Business leaders join forces to promote Female Entrepreneurs in Letterkenny
Thursday, 23rd June 2016 - 6:30pm - 9pm Radisson Hotel, Letterkenny
On Thursday, June 23rd at the Radisson Hotel, Letterkenny, Enterprise Ireland, the Government agency responsible for helping businesses to start-up and scale, and Network Ireland, the leading networking organisation for women in business in Ireland, are hosting a networking event targeting female entrepreneurs. The ‘Fuelling Ambition’ event, which will be chaired by former Tánaiste Mary Coughlan, is part of a national series of events being organised to encourage female entrepreneurs, or those considering starting their own business, to be braver and more ambitious in their plans for growth and success. The objective is to encourage and support female entrepreneurs to maximise their full potential on the road to business success.
Launching the Roadshows Julie Sinnamon, CEO Enterprise Ireland, said: “A key focus for Enterprise Ireland is helping businesses to start, innovate and scale. In 2011 female-led enterprises accounted for just 7% of new start-ups. The same was true globally. Enterprise Ireland put a number of initiatives in place to redress the balance, like female-only start-up funds. These initiatives are working. Participation by female entrepreneurs in our High Potential Start-Up programme increased to 22% in 2015. We are determined to capitalise on this positive trend. As we continue to encourage more female entrepreneurs to start and scale new businesses, we want them to be brave in their business ambitions. We are delighted to be working with Network Ireland to connect with as many existing and potential female entrepreneurs as possible to encourage them to maximise their full potential as they grow their businesses”.
Event organiser, Caroline Gordon, Network Ireland commented: “The aim of this roadshow is to encourage Irish female entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs to be even more ambitious for their businesses and for themselves as business leaders. We want women to think bigger and braver and not be afraid of reaching their maximum potential on the road to business success.”
Travelling to Letterkenny for the event will be Network Ireland’s President, Deirdre Waldron: “This will be the first time Network Ireland has organised an event in the Letterkenny area. We welcome all those interested to attend and we will be using the event as an opportunity to introduce Network Ireland to the business community in Donegal and connect with as many like-minded individuals as possible”.
The ‘Fuelling Ambition’ event is free of charge to all interested people and participants will have the opportunity to hear from relevant keynote speakers and successful female entrepreneurs.
The speakers include Evelyn Kierans, Managing Director of established company Swan Net Gundry, Killybegs; and Maggie Green, Managing Director of the start-up business The School Door, Letterkenny. They will be joined by Sarita Johnston, Manager, Female Entrepreneurship, Enterprise Ireland and Ursula Donnelly, Assistant Head of Enterprise, Donegal Local Enterprise Office who will be on hand to discuss the wide range of supports available to female entrepreneurs, and those thinking of starting their own businesses. The events will also provide an opportunity to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs and business people.
Carole Brenan concluded: “The objective of the Roadshows is to engage with as many female entrepreneurs as possible. I have seen first-hand how hearing about other people’s success stories encourages more people to take ambitious leaps for their businesses. We have an exciting line up of female entrepreneurs who are willing to share their success stories, and we look forward to meeting as many budding and ambitious entrepreneurs as possible over the next few months.”
Full details and booking information are available on the Network Ireland website www.networkireland.ie;
the Enterprise Ireland website www.enterprise-ireland.com/ambitiouswomen.
