“This week I had the pleasure of being invited to speak at Melbourne Business School (MBS), by the Woman and Management and Entrepreneurship group to share my experiences in business and the challenges I have faced as a female entrepreneur.
This group of women (plus two men) is completing their MBA’s at the prestigious MBS. They were intelligent, professional and dynamic woman, all from different professions 
and all with different goals, some which included starting their own ventures.
One of the topics raised was discrimination or sexism towards woman in business, which is prevalent regardless of if you are an employee or self employed. Unfortunately discrimination is everywhere – be it gender, age, nationality and so on. In my view, the key is to accept it and work with it, not against it. I have found that through sourcing out those (men or women) with similar values and interests that they will support you and help your business or career to grow.
It has to be said that many business deals do still occur on the golf course and in the gentleman’s clubs lacking transparency and fail to offer an equal playing field. However all we can do is hope that this will change over time.
On this same subject I found an interesting article on Honestly Woman, where Kylie Moppert reports on … women entrepreneurs and sexismIn the article she concludes with “Naming sexism appears difficult for women entrepreneurs: to do so could create conflict with important stakeholders who are sexist. These women display a preference to modify their behaviour or interpretation so they can get the result they want, rather than directly challenging the status quo.” In my businesses I have not found the need to modify my behaviour however I expect that this is different for those working in corporations or specific industries.
For those looking to establish their own business, my top ten tips include:
1. Passion, integrity, expertise and tenacity as its tough out there
2. Have a great business partner, with complimentary skills to share the journey with
3. Find great mentors and advisors in the same and different fields to your business
4. Develop networks of dynamic men and woman
5. Thing big, think global
6. Take calculated risks, be flexible and open to change
7. Hire and work with top people, cut poor performers quickly
8. Debt is necessary, be it bank loans, grants, private investors or venture capitalists
9. Don’t be afraid to ask for help
10. Question everything, everyone and negotiate
The organizer of the event sent me a lovely thank you email, which offered a lot of hope for women to be audacious entrepreneurs – “I do believe we ladies can start technological and complicated infrastructures as well as the men do.”
The lunch at MBS was interactive with questions and experiences being shared by all. It was an inspiring group of woman who I look forward to following their careers and ventures into the future.
Best of luck to all the audacious female entrepreneurs out there
Please share your business tips and / or experiences a female in business.