National Women's Enterprise Day

16 members of our network put their best foot forward at National Women's Enterprise Day November 20th 2009, www.nwed.ie.

Jo Fairley told us the story of Green and Blacks chocolate and in doing so illustrated her drive for excellence, intensity and humanity.

Krishne De www.krishnade.com/blog demonstrated the tools we need, to become 'go to' people.

And Paula Fitzsimons, M.C for the event put it up to everyone to consider a vision of growth and expansion for their business www.goingforgrowth.ie.

by Amanda Scott Facilitator

Six month review

Membership is up 34% in the first 6 months of the newly re-formed Sligo Women in Business Network. With funding from the County Enterprise Board, its free monthly events at the Glasshouse Hotel are busier than ever with late arrivals anxious to find a spare seat. Entrepreneurial speakers and engaging workshops attract even the most time-pressed Sligo Business Women with an average of 35 attending meetings. Networking activities have also gone online. A LinkedIn members group, SWIBN (www.linkedin.com) enables a community of forward thinking business women to network cost-effectively, in their own time. Susan Bourke-Monahan, Burke Property Management says the new online possibilities opening for her are very exciting. Up to date information on all SWIBN activity can be found on www.swibn.sligoenterprise.ie

By Amanda Scott Facilitator

Demystifying Innovation for SME's

Toby Scott www.pentacle.ie, created a practical 90 minute workshop for members. He focussed on cutting edge innovation techniques that could be applied to small businesses, immediately. Toby is a proponent of User Centred Design thinking and his skills were well matched to members, who are mainly in service businesses. He challenged members to try out new 'customer experience' tools and used everyday examples to build the group's observation skills - did you ever stop to think about how you eat a yoghurt?

identify-observe-involve-try - Toby's mantra for successful user-centred innovation.

Thanks for your feedback:

To see my business from customers’ eyes;

I haven’t learned to observe people that come into my shop and perhaps notice what they do;

By Amanda Scott Facilitator

Sandwiches

Successful Donegal entrepreneur Jenni Timoney, of Doolittle Foods came to tell us her story. How a cafe owner (with no specific business training) in Donegal town makes and delivers 8,000 handmade sandwiches to 200 outlets around the country, everyday. Just think of the logistics! That's everyday...

Jenni did this in 5 years and made it to the finals of Ernst and Young Entrepreneur. Winning new clients Aer Arann and Topaz, she is one of a small handful of genuine entrepreneur successes.

We were shocked and saddened to hear only 3 weeks later that Jenni's business had gone into voluntary liquidation. In her talk she hadn't hidden the brutal side of managing cash, expanding in an increasingly competitive and price driven market. We wish Jenni well and we fully expect see her back in business again.

by Amanda Scott Facilitator

Sligo women in Business meet Chamber at Lissadell tearooms

Colourful photos by SWIBN member Frances Muldoon, of a recent network meeting between Sligo Chamber and Sligo Women in Business Network, hosted by Isobel Cassidy at the Lissadell Tea Rooms on Thursday 24th September