Members Provide Support for Women in Developing Countries

Over a year ago the Australian Businesswomen’s Network raised funds to support entrepreneurs in developing countries through Kiva, an organisation that provides micro-loans. Members contributed donations through a silent auction and a series of business webinars. We recently reinvested the funds that had been repaid by those who had received our original funding. Here are the stories and profiles of the latest recipients of ABN member support.

I share their stories here to demonstrate the parallel between business owners in all countries. Our circumstances may differ (immensely) but our spirit and our goals are often similar. Education, inspiration and networking and connections are the common elements to our success regardless of our location.

SAYDA MELANIA – STORE OWNER Sayda Melania is married and has a small store in her home. Her sales provide her gratification since she has a considerable number of customers and satisfactory income. With the help of her husband, she has been able to move forward with determination, hard work, and dedication. Her loan requested will be granted so that she can buy basic grains, candy, detergents, bread, and cookies. Her wish is to increase the number of customers that she serves.

HILARIA – ARTISAN WOOL PRODUCTS At 42 years old, Hilaria is the mother of two children who are already independent. She works selling artisanal products, which she distributes from her home. She is also learning about the production of these crafts in all their possible varieties so that she herself can create them and increase her profit margins. She began making woven wool products such as sweaters, hats, gloves, etc. Hoping one day to have a store, she plans to learn more about artisanal work and use the current loan to buy artisanal crafts to sell. Her biggest dream is to have and rent out her own store and a mototaxi.

LILA – BEAUTY PRODUCTS Lila, 52, is an enterprising woman who works tirelessly to accomplish her dreams. She is single and lives with her sister in her sister’s home. For 4 years she has been selling beauty products, like her sister. The way she works is that she acquires the products from a well-known cosmetics company and offers them through catalogs to her friends and neighbors. They prefer these products because of their good quality and low price. Part of the advantage she has is that she knows the products well, and can suggest to the customers which cosmetics they should choose, and in this way she earns her customer’s loyalty.

FLORA – CONVENIENCE STORE Flora Idania Chow Castillo, 31, is married with two children who study. This mother has managed a convenience store for three years. With her earnings she contributes to household costs, as her husband is a soldier and his earnings are low.Her business is located in an area where there are only two convenience stores; this means that she has many customers and has good sales. She is requesting a small loan, which will be used to buy the following basic grains and materials to keep her business going.

MARIBELOU – RETAIL STORE Maribelou Tadle, from the village of Southern Pob. Plaridel Misamis Occidental, is 38 years old and separated from her spouse. To make a living, Maribelou owns and operates a specialized retail store selling clothing and shoe products, lotion, cologne, etc. in the local community. She is requesting a loan to purchase additional products to sell and to keep her business growing.

KHALILOVA – CLOTHING STORE Khalilova Yakshikhanim is a 50-year-old woman who sells men’s clothes in a small village of Agsu city. She started her business in 2010 and her monthly profit is already 150-200 AZN. She is very successful in her business as she has very good taste in choosing men’s clothes. She is married and has six children. Yakshikhanim started her business because she went on a pension in 2009 and lost her only source of income. She believes that one day she could build her own shop.

Pre-Election Results Reveal the Issues Women Want Government to Act on

By Amy Lyden

Thank you to those who participated in the Australian Businesswomen’s Network pre-election poll.

We have analysed the results and written to all major political parties so that we can hear how they respond to issues that are important to YOU.

Below is a list of the top issues you identified, as well as a link to a copy of the letter we have sent to the major parties.

You will see the top issues are:
•    Government support for small business including training,
•    reducing red tape and compliance issues,
•    gender imbalance on boards and
•    cost and flexibility of childcare.

There were also two running themes in the open ended questions you answered:
1.  Reduction of tax for small business – income and payroll, and
2.  Climate change – incentives offered for small business and concerns over reducing our carbon footprint.

Many of you commented that many of these issues that are important to you haven’t been addressed by any of the parties or their policies aren’t clear.

