It’s an exciting edition, where we are able to give a virtual high five to so many ladies who, on a daily basis are working to make our region a better place, whether it be their contribution to small business, the medical and scientific industries, charity work or the arts just to name a few.
With this in mind, I can’t help but reflect on the weekend that has just been. It’s mid February as I write, and I have just returned home from a buying trip (for my boutique) in Sydney. The vibe in Sydney was electric and I think I might have an inkling as to a massive contributing factor.
Pink Fever.
If ever there was a modern woman who lead from the front with her heart on her sleeve, you’d have to agree Pink would be right up there on top of the list.
Love her or choose not to love her, she’s a woman who unapologetically stands up and speaks from her heart and in the meantime connects with and reconnects so many people by doing so.
It’s awesome to see a performer who speaks to multiple generations at once; all the while opening up avenues for conversations that often need to happen, but sometimes might not come as naturally to some as they do to others.
Now I’m no celebrity, but I feel I can draw a comparison here…
Being “out the front in business” so to speak can at times be a lonely journey, even for those of us who have a support team around us (paid or unpaid as the case may be!) But the reality is that not all women in business have that.
Many often feel isolated, whether that be because they are diligently creating an empire from the spare bedroom with their online business or simply because their entrepreneurial choices are not understood by family or friends, who perhaps place higher value on the stability or perceived security of being employed in a “paid job”.
With this being the case, one thing that really stands out to me when it comes to women in business, is resilience.
Whether we’re talking celebrity status or the Mum with a side hustle, there’s a grit and determination behind simply turning up and getting it done, day in and day out.
This is why this month’s edition of focus is more important than ever. Phrases like “mental load” have emerged of late to try and describe the complexity of the invisible burden many women struggle to balance on a daily basis.
Now I’m not going to go down the potentially controversial rabbit hole of things being better in the “good old days” or that a modern woman can and should be able to “have it all” because in reality, what’s good and right for one, is often not good or right for another.
We are all different. We want and need different things. I recently reviewed the 2023 Women in Business edition, and this is exactly what made it so special.
Every single Woman featured here on these pages has her own story; her own journey. Collectively they have faced challenges and triumphs, set backs and giant leaps forward.
For me, it all comes back to resilience. Anyone that knows anything about my journey into the world of small business ownership would know that it was far from plain sailing.
But with unwavering support from family and friends and sheer grit and determination to trust my instincts I can sit here, with a level of experience and a hint of healthy pride, grateful to be included in such a fabulous collection of Women in Business in our region.
Now if you haven’t read each and every “WIB” feature yet, this is your cue to go and do so… I guarantee you’ll be inspired by what you read!
