WINGATE-project an excellent growth engine of business women communities!
Studies show that men are more interested than women in investing in a business. At the same time, men are more confident in their own strengths and knowledge. However, women have more reasons to become entrepreneurs, and the investments made by women are better than those made by men, according to the same studies. It is a reality that a woman wants to put her family first, before her career. Even more so, as we have gone through a pandemic period, where working from home and the need to care for children has led many women to leave their jobs to take care of their children or to adapt to new forms of work, with the risk that then when they want to go back to their old job, it is no longer valid or it is not well paid enough.
As a result, owning a business is a great way for women to organize their own schedule, so that they have the time they need for their family and have income at the same time.
Cristina Chiriac, president of the National Association of Entrepreneurs (ANAA) said: "The business world has been dominated by men for a long time, but the situation is already changing, as countries adopt a progressive social attitude, so female entrepreneurship has every chance to experience a dizzying growth rate in the coming period. Women understood that their role, in addition to that of mother and wife, is to create added value in the economy. We have examples of women who have changed the world, and the emphasis at the community level is on equal opportunities and gender equality so that the role of the modern woman is to position herself on the same hierarchical scale as men, regardless of the fields of activity".
In March, the series of networking events organized by ANAA within the WINGATE project - began, and up to now 14 events have been held in Romania and 5 in the Republic of Moldova, attended by over 700 women. The events represented networking meetings in which both businesswomen and women who do not yet own a business had the opportunity to learn about the Wingate project, the opportunity to grow in an international community and develop their entrepreneurial skills through courses that will be available for free on the Wingate platform. As guest speakers at the events, successful businesswomen shared from their experience what the challenges are and how quality networking can contribute to both personal and business development. Those present at the meetings supported the importance of business communities dedicated to women, such as Wingate.
Cristina Chiriac, opened each event, pointing out the importance of a solid professional path, based on tenacity and self-confidence.
"This project is a correct, viable construction that brings major benefits to women entrepreneurs, if they know how to identify their goals. I believe that the most profitable investment is in people, and I don't just mean employees. Surround yourself with honest partners, honest friends and learn to support your families. If you have set a goal, whatever it is, and achieved it, you are a successful woman. In Eastern Europe, 32% of management positions are held by women, but most of these companies have less than 5 employees. It's time to dare, say to yourself 1,000 times in the mirror - "I can", until you take the place you want and deserve. The European trend is that of business expansion and the creation of beneficial partnerships for each company. As a result, we set out to create opportunities! What we found that the business environment in Romania lacks are opportunities, and we, through the WINGATE project, create collaboration bridges between companies and coagulate the international business environment", said Cristina Chiriac
Wingate demonstrated its strength to coagulate, to lay the foundations of a gender community, well anchored in business reality, with vision, elegance and a lot of motivation for success.
The main objective of the project is the creation and development of an online platform and an innovative learning center where specialized courses will be developed on business ideas, management and business plan, the establishment of a start-up and notions of negotiation, business strategy, communication and PR. The platform provides opportunities for participants to improve their presence in the local and international market.
The courses conducted by experts in key fields for a highly competitive entrepreneurship, which are in the process of being implemented on the online platform of the Wingate project, come as an essential tool for training and motivating the new generation of female entrepreneurs. Another focus of the program aims to address the needs of companies with the ability to expand internationally, even beyond the countries participating in the project.
Until the end of the project, ANAA will organize 20 more such events that will bring together entrepreneurs from Romania and the Republic of Moldova.
New e-learning platform will be launched shortly
The Wingate project is now in its third year and the launch of the e-learning platform is launched shortly. It contains of a number of courses in topics such as; business model, financing, networking, communication, marketing, sustainability and much much more. In addition, there is an opportunity to test your own competence in various quizzes and You get suggestions for extra learning and reading. In many ways, it is a digital entrepreneurial school for those who want to establish a new business or want to grow an existing business. There is also a separate course series for angel investors, who potentially want to contribute capital to start-up companies. A lot of work has gone into the platform and the courses, and we hope and believe that many people will appreciate the opportunity to access a wide range of learning material.
This platform will be free for all users. And that is precisely one of the main principles of the project – to create better and more equal conditions for all women who want to establish their own business. The framework conditions for female entrepreneurs in the participating countries are very different and with the e-learning platform we hope to access to learning and thus equalize differences.
