THE importance of networking was highlighted at the Illawarra Women In Business networking lunch on Friday when Illawarra ITeC business development manager Virginia Wren took the stage at Centro CBD.
In the Finance Control sponsored lunch, Ms Wren spoke of how she advises business clients on how to grow their business and realise their full potential for real economic growth.
The key tools she used are one-on-one mentoring, training and showing business people how they can actively seek out opportunities.
Ms Wren spoke of the recognition as a leader that came with being a mentor, the exposure to prospective young leaders, ideas and approaches and the opportunity it gave to reflect on your own goals and practices.
She said it was also a way to enhance your own and the mentoree's job satisfaction and was a good way to further develop your own personal leadership and coaching styles.
Ms Wren said it was a good thing to share your experience with other people and develop your own interpersonal skills.
"And it provides personal satisfaction through supporting the development of others," she said.
She was also joined by a panel of speakers who spoke of the importance of mentoring to them.
Margaret Biggs, Joanne Mould and Isha Knill's words were all taken in by Junior Chamber International (JCI) Illawarra chapter president Jesy Pinkerton who is initiating another mentoring program in 2015.
The launch also raised funds for the Leukaemia Foundation and helped take the Angels at Work fundraising total close to the $40,000 mark for 2015.
And IWIB director Glenda Papac confirmed Olympic legend Dawn Fraser was the speaker for the next IWIB networking lunch at City Beach Function Centre on July 24.
"Dawn will be speaking for 45 minutes and will then have a Q & A time," Mrs Papac said.
Mrs Papac said the annual IWIB Conference and Expo Day would be held on October 2 at Chifley Hotel.
A surprise networking event is being planned for October 23.
