Women In Business WA - Members Morning Tea

Wednesday 9 April 2014

After being a member of Women In Business WA for more than 18months I have been fortunate to meet and speak with dozens of WIBWA members. During this time it has been a privilege to notice individual members grow – from their ability to share about what they do in their business to how they look and present themselves.

I believe this one of the points of difference with Women In Business WA. The supportive, nurturing environment provided by Director Jennifer Rose Bryant and members creates a momentum of confidence and security that members embrace and run with.

Walking in to the Peasant’s Table, in Mt Hawthorn, for the WIBWA Morning Tea on Wednesday 9 April I was ‘dazzled’ by how lovely Di Hamilton (pictured top left) - USANA Networking Professional - looked. Standing at the counter waiting to order, she glowed with health and vibrancy. When I first met Di she had a big smile on her face but lacked the confidence she now exudes. She shares vividly with members about her passion for health and USANA products and she looks great! A trained nurse, Di was introduced to the products after struggling with her health. She joined the company nine years ago and as a result of the networking business has completely replaced her nursing income.

Another member I have enjoyed watching grow and thrive over the past 12months is Sheryll Fisher (pictured top right) from Outback Initiatives. The company offers transformative experiential programs for individuals and groups. I can say from experience the programs are both mentally and physically challenging AND provide fantastic, mind-blowing breakthroughs that apply to every area of life. Sheryll shared about learning about her own leadership style and how to utilise that and other skills to work with others. “I feel privileged to be able to watch people transform during our programs,” she said.

The ever-vivacious Caroline Compton (pictured (bottom left) from Immerse Face & Body proudly shared about the salons one year anniversary at The Mezz – yay! The salon focuses on whole body care and treatment from using all natural skin care products to having a Doctor and a Kinesiologist available for appointments. After winning a WIBWA door prize from Immerse last year I treated myself to the full-body scrub, mini-facial and massage for Valentine’s Day. The experience was sublime and I walked out of the salon feeling silking smooth and relaxed. Highly recommend a visit!

It was fantastic to see more than 20 members at the morning tea event, including a handful of new members (pictured). We look forward to seeing our newest members at a coming event and hearing about their businesses. For all the details about coming WIBWA events click here.

By Kim Kamarudin (pictured bottom right) :o)

CLEAR BLUE WRITING

WIBWA Members Morning Tea @Yahava KoffeeWorks, Swan Valley

Monday 17 March 2014

Ladies, do you recall a day where everything went to plan? Well, I had one of those when I hosted the Women In Business WA event at Yahava KoffeeWorks in the Swan Valley on Monday 17 March.

Looking back over the day, my gorgeous husband ironed my outfit and cooked me breakfast; traffic out to the Swan Valley was busy but I had a smooth run; and there was a gentle breeze from the south-east to cool us as more than 20 women sat on the verandah outside Yahava KoffeeWorks. To top it off the coffee, or should I say koffee, was delish!

It was delightful to be able to highlight and share a place I am passionate out with WIBWA members – Yahava KoffeeWorks is owned and operated by my sister Danielle and her husband Jake McAuliffe. The business has grown exponentially since the store opened in 2011 and they have a wonderful community of staff at the Swan Valley store. It was fun to be part of with the members who joined us.

It was lovely to welcome guests to the morning tea event and as usual to hear from WIBWA members about their passion and their businesses.

A lady I have met on a number of occasions who always shares passionately about her life aim is Kath Mazzella (Pictured on the left with Di Hamilton). Kath is a vulva cancer survivor. Although small of stature Kath has a BIG message to share about the importance of gynae education and awareness. She is in the business of saving people’s lives – not just the women she touches with her message but their family members and loved ones. Kath is committed to taking the eeww out of gynae awareness and turning it in to a WOW! The thing is she needs our help to achieve it asked a valuable question at the WIBWA Yahava morning tea – how do I support myself financially and still get my message across? Do you have any suggestions for Kath?

