Everyone understands online meetings are different but how different? What if you miss a visual cue that you would never miss in real life? It could really affect the outcome or relationship.

Meetings online are more or less compulsory in the COVID-19 world we live in but how to we make the most of it? There are many things to cover in a virtual meeting place that just don’t exist in real life. You need to have enough technical talent, decent internet and a quiet space for a start but what else? Here are some things I’ve seen missed.

KNOW YOUR TOOLS
There are so many online meeting tools out there like Zoom, Google Hangouts and GoToMeeting. Each is slightly different. Know how to host and attend each one. The advantages and disadvantages of each tool could be an article in itself so I won’t focus on that here.

Be particularly careful with Google meetings which automatically puts google hangout meeting details in the invite. More than once, I’ve used that link instead of the actual link intended.

If you have slides or other screen shares during the meeting test these BEFORE the call if possible. Make sure you know how to share these on the platform you are using.

Streaming video tends NOT to work on conference calls tools. They prioritise voice over video.

Fumbling with your tools slows down flow and engagement. For critical meetings, I recommend someone drive the tech (a producer) so you can focus on connecting and your message.

MEETING ETIQUETTE
Have your video ON. It creates intimacy. This is difficult when you are in a place with a “busy” or distracting background. Virtual backgrounds can sometimes help here. Keep in mind different cultures have different expectations around video to others.

MUTE your microphone especially if you are in a noisy location. Do you know how to un/mute using the keyboard? Can you reach your keyboard easily? Is the phone app different to the web version? Can people hear you typing or your pet dog in the background?

Watch or listen carefully to make sure you don’t speak over someone.

Mute your computer alerts (esp pop ups) and phone.

Pre-meeting banter and connection often goes missing online. The lack of physical presence means the co-incidental conversation and small gestures of connection like saying hello in the morning aren’t there. Remembering to connect personally is important.

Online meetings can seem impersonal. Make a special effort to connect with everyone in the meeting. Arriving early is sometimes an option.

PLAN YOUR MESSAGE AND OUTCOME
This is particularly important if you are in a team meeting another group. You can’t rely on your typical non verbal cues to your work mates to the same degree on video. You may even need a 2nd “back channel” using a different tool or app to communicate with your team mates during the meeting. This is especially important if your meeting is a demo or has training involved. You can discuss things like who is understanding or following your message or reminders to do or say something.

Other communication cues can be lost in online meetings. Plan your messaging so it is clear, logical and not too fast.

Keep your messages short and allow people time to think about your message. It increases impact if you can be succinct. If you talk too long, it gives others an excuse to do something on the side.

Have a clear process, agenda and next actions by the end of your meeting

Also, what do you want their experience to be? How will they feel when the meeting concludes? How will you instill trust, rapport and credibility without specifying your title or qualifications? They are the minimum to start the conversation, not the end point.

BEING SEEN AND HEARD
Hands are very important for online meetings. Make sure they can be seen.
It’s important to make sure people can see your hands. They can be very expressive and allow you to imply or emphasise along with your voice. This applies in real life too but it’s easy to forget on video. Adjust your camera position if you can. If you move your laptop away make sure you can still reach the keyboard. It may be time to get an external camera or keyboard to achieve this.

Speak clearly and slowly. Some microphones and speakers are better than others and it’s sometimes harder to hear someone online. This is particularly important if you have an accent or naturally speak fast.

Pick a high contrast background so people can see you

Have adequate lighting

Treat your “window” as a stage not an office. What is in the background? Is it distracting? If presenting, step back from the camera, stand up if you can and remember the “Rule of Thirds”.

SPECIAL NOTE about cameras and close ups

Remember a camera is close to your face. All your facial expressions, even small tiny movements can be seen. Reading faces can be easier to do online.

If you are self conscious about your face on screen, some platforms like Zoom have a “Touch up my appearance” option to slightly blur your face.

IF YOU DO TRAINING ONLINE
Below are some tips for online training that also need to be considered

Plan more breaks and learning outcomes carefully
Use energisers more frequently
2 hour breaks for lunch (for multiday training) works extremely well. It stops people doing things on the side while you are talking.
You need a producer to manage technical issues and the platform in general like break outs
Be willing to be flexible with the group
You need a back channel for side conversations with your producer and other facilitators. (Use often, check often)
Communicate often and clearly with your attendees and facilitator before and during the training. This includes agenda, outcomes and break times
Clearly plan your programming and activities early. Walk it through with your team mates beforehand. It’s hard to have side conversations online even with a back channel
Plan and track your multimedia and transitions beforehand. There’s a delay that can impact flow. It there is a tech issue, the flow is impacted even more.

