Northstar Project & Real Estate Services’ Post

The Proof Is Here. Do you secretly want to be a Board Member? Research by the London Business School confirms that companies with more women on their boards have higher returns on equity, higher valuations, lower likelihood of shareholder dissent, and stronger boardroom relationships and collaboration. What more proof do you want? It is time to give yourself the opportunity to serve on a Board. If you are curious, DM me and let's connect. #BoardMember #WomenOnBoards #PathwaytoBoardLeadership

Day two of the WBENC National Conference continued to be a powerhouse of inspiration and insight for our team. We had the privilege to attend key sessions that shed light on the profound impact and growing influence of women-owned businesses in today's economy. The Impact of Women-Owned Businesses with WIPP: This session, led by Angela Dingle, President and CEO of Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), unveiled the findings of the Wells Fargo 2024 Impact of Women-Owned Businesses report. The report provided an in-depth analysis of how the pandemic created new opportunities for women entrepreneurs across various sectors. Angela, with her vast experience and achievements, highlighted the untapped potential of women business owners in driving economic growth, job creation, and innovation. Her call to action emphasized the need for data-driven strategies to support the expansion of women-owned businesses. Another dynamic panel discussion on USPAACC Wise: Women of Influence, brought together women leaders to explore the essence of mentorship and leadership. Panelists, including Doris Li Yeh, Carolyn Joshua, Nina Patnala, Vivian Pham, Jenny Jing Zhu, and Shital Daftari, shared their journeys, the evolution of their leadership styles, and the impact of mentorship on their careers. Their stories of risk-taking, overcoming challenges, and fostering inclusivity were not only inspiring but also offered practical advice for aspiring women leaders. The day was filled with stories of growth, scaling, and the critical role of diversity and mentorship in the success of women in business. Meeting these trailblazers, from successful immigrant entrepreneurs to leaders in technology and biotech, underscored the importance of diversity and the incredible potential within the WBE community. We’re so excited and thrilled to be sharing all these interesting insights, the WBENC conference has been quite a journey and we can’t wait to continue discovering what it has for all of us! We’re currently living the third day and are almost at the end of this great event. Stay tuned for more! #womenempowerment #womeninbusiness #womenofinfluence #businesswomen #wbencconf #wbencconference #wbenc #wbe

“As a working woman, the more you achieve and the higher you rise, the more naked you are.” (Sharmadean Reid, The Sunday Times Style, 23rd June 2024) What a chillingly evocative description! Sharmadean writes about her experience of becoming more senior and gradually seeing fellow women drop out of the race, leaving her alone, vulnerable, and physically and mentally exhausted. While the path to senior leadership for women remains fraught with barriers, we must cherish those who make it through and proactively support their continued success. To do this we must tackle head-on the causes of burnout and women choosing to leave their senior roles. (Spoiler alert: It is not the long hours!) What makes these amazing women unravel goes much deeper. It is the sense of being alone and out of sync with who they truly are that does the real damage. A sense of belonging and personal alignment are at the heart of what women need to thrive. We can create belonging by providing opportunities for senior women to belong to small groups of women that offer safety, shared experiences, support, and encouragement. We can create alignment by providing learning programs and strategies that empower women to design their bespoke leadership style, allowing them to flourish in their own way. Supporting the continued success of amazing women is why I’ve designed the Women in Partnership Accelerator – a 6-month group program starting in September. Click the link in the comments below to find out more. Sharmadean Reid was the first black woman in the UK to raise £1M in venture capital and has written a book: New Methods for Women: A Manifesto for Independence. #WomenInPartnership #WomenInLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #WomenSupportingWomen #ProfessionalGrowth #WomenInBusiness

Let's talk #womeninfinance. While there has been an increase in women studying finance, only a small percentage of leadership positions in finance are held by women. Our President and COO, Audrey Averill, was recently featured on a panel with the Charlotte Business Journal to speak about her experience in the industry, her path at The Pelora Group, and the importance of women in the financial services industry. From the article: “Leading or even starting a business demands a vast skill set. Averill says she sees female entrepreneurs often thinking they have to do it all on their own. ‘There is a thought that you need to be the pioneer and just grind it out,’ she says. Instead of that insular approach, Averill says Pelora’s advisors are more successful when they take advantage of the resources that surround them. ‘When they lean into people who have paved the way before and seek counsel or opportunity, that business they are building starts to generate more revenue and starts to become bigger and greater,’ Averill says.” Thanks again to the fantastic team at the Charlotte Business Journal, and shout out to the other impactful female leaders in this discussion: Raichelle "Rai" Glover, regional market president of Huntington National Bank, Rebecca Hardin, CFO of Verigent, and Tao-Hsien Dolly King, professor of finance and interim dean of the UNC Charlotte Belk College of Business. Photo credit: Charlotte Business Journal #femalefinancialprofessionals #womeninwealth #womenworkinginwealth #femaleCFP #femalefinancialadvisors #charlottebusinessjournal

How do we close more business? It starts with knowing your audience. #sheleadslive2023 #businessgrowth

Increasing the number of women in the business world is one thing, increasing the number of #WomenOnTheBoard is another. In order to come near leadership positions, women have learned how to navigate a system that often works against them. This panel of entrepreneurs and board members discusses how to rise to the top despite guaranteed gender barriers. While the system itself has a lot of work to do to make it easier for women to ascend the ladder, these women prove that it is possible! #WomanLeadership #GenderEquality

✨ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐧𝐨𝐧-𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝? ✨🚀 Claire Toumieux and myself have partnered with European Women on Boards (EWOB) for a fourth time supporting their Board Readiness Program. Some key takeaways from our session include: 🌟 𝐍𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧, 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭! Inquire thoughtfully, follow up with discernment, yet refrain from involving yourself in the operational side of the business 🌟 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: Provide invaluable insights without overstepping into management. 🌟 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Leverage your unique perspective to foster a culture of innovation. #BoardroomDiversity #BoardReadiness #DEI #FemaleLeadership Allen & Overy

One of the most requested non financial support by women in business is mentorship. While mentorship takes many forms, the most impactful one for me has been listening to founders share their stories, especially in the early years of business and how they took momentous decisions that impacted their businesses and lives. Last Tuesday we got to listen first hand to insights on how On came into being 13 years ago, and the most inspiring journey to date. Some of my takeaways from this visit : 📌 The importance of culture and how it can be reflected in the core of an organization. 📌Another take away was not to try to be all things to all people. This is especially so in a competitive landscape. Recognize your space and excel in it. 📌Lastly, remaining agile, this can be as simple (or complex) as how you define your audience persona. This was an eye opener for me, especially when your business has multiple and distinct products. So many lessons packed in three amazing days! That I will continue reflecting on. Wangari Kamau Sheena Patel Sneha Mehta, CFA Kayana Create Vivanet Zynamis Tracy Mwangi #smallbusinessbigbusiness #mentorship #agility

It’s not a boot camp, it’s not a conference… it’s a retreat. The forthcoming #pathways retreat that I’m running for Elevator and Scottish Enterprise for women who are scaling their businesses, starts with what lies at that centre of their business. Them. Yes, folks - forget about ‘start with why’ and consider ‘start with you’ . As a founder and business leader, it’s something we often lose sight of….. #pathwaysreport #womenentrepreneurs

Expand your influence. We need more women on boards. PERIOD. (I mean, we need women everywhere else, too, but let’s have fun and give ourselves a running start at that gender/weath/power chasim and START AT THE TOP) The Fourth Effect can help support you on the journey with three critical things: 💫 Access to opportunities 📚Critical insight 👊🏻Meaningful support through community