Sticking with WIBWA members I have met at a number of events, Jo Naseby is a Usana 1 Star Diamond Director. What this means is that Jo is a seriously effective network marketing professional who is passionate about helping everyday people create a second source of income while taking care of their health. Jo was introduced to Usana products when her daughter was unwell with asthma as a child. That was over a decade ago now and her daughter is now happy and a picture of healthy.

I have heard Dayna Howard from Sorted Space share about what she does a handful of times. Each time her heartfelt passion and commitment shines through. Dayna is a professional organiser who empowers people to enjoy their homes as a place to relax. She works with a wide range of people from hoarders to those who simply want to be better organised at home and she is especially committed to FIFO families. Dayna said “life runs so much more smoothly with systems and structures in place that help everyone, even children, work together as a team.”

Each woman that shared at the morning tea has something to offer, which is why, as WIBWA Director Jennifer Rose Bryant explains, she does what she does. Meeting and networking with women face-to-face creates as immediate connection and magic that is Women In Business WA.

Make sure you check out the event calendar for coming events. For all the details click here.

By Kim Kamarudin

Clear Blue Writing

Women In Business WA - Morning Tea Hosted by Suncorp Bank

Tuesday 11 March 2014

A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON BANKING

When was the last time you serviced your car? Went to the dentist? Doctor? Or booked in a massage?

Some, if not all of these things are items we regularly and perhaps automatically schedule (or try to avoid).

But when was the last time you reviewed or ‘serviced’ your mortgage, overdraft or credit card? Never is my answer and it wasn’t something I thought I could do until I heard it from the ladies at Suncorp Bank.

A group of Women in Business WA members had the opportunity to ‘pick the brains’ of Suncorp’s leading women at a special morning tea event, hosted by Suncorp Bank, in the city on 11 March.

For an hour and a half we had access to Business Banking Manager Lara Dowdall, Hay Street Branch Manager Sasini Wijesiri, Merchant Banking Specialist Annie Omadi and Mobile Lender Priscilla Harrison.

The result was some great advice about what to do when considering starting a business. Lara said “when starting a business you don't go into in blind.

“Before you visit the bank you need to speak to your accountant and or a financial banker to determine what you are doing, where going with your business, what structure you are going to use so you have a clear plan and strategy, before you start.

“A business banking manager will ask you these questions because our role is not to offer advice but to take the advice you have already gathered and make it happen.”

Sasini insists her clients review their home loan each year to ensure the loan still suits them.

“People’s personal and business circumstances change so reviewing bank agreements is important i.e. considering fixed versus a variable interest rate as well as what is happening in industry.”

Other valuable advice included that there is some flexibility to negotiate loan interest rates as well as merchant banking rates and that we shouldn’t be afraid to ask.

The Suncorp ladies acknowledged that banks don’t make things easy sometimes, especially for small business owners. However what was made very clear at the morning tea event was that the women at Suncorp want to be involved with Women In Business WA. They want to be the face of banking for WIBWA members and they want to create connections with you as a business operator.

Based on the response and outcome of this event we are sure to see more Suncorp Bank hosted events on the WIBWA calendar in coming months. So watch this space.

By Kim Kamarudin

CLEAR BLUE WRITING

Women In Business - Members Morning Tea

Tuesday 25 February 2014

The Women in Business WA word is getting out there! The recent morning tea event was abuzz with new and existing members and the word is spreading.

The word I’m referring to is that Women In Business WA is an inclusive, honest and energetic community that, under the leadership of WIBWA Director Jennifer Rose Bryant, strives to create connections and success amongst members.

Jennifer invited attendees to share about whatever interested them or to ask a question about something you are looking for within your business.

“With more than 130 Women In Business WA members I also encouraged you to actively participate on the WIBWA Leading Ladies Facebook wall, to ask a question or simply interact on some level,” Jennifer said.

“There are personal, business and financial benefits waiting for women interested in creating opportunities within WIBWA. You can host an event like this or, in liaison with me, create an event with a synergistic WIBWA member to highlight your business and provide a networking opportunity for members.”

At the Morning Tea event on Tuesday 25 February more than 20 members gathered at The Peasants Table in Mt Hawthorn for fab food and conversation. The group boasted four first-event members and it was great to hear from them about their business and passion.