CONCLUSION
You can make online meetings work. Even training! I did a 3 day Live course online with breakout groups and group exercises last week. You need to plan more up front but I don’t feel it impacts general meetings at all.

Above all, you need to create a sense of connection and belonging. The information may be the reason you are there. It’s the value you create and the way you help people achieve their goals is what is more important. That never changes, no matter what the medium is. Tech can get in the way but it can also bring us together. We just need mastery of this new format like every other technology humanity has invented.

To find out more contact Jon Yeo at bright star

Join us in Melbourne

5, 171 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3000.
Phone: +61 466 619 631
Email: hello@digitalwomensnetwork.com
Website:https://digitalwomensnetwork.com/

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Hello Angela, I’d love to help, I hope you and the Digital Women’s Network members are going well!

This email may help someone in the Digital Women’s Network for their sales team. The content is resonating and practical for the girls and guys who have to sell and don’t want to appear like ambulance chasers considering the environment.

During this time I’ve been running a 45 -60 minute group coaching on  ‘How To Sell Remotely When Nobody Wants To See You’

– No PPTs, No Breakout Rooms, No Big Sales Pitches – just me and whoever is on the call and the feedback has been great.  It was picked up by The CEO Institute and now being shared only with my clients, prospects, database and people I know – you are one of them 

The request for me to run a couple more means I will be repeating it next week on Wednesday May 6^th at 10am…and I have included the Zoom Link below to click on and register if it was something that resonated.

If you have sales team members or colleagues you would like to be on the call, please forward them this email.

The 3 main distinctions people received were around:

• The ‘framing’ of the call to remove the awkwardness
• The necessity and how to transition your new positioning statements and
• The need to language your value to set yourself up for Q3/4
• And more…

Because of security issues, I’m asking everyone to register in advance for the session and here’s the link  –https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwrdeusrz4iHt3O7iCBvPfckqer1fpWXugI

Hope you/they can make it. In the meantime, take care and speak soon.

Btw – this one is complementary 

Cheers

Bernadette McClelland

us@bernadettemcclelland.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernadettemcclelland/
+61 457 334 496
16 Angela’s Way, Sunbury, VIC 3429, Australia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1fFuEb2QYI

Join us in Melbourne

5, 171 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3000.
Phone: +61 466 619 631
Email: hello@digitalwomensnetwork.com
Website:https://digitalwomensnetwork.com/

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Hi Angela,

I hope you and all the community at the Digital Women’s Network is keeping well, during this challenging time my team and I have put together a few things to help. This week I’d love to share this with the Digital Women’s Network a FREE Power Webinar [60 minutes] at 6pm (Melbourne time) on Thursday 7th May 2020:

Get in the Game! Rise to the challenge. 

Click on this link to register;

https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/getinthegame

“The whole world has been turned upside down. People are worried, anxious and feeling lost. The game has changed but there is a way forward and it’s time to get going.”

Hopefully it will be a great starting point for future discussion.

Keep well. Stay Safe

Peter xx 

PETER THURIN
Speaker | Mentor | Coach
Mobile: +61 407 568 416
peter@peterthurin.com
P.O. Box 392, Toorak, Victoria 3142, Australia
www.peterthurin.com

Easy to do. Easy not to do. Your choice!®

Join us in Melbourne

5, 171 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3000.
Phone: +61 466 619 631
Email: hello@digitalwomensnetwork.com
Website:https://digitalwomensnetwork.com/

The post A lockdown offer from our wonderful speaker Peter Thurin appeared first on Women's Networking Events - Melbourne.

LEADERSHIP SPEAKING WITH ILLUMINATED STORY & DIGITAL WOMEN’S NETWORK

Wednesday 21st August 2019 we held Part one of our three part public speaking breakfast series, which was a great success.  Our guests were spoilt with a delicious breakfast provided by Guy Grossi’s Merchant team while listening to Carmen Sederino from Illuminated Story impart many great tips and techniques that will enhance our guests speaking ability as leaders in business.

