http://www.etchmagazine.co.nz/category/business/
Women, New Zealand and the world of Business with Venus Clubs NZ
Although around 80% of New Zealand is comprised of small businesses, starting your own business is no easy venture and sure is no small feat. Competition is tough and perseverance is key, although well worth the freedom and lifestyle say most. With this in mind it’s important to make sure that if you are considering starting a new business venture, or if you already own and operate one, that you have the correct support systems in place.
And just like all things done before, women love getting together for support, advice and good old fashioned gossiping. It was done over knitting and sowing, to share recipes and gardening tips and now for business consulting. It is the way women have always done and it is no different today for the new age career woman. In fact getting together for support and advice is just as important for women, if not more, in today’s working world.
It is for these reasons that Vanessa Davey has put together the Venus Business Clubs for women. Not only do you meet together regularly to share ideas, exchange affiliate links and initiate partnerships but also as a way to boost self confidence and stay positive.
“The Venus Clubs are full of passionate women who are serious about growing their business. We allow one person per business category to join a club so members have no competing businesses in their club. Clubs of up to 20 women meet fortnightly to build strong business alliances with one another that result in the exchange of high quality referrals and alliances being formed” says Vanessa.
After starting her own business ‘The Clutter Coach’ in Tauranga in 2006, Vanessa took the opportunity to follow her passion for small business facilitation, and her love for women in work, into business and came up with the idea of starting small networking groups that would help women follow their passions and achieve their goals.
“I’m in business and love to support anyone who is helping out kiwi business women” Says Vanessa. After hearing this we thought we would ask Vanessa a few questions about her opinion on the world of women and business in New Zealand.
What do you think makes kiwi women so entrepreneurial and successful?
“Our D.I.Y mentality – if we want something done, we do it ourselves. Perhaps because we are so far away from other countries, perhaps because we haven’t been told we can’t. I love the lyrics to a kiwi song “We have no idea that it couldn’t be done and we needed to find a likeminded someone who had no idea that it couldn’t be done.” I think we have so many talented kiwis and we all get talking and support one another and it goes from there”.
What do you think women exclusively have to offer in the world of business?
“Our natural ability to build relationships and work in collaboration for a common cause and a common vision. We are naturally gifted at what some call the ‘feminine principles’ of intuition, empathy, nurturing, and creativity. Although these are not exclusive to women I think they feel more natural to women”.
What do you get out of working with other women (personally)?
“I feel inspired by the women who are my clients because they have been bold and taken on the challenge of running their own business. Women in business have such passion for what they are doing and I get to build great friendships with my clients. It really does feel like a big family, a tribe, a community”.
The Venus Clubs are currently operating in Tauranga, Hamilton, Rotorua, and Christchurch and will soon be launched in Nelson, Auckland and the Hawkes Bay. Women can visit their local club meeting for free as a guest. To register as a guest and for further information visit:
Written By: Abby Lynne
About Vanessa Davey
Venus Club? I wouldn’t be without it! After twelve months of membership my joy and passin for ‘my Venus ladies’ just keeps on growing, as a sole operator in the beauty industry I can’t afford not to be involved. (Bring on Conference 09!)