Julia Kala, President of Reading Entrepreneurs, has attended the Festival Female Entrepreneurs event organised by Enterprise Nation in Bristol last week. She shared her experience and impact of this event with us.
” I came across Festival Female Entrepreneurs in Bristol only a few weeks ago and I thought it might be an interesting event which would give me an opportunity to network.
In reality, the event’s benefits were so jawdropping that I still cannot believe the power of this type of event. I would like to say huge thank you to Entreprise Nation for making it happen and to all speakers who decided to share their personal entrepreneurial stories.
I left the event inspired by the amount of knowledge, skills, hints and tips I have heard from so many successful entrepreneurs.”
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Here’s a collection of Julia’s favourites quotes from the event:
‘Starting a business is like raising a child, adopting a very difficult child – it takes over your life’
‘Respond to every single tweet and message; if they care enough to type about your business you should care to replay.’
by Nisha Katona founder, Mowgli Street Foods
‘Have ready a mini-pitch 6/8 min and 1 / 2 min long as if you are in the lift or washing your hands. You never can expect who and where you meet a Business Angel’
by Jenny Too CEO, UK Angels Business Association
‘Be authentic, this is what will attract people’
by Martina McDonnell, marketing director, Small Business Group EMEA at Facebook
‘Risk is very personal. In my head it was ‘if this would fail I can always go and find employment. If a business fails, it fails and then you will pick yourself up eventually. It’s a key to not be afraid of it as it limits you and stops from doing things.’
by Nimisha Raja, founder, Nim’s fruit snacks
‘Have can ‘do’ attitude’
‘Make your own luck’
‘Create space to think’
by PunchMaughan, founder, Found Gallery
‘Have a thick skin’
by Sophie Fox, founder, FLIP
‘Get a really good pair of shoes’
by HannaDrake, co-founder Insane Root Theater Company
‘First 1000 people are the closer audience and the chattiest one’
‘Consider video content as it goes way way longer and engages better’
‘Stories are for storytelling allowing customers to know you behind the brand which helps to build a relationship’
by Claire Russell, founder at PlayHooray
‘Make consumer contents to works your way’
‘Showing up online every day really counts’
‘In small business, people are excited to be part of the business so it’s good to show a bit of backstage’
by Molly Masters, founder at Books That Matter
‘We prefer to hear a story from key-person rather a PR person – you are the person who knows the business in depth.’
by Sarah Barratt, writer from Country Living Magazine
‘Focus on your passion and how to convey it’
by Mel Bound, This Mum Runs, Female Start-up of the Year 2016 winner
‘The more you are out the more it validates you as a business owner so it starts to feeling more like it, feel good with it and be more natural.’
‘Practice the pitch and believe in yourselves’
‘Women should stop apologising for ambition and for who they are.’
by Ruth Bradford, Black & White Book Project, Female Start-up of the Year 2018 winner
‘We need to be flexible in ourselves as the world is
changing so quickly and we would never be
that slow as we are now…’
by Dame Stephanie (Steve) Shirley CH