The project shall reach as many women as possible. In addition to the platform, 32 events have so far been arranged and carried out with several hundred participants in Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Moldova. Pandemic and war notwithstanding, the women are more motivated than ever. One of the larger events was in Chișinău in Moldova on 30 August. At this event, more than 100 women gathered to listen to each other's stories, share expertise and inspire each other. The Wingate project helps to make this possible, and the many passionate people who participate in the project have a common goal of contributing to more female entrepreneurs.
Norway and KIB participate in events in the other four countries. In November there is a big event in Belgrade and in December it is in Bucharest. We participate both as ambassadors, but also as speakers and debate and panel participants. We experience a tremendous amount of commitment in all the countries and we are inspired by all the great female entrepreneurs we meet. For the future, we hope to see even more businesses and female entrepreneurs, we wish each other the best of luck!
About the Wingate Project
The Wingate project is a collaboration between partners from Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Moldova and Norway. The goal is to create a green, competitive and inclusive entrepreneurial community in central and eastern Europe with guidance and networking for women who want to establish their own business or become investors. The project is financially supported via an EEA grant of €1,824,320 from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the "EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Regional Cooperation". From Kvinner in Business, Toril Flåskjer, Marit Silseth and Lotte Frost are associated with the project. - For more information about the project, click here.
Uncertanity in the word?! Increase your marketing activity!
Although businesses are generally forced to reduce their costs in times of crisis, reducing marketing costs can certainly be a bad solution. Why is it worth continuing marketing activities even during a recession, what steps can help us recover? Keep reading and find out!
In these periods, the advertising noise decreases as a whole, so even businesses that have less chance in a normal period due to the limitation of their spending and the finiteness of their capacity can also reach great results.
Here, we show you 5+1 tips and tricks to improve your business:
1. Adress your existing customers!
The magic of marketing is proper customer targeting. Using our available communication palette, we can formulate a wide variety of messages for our existing clientele, all with an outstanding conversion rate (actual reach rate) at a particularly favorable price. The cost of contacting an existing customer again is a fraction of the cost of reaching a new customer!
2. Necessary innovation
Rethink your offers, aim to satisfy basic needs!
3. Influence your audience emotions!
Many case studies prove that campaigns that affect emotions are more successful among buyers and clients than campaigns that only try to encourage us to buy.
4. Empower yourself online!
The need for online development has been convincingly demonstrated in the last two years. Whether it is selling products or services, a quality web appearance must become our most decisive marketing tool.
5. Well thought out marketing budget!
Marketing decisions should not be based on intuition and opinions!
+1 Defining the most important indicators!
The performance indicators make our marketing performance more aware, thus we can ensure the continuous monitoring of the conditions for growth. With their help, we can optimize our customer acquisition tools, reduce our expenses, and improve our rate of return.
CEE, Innovation and More Women Involved in New Companies
Article by Szabó Eszter Women/Business /Angels Association
What does a region – Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) - have to do with innovation capacity building or more women involved in new companies?
The WINGATE project, of which we are just reading the newsletter, is a good example of what it really means.
It connects for co-operation Norway, Serbia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova. Its participating non-profits and for-profit organisations work together with women who need support to start their businesses. On the other side of the table are the business angel investors who want to contribute to their region's innovation ecosystem. If you connect a region, it can be better connected to the globe.
Ecosystems can be built locally by local players. The final result of the equation is CEE becoming more competitive globally. More women and more educated and experienced men create a stronger region for cross-border competitiveness. Without the support of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, who financed the Wingate project through an EEA and Norway grant for Regional Cooperation, this project would not occur.
As an example of regional cooperation, we can share one of our upcoming training sessions with you. On 8th November at 6 PM, we invite you to the next online event of this breakthrough training series, organised by the Women Business Angels Association in partnership with Lumus Investments.
Our upcoming session will focus on mentoring!
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Mentoring vs coaching
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Mentee and mentor relationship
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The lifecycle of the mentor and mentee relationship
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How to prepare for the first meeting
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Interview on mentor + mentee angel investing
Our speakers will be Zuzana Zamborska and Vladimíra Činčurová.
Zuzana Zamborska helps companies in the CEE region to uncover the potential of diversity & also cofounded a female angel club Lumus Investment Collective.
Vladimíra Činčurová In the past 5 years, was running the biggest student organisation, working in startups and corps and co-founded a project focusing on gender equality in the investment world / Lumus Investment Collective. Currently works for Microsoft as a partner development manager.
Join us by registering for the event!