business
by Emma Azopardi and Danielle Vila
s n a SHEme BUSINESS
Danielle and Emma with Lynne and Carol of HSBC
Women’s Conference in connection with HSBC
In recent generations the presence of women at senior levels of business has increased and is slowly on the rise. The economic world is becoming more receptive to the skills (including the ability to multi-task) that women can offer at the workplace and beginning to appreciate the advantages that this can bring to their business. In the current economic climate individuals are becoming apprehensive about starting their own business however, recent research suggests that women, unlike their male counterparts, are more likely to weather the recession as a result of their low overheads and cautious attitude towards financial loans. Instead of increasing their budget (through debt) they are more likely to restructure their business model to better adapt it to the changing economic trends. She Magazine got together with the HSBC Head Bank in London to organise a conference for women who have either set up their own businesses, are in the process of doing so, or simply have an idea which they would like to expand. We attended the conference at HSBC’s grade two listed building on St James Street, London to hear influential business women share their success stories and to network amongst other budding entrepreneurs. The evening started
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with champagne and canapés providing the opportunity for attendees to exchange business cards and ideas. The presentations then commenced with Carol Bagnald the Regional Commercial Director at HSBC who provided a few words of wisdom on how to weather the recession. Former GMTV presenter, busi-
Louise Galvin spoke about how to balance motherhood with career and how to find innovate ways to expand your business
nesswoman and aspiring politician Esther Mc Vey then took over interviewing three other successful women including the co-founder of Coffee Republic Sahar Hashemi, hair colourist Louise Galvin who has recently launched her own range of carbon neutral hair products in the UK and the USA and the co-founder of PR Company Band and Brown, Jill Brown. All three women spoke about what encouraged them to start their business and how they eventually came to reap the profits from the same. They provided tips on marketing and research, set up costs, recruitment and when to hire expert help. Louise Galvin also spoke about how to balance motherhood with career and how to find innovate ways to expand your business. The presentations came to a close with author and business woman Lynne Franks who is an internationally respected spokesperson on women’s issues, sustainability and consumer
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JUNE 2009