Women in Business NI

The WiB Group | Making An Impact Building on more than two decades of delivering positive change, The WiB Group has published its first annual report, ‘Making an Impact’. The report comprises the Group's four social enterprises – Women in Business NI, Diversity Mark, Timely Careers and The Centre of Learning – outlining the work it has achieved for women, inclusion and the wider Northern Ireland society. Reaching a business community of more than 250,000 people, The WiB Group now provides over £1m per year in support of women entrepreneurs, while delivering the diversity accreditation for 200 organisations, resulting in 1 in 4 people in Northern Ireland now working for an employer committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. Commenting at the launch, Roseann Kelly MBE, Chief Executive of The WiB Group, said: “In launching this report, we open the door to new members and partners to get involved and collectively change workplaces for the better, helping to drive economic growth and shared success for all. That’s what we envision in a prosperous and inclusive economy for Northern Ireland.” 📖 Read now: https://bityl.co/SVmu #MakingAnImpact #TheWiBGroup #Inclusive #Economy #NorthernIreland

New research from Lean In and SurveyMonkey indicates that 60% of male managers feel uncomfortable engaging in common, job-related activities with female colleagues, such as mentoring, working alone together, or socialising, due to a fear of saying the wrong thing. To drive progress and foster a more inclusive culture, it’s crucial to address these concerns and equip managers of all genders with the tools needed to have effective coaching-style conversations, overcome perceptions, and understand the unique communication style of each team member. This leads to stronger, higher-performing teams. If you’re a new manager and would like to benefit from open discussions to help you become a better leader and ally in the workplace, join The Centre of Learning this November with Penny Toogood for the Equipping Managers for Success Programme: https://bityl.co/SYZw Our next women-only intake will return in February, and bookings are now open. #InclusiveLeadership #WorkplaceAllyship #MakingAnImpact

We recently brought together alumni from our Grow It Northern Ireland Programmes at voco® Belfast. This event was designed to continue building our supportive alumni network, enabling these talented women to share their journeys, challenges, and achievements as they scale their businesses. A highlight of the evening was hearing from Mairead Mackle MBE, CEO and Founder of Tarasis Enterprises, who shared insights from her impressive 30-year journey navigating the highs and lows of being a business owner, philanthropist, author, and investor. Her words resonated with everyone in the room, reminding us of the resilience and vision it takes to make a lasting impact. We look forward to making this the first of many – with plans to hold these alumni dinners quarterly. Be sure to tag anyone you spot in the images below! 📸 Victoria Connery . Sponsored by Barclays Eagle Labs | Lisa Bailie Claire Armstrong #WomenInBusiness #BusinessGrowth #Community

"So often, we, as women, don’t go for the job or ask to be part of the project; instead, we convince ourselves we’re not capable. Give it a try, reach out, and ask to be part of something. Connect with other women in the organisation, regardless of their level - I bet they’ll be willing to help." In this week's member profile, Emma P. shares her career journey from the NI Assembly to her role as Diversity & Inclusion Lead for BBC Northern Ireland. Do you know that Emma is also an independent assessor for Diversity Mark? ➡ Learn more in her member profile here: https://bityl.co/SXuO #WomeninBusiness #Network #BBC #NorthernIreland #Diversity #Inclusion #MakingAnImpact

Join us in Maximising your export potential through Cross-Border Trade👇 📆Wednesday 13th November 📍Canal Court Hotel, Newry 🕣8:45am-1:30pm In partnership with the Department for Business and Trade, this FREE event will equip businesses based in Northern Ireland with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the cross-border market as well as details about fully funded and flexible supports for trading cross-border and beyond. Register now⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eGSSYn72

🎉 Celebrating women in leadership! 🎉   Today, Kainos and Microsoft had the privilege of celebrating Ruth McGuinness (Head of Data & AI, Kainos), for winning Microsoft's Power Women in Tech Award at our Power Women in Leadership event. Ruth is one of only 11 remarkable women recognised across Microsoft’s Western Europe subsidiaries for her exceptional contributions to the tech industry.   The event opened with an inspiring Q&A featuring Catherine Doyle (GM, Microsoft Ireland), Ruth McGuinness, and Jayne Brady (Head of the Civil Service NI), where they shared personal stories about navigating their careers, conquering self-doubt, and challenging gender stereotypes.   We were then treated to a powerful fireside chat with Colette Kidd (Chief People Officer, Kainos) and Roseann Kelly MBE (CEO, Women in Business NI) on resilience, work-life balance, and the importance of supporting women in the workplace.   A huge thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to making this event a success! 👏   #WomenInTech #Leadership #PowerWomeninLeadership #Microsoft #DiversityAndInclusion #WomenInBusiness #Kainos #InspireNetwork 

National Mentoring Day is coming up on Sunday 27th October. 👥 Mentors come in all forms – from professional mentors to supportive peers, line managers, or even friends who guide us along the way. At Women in Business, mentoring is at our core, offering direction, encouragement, and fresh perspectives for women in their careers and businesses. It can be as simple as a coffee chat or as structured as a professional programme. No matter the format, mentoring is a valuable journey for both mentor and mentee. 🗣 Who has been a mentor in your life? Or are you ready to become one yourself? Read more from our Head of Entrepreneurship, Roisin McDermott: https://bityl.co/SVar #NationalMentoringDay #WomenInBusiness #MentoringMatters #Mentor #MakingAnImpact

Have you ever been branded as 'bossy' when you were actually trying to give helpful direction? Do you worry about saying "no" for how it could be perceived? Join The Centre of Learning this November to receive the tools to change your way of thinking so you can confidently communicate and discover how to advocate for yourself while expressing important, valid questions or boundaries. If you want to learn more about yourself, increase your confidence, and understand why past delegates described the programme as safe, open, and brilliant from start to finish, check out the programme now: https://bityl.co/SVYi ✅ Don't forget to secure your spot with the discount code: COLWIB20 and enjoy your exclusive Women in Business member discount. Penny Toogood Proclaim Consulting | #ProfessionalDevelopment #Assertive #Communication

💬 "Have the courage to be yourself, speak your truth, and never compromise on your values, because the world needs more leaders who are willing to do the right thing, even when it is not the popular thing." - Sarah Friar at the Voices of Leadership Conference 2023. To be part of this year's conference and enjoy a day of inspiration and learning, visit the Women in Business website to check out our full lineup of guest speakers and secure your ticket: https://bityl.co/S5Fp 📍 Thursday 14th November 09:00 - 16:00 | Mandela Hall, One Elmwood, Queen’s University Belfast. This conference is delivered in partnership with Queen's University Belfast and the GFCC | The Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils' Global Innovation Summit (GIS). Our title sponsor is NIE Networks, with support from Belfast City Council. #VOL24 #WomeninBusiness #Leadership #MakingAnImpact #ProfessionalDevelopment

📣 Deloitte joins the Women in Business network. The global firm, known for providing audit, assurance, consulting, and tax services, goes beyond these offerings by focusing on making a positive impact. Deloitte promotes equality, serves public interests, and leads digital transformation efforts. We’re looking forward to supporting the Deloitte team in their personal and professional development through their unlimited corporate membership for all employees. Find out more: https://bityl.co/PkUX #WomeninBusiness #Network #MakingAnImpact