We will notify you as soon as we have heard back from the parties so that you can make a better informed choice at the polls on the 21st of August.

Link to letter sent to Political Parties

Will keep you posted…

Amy Lyden
Advocacy Ambassador

P.S. Many of you took time to provide additional comments and reasons. Thank you for your passion. We will post some of these additional thoughts in the coming days.

MORE GREAT BLOG POSTS BY AMY LYDEN

• Paid Parental Leave – Article: Maybe Baby: Juggling Home, Work and Family Life.
• Tony Abbott vs Craig Emerson – Live from COSBOA’s National Small Business Summit, 8 July
• Paid Parental Leave Scheme Gets the Go-Ahead

Businesswomen’s Debate – Do Nice Girls Finish Second?

by Suzi Dafnis

For the last 12 years, the Australian Institute of Management’s Women in Management Debate has been a great way to network with and learn from sharp business minds.

The 2010 Women in Management Great Debate, titled NICE GIRLS FINISH SECOND,  is a light-hearted and irreverent clash of the minds over fine wine and great food with some of Australia’s leading businesswomen (and a couple of men).

The Australian Businesswomen’s Network is proud to be a partner and to offer ABN clients a discount to attend.

The annual sell-out event, in it’s 12th successful year in the ACT, will also be held in Sydney in August.

•    Canberra – Friday 2 July
•    Sydney – Friday 27 August

More information can be found on our website.

Call AIM NSW on 1300 551 776 to register, and quote coupon code AIMABN to receive your special price.

The speakers will cut straight to the chase on some of the biggest issues facing women in management.

We invite you to attend.

Sincerely,

Suzi Dafnis
Community Director

Networking ‘across the pond’ provides more opportunities for Aussie women

Yesterday I met with the new President of the New York City chapter – National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). NAWBO is a national US organisation for (as the name implies) women business owners.

Pat Ahaesy - NAWBO | Suzi Dafnis

Having lived and worked in the US I know that doing business in Australia is very similar to doing business in the US. The challenges we face as businesswomen, are similar.

For those of us growing a business the main issues remain:

• How do I market my business and improve my sales?
• How do I become a better leader?
• How do I make a profit?
• Where can I go to be with like-minded women?
• What does it take to have work/life balance?
• How to do I navigate legislation that makes doing business hard?

NAWBO, like the Australian Businesswomen’s Network, provides training, networking and access to role models.

So, over a coffee at the well-known Dean and DeLuca cafe at the Rockefeller Centre, Pat Ahersy and I discussed how we can work together to improve services, education and networking opportunities for our members.

And, we talked about how powerful it would be for ABN members to connect with NAWBO members and to cross-network and do business across the Pacific Ocean.

As part of the Australian Businesswomen’s Network’s commitment initiative to be at the forefront of access to development opportunities for businesswomen we will continue to develop links and find ways to help our community connect with the right people, across the globe.

Stay tuned for developments.

Aussie women support the development of business owners in developing countries.

During Women’s Business Week (held in March to coincide with International Women’s Day) the Australian Businesswomen’s Network raised funds to support entrepreneurs in developing countries. Members contributed donations through a silent auction and a series of business webinars. Here are the women who we are currently supporting through these donations.

I share their stories here to demonstrate the parallel between business owners in all countries. Our circumstances may differ (immensely) but our spirit and our goals are often similar.  Education, inspiration and networking and connections are the common elements to our success regardless of our location.

Chea Yarn Nheb | Kiva.org

Chea Yarn Nheb, 57, is a widowed woman who runs a business on her own as a food (green papaya and some other types of vegetable mixed together) and soy-milk seller living in the Battambong province; she typically makes US$6 every day and is aided by her daughter who works in a garment factory with an income of US$3 per day.

