Supporting women SME owners, entrepreneurs and startups around Australia since 2018
Supercharging personal and professional growth, giving women business owners from marginal demographics the confidence and skills to take their business to new heights.
With thanks to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Office for Women
Congratulations to all of the scholarship recipients for 2020
These women entrepreneurs and SME owners from marginal demographics, located across Australia, received a fully-funded program that comprises one-on-one mentoring with a business expert, business education masterclasses, and networking opportunities, to build a sustainable future for themselves, their families and their communities.
Breakdown as % is as follows:
Theresa Liew
Theresa Liew
About the Scholarship
- 2 hours of one-on-one mentoring every month for 9 months with a business expert handpicked just for you
- 8 x one-hour Business Building Masterclasses
- Connection with a supportive community of like-minded business owners and leaders
- Chat Forums
- Check-in surveys to chart progress
Who can apply?
- Identify as female;
- Identify with at least one of the marginal demographics listed*;
- Have an established and viable business (min 2 years) - can be either SME owner or sole trader;
- Are an Australian citizen or permanent resident;
- Can commit to 2 hours per month with their mentor;
- Will participate and engage in Business Education Masterclasses (1 hour per month).
- *Indigenous or Torres Strait Islander; rural, regional or remote location; migrant or refugee; low socio-economic background; disabled.
Benefits for Mentees
Improved business confidence
A mentor is always in your corner, supporting, encouraging and celebrating
Accountability
A mentor will help you to set clearly defined goals and then keep you responsible for achieving them
New connections
Your mentor can introduce you to their business contacts to grow your network and your business
"Not only did I gain knowledge and skills in marketing me and the business, I gained confidence in putting it into practice. As a result my public profile was boosted significantly and my business has (no joke) doubled in size.”
- Mentee, Leah Cameron
“I realised I had won the mentee lottery when I met Leah Cameron from Marrawah Law during our first session. We had a great year together and while Leah says she learned a lot from me, I feel like she taught me a great deal too. She has inspired me to no end.” Read more
- Mentor, Monica Rosenfeld
Success Stories
Find out how this program boosted the knowledge, confidence and business growth of Mentees in the 2017/18 program
91%
feel like their business will grow over the next 12 months.
87.5%
feel more confident about their business capability.
85%
have noted improvement in their focus areas
“This program has helped so much, my mentor has been pivotal to this business development.”
Nola Turner-Jensen
Principal Director, CrackerJack Education
“Judith’s mentoring has been nothing short of a miracle for me personally and for our business."
Tanya Demello
Director of Client Relations, Emerald + Aqua
She’s been a terrific accountability partner. My mentor is helping me to keep on task, with some ambitious goals. It’s been life-changing experience.”
Karen Foster
Director, o2 Media
“The advice I have received from my Mentor has allowed me to confidently move forward with decisions to grow my business.”
Natalie Allen
Managing Director, Plan Design Draft
