Latest news with #WomenInBusiness
Bloomberg
6 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Girlbosses Deserve Second Chances, Too
Women, Money & Power The female founders of brands like Outdoor Voices, The Wing, and Reformation are returning to business after public downfalls. Bloomberg Opinion columnist Beth Kowitt explains why it's a win for women. (Source: Bloomberg)
News.com.au
28-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Small Business Week helping create South Australian success stories
Listening to the advice of others has helped Holly Stratton supercharge her business from start-up to star show. Stratton founded her business – A Taste of The Hills Festival – to support food and drink producers in the aftermath of the Cudlee Creek bushfires and the Covid-19 pandemic. When she talked to local producers, she realised the potential of a festival. 'I'd only been thinking of having a few small events,' Stratton says. 'But the more I spoke to people, the more they said it should be bigger, and the more people wanted to be part of it.' The first festival, in 2023, was held in Mount George and attracted 600 guests. In 2024, it moved to Hahndorf, drawing 2000. This year it was at Lot 100 near Nairne, with more than 3000 attendees. A key to success was the advice Stratton picked up from a Women in Business Foundations Program offered by the state government's Office for Small and Family Business. 'You only know what you know,' Stratton says. 'There are others out there who know more, and you should tap into them.' The program boosted Stratton's marketing and social media skills. Her mentors helped her design a brand to reflect the bright, fun feel of a festival. Using the mentor's tips on social media, her reach has grown from 500 to more than 7000 connections. The Foundations program is one of several streams in a $4m government initiative which has assisted more than 3900 entrepreneurial women. Other streams include a localised networking program, Connecting Women in Business, and an advisory program run with leadership forum behind closed doors. The Fearless Innovator program facilitates access to capital through Department of State Development grants for scale-ups. The director of the Office for Small and Family Business, Kathryn Calaby, says women face specific barriers, such as access to capital and finding time for networking and skill development. 'Increasing women's participation in business is good for growth, good for communities and good for the long-term health of our small business sector,' Calaby says. Stratton, 33, who grew up in the Hills, is now negotiating with venues and exhibitors for the 2026 Hills festival. She's also started a new business in psychotherapy with an equestrian twist, and works as a relief schoolteacher. Stratton says there's never a perfect time to start a business, but her bigger fear would have been to regret not giving it a go. 'The life we live these days, it is so easy to be comfortable and not push yourself to try and create something,' she says. 'A lot of people's lives are really busy, but you can still find time if it's important to you.' The women's programs are among many measures available to all small businesses. Others include advice on sustainability, grants for energy upgrades, mental health support, and guidance on funding. Hearing our shared stories a positive experience Powerful drivers are encouraging small businesses to embrace the advantages of sustainability, a leading South Australian consultancy has found. Firstly, businesses want to reduce costs through energy efficiency and minimising waste. Secondly, business owners pursue the marketing advantage of green credentials, particularly in sectors such as food production and landscaping. Now, a third force has emerged, managing director of consultancy 2XE Nick Palousis says. 'There have been legislative changes where big companies need to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and how they're reducing them,' Palousis says. 'Those big companies have long supply chains which consist of small companies. 'So those big companies are asking their supply chains for the information. 'And those smaller companies see that this as an opportunity to grow their business.' Adelaide-based 2XE provides advice to companies nationally and delivers the Small Business Sustainability Program in collaboration with the Office for Small and Family Business. More than 100 companies have taken part in the program. Palousis will be part of a panel discussion during the Small Business Week in September. He found attending the event last year was very valuable. 'I run a small business myself and it was really good to be among your peers,' he says. 'You face shared challenges but it's also good to pick up on the positivity, to hear some really good stories.' Palousis says SA business owners in SA are generally better informed on energy than those in other states. SA owners know that recent cost increases have been caused by ageing coal-fired power stations 'bleeding the market' rather than by renewable generation. SA businesses want support to achieve sustainability and measure the gains. 'We've seen a big uptick in demand for our services,' he says. 'We're engineers by background, so it's what we love. 'Businesses want practical advice on what's going to move the dial and leave their business better off.' Register now for success Registrations are now open for Small Business Week, to be held September 22 to 26 in Adelaide and regional South Australia. 'We'll have sessions covering strategic planning, diversification, finance, cashflow and capital, digital technologies and AI, and succession planning,' Office for Small and Family Business director Kathryn Calaby says. 'It's a perfect opportunity to set aside some time to work on your business, hear from experts and those who have faced challenges and thrived, or just simply to network and be inspired. 'But if you can't make it to any of the in-person events, we will have a range of helpful online content available which you can consume anytime and anywhere.' The week starts with a welcome event on Monday, September 22, where leading demographer and commentator Bernard Salt is the keynote speaker. He will be followed by a panel discussion with small business owners. Small Business Week is one of the initiatives flowing from the state government's Small Business Strategy 2023-30. The strategy was shaped by extensive engagement with the sector, including a statewide online survey, roundtable discussions and in-depth interviews. 'There's no doubt the world is rapidly changing,' Ms Calaby says. 'New challenges and opportunities are con-stantly arising, and we have to be flexible in our ability to respond.' Calaby says small businesses have been adopting to AI, including apps such as Chat-GPT and Copilot. Most small business owners also want to hone their skills in financial literacy and business planning; and there continues to be pressures affecting their mental wellbeing, Calaby says.
