Some weeks I am so busy when I fall into bed at night I can barely remember what I did that morning… yet I am no good to anyone if I rush around without making sure that I look after myself. Often I just need a few moments to myself to gather my thoughts during the day, whether it is taking a walk at lunch time – or patting Dexter dog. There is a big difference though between a little…
Tag Archives: Female Entrepreneur
Coming up this week 7 November
I usually write this post on a Sunday evening as I prepare for the week. Last weeks post on my weekly activity – was about the uncertainty of travel, but by Monday afternoon that had changed. (In the short term anyway). I like many others fear it will be a long drawn out battle. Last week therefore was productive – with the excitement of the company lunch – falling on the same day as Melbourne Cup – the festive season…
Yoooo hooo… is anybody listening?
As I sat in the back of a taxi rushing from one appointment to another this week… quick to check my phone for messages as soon as I jumped in the cab, the taxi driver asked “And how’s your day going?” I stopped and chatted and found out what he thought of the troubles with the unions and Qantas. The taxi driver lamented that most people were to busy on their mobile phones to chat any more. As I said…
What do you call a gathering of female entrepreneurs? An opportunity
I have just had the pleasure of being a participant at the Ernst & Young Women’s Entrepreneur Workshop in Sydney. It was a delight to listen to Carla Zampatti share her story of being an entrepreneur committed to women’s fashion and the struggles she faced in the late 60s. Lyndsey Cattermole shared the thrill and sheer determination it took to create her business – Aspect Computing – and Melissa Widner discussed her journey as a serial entrepreneur – and her…
Enough is enough; retailers won’t agree
I was fascinated to learn that there is a Buy Nothing New Month in Australia. I love this idea… though of course retailers will not… (I’m sure the liquor retailers don’t like Dry July either.) I was in the US last summer on holiday with my family and I was completely overwhelmed by the consumerism. (And quite frankly everything began to look the same). I heard that 10% of all women’s clothes sold in Australia are never worn. It is…
Coming up this week 24 October 2011
Cup Day is close, which means Christmas is upon us in a retail sense… this will be my eleventh Christmas at RedBalloon. And we are looking to recruit a Customer Experience manager to support with this very hectic time at RedBalloon (so if you know anyone please introduce them to us). Otherwise you might well get me on the phones – which would be fun … in fact maybe I could do that… but we need someone to manage me……
A woman should have:
The fact that 50% of Australian women over the age of 45 have less that $8000 in superannuation is completely alarming to me. I continue to debate, discuss and consider the implications of free childcare in Australia and other ideas around women’s financial security. Financial freedom gives people choices. The following poem was forward to me by a colleague… and rather than present more statistics about why society would be a better place with more women in leadership roles –…
Coming up this week 17 October 2011
Had a great time at the Griffiths University event in Brisbane last Wednesday. Jenny Brockie did a great job encouraging questions from the group and asking her own. I met Stephen C Lundin – visiting professor at Griffiths and also author to Fish and follow up book Fish Sticks which is interesting because my second ever blog post recommended this book. I also really enjoyed being a guest at the Global Banking Alliance for women dinner where Penny Wong spoke….
Everyone’s contribution is equally as important
Recently I received a ‘letter to the editor’ in response to my article in The Australian: Role models key to end gender imbalance Goals for women IF Naomi Simson‘s goal is to get more women on boards, she should start by not denigrating the role of parenting. ?The women’s movement has failed in what should have been a prime goal — to recognise and elevate the role of caring — whether it is for young children, the disabled, or the…
Free childcare for all Australians
That would certainly make headlines, wouldn’t it? I wonder the impact such an initiative would have. On the weekend I was chatting with my friend Margie Hartley and she shared some insights into why there are not more women in senior roles in Australia. Marg facilitates women’s resilience programs and is a coach to executives. She wrote a blog recently about the disappearing pipeline for senior female executives. As we were chatting I offered that making childcare – including qualified…
Imagine running a business based on fun - that's what I decided to try when I left a very serious corporate career in marketing to set up RedBalloon...
