Back in February, when the economy was still in free fall and a lot of people were wondering what we should do about it, the National Women’s Business Council and the Small Business Administration convened a summit of leaders from the women’s business community. The 2009 Women’s Business Summit, which was entitled The Economy Through A Different Lens, focused the attention of participants on growing the strength, size and power of women’s business ownership over the next ten years. A report detailing the plans produced at the Summit was released by the NWBC late last month. Overall, the Summit appeared to be an excellent start toward the goals set by the women business leaders participating.

But, while the goals and tactics settled on at this Summit may turn out to be a great thing for the women business owners who share those goals, we have no real reason to assume they represent the majority of women business owners. And, you can lead a mare to water but you can’t make her drink. In looking to even the playing field for women in business, these leaders have lofty and worthy ambitions. The only problem they face is in determining whether they have anything to offer to the majority of women business owners. If not, they have two choices. They can continue on their current path and ignore any who don’t share their goals — which has, after all, always been the fate of the humble microbusiness, hasn’t it? Or they can spare a thought and a little energy for understanding the goals and aspirations of women microbusiness owners, and figuring out ways to fold them into a vision of the future, too.