Carmen shared that a recent study found that 79% of people surveyed find presentations to be boring. And it’s true. How many of us haven’t struggled to sit through dreary and passionless presentations? It happens all too often.   

If you’re the leader of an organisation or team and you don’t come across as a confident and articulate speaker, it will be difficult for you to attract people to be a part of your team or have customers do business with you.  She also discussed the fact that public speaking is a skill you can learn, not just something you are born being great at.  If you’re challenged by public speaking, there are several techniques that can help you overcome your fears.

The presentation concluded with Carmen sharing many great practical tips and exercises that emphasised the importance of tone, pace and body language, to help the group hone and polish their hidden skills and Illuminate the presenter inside them.

If it is fear that is holding you back, it may offer some comfort to know that Carmen mentioned even business magnate and billionaire Warren Buffett admitted to being “terrified” of public speaking early in his career. But he knew that “If you can’t communicate and talk to other people and get across your ideas, you’re giving up your potential”. And, so he chose to conquer his fear. You can, too! 

Join us at one of our two remaining Breakfast Series on public speaking.  If you lead a B2B sales team or are the owner of an organisation the next ‘Improve Your Sales Presenting’ breakfast on the 11^th of September is perfect for you.  Hosted by the wonderful team at Guy Grossi’s Merchant in the Rialto tower, Carmen will not only share techniques to enhance your presentation delivery but take you through a ‘standard’ sales presentation versus a highly effective ‘stand out’ sales presentation.

If you are a female leader or a female wanting to head into leadership then don’t miss our ‘Leading Women and Speaking’ breakfast on the 25^th of September at Guy Grossi’s Merchant.  Carmen will challenge you to stand up and be seen and heard, and to move forward confidently so that you allow others to follow you, or for Senior Management to see the potential lying within.

We looking forward to seeing you soon at our next event or tour,
Cheers Digital Women’s Network Team; Carmen, Angela, Nicola, Amanda, Jesse, Bek, Kelly, Carmel, Hina, Jade, Ruby, Justin & Adrian. xx
hello@digitalwomensnetwork.com 

The post FIRST IN OUR BREAKFAST SERIES FOR 2019 appeared first on Women's Networking Events - Melbourne.

We are delighted to share the delectable dishes that will be served by Guy Grossi and team at Merchant Osteria Veneta located in The Rialto, is a passionate, generous, open canvas. 495 Collins St Melbourne 3000 phone; (03) 9614 7688

Dinner Menu

Canapés served with bubbles 

Main

Herb & Almond crusted Barramundi with Buckwheat Lentil Salad, Tomato & Saffron Broth

or

Braised Flinders Island Lamb Shoulder, Cannelloni Beans, White Wine, Herbs

Served with

A glass of wine and sides; roasted potatoes with Garlic and Rosemary.

Mixed Leaves salad

Desert

Chestnut Flower Honey Panna Cotta with Pistachio, Honeycomb and Almond

or

Tiramisu, Grossi Classic

– Vegetarian options available, please speak with us regarding dietary requirements, we endeavour to accommodate all dietaries however we cannot guarantee that any products served will be free of allergens.

The post Dare to Lead Change, Menu 24th July 2019 appeared first on Women's Networking Events - Melbourne.

• Women hold 13.7% of chair positions and 25.8% of directorships and represent 17.1% of CEOs and 30.5% of key management personnel (WGEA 2019).
• 35.2% of boards and governing bodies have no female directors. By contrast, only 0.9% had no male directors (WGEA 2018, Australia’s Gender Equality Scorecard).

Here are some insights and thoughts of Samantha’s first-hand experience in creating systemic change in the Royal Australian Air Force. 

How do we remain feminine and be equal/in charge and respected? 

I think we first need to acknowledge and be comfortable in our own skin. You’ll never lead to your potential if you are grappling with trying to fit in and adapt = that takes energy.

Where do we as Females go it wrong or get it wrong? 

We may perceive our environment to be a mans world. In my experience it is the fact that I felt as though I stuck out. And when you stick out, you don’t get the luxury of a bad day, or a good day for that matter, when you stick out, good performance, and poor performance blends in with all performance. And this is a constraint within our organisations. 

What gave you the courage to want to make a changes in the RAAF?

A supervisor who enabled the change to be articulated and developed and ultimately supported.

What drove you to take the action?

The knowledge that if I did nothing, then nothing would change.

