Suzi Dafnis Businesswomen's Hall of Fame 2016 Interview

Suzi Dafnis Businesswomen's Hall of Fame 2016 Interview

In the lead up to International Women's Day on the 8th March, HerBusiness, formerly known as the Australian Businesswomen's Network (ABN) has announced the 2016 inductees to the Businesswomen's Hall of Fame.

'The Hall of Fame was established in 1998 to inspire Australian women through the stories of their high-achieving peers. More than 200 businesswomen from diverse backgrounds and industries have been profiled since its launch. It has given emerging businesswomen the courage to persevere despite the ups and downs of starting a business," says Suzi Dafnis, CEO of HerBusiness.

'The Businesswomen's Hall of Fame recognises prominent Australian female business owners that have achieved notable success in their field and inspire others. These women demonstrate exemplary entrepreneurship and provide shining examples for their peers and other women considering starting their own business," says Suzi Dafnis.

Twenty entrepreneurs have been inducted into the Businesswomen's Hall of Fame in 2016, all considered a trailblazer in industries as diverse as construction, mining, fashion, media and innovation.

The most common strategies for success that the inspiring women have named are:

Be goal oriented:
'Articulate your goals. Get specific with timeframes and forecasts." – Kym Clark, She's Empowered.

Make the most of support networks and mentors:
'Someone you admire and look up to, who can also become a sounding board for hurdles along the way. There are plenty of business owners who would love to help you." – Bianca Monley, Eat Fit Food.

Don't fall victim to the Imposter Syndrome:
'I believe that confidence removes the need for us to feel as if we -lack' in areas of our life and in who we are. It makes us fearless, not fearful." – Melanie Gleeson, Endota Day Spa.

Commit to ongoing learning and training:
'Always keep learning – striving for excellence!" – Leona Edmiston.

Don't be afraid to do things differently:
'Dream big, dream often and let yourself run wild for inspiration and accept that sometimes crazy ideas can make your dreams come true." – Lisa Messenger, The Messenger Group.

The 2016 Hall of Fame inductees are:

Kym Clark (QLD), She's Empowered
Nicole Eckels (NSW), The Sapphire Group
Maud Edmiston (WA), Miss Mauds
Melanie Gleeson (VIC), Endota Day Spa
Beverley Honig (VIC), Greenville Developments & Honeylight enterprises
Anna Hooper (SA), Cape Jaffa Wines
Maxine Horne (QLD), Fone Zone/Vita Group
Amantha Imber (VIC), Inventium
Hetty Johnston (QLD), Bravehearts
Isobel Knight (NSW), ProAgtive
Laurie McDonald (ACT), Canberra Furnished Accommodation
Lisa Messenger (NSW), The Messenger Group
Bianca Monley (NSW), Eat Fit Food
Anna Shepherd (NSW), Regal Home Health
Christine Taylor (QLD), Aussie Pooch Mobile
Jude Turner (QLD), Spicers Retreats
Sue Hollis (NSW), TravelEdge
Anneke Van Den Broek (NSW), Rufus & Coco
Leona Edmiston (WA), Leona Edmiston
Stephanie Alexander (VIC), Stephanie Alexander

For more information please visit http://herbusiness.com/hall-of-fame/

Interview with Suzi Dafnis

Question: What is the Businesswomen's Hall of Fame?

Suzi Dafnis: The Hall of Fame was established in 1998 to inspire Australian women through the stories of their high-achieving peers. More than 200 businesswomen from diverse backgrounds and industries have been profiled since its launch. It has given emerging businesswomen the courage to persevere despite the ups and downs of starting a business.

The Businesswomen's Hall of Fame recognises prominent Australian female business owners that have achieved notable success in their field and inspire others. These women demonstrate exemplary entrepreneurship and provide shining examples for their peers and other women considering starting their own business.


Question: Can you tell us about the 2016 inductees?

Suzi Dafnis: Twenty entrepreneurs have been inducted into the Businesswomen's Hall of Fame in 2016, all considered a trailblazer in industries as diverse as construction, mining, fashion, media and innovation.


Question: How important is it to recognise prominent Australian businesswomen, to you?

Suzi Dafnis: Shining the light of the achievements of female entrepreneurs is something that is very much a part of our organisational charter because we understand how isolating being in business can be. These women show us that there is a way to make it in business and that business can be a door to freedom and doing what you love, every day.


Question: Is gender inequality still an issue in the workplace?

Suzi Dafnis: I think what we can do about it is build our confidence. A lack of confidence can be behind women not taking action - not putting themselves forward to promotions for bigger contracts, for investor funds. Studies have shown that even though other factors play a role in determining our actions, for example a will to persist, intelligence, creativity and even anger, confidence as the essential element.

And women can develop the confidence habit. And we found the women in our hall of fame all did five things to build their confidence and stay confident.

Those five things are
1. Connect with purpose
2. Be passionate and take risks
3. Surround yourself with great people
4. Build their skill-set
5. Take action

See their stories here: https://her-business.leadpages.co/breaking-through-ebook/


Question: What is Imposter Syndrome?

Suzi Dafnis: There's this insidious belief many business owners have (and women are particularly prone to it).

And it's a confidence blocker that could be stopping women from breaking through and really taking their business, and their life to the next level…

It's the 'Imposter Syndrome"

Psychological research estimates that two out of five successful people consider themselves frauds.

Other studies have found that up to 75 percent of all people feel like imposters at one time or another (especially common among women!).

The Imposter Syndrome is that voice that wants you to believe the success you're experiencing is just a fluke and that you're really just a fraud who's been fooling people all this time into thinking you know what you're doing and one day they are going to find out you don't really have a clue.

The good news is that almost every successful person has felt this way at one time or another… but it can be overcome.


Question: Can you explain how successful women in business have overcome Imposter Syndrome?

Suzi Dafnis: Hall of Fame Inductee, Amantha Imber, Founder and Head Inventiologist at Inventium, one of Australia's leading innovation consultancies, says she first remembers experiencing the Imposter Syndrome when she was accepted into a Doctorate Program at Monash University at just 22 years of age.

She said for the first few months in the program she kept thinking there had been some kind of administrative error and she wasn't meant to be there!

The way she overcame this feeling was focusing on the strengths she brought to the Doctoral program, rather than the reasons why she didn't fit in. She says making a conscious effort to identify and play to her strengths really helped her overcome feeling like an imposter and enabled her to more fully embrace the opportunities around her.

And Anna Shepherd, Hall of Fame member, CEO of Regal Health and an entrepreneur with 33 years experience, says she too has felt the Imposter Syndrome and that it's important to surround yourself with people who seek your success along with theirs, citing her experience at Harvard University as the first time she felt this unconditional expression of acceptance.


Question: How important is it for women to support other women in business?

Suzi Dafnis: When I started in business, like many women, I started in a home office. The suited my budget and my confidence. It was through connecting with other women that I built a strong foundation and a network that has been a shoulder to cry one, a sounding board for my ideas, a place to get back in the learners seat and to share ideas.

I highly recommend (as do our Hall of Fame women) surrounding yourself with a strong network of people who will support your dreams.

For more information and to read all the stories: http://www.herbusiness.com/hall-of-fame


Interview by Brooke Hunter