Lisa Rees, Website Wonder Woman:
“I am based in the South Wales Valleys, a single parent who runs my own web design business, and I find that there is very little support in South Wales for women running their own business around other commitments.”
After working with the founder of the Business Girls Network, Amanda Ayres, on her website for the past year or so I could really see how helpful the community she had built was to the women of Maidenhead and wanted to bring that to Cardiff as I felt that it was something that we were missing.”
Amanda Ayres writes on The Business Girls Network website:
“Building a business is like walking around with your eyes closed…..you feel scared, alone and don’t know what you are going to bump into next.
You feel exhausted, and overwhelmed. At the same time you feel exhilarated and excited! Confusing – right? Most of the time you are thinking “what the hell am I doing this for?!”
Building a business takes courage. You have to be brave, persistent and resilient. Not easy to do when you are on your own. We know that if you get inspired, build a network of support around you, you will keep going. You will feel empowered. You will keep the faith.”
Cardiff Business Girls will support women unable to attend other groups because of finance or meetings clashing with school hours
A women’s business network is to launch in Cardiff on 28 October at Cardiff Bierkeller.
The Business Girls Network is a business community for female entrepreneurs.
Originating in London, the group aims to empower and educate women through events and online networks.
The group was founded in Maidenhead in 2014 by local mother Amanda Ayres and now has over 2,500 members.
The founder of the Cardiff branch hopes all women will feel able to attend the group, regardless of experience or finance.
Lisa Rees, a single parent who runs a web design business, has noticed other women’s groups popping up in Cardiff but wants The Business Girls to be more inclusive.
“I only know of three groups in Cardiff, two of which are out of my price range, that are women only,” she said.
Feeling unsupported as a parent can also discourage women from starting their own businesses, Rees says.
She added: “Other groups also tend to be breakfast or evening meetings, which wouldn’t be possible with children. I think that Cardiff is now realising there is a huge amount of women in this position, and these needs need to be catered for.”
Above all, the Website Wonder Woman founder thinks that any group encouraging women to strive in business is positive.
She said that she has in the past felt “out of my depth and unprofessional when faced with men from corporate backgrounds” and hopes the groups can be more encouraging.
A member of the Women in Planning group, which is launching next week in Cardiff, has felt the same way.
Speaking to AltCardiff last week Kimberley Arley said: “I don’t think it should be about excluding men at all. It’s more about recognising the cultural change of the modern world.”
Tickets to The Cardiff Business Girls launch can be bought on Eventbrite.
Lisa Rees, Website Wonder Woman:
“I am based in the South Wales Valleys, a single parent who runs my own web design business, and I find that there is very little support in South Wales for women running their own business around other commitments.”
After working with the founder of the Business Girls Network, Amanda Ayres, on her website for the past year or so I could really see how helpful the community she had built was to the women of Maidenhead and wanted to bring that to Cardiff as I felt that it was something that we were missing.”
Amanda Ayres writes on The Business Girls Network website:
“Building a business is like walking around with your eyes closed…..you feel scared, alone and don’t know what you are going to bump into next.
You feel exhausted, and overwhelmed. At the same time you feel exhilarated and excited! Confusing – right? Most of the time you are thinking “what the hell am I doing this for?!”
Building a business takes courage. You have to be brave, persistent and resilient. Not easy to do when you are on your own. We know that if you get inspired, build a network of support around you, you will keep going. You will feel empowered. You will keep the faith.”