FINDING NEW CUSTOMERS on social media, taking a sustainable approach to managing a business, or just discovering new ways to blitz your to-do list.
Each year, National Women’s Enterprise Day helps women around the country to build their business future and network with people from all kinds of backgrounds, and the next one takes place on Thursday, October 7.
This year’s theme, Build The Future, is a response to a challenging 18 months for businesses and entrepreneurs around Ireland, says Vibeke Delahunt, co-chair of the event committee.
“Now that we’ve hopefully moved beyond lockdowns and the economy is re-opening, we want to help women to come together, to learn from each other and to learn from experts about how to strengthen their business into the future,” she said.
The annual event, an initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, features a series of talks, networking sessions and workshops that are free and open to anyone. Thanks to the online-only format, attendees can get as much as possible out of the event without being restricted by location – a setup that proved incredibly successful last year, says Delahunt:
“Rather than running 31 events, one for each Local Enterprise Office, last year we had one national event online. It went down so well. We had around 1600 participants and most stayed with us all day, so we’re sticking with the same model for 2021.”
And just like an in-person event, there’ll be opportunities to meet other women in business, plus exhibition stands to browse, and the chance to put your business or startup questions to Local Enterprise office representatives.
Curious? You can take a look through the full programme here, but read on for five highlights from this year’s line-up to get you started.
1. Beauty giant Aimee Connolly started off her career in her teens, working at a make-up stand in a busy Dublin shopping centre. Now, she’s the owner of Sculpted by Aimee, a brand which has seen huge success in Ireland and beyond. Her products are worn by everyone from college students, to those with mature skin, to celebrities like Tess Daly and Holly Willoughby.
As one of the event’s keynote speakers, Connolly will share the role social media has played in her company’s growth and how she leverages her loyal and outspoken customer base. She’ll also discuss her approach to tackling markets outside of Ireland, most recently the UK.
2. Journalist Áine Kerr is the host of this year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day and will lead sessions with a number of speakers. She’s also a prime example of someone who has diversified their skillset and played to their strengths.
Once a political correspondent and reporter for various national newspapers, Kerr went on to work at Storyful and Facebook before co-founding Kinzen – a company that uses technology to fight news misinformation.
3. Veteran entrepreneur Rachel Doyle has over 40 years of business experience. She set up her own company in 1977, selling bulbs and plants grown in her own back garden.
Now, Arboretum is a thriving garden centre with bases in Wicklow and Kilkenny and a hugely successful e-commerce site. It’s a true family business – Doyle’s sons Fergal and Barry both play senior roles in the company. As a keynote speaker, Doyle will discuss what it really means to “grow” a business from the ground up, and will share some of her successes and failures from over the years.
4. Sustainable wine maker Pamela Walsh left the corporate world in 2016 to go into business with her husband, Brett. At Wicklow Way Wines, the juice of Irish berries is used to create delicious, best-selling drinks.
Walsh will be speaking alongside three other entrepreneurs who have embedded sustainability into their business model. From sourcing ingredients from local farmers to taking a sustainable approach to manufacturing, Walsh will share her climate-conscious approach to running a business.
5. Productivity expert Paula McNicholas is a pro in taking business from chaos to calm, from busy to focused. As a coach and consultant with 25 years of experience, she’s worked with everyone from luxury car manufacturers like Rolls-Royce to small Irish startups.
She’ll share accessible tips that everyone can follow, no matter what their business background or current work situation. From tackling your timelines to prioritising important tasks, she’ll help you get the most out of your working day.
National Women’s Enterprise Day takes place online this year on Thursday, October 7. Organised by the Local Enterprise Offices, and supported by the Government of Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and local authorities, it’s a chance for women around the country to help build their future in business. Events are free and anyone can sign up. To browse the programme or to register, visit LocalEnterprise.ie/NWED.
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