received the JEDI Award from the West Michigan Public Relations Society of America.
She serves on the boards of the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) and Grand Valley State University’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. She leads SBAM’s Women’s Entrepreneurial Fellowship and founded the Small Biz 4 Equality scholarship at GVSU for LGBTQIA+ students and allies.
A recognized voice in business leadership and communications, Kim’s insights have been featured in Entrepreneur, HuffPost, Thrive Global, Authority Magazine, PR Daily, Industry Leaders, Scary Mommy, and Crain’s Michigan. She’s a sought-after speaker and has presented for SBAM, Women in Defense, HubZone National Conference, Women Impacting Public Policy Unity Week, SBA ChallengeHER, Michigan Celebrates Small Business, and multiple universities. She also writes for Small Biz Musings and hosts the Happy Hour Hustle podcast.
Kim is fueled by espresso, conviction, and her ADHD—an asset she harnesses daily to solve big problems and juggle even bigger ideas. She shares her life with eight rescue dogs and a husband.
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