As well as new members it was great to hear from existing members like Faye Bastow from Leederville / North Perth Physiotherapy Centre. Faye has been in the physio industry for more than 40 years and said something that really stuck with me – the human body hasn't changed but our expectations of what our body can and will do have changed. Faye also questioned why we service our cars regularly but not our bodies? A great question. What do you think?

I enjoy seeing Jacqueline Armstrong at WIBWA events – she always has a warm smile to share. Jackie, from New In Town, is a life saver for people moving to Perth from interstate or overseas. As the Principal it’s her job to find anything and everything from a home to move into to schools for the children to attend; packing up the house, moving house and even filling the fridge. From experience I can also tell you she is a ready and willing to provide advice and direction.

The lucky last lady we heard from at the morning tea was Kelly Prime from Kelly Prime. Kelly is an energetic and charismatic woman who teaches people how to speak with a focus on tone of voice and what comes out of our mouth. With a background in high school drama and English teaching, Kelly uses her skills and passion to assist people to play and grow within teams and establish the right belief systems in place to support them.

It was a pleasure to meet Kelly and other first-time WIBWA event attendees Diann Bates from Creative Fruition, Sharon Thomas from The Reconnection and Silvia Pace from the Silvia Pace Group|The Avenue Business & Property Marketing.

I look forward to seeing you at the next Women In Business WA event – for details about the next event click here.

By Kim Kamarudin

Clear Blue Writing

Scuba Kim - Shark Sighting

If you don’t already know it my husband and I are passionate and regular scuba divers. The types of animals we come across under the water range from prawns in the Swan River, wild dolphins at Point Peron and sharks at Rottnest Island.

There is a lot of talk about sharks at the moment with the introduction of shark baiting and culling off the WA coast.

As well as attending recent Shark Protection Rallies at Cottesloe Beach, hubby and I have been scuba diving at Rotto. In fact, I came across my first Grey Nurse shark while scuba diving at ‘Low Caves’ in January.

I was following my diver buddy hubby in to a wide open cave when a 1.5metre Grey Nurse swam past us and continued on in to the cave.

It took my breath away and slowed my senses according to the video footage. Yes, my initial reaction was one of fear and thus the hand holding toe GroPro stopped moving. But in the moment I also knew that if that shark, in its home, had wanted to take a chunk out of me I would not have seen it coming. A healthy fear and respect for sharks is important and an understanding is even more important.

Grey Nurse sharks are generally not aggressive sharks and known affectionately within the diving community as the ‘Labrador of the ocean.’

The shark did not attack, it was curious. Perhaps it had heard the motors of our underwater scooters and wanted a closer look. Nonetheless it came within metres of us and kept swimming. Curious ourselves we following at a reasonable distance as it turned in the cave and swam away.

When it was out of sight my hubby turned to me and with the biggest grin on his face that went all the way to his eyes and he gave me two thumbs up like he was saying “That was cool!”

It was cool, it was amazing, it was precious and it was sacred and the thought of that shark swimming to within one kilometre of WA shores and falling prey to a baited hook is very, very sad.

Sitting amongst the 6,000 plus crowd at Cottesloe Beach listening to speakers share about the latest undersized shark to die from drowning after being caught on a baited hook, I cried.

Listening to facts about the decreasing number of sharks and the $6,000 a day cost of the baiting program, I cried.

Watching three Fisheries boats cruise past the rally on the way to check baited hooks instead of carrying out much-needed research and shark tagging programs, I cried.

I realise people fear sharks and want to feel safe going in to the ocean however baiting and killing them cannot be the answer. Education, awareness and research are just some ways to address the issue of shark attacks.

Below are some simple tips to keep you safe;
· Swim between the flags at beaches patrolled by surf life savers
· Swim with others
· Avoid swimming during twilight hours or at night
· Stay close to shore
· Do not swim with an open wound or if menstruating
· Avoid swimming in cloudy water or where animal, human or fish waste enter the water as these attract sharks

For more information visit www.fish.wa.gov.au | www.sharksmart.com.au | www.nosharkcull.org