Women, Growth and Money

Sally Arkley

Today we will discuss:

• the underlying challenges for women wishing to become investment-ready

• the design and content of the course

• sources of finance and what investors want

• the mechanics of investment readiness

• support to you as trainers and mentors

• Are we going to tear everything up and start again??

Investment Readiness is:

• Complex

• Slow

• Time-consuming

• Challenging

• Added complication of clients being woman!

The Gender Challenge

Accessing Finance

The Gender Challenge

Women and growth

What Makes Us Tick

Personal Drivers

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What does growth mean to you?

The Gender Challenge

Women and Risk

RISK

• Risks are what you hope, or fear, might, or might not, happen, and which you plan to exploit, or to overcome, as part of your growth strategy.

• Risk is good. It is what powers growth. If risk is not understood, measured and managed. It will overpower you.

• Your future plans are based on risk. Convincing an investor that this risk is acceptable is your job.

Risk

• What do your groups think about risk? What do they think is acceptable risk and what is not?

• Awareness of risk is a GOOD thing

• No business is risk free

• Encourage thinking and discussion about how to identify and manage risk........risks can be managed

The Gender Challenge

Women and the ‘M’ word

Quick exercise

Write down the first 10 words that come into your head when you hear

the word ‘Money’

Words most identified with money

• Anger

• Fear

• Enjoyment

• Disgust

• Shame

Money

• A PROBLEM OF DEMAND AND SUPPLY!

Finance Sector

• Banks report that they practice no gender discrimination- contradicted by experience of clients

• Finance sector perceived by women as ‘unfriendly’

• Jargon – the freemasonry of finance

The Imagining Growth Investment Readiness Programme

• Training course

• One-to-one mentoring

• Networking and learning events

• Pitching sessions

• Accessing finance

Before you start

• Find your clients

• Find your networks

• Prepare your materials

The Training Course

• One day – intensive

• Two half-days - relaxed

• Familiarity with what investment readiness

• The ‘M’ word and Growth

• Vision and Mission

• Sources of Finance

• Reasons for failure to access finance/what investors want

Business Practices & Systems – an audit

How good is

your use of

technology?

How effective are

your

financial systems?

Training – more!

• Marketing – marketing plan for funds invested

THEY WANT TO SEE SALES!

• Financial information –is it enough, is it right!!

• De-risking exist strategies

Mentoring

• Apply your knowledge of gender-sensitive mentoring

• You are not a money expert –it’s OK!

• Make your professional alliances

• Non-co-operation/Blaming you – off they go!

Mentoring

• Our job – to prepare our clients as fully as possible

• We will not be judged on client’s success in accessing finance

• Facilitators and friends not fixers and magicians

• Remember the client contract!

Networking and learning

• 2 – 4 events, whatever you can

• How we did it at WBDA

• What were the benefits?

Pitching

• Select your panel carefully

• Train your clients – ‘dummy runs’

• Process - synopsis of business plan- five-minute presentation- confidential feedback- on-going support

Prepare Yourselves!!

Building a finance network

• Where to look

• Don’t mention equal opportunity – this is business, for heaven’s sake!!

• (Remember the economic case)

• Find your senior men –champions

• Be professional at all times – no gimmicks

PINK STINKS!

WHAT NEXT?