Female Entrepreneurship in NZ

1
Female Entrepreneurship in NZ

• Joan Baker
• jbaker_at_wealthcoaches.net

2
Some statistics

• Women work comprise ½ of the labour force
• 60 of NZ women work outside home
• 12 of women are self-employed vs 22 of men
• More likely to have a post-school qualification
  (41 vs 35 for 20-29 yo)
• 10 women are sole parents (21 Maori)

3
Interesting aspects

• Girls doing better at school and university
• NZ has the highest womens entrepreneurship rate
  in the developed world (12.1 in 2004)
• But also has the biggest gap between men and
  women entrepreneurship 37 of all entrepreneurs
  are female and growing!
• Start businesses at X2 rate of men
• Stay in business longer than men
• Lower failure rate than men
• Entrepreneurship falls sharply between ages of 35
  and 44
• Maori women are extremely entrepreneurial (6
  times)
• Entrepreneurship and education are highly
  correlated in NZ
• Childcare was not the issue
• Push or pull?

4
Role Models

• Prime Minister Helen Clarke
• Governor General Dame Silvia Cartwright
• Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias
• Speaker of the House Margaret Wilson
• CEO largest company Therese Gattung
• NZ was the first country to give women the vote

5
Benefits

• NZ needs a great deal more innovation and
  entrepreneurship
• Women need financial independence
• Women need higher incomes
• Personal wellbeing benefits esteem, confidence,
  independence

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Policies

• Ease of incorporation
• Transparent taxation system (33 corporate rate,
  12 ½ GST)
• GEM NZ Women based at Unitec but not funded by
  Government
• HerBusiness Annual awards
• Business Womens Network, Vibe, BA5, Yak,
• Maori Womens Network
• BiZInfo, NZTE, targeted at all businesses
• Paid maternity leave?
• No tax breaks for childcare no subsidies
• Issues of SME sector rather than gender problems

7
Areas to watch- Growth

• 10 professional women
• Relationship between self and client
• Hard to grow as reluctant to share responsibility
• Avoided diluting own skill base
• Perfectionism and control issues

8
Encouraging women

• Growing confidence and courage
• Resilience building
• Perfectionism
• Role conflict
• Coaches and mentors
• Professional help
• Knowledge about finance and funding

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Women helping themselves

• Clear dream of ideal life
• Set goals for financial freedom
• Time childbearing with care!
• Education never stop!
• Network
• Coach/Mentor
• Working smart as well as hard
• Setting up better margin businesses
• Recruitment savvy
• Starting something scalable
• Focusing on business growth
• Getting funding/investors

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And looking after themselves

• Me time
• Pass the tombstone test
• Developing your multiple personality
• Exercise and nutrition
• Renewal time and resource
• Doing less and achieving more
• Learning to say No!
• Treats, celebration and reward

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Female Entrepreneurship in NZ

• Joan Baker
• jbaker_at_wealthcoaches.net