Testimonials
"I have been a member of Sydney Women's Network (SWN) since April 2009 and have loved the experience from day 1. I remember walking in nervously to my first lunch meeting - Cindy and Natalie took me under their wings and have introduced me to hundreds of fellow minded members - I am not just a number here - Cindy & Natalie remember everyone's names and are so welcoming.
While I originally joined to connect and meet other business women, I have benefited both professionally and personally by the supportive environment provided by Cindy and Natalie and SWN. Not only is it about connecting with local businesswomen, SWN offer workshops, have inspiring speakers, organise Expo's and Seminar's where you can learn vital business skills - I now get 25% of my clients from SWN and it is all so affordable!
Rebecca Stalenberg
Mark Your Territory
Natalie and Cindy.........I just wanted to thankyou for yesterday and say to you both what a fabulous day it was. I so enjoyed myself and thought the atmosphere, the "speeches", the gifts you had for everyone and you and everything was just so special and so wonderful. You are both awesome and what really touches me is that you are both so humble despite your awesomeness!!!! With love to you both you amazing women.
Janie Bury
Health at Home
Speed Networking Anyone?
Our Twilight networking was a marvellous evening last night! For me everything was perfect: I live nearby, the evening time was good, the location has such atmosphere - away from noisy traffic areas, a nice terrace with tempting freshly roasted coffee smells, enthusiastic business people to talk to and my own special plate of raw food prepared for me by Ram (the owner). You did a great job on your own, it all flowed smoothly and efficiently, thank you. I look forward to the next one.
Joy Mozzi
Fruvenu Pty Ltd
International Women's Day March 2009
Hi Girls, I just wanted to say a big Thank You for today's event and also to wish you a very Happy Birthday and I hope to be there with you for many more to come. I really enjoyed today's lunch, keep those brilliant guest speakers coming, nothing like inspirational "real" women to help keep you going after you've had a hard week.
Sandra Dennis
SMARTLINE
Art Attack
Hi Natalie and Cindy ,Thoroughly enjoyed the first Hills Womens Network meeting yesterday, huge success is an understatement.
I did not want to let another day go past without emailing to say WELL DONE.
You both organised a fantastic event which I enjoyed enormously.
I look forward to joining the networking group and also look forward to helping where I can to get a Ryde area one going. Most of my friends and work associates are in that area and although we are members of the Ryde Business Forum, there is NOTHING in the area specifically for Women, so count me in, in any area I might be able to help out.
Yesterday was amazing on so many levels but the thing that stuck out a mile to me was WOW, look at this room full of amazing women all making their mark in the world of business. It was awesome.
I had 2 ladies with me that are part of our women in business mentoring program and we had our workshop last night and I told all our other mentoree’s about the wonderful day and the launch of your new group and at least 6 of the women said they would love to come to the next event, which was great to hear.
I think they could see how excited we were about the day
Anyway, know your both very busy but just wanted to once again say thank you and well done to 2 amazing women
Lorraine Cox
Ryde Furniture Freighters
Thank you so much for a wonderful SWN Christmas Party. It was more than I had ever expected. There were so many surprises and fun stuff: the amazing entertainment, the great networking game, lucky door prizes, fashion show, auction, and all topped off with some super moves on the dance floor! The mood in the room was amazing, and once again, this is thanks to your passion and enthusiasm and great sense of fun. And I thought we were just going to sit down to dinner – boy was I mistaken!
The work that both of you put into all the events is amazing. Thanks so much for your hard work over the year, and for putting on a great Christmas party. Look forward to seeing you again in 2009.
International Women's Day 6th March 2009
THANK YOU SO MUCH for a fabulous lunch on Friday. You are both tireless workers and passionate business women. Thank you for your drive and your genuine desire to see all our businesses grow. The gift of a plant was both a thoughtful and symbolic gesture – thank you so much!
Lucinda Lion
Lions Writing
By Gaye Crispin
I wasn't interested in joining a business club or networking group, that was until I’d been working alone from home for a couple of years. It seemed the busier the business became the more isolated I found I was. I had my business beautifully streamlined with the sales goals, marketing requirements, MYOB/BAS and bills all on target... every week. Everything was great except I was either spending every waking moment at the computer, or attending to the usual demands of a busy family life. It seemed I never had any ‘me-time’. My neat and narrow world was becoming narrower, and when this happens even ordinary problems can seem much bigger than they really are. The dream job of working from home had a downside. Isolation. And I had developed a serious case of Small Office/Home Office blues, or 'The SOHO Blues'.
In 2009 I looked at my situation and decided to tackle the problem in my usual style, head-on. Some might say it’s my only style, but that’s another story. I knew I needed to invest a couple of hours a week in an ‘out-of-office experience’ to stay fresh. After tossing around and tossing out a variety of options, joining a business women’s networking group seemed the answer. That’d mean my ‘out-of-office experience’ was business related, which would be just the rationalisation I’d need to avoid the inevitable internal conflict I knew I'd encounter the moment I put my own needs first. After all, I’m a woman. I’m not supposed to put myself first, am I? Or am I?
Next, to find the right group? I wanted a group that respected my own personal space and circumstances, and I like flexibility. Also, I needed a group with a casual and friendly feel, yet had a well structured and prompt format. I'd knew I'd have to stick to deadlines if I was going to pull this off. Plus I needed a group that didn’t apply pressure to members to participate or perform, but instead created opportunities and encouraged participation to the extent desired by the individual - if and when they wished. Also, I prefer groups rather than crowds, so I wanted a group where I’d feel welcome and comfortable. Big enough to be interesting, but not so big that I'd never recognise a face.
I began googling, and that’s how I found Sydney Women’s Network. My first SWN lunch at Parramatta told me I didn’t have to look any further. The co-ordinators, Cindy and Natalie, were very friendly, professional, well-boundaried and non-invasive. Everything was well-managed, prompt and friendly. Since then I’ve shared great lunches with a variety of interesting business women, some of whom work from home, just like me. You can imagine the type of lively and interesting conversations that are to be had when a patent and trade mark specialist, a mobile book-keeper, a designer jewellery artist, an investment property expert, a sports trainer, and a business writer share a table of delicious food in a pleasant atmosphere, followed up by a beautifully decorated fresh fruit platter and coffee.
I don’t know what I enjoy more - the company, the food, the conversation , or the fact that I don't have to do the dishes. Sydney Women’s Network turned out to be the perfect solution to my SOHO blues. And because they have a number of lunches, workshops and coffee catch-ups scattered all over the greater Sydney region each month there’s always something on the calendar. They even have bare-foot bowls that the guys can go along to, and that’s pretty cool. So, no matter what's going on in my busy week now, I know I can manage a little 'me-time' somewhere if I need or want to. And I don't have 'The SOHO Blues' anymore. Copyright 2009 Gaye Crispin