Growth through Mentoring Women in Business Joint Event with Business in the Community Thursday 10th February 2011

22/02/2011 What better way to spend a lunch-time, than to sit in the grand surroundings of the Harbour Commissioners office listening to words of wisdom from three successful business women, and, the encour ...
What better way to spend a lunch-time, than to sit in the grand surroundings of the Harbour Commissioners office listening to words of wisdom from three successful business women, and, the encouraging feedback of three Women in Business members on Business in the Community's Connections programme. The fully booked, Growth through Mentoring event with Business in the Community, had this in store and much more! Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "A great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves", and the panel of successful business-management mentors: Margaret Colton, Sales & Marketing Manager with ESB Electric Ireland and a professional commercial marketer; Rose Mary Stalker, Group Operations Director with McMullen's Architectural Systems and a business leader with multi-national experience, and Patricia O'Hagan, Managing Director of Core Systems with over 20 years' experience in the IT industry, provided inspiration in abundance. From hearing their diverse career journey's, to having the unique opportunity to pick their brains, they offered first-hand advice on the importance of on the job management training and support, the various ways a small business can market themselves and find their way through the minefield of large organisations, how taking a risk can pay dividends for your business, and, the importance of having a mentor when you are starting out in business. Mentoring, a topic high on Heather Major's agenda, presented Business in the Community's Connections' programme. This exciting initiative is designed to bring together the owner of a small to medium business with in-house experts from large companies, to help them address specific development issues. Heather introduced three Women in Business members who are benefiting from the mentoring support: Christine Boyle of Lawell Asphalt Roofing mentored by Susan Kanane from ESB Independent Energy; Sara Bell of Your Music School, mentored by Mark Walker from Northern Bank, and, Lisa Hamilton of Bailies Auto Refinishers, mentored by Andrew Dobbin from Reach EPS. All were in agreement that the mentoring was invaluable to the business because their mentor could offer key contacts tailored to them, one-on-one support from 'someone already successful in business' and who 'was on their side', and, were in the position to give an 'outside view' of how they could expand their business. A resounding successful joint event with Business in the Community, the lunchtime occasion ended on a high with a light lunch and the opportunity to catch up with old business colleagues, and network and connect with other members.

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