Nheb wants to operate another business for her family members to generate more income to cover her family’s expenses and to save more income to repair her house. That is why she has approached CREDIT with a request for a loan. Nheb is asking for a loan of US$1,000 to purchase clothes, a purchase that she sees as a good opportunity to resell them at a fairly profitable price to increase her income.

Sra. Leticia | Kiva.org

Sra. Leticia is married to Sr. José Ramón, who is a pensioner. They have a grocery store called “Abarrotes Leticia” (Leticia’s Groceries), which has been in operation for one year. They are a close family. Their daughter Yesenia works in an office as a data entry operator. Sra. Leticia’s income goes toward the family expenses.

Her loan will be used to buy merchandise for her family business, which will increase her earnings.

Dona Rosario Tzoc | Kiva.org

Doña Rosario Tzoc is 28 years old and lives with her husband and children. She is a merchant who sells traditional clothing. She and her husband work in the same shop with their two employees. For the past 8 years, they have been operating their business from home in Paraje Xolcaja in the Poxlajuj sector of Totonicapán District, Guatemala.

Now that customer demand has increased, they are not in a financial position to increase their capital. For this reason, they have approached Asociación ASDIR to request a loan. They intend to buy raw materials needed to increase their sales. Doña Rosario hopes that her family will get ahead and have better living conditions.

Mrs. Maria de la Luz | Kiva.org

Mrs. Maria de la Luz lives with her husband, Mr. Adrian Villrreal, who is on pension. Mrs. Maria has her own business called “Abarrotes Imax”, which she established a year ago. This business is turning a profit, and she already has her own regular customers. The family is seeking a loan for investment in the purchase of additional merchandise in order to continue meeting the needs of their customers.

Keme Diaw | Kiva.org

Kémé Diaw, age 39, is married and has 6 children to support. She sells refreshments, and also sheets and curtains at home. Her income enables her to pay electricity bills and to increase her working capital, in order to better provide for her family.

You can make a donation at kiva.org.

The Australian Businesswomen’s Network community initiatives have raised over $40,000 in donations to support women around the world.

Global Summit of Women Review – Join us next year in Beijing

Last year I attended the Global Summit of Women in Vietnam. This year’s conference was in Chile just a couple of weeks ago. The Australian Businesswomen’s Network has been a partner of the summit for many years and today we received this lovely message from the president of the program – a woman who has, for 19 years, committed herself to helping women gather around the world to network, learn and be inspired.  Next year’s conference is in China and we plan to take a group of women along to represent Australia. More news as soon as we have details. We’d love you to join us.

I would like to extend my appreciation for Australian Businesswomen’s Network’s participation as an International Partner to the 2009 Global Summit of Women held in Chile this May.  We are proud to count you among the 84 partners from 50 countries who supported the Global Summit of Women this year.  Your partnership with the Summit contributed greatly to the diversity of our Summit ‘family’.

There was a great deal of excitement at this year´s Summit, partly as a result of coming together in such large numbers during a most difficult time globally.  We are receiving very positive comments from government ministers, corporate executives and entrepreneurs alike for an exciting, dynamic global forum, which featured some of the best and the brightest women from different parts of the world. Your support plays a critical role, because in addition to sending delegates to the Summit, our partner organizations share important lessons from the Summit following the event itself.

In fact, we have been busy since we returned from Chile adding material to our website.  I invite you – and your members – to see for yourself what the 2009 Global Summit of Women was all about by visiting our updated website, www.globewomen.org, (click on Global Summit of Women).

Even after 19 years, I remain enthused and awed by the talent and expertise exhibited by the women who participate at the Summit.  Organizations like yours which carve a path for others to follow make this a worthwhile, albeit difficult to organize, forum as it rotates yearly continent to continent. Thank you very much for giving us your support.   Best wishes and I hope that you can make your way to Beijing next year for the Summit’s 20th anniversary.

