Gender Blender
Boys don't have cooties, so don't be afraid to mingle at mixed-gender functions.
They say that birds of a feather flock together—and for
many women entrepreneurs, flocking together at conferences and
networking events specifically targeting women is par for the
course. But the next time you attend your local chamber meeting or
general venture capital forum, look around the room. You can
probably count the women on one hand. Does this picture seem a bit out of whack? It is, and that's
hurting women, because mixed-gender and predominantly male events
are where the money usually is, says Aldonna Ambler, an
entrepreneur, venture capitalist and growth strategist in
Hammonton, New Jersey. Even if you're not seeking capital,
Ambler says these events are prime opportunities to meet strategic
alliance partners, customers and others who can help grow your
business. "I grew my businesses through sponsorships, but I never
would have had the sponsors if I had worked only with women,"
says Ambler, who owned six companies before running the Ambler
Growth Fund. Content Continues Below
What scares women away from mixed-gender events? "In many
male-dominated forums, there are a lot of games being played,"
says Deb Haggerty, a business coach whose Orlando, Florida,
company, Positive Connections, helps companies improve internal
communications. "Men are very competitive, fighting for power
and position. Women build relationships and are less comfortable in
that environment." Even in 2001, business events can still be surprisingly sexist.
Haggerty is a member of five different organizations, only two of
which are all-women, and she's noticed a definite difference.
"I'm taken more seriously more easily in my women's
business group than in the chamber of commerce or the convention
and visitors bureau," she claims. Does the thought of being the lone woman in a sea of men
intimidate you? Preparation is key to boosting your confidence.
Susan RoAne, a San Francisco, California, speaker, networking
expert and author of How to Work a Room (Harper Quill),
suggests reading conference brochures and getting all the
information you can on the sponsors and speakers. For regular
networking events, such as chamber meetings, find out as much as
you can about the types of members who attend. Finally, read the
newspaper and don't skip over the sports page so you're
prepared to make small talk. | | Tooling Around | | All the gear you need for
success—without a trip to the hardware store When Aliza Sherman was held up and kidnapped at gunpoint in
Manhattan in 1994, the brush with death changed her life. Realizing
her job would never give her satisfaction, she decided never to
work for someone else again. She took a $10 HTML class and started
a successful Internet company—Cybergrrl Inc.—in 1995,
before most people even knew the Internet existed. The founder of Webgrrls International, a global Internet
networking group, Sherman is an expert on getting what she wants
out of life. In her new book, PowerTools for Women in Business: 10 Ways to
Succeed in Life and Work (Entrepreneur Press, a sister
company of Entrepreneur magazine), she shares the 10
"PowerTools" that worked for her and for other women in
business. While the principles Sherman advocates (take charge of change,
never stop learning, overcome crisis, share your stories, use
technology, be a mentor, find your life's mission, nurture your
network, wield your power, give back) are undoubtedly familiar to
most entrepreneurial women, putting them into practice is another
story altogether. Sherman includes projects, resource lists and
tips to help readers incorporate the PowerTools into daily life.
Advice and real-life stories from more than 70 businesswomen
illustrate the rewards reaped by doing so. |
Contact Sources
|
What makes a good client gift?
What guidelines do you follow when buying gifts for your clients? Have you ever received an unusual or inappropriate gift?
|