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.

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, 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 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.

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 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.

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

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.

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?

How is red tape burdening your small business?

What is it that burdens you in you role as a women in business? What legislation (or changes in legislation) impact your business in negative ways.

Today’s Sydney Morning Herald article hints at a change in unfair dismissal legislation that could mean even more red tape for business.

See what you think!

Opportunities for young women to learn about business

Susan, Georgia and Jessica all working as interns this week at the Australian Businesswomen’s Network (ABN).

The ABN supports young women to learn about business through internships available throughout the year. Interns learn many aspect of business including marketing, event administration, office duties and get involved in a variety of projects.

Georgia is currently studying at Queenwood School for Girls in year 10 and is doing her work experience with ABN for a week. She choose to do work experience with us to gain knowledge about marketing and the business industry, which she finds interesting.

Jessica is from the University of Alabama (USA) and recently graduated from a Bachelor of Arts, with a major in Psychology and minor in General Business. Jessica is looking to gain experience in a business environment.

Susan is also studying a Bachelor of Arts at the University of NSW and plans to study Fashion Design in the near future. Susan learned about us through her sister, Sivear Ung who is a member of the ABN. Susan wants to learn about busness and networking. If you’d like to intern with us, call us at 1300 720 120.

If you’d like to intern with us, call us at 1300 720 120.

New Grants for Small Business - Forum

Yesterday I attended a forum to discuss proposed new grants to help small business. As part of its $12 million commitment, the competitive grants program will provide between $5,000 and $15,000 to small businesses to help meet the set-up costs of family friendly working arrangements.

The forum was lively with lot of debate about what would truly provide value and good ROI for small business. I expect to hear back later in the year and will be sure to let you know now to apply and also how to get help with your application.

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