On International Women’s Day last year, few would have thought that the world would look so different in 12 months’ time.
The Donegal Women in Business Network held their last in-person event on 8th March 2020. But the pandemic has not halted their mission of bringing like-minded women together.
Over the past year, the peer-support network has adapted and grown stronger against the challenges of the pandemic.
Today, they held an online conference which exemplified that flexible nature.
To celebrate International Women’s Day 2021, DWBN partnered with a number of prominent local and global colleagues in the enterprise space for a webinar themed on Women Embracing Global Change.
The event was attended by more than 200 women from both sides of the border and beyond, who listened to speakers and panels from a rich variety of sectors.
From large multinationals to start-ups, every level of business growth was represented.
The online nature of the conference bridged all geographical barriers as guests zoomed in from homes and businesses across the island and even the continent. Julia Stark, President of the European Women Association joined from Belgium for an engaging talk on networking.
Yousra Kabir, Research Student from Letterkenny Institute of Technology, also offered fascinating insight into her research into the value of professional networks for growth in business, focusing on Donegal women in business.
Upheaval, resilience, Brexit, supports, motivation and women’s lives were common themes across the morning as speakers offered insight into how they have adjusted to the challenges of Covid-19.
This year’s business stories were about response and reaction to crisis, but the drive shared by women in business remains the same.
The network has always championed enterprising women ‘from the kitchen table to the boardroom’ and this year’s event proves that new businesses, new adaptations and new partnerships can be created by women anywhere.
As Caroline Faulkner, Senior Vice President for Prudential Financial, put it: “Just because the world is shifting it does not eliminate the women we are today.”
The Donegal Women in Business Network is a non-profit, peer support network for women in business in the county of Donegal. Find out more about becoming a member on donegalwomeninbusiness.com
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