Women business owners refuse to give in to pessimism in the face of today's economic woes, according to a survey by the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies and the Women Presidents' Organization.

Fifty-eight percent of women business owners anticipate revenue growth in 2009, and 44 percent expect no difficulty obtaining access to credit, the 2008 Business Risk Survey reveals. The survey polled 160 women chief executive officers and presidents who are members of WPO.

"It's not surprising that so many women presidents are optimistic about their companies' future growth, despite current economic conditions," said Marsha Firestone, WPO president and founder. She noted that her members have faced many challenges while building their multimillion-dollar businesses. "Faced with yet another challenge .... WPO members ... recognize that future revenue growth requires that they change the way they do business by broadening their product or service offerings, opening new offices, expanding their global reach and developing innovations."

More than half of respondents (54 percent) said they are likely to broaden their product offerings in 2009. Thirteen percent said they would add international offices.

A minority of survey respondents indicated that they are likely to outsource functions or operations (24 percent), reduce their work force (19 percent) and reduce or eliminate employee benefits (13 percent).