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Successful Conference Held For Local Female Entrepreneurs
Monday 28 May 2007
On Sunday 13th May 2007 in the Marriott Johnstown House Hotel Enfield, Kildare & Meath CountyEnterprise Boards joined forces to organise and support a Women in Business Conference & Exhibition aimed at providing a showcase for local women owned businesses to exhibit their products and services to the conference participants and general public. The businesses ranged from fashion to business consultancy to food processing as well as alternative medicine. Also included were recruitment companies, property companies, legal practitioners and wedding cakes. Over 40 exhibitors took part in the exhibition.Mr.Hugh Reilly, CEO of Meath County Enterprise Board formally welcomed the exhibitors, participants and speakers on behalf of both Meath & Kildare County EnterpriseBoards. The conference was officially opened by Sheila O’Flanagan, the best selling author and financial expert. She spoke about the problems facing new businesses particularly in the start-up phase and about the barriers facing women entrepreneurs. Mary Fitzgerald, founder of the family business Fitzgerald Woodlands House Hotel in Adare Co. Limerick shared her experience of building her business from a 2 bedroom farmhouse B&B to a major hotel and spa centre. Mary spoke about the problems of financing a business in the past when variable interest rates were over 18%.
Sandra Lawler, winner of Image / Sunday Times Entrepreneur of the Year Award presented next. Sandra spoke about the importance of having realistic and focused marketing objectives. Pauline Baker who holds 8 world records for Hot Air Ballooning described the similarities between the goals for achievement in sport and business.
The afternoon was given over to a workshop “Creating Your Own Financial Blueprint” by Angela Gorman. This workshop dealt with how one can create their own reality by changing their thinking, by being positive in their outlook and by questioning traditional imprints.
There was plenty of opportunity for networking and sharing ofinformation. The reaction from those present were:
“fantastic speakers – very motivational”
“great to have the chance to speak to businesswomen who have made it”
“enjoyed the workshop on finance particularly”
“the exhibition was a marvelous opportunity to get my business out there”
“excellent programme, well worth attending”
This joint venture by both Kildare & Meath County Enterprise Boards is part of their Women in Business Initiative and this conference and exhibition was unique in that for the first time neighbouring counties came together to network and do business. Both counties have an ongoing Women in Business Programme meeting every month.
For further information on Kildare County Enterprise Board telephone (045) 861707 or Meath County EnterpriseBoard on (046) 9078400.
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