I’m a ‘Woman of Worth’ - Yippee!

During Louth Enterprise Week, the Drogheda Chamber held the ‘Women of Worth’ Awards celebrating the achievements of business women in the Drogheda & District Area.

You can imagine my surprise when I got a phone call from Marian Caddell, Office Administrator Extraordinaire at the Chamber to congratulate me for making it to the short-list. I didn’t even know that I was nominated!

There were four categories and I was short-listed in the Professional Category along with some very strong local women:

Among the other finalists were Marcella Bannon, Droichead Arts Centre Director and Orlaigh Carmody Duffy of Aerga Productions in the Creative Arts category.

Karen Devine and Marian Caddell celebrating with short-listed WOW Denise Fay and Marcella Bannon

The other finalists, in their respective categories were:

Creative Arts

• Orlaith Carmody-Duffy, Aerga Productions
• Marcella Bannon, Droichead Arts centre
• Els Borghart, Nexus Arts project

Community

• Isabel Sanroma, St. Patrick’s Day Festival
• Anne Tracey, Gary Kelly Cancer Support Centre
• Phil Conyngham, Samba Festival

Entrepreneur

• Laura Armada Buch, Labfitness
• Gemma McGuinness, Jacquis Fashion Boutique
• Carmel Riggs, Essential Magazine
• Gwen Fearon & Orlaith Callaghan, Stockwell Artisan Foods

Night of the Awards

The awards were held in the four star d Hotel and the guest speaker for the night was a woman of worth in her own right, Ms Terry Prone. Terri expressed her support for the WOW initiative in her inspiring speech.

It is not very long ago that women could be sacked from their employment simply because they were women and I have known that experience myself, it is incredibly important to acknowledge and celebrate the successes of women in business and there are some excellent examples to celebrate here tonight.”

Before announcing the winners, Chamber President Patricia Rooney congratulated each and every nominee, saying that the Chamber received an overwhelming number of nominations and the judges had a hard job whittling it down to the finalists.  “The calibre of the women who were nominated was really impressive and the judges reported it was a real challenge to decide on one winner for each category from such a wealth of talented and deserving candidates.”

Even though I didn’t win, I had a great night. It is always good to get nominated and who knows what could happen over the coming year. My sincerest congratulations goes to Sheila Cooney who won in the Professional category and all the other winners on the night.

Photo: Cowley Photography

I love Shoes, therefore I am in love with Shoeisms

Last Wednesday, I had the opportunity to hear Veronica Canning speak at a networking event and you know what, everytime I hear her, I learn something different.

She is engaging, entertaining and enthralling. I could listen to her all day, every day. On this speaking occasion, she shared with us her Personal Brand Success Programme which is a five step model.

Shoeism - Personal Brand Success Programme

This five step model makes sense - yet many of us don’t follow it as unfortunately common sense is not so common! The five points are Veronica’s five points - the sub-information is my personal take on Veronica’s words of wisdom.

1. Act Strategically

I’m a marketing consultant so I always tell my clients to think strategically. My constant advice is that marketing should not be done on an ad-hoc basis but should always be part of an overall plan.

Veronica applies this same logic to your brand - you as your brand should act strategically. Ask yourself before you do or say anything - “Does this help my personal brand?” If not…don’t do it!

2. Make your Message Match the Messenger

Be consistent with your brand. If you are a fun, quirky person, then don’t have a corporate banal brand. You are not representing yourself in the correct way.

3. Get Out of your Own Way

This was one of my favourite points. How many times do we get in our own way? Have you ever used phrases such as:

• “I’ll do it tomorrow”
• “I’m afraid people will laugh”
• “What will people think?”
• “It’s just not right”
• “I just don’t have time”

Go on - be honest. If you say any of these (and more!), then you are in your own way. Veronica is a big believer in this. We are our own worst enemy and as successful women (and men) that has to change to move forward.

4. Benchmark against the Best

Look at who is the best in your industry and benchmark yourself against them. Ask yourself what skills or talents do they have that you don’t? What can you learn from them?

If you benchmark yourself against the best, then you will find ways in which to improve yourself. And self improvement is a constant in today’s environment.

5. Fake It until you Make It

If you don’t have an office in  Dublin 2 or 4, then meet in a Dublin 2 or 4 hotel. If you’re travelling somewhere, hire a porsche or jaguar. There are ways where you can fake it without breaking you or your bank. Once you have self-belief and the right skills, then fake things before you make it. Take control of your own destiny.

Again, this is my take on Veronica’s five step model. If you want help with your personal brand, contact Veronica directly - she will do an audit of your brand and work with you on a one to one basis.

The Shoeism Book

Veronica has recently written a book called Shoeisms: Working Woman’s Guide to Take Control and Be the Sassy, Successful Woman You Know You Can Be. The world has changed and finding your role in the world as a powerful woman just got more difficult. Shoeisms will enable you to think independently and to carve out your own destiny.

I hope to bring you a review of the book later in the month but all you sassy ladies are recommended to check it out - www.shoeisms.ie

Forget The Apprentice. Apply for the Bord Bia Fellowship.

If I didn’t have my Masters of Business Studies (MBS) in International Marketing from the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, I would be filling in my application form for the Bord Bia Marketing Fellowship instead of writing this blog.

I heard about it on the radio and just had to check it out. What a great opportunity for 25 people who want to embark on or further progress a marketing and business career. It’s an  intensive 12-month action learning programme which gives successful candidates the combined opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with some of Ireland’s most respected food companies and to also gain a postgraduate qualification.

Not only do you get experience and a MSc in Marketing Practice, but you’ll get to work abroad aswell. The student’s time will be spent here in Ireland and in a foreign location.

All this and it’s a fully funded programme, which means that you don’t even have to pay for it. AND you get a bursary of over just over €22,000.

To apply, you need to be a graduate with a minimum of two years work experience. Some placements will require fluency in a second language (German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian or Chinese). As a graduate of Smufit School and the marketing department specifically, I can highly recommend working with the school.

Closing date is the 23rd April which two weeks on Friday. Tell your friends, family members, your neighbours. If you or they fit the criteria, this is a programme not to be missed.

For further information and to apply please visit www.smurfitschool.ie/bordbia