Zawya
14-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
EFTCorp and EmpowerBank to optimise digital landscape in Zimbabwe
EFTCorp delivers scalable digital infrastructure and customised banking technologies, allowing institutions such as EmpowerBank to effectively and securely assist underserved and often excluded communities. Zimbabwe's financial landscape for youth With over 60% of the population under 25 and women who remain underserved by traditional banking, access to financial services becomes essential and can have positive effects. One of EmpowerBank's goals is to offer youth-friendly loan products, financial training, and entrepreneurship programmes. Moreover, the bank works to reduce youth unemployment, fights against substance abuse, and improves financial literacy levels across Zimbabwe. EmpowerBank's latest initiatives EmpowerBank has a portfolio with programmes tailored to consumers' needs: Microloans for youth entrepreneurs – EmpowerBank has disbursed various loans, focusing on youth-led agriculture, services, and retail businesses. Moreover, the microbank accepts bankable business proposals from all sectors of the economy to enable business diversity and offers access to mentorship and training; Women in Business initiative – dedicated programmes supporting young women entrepreneurs in sectors such as manufacturing, food processing, and cross-border trading; Youth financial literacy campaigns through radio programmes, roadshows, and school-based activations, with EmpowerBank highlighting awareness of saving, budgeting, and mobile banking tools to support long-term economic wellbeing. More about the EFTCorp and EmpowerBank partnership As technology has become essential to financial inclusion, EFTCorp provides the core banking infrastructure that supports EmpowerBank's ability to deliver secure, scalable, and accessible services: Transaction switching services, as EFTCorp's secure switching platform enables real-time transaction routing, ATM and POS functionality, and mobile money interoperability; Card issuing and management, with EmpowerBank customers being able to access debit cards issued via EFTCorp's issuing platform, which provides them with secure and convenient access to their funds; Acquiring solutions, as EFTCorp's acquiring capabilities enable EmpowerBank to support merchant payments and improve access to digital commerce. With Verifone-supplied POS devices, merchants in informal markets can now accept card payments, reduce reliance on cash, and formalise their transactions. Through this partnership, the two firms aim to create an optimal financial future for young people by investing in inclusive technology, strategic alliances, and customer-centric financial tools. © Copyright The Zimbabwean. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
News.com.au
23-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Leading Ladies of Real Estate heading back to Townsville
A women in real estate event is coming to Townsville this month with an aim to connect women in the industry in an informal and fun environment. The Leading Ladies of Real Estate's Canapes and Conversations will be held in Townsville for the second time ever on May 29. Sally Patch, Queensland Chair of Leading Ladies of Real Estate, said the aim of Leading Ladies in Real Estate was to celebrate and elevate women in the property industry. 'We are so excited to bring Leading Ladies back to Townsville — this is only our second event outside of a capital city,' she said. 'Our events are all about real connection, real stories, and real inspiration.' Ms Patch said the organisation was an industry-wide initiative with a mission to inspire and empower women in real estate to realise their full potential — personally and professionally. The community is inclusive with support from across the industry and operates under the understanding that 'you can't be what you can't see'. The Townsville event will feature guest speakers including Angela Duncan, who is in the top 3 per cent of Ray White agents, Melinda Leathart, the marketing and operations manager for the Angela Duncan Team, and Jade Nelson, founder of The Women's Society and finalist for the 2025 Queensland Philanthropist of the Year. Leading Ladies of Real Estate has communities established across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and New Zealand. The organisation provides in-person networking opportunities and a monthly podcast series that showcases the journeys of women across the industry. Tickets for Townsville Canapes and Conversations event are $85, and include canapes, drinks and networking opportunities.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lima-area businesswomen share insights on success, leadership
Apr. 3—LIMA — A panel of four local, successful businesswomen discussed their insights, experiences, strategies for success and the keys to thriving in today's business landscape. The panel included Bev Beery, owner and agent of Beery Insurance; Lynn Carpenter, president and COO of Lima Memorial Health System; Tracie Sanchez, owner and president of Lima Pallet Company and managing partner of the Central District; and Krista Schrader, broker and owner of Schrader Realty. The panelists discussed significant moments from their journeys. Sanchez grew up wanting to be a school teacher. "I didn't grow up saying that I wanted to own a pallet company by any means, but it's the family business," Sanchez said. Sanchez was able to teach work ethic and skills when she gave felons a second chance at the pallet company. When it comes to her leadership role, Sanchez said she enjoys a participative style and getting everyone involved. Unhappiness and a lack of respect in the workplace led Beery to start her own business. "I'd go home crying," Beery said. "And finally, I said I can do this on my own. I don't need a man telling me how to do this." Schrader's role models taught her to be okay with not selling every house and how to battle through adversity. "If it's not going to matter in five years, why are you spending five minutes on it?" Schrader said. Each panelist explained why maintaining a healthy work-life balance is key to success. "I have to work out," Schrader said. "If I don't, I become grouchy." Sanchez is motivated by doing what she loves to do. "When you love what you do, I don't look at it as work," Sanchez said. "Find something you really enjoy." Carpenter tries to carve time out of her day to be away from work. "All of the day-to-day challenges and opportunities, just that time away, taking a walk with one of my kids or what have you," Carpenter said. Beery loves to stay involved, whether it's volunteering or enjoying her hobbies at her home. "My niece calls me the Energizer Bunny, and my family gets mad at me that I never sit still, but I do love to garden, and I'm in the yard a lot," Beery said. "I love to be out in God's creation." Panelists discussed the importance of surrounding oneself with intelligent people, demonstrating humility, being comfortable with making mistakes, and not hesitating to set high standards when defining what makes a strong businesswoman. The next Women In Business event will be Thursday, Sept. 4. Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351 Featured Local Savings