Sincerely,
Irene Natividad
Summit President

Global Summit of Women 2009

A report from the 2009 Global Summit of Women

The 19th Global Summit for Women opened today in Santiago, Chile with 28 Ministers – including the first woman Minister (for education) from Saudi Arabia!! We are indeed making progress.
Lead Specialist of the World Bank Group Gender Action Plan, Amanda Ellis sent me this report today. [Amanda and I and a few Australian Businesswomen's Network members attended last year's summit in Vietnam.]

Amanda Ellis | World Bank Group Gender Action Plan

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet formally opened the Summit to a standing ovation from a crowd of around 650, which is pretty good going given the current global financial and economic crisis. President Bachelet recapped some of the positive changes that have been enacted since she was elected Chile’s first woman President. These included:
•    significant increase (tripling) in childcare facilities
•    pension reform in favor of women
•    new code for labor practices taking into account women’s family responsibilities

As Summit President, Irene Natividad, underscored when presenting a leadership award to President Bachelet, she has never forgotten she is a woman as well as a presidebt, and has fought hard to level the playing field for women.

I presented an update to Ministers on the World Bank Group’s Gender Action Plan for women’s economic empowerment and gave a sneak preview of the Women’s Economic Opportunities Index we have been working on with the Economist Intelligence Unit. The Index compares over 100 countries on which provides the best business environment for women to be economically active. There are 6 sub categories, each of which have several components
•    Labour policy
•    Labour practice
•    Credit, property and tax
•    Education and training
•    Social customs and attitudes (these first five are all specifically relating to women)
•    General business environment

No prizes for guessing where the US and Australia currently rank on paid maternity leave!

  Tomorrow the business sessions kick off starting with moderated networking breakfasts.

Amanda Ellis, Lead Specialist World Bank Group Gender Action Plan

Thanks Amanda for keeping us updated on this inspiring event. We look forward to hearing more and to the release of the Women’s Economic Opportunities Index.

You can hear Amanda’s presentation on Social Entrepreneurship from the Australian Businesswomen’s Network’s Women’s Business Week webinar held in March. (Give the recording a few mins to get going…)

Australia’s broadband problems keeping business back

The broadband issue is not a new one to Australians. We still have business connections slower than home connections in most countries and the delivery of a solution still seems a way off.

BRW magazine interviewed Suzi Dafnis about how the lack of access to high-speed has impacted small business.

The ABN’s mentoring program for women, MentorNet was specifically designed to be online and to use social media so that women in regional and country areas could access teh same information and education that is available to those in the city.  While some women from country/regional areas have been able to participate in the program (which was launched with Government funding in 2007) the small-business development program (which combines mentoring with business training) still remains out of the reach of many.

Business Review Weekly | Suzi Dafnis | Australian Businesswomen's Network

Business Review Weekly | Suzi Dafnis | Australian Businesswomen's Network

Additionally the ABN runs monthly webinar – web-based seminars on all types of busienss subjects from marketing, publicity, social media, finances… and again our efforts have been crippled by the lack of access.

Despite our good intentions we’ve not been able to reach many of those women that need this help the most.

We will continue to champion this issue on your behalf.

What does the government’s stimulus package do to help SMEs?

Australia’s government released a $2.7billion tax break for SMEs today. But what does it mean for your small business and does it help you grow your business, create more jobs?

“The specific measure for SMEs in the $2.7 billion tax break is designed to encourage companies with annual turnover of $2 million or less to bring forward spending plans to before 1 July this year.” This article from Smart Company shares one point of view. 

Is the tax break worth it? Is there something else you’d like to have seen in the package? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

Small Business Summit: What would you want to table?

The Federal Government will hold a small business summit on the global financial crisis in Brisbane on Friday.

This Sydney Morning Herald article announced the small business summit will attended by the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Treasurer Wayne Swan, Corporate Governance Minister Senator Nick Sherry and Small Business Minister Craig Emerson. 

Wouldn’t it be nice if some small-business representatives were also there!

What would you want to table if you were going along? What does government need to know about how the financial crisis is, or could, impact your business?

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