Illawarra businesswomen have not had to wait long to find out if they have been selected among the recipients of 100 mentoring scholarships for business owners in Australia.
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In being selected Diana Foye and Michelle Forte this week received phone calls to say they have been recognised as helping to drive economic impact in their region.
More than 300 submissions were received from women who met the criteria for the Inspiring Rare Birds initiative.
Ms Forte, of Austinmer Dance Theatre, and Mrs Foye, of Foye Legal, were both excited because it means they will each receive a year-long mentorship with a high calibre business mentor.
Inspiring Rare Birds chief executive Jo Burston thousands of women were founding businesses that are having a profound impact on their communities. She said the two Wollongong women were among many inspiring entrepreneurs with smart business models and global scope.
“A year-long mentoring scholarship will help turbocharge these women and their businesses to the next level,” she said.
Ms Forte said the scholarship was great timing because the not-for-profit organisation she runs for 17 to 25 year old dancers is presently in a time of change. It relies on fundraising and one of her goals is to pay the dancers for rehearsal time as well as performances.
“We bridge the gap between full time training, tertiary education and a full time dance career. Our mission is to keep dancers in Australia longer before they go overseas. It is free training. We don’t charge anything. We get people interstate moving here to work with us,” she said.
The Sydney Fringe Festival in September is next and the bigger vision is to tour.
Foye Legal was recently named Best New Business at the Illawarra Women In Business Awards and Mrs Foye said the mentorship comes at a great time for her with an office move last week and expansion of the firm with the appointment of another lawyer. “When I read I was successful in the application for a mentor I was ecstatic. It comes as I am going through a growth phase. I have already spoken to a number of my local business mentors about taking the business to the next step as I am servicing clients nationally.”
Federal Minister for Women Michaelia Cash said the two Wollongong women were an example of the many talented female entrepreneurs in Australia. She said the mentoring program was a great opportunity for them to learn new skills from experienced mentors, expand their networks and enhance their businesses.
Inspiring Rare Birds ambassador Lisa Burling, of LBPR, was excited for the two Wollongong women chosen. “We know the difference between achieving a vision and a reality is taking action. They had to go through a process of pulling together a lot of documentation and put a lot of thought into it. I am incredibly proud that two of my fellow businesswomen have been recognised”.
“It is so pivotal in a business journey, particularly in the growth phase, to have someone look from the outside in. Particularly someone who is not in the region and has taken similar steps ahead of you and can advise you on where to go,” she said.
Of the 100 women, 16 per cent are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, 27 per cent are migrants or refugees, 22 per cent are from low SES backgrounds and 34 per cent are from regional, rural or remote locations.
Mr Burston said she was so grateful to the Australian Government for funding the scholarships.
Read more: A full list of scholarship winners.
Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
