Over the last three years we've facilitated networking events
for hundreds of women. Some events have been our own public
sessions and others we've run in-house for some progressive
thinking companies which have included banks, top tier law firms
and engineering firms. We have found those experiences truly
wonderful and with overwhelmingly positive feedback, as you can
read below.
It would be fair to say that after nearly three years, we are as
passionate as ever, if not more so, about the importance of
networking, both in person but also online. As we head into 2010 we
are looking to increase our offline reach in New Zealand
and to leverage more of what's available online.
South of the Bombay Hills
For our offline events, though we have managed to reach Tauranga
and Wellington, it's true that most of the sessions have been in
Auckland. One question for 2010 has been - how to expand beyond
Auckland in order to bring the benefits of our approach to
networking to a wider group of professional women? The logistics of
regular travel up and down New Zealand (and maybe even Australia!)
are too difficult for both of us as mothers of two. So we kept
thinking... and at last realised that there was a solution that was
simpler than we had realised.
Introducing Professionelle Networking Chapters near you!
We are now planning to launch Professionelle Networking Chapters
throughout New Zealand. We intend to kick-start this initiative by
facilitating the inaugural networking event in each location
ourselves. In tandem, we will identify a local professional woman
with experience in facilitation who we would license to continue
facilitating events locally while we support her through our online
booking system and admin support.
We have a wealth of well-tested topics and questions to fuel
these events. Now we're looking for local coaches/facilitators who
are members and would be keen to work with us on these local
events. This is a unique opportunity for someone to build her
personal brand while helping Professionelle achieve its ongoing
goal to bring professional women together.
Meaningful networking
To us, networking has always been about gaining different
perspectives and points of view, and building meaningful
relationships with like-minded women (and enlightened men!)
Very soon we realised that the women who come to our events are
very capable and knowledgeable, and not that interested in shooting
the breeze over a glass of wine. We also saw that some felt a
little intimidated by the concept of networking and perceived it
mainly as a way to generate new business or as a 'push selling'
exercise. To this end, we developed a networking event that was all
about 'cutting to the chase' and enabling all you extraordinary
women to interact around a topic that is meaningful and engaging in
a short space of time.
As proof, we can report that at a 2009 event, one table had such
great fun they decided to meet regularly afterwards. We heard just
before Christmas that they were still going, supporting and
challenging each other - one woman had signed herself up for a long
distance run as a result!
Feedback
Don't take our word for it. The members and guests who have
attended our events are best placed to tell those of you who
haven't been what they think of our approach to networking:
"Such a great group of interesting people lots of fantastic
ideas and opinions. Thanks so much for bringing us all
together." Sarah Woollett
"Great style of networking event, much more interesting than
drinks and nibbles. Thought provoking." Ursula Collington
"Found it very interesting and informative to talk casually
with other like minded professionals." Kirsty How
"Women do meet to work together and help each other to
achieve greater success in business and awareness of the
success." Penny Watten
"A networking event worth every minute spent. Thank
you." Fadia Sami
"An awesome event empowering women to think clearly of
opportunities and thoughts around issues of top women/men in
business." Jean Barr
"Excellent reminder that there is a wide network of
successful business women in the greater community." Melanie
Ballard
"As usual ladies, food for thought... a business case I've
pondered on, so at least now I have some direction!" Claire
Dower
"Another valuable and insightful lunch. Improved my learning
and challenged my thinking with some great women." Sarah
Lochead-MacMillan
How our offline networking events run
In our networking events, we usually pre-seat attendees to
ensure they have an opportunity to network with women from other
organizations and industries. We give an informal half hour talk on
topics ranging from how and why to network, though work life
balance, to living your values, mentoring and the business case for
women at the top of organisations. We make sure our talks are tight
and refer to up to date research and thinking. The aim is to
present just enough of the topic to get your brain cells going.
Once we're done, it is all over to you.
Around the table, everyone introduces herself briefly and then
sets to, discussing two or three set questions. We go around the
tables and tune-in to the interesting conversations that take
place.To be perfectly honest, more often than not, you discuss a
heck of a lot more than what we ask you to! Towards the end, each
table selects a spokeswoman who reports back findings to the wider
group. That's the part where we listen and you talk, and it
provides us with many insights. If you haven't yet, do check what
out our video of what it's like at one of our networking events.
Professionelle online networking
As part of our revamping of Professionelle's website we of
course looked at expanding our online networking offer ...but as we
were doing it, we saw how much existing global online networks like
LinkedIn and Facebook had been expanding in functionality and size
as well. On reflection, we realised that the cost involved in us
making a bespoke system for Professionelle wouldn't be well spent
given that much of what we were looking for already existed.
Instead, we decided to focus on what we do best: providing you with
thought-providing material and the opportunity to comment and
'hear' other women's perspectives.
We also decided to really harness the services that the major
networking sites offer. For example, we have a thriving Professionelle sub-community on
LinkedIn already, which we encourage you all to join. Members
there have already connected and exchanged ideas. We also love
discussing things with you in the forums and what we like most
about it is that you can see all the Professionelle members'
women's CVs there as well! And as we have learned to expect, all of
our members are smart 'getting-on-with-it' women with a huge amount
to offer. And, for those of you who secretly enjoy Facebook (Galia's one) we have created a page
where we link to interesting videos and articles and general
Professionelle gossip.
If you're on Twitter you can also follow us there. Sarah
explored it as a true cynic - "Twitter" is not a name calculated to
appeal to the professional after all! - and emerged after a week
blown away by the great resources she discovered through mentions
on the site. After attending the Women on Boards conference in
Australia last year she also used Twitter to forge extra links with
some of the inspiring women she met there, and to keep up with
their work and thoughts.
Professionelle networking everywhere
Whether it's offline in Auckland and beyond or online in
LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, we hope to meet many more of you in
this relaunch year for Professionelle!
© Professionelle Ltd 2010