Is it women that perceive there is a glass ceiling?

No. But it does depend – how’s that for a non-committal answer?! I feel there are a number of barriers to the progression of women into senior leadership positions. A report released yesterday actually by Rapid Contact into defence Industry, found not only does recruitment pipeline need addressing, the progression and retention required a big focus.

Are women still cutting other women down to reach their own goals?

I don’t believe so – maybe some still feel as though they are surviving, and not able to thrive. Only when given opportunity to thrive can you truly help others.

Here is Samantha speaking at the World Economic Forum earlier this week.

We are delighted to host Samantha Freebairn for a very interactive dining event at Grossi Group Venue – Merchant on Collins Street.

JOIN US FOR SOME GROSSI HOSPITALITY

THREE COURSE DINNER

WEDNESDAY JUL 24, 2019

6PM-9:00PM

AT GUY GROSSI’S MERCHANT 495 COLLINS ST, MELBOURNE VIC 3000

DARING TO LEAD CULTURAL CHANGE, WITH SAMANTHA FREEBAIRN

WWW.DIGITALWOMENSNETWORK.COM

TICKETS;

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/dare-to-lead-cultural-change-tickets-62246410690

Tables of 10 can be purchased however tickets are now limited, get yours before we sell out.

Earlier in Samantha’s career, she worked as an Air Force Pilot, flying both combat and on humanitarian relief missions. As a highly skilled pilot, Samantha was the first woman in Australia to instruct pilots in the C-17A simulator.

As a Gender Diversity and Inclusion Advocate, Samantha wrote the RAAF policy which enabled her and other women the ability to return to operational flying positions after having children.

Later Samantha was employed as the Operations Flight Commander for 36 Squadron and their fleet of eight C17 Globemaster aircraft.

In 2014, Samantha won the QLD Telstra Business Women’s Award in Business Innovation for her Graduate Pilot Scheme, which incentivises military aviation to women who had never previously considered it. Increase in Female pilot numbers had been stagnant for over 30 years, Samantha’s new initiative resulted in successfully doubling the number of Female pilots in the Air Force in a two-year period.

• 2016, World Economic Forum, Young Global Leader most influential global leaders under 40 years
• 2014 QLD Telstra Business Women’s Award winner, Business Innovation (Graduate Pilot Scheme)
• Wing Commander, Pilot, Royal Australian Air Force
• First Women in Australia to instruct pilots in the C-17A simulator
• Gender Diversity and Inclusion Advocate
• Currently the Deputy Director of the Australian Air Force Cadets aviation and Women’s Leadership Specialist

Never be afraid to speak up and challenge the group norm and unconscious biases. “Samantha Freebairn”

Samantha’s Education & Qualifications include;

• Bachelor of Science degree,
• Masters of Management in Leadership,
• Certified Workplace and Business Coach
• Graduate of Harvard University (John F. Kennedy School of Government) ‘Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century’ program.
• Operational C-130H Hercules Pilot
• C-17 Globemaster pilot

Today Samantha is a keynote speaker, Wing Commander, Pilot for Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), World Economic Forum Global Leader, Telstra Business Woman, Gender Diversity and Inclusion Advocate, Mentor and Women’s Leadership Specialist the Deputy Director of the Australian Air Force Cadets aviation activities, works and a Business Coach a busy Wife and Mother of two..

The post Our sit down with World Economic Forum Global Leader, Wing Commander for RAAF Samantha Freebairn appeared first on Women's Networking Events - Melbourne.

In the lead up to our event 22nd May 2019, here is my sit down interview with the inspirational Katrina McCarter the Guru of Marketing to Mum’s. Please, e-meet (though I’m sure you may already have heard of her) Katrina McCarter, International speaker, Founder and CEO of Marketing to Mums

• Katrina has over 18 years sales and marketing experience working across diverse industries including grocery, hardware where she was always targeting mum as the purchaser this drove her to create the Bestselling book “Marketing to Mums’
• 2018 Finalist in B&T’s Women in Media Awards (Marketing category)
• 2017 Finalist in B&T’s Women in Media Awards (Entrepreneur category)
• #1 on Booktopia’s Business Best-seller list
• Book listed in ‘Must Read Australian Advertising and Media Books’
• Regularly speaks internationally – Moms & Marketing Conference (Paris 28/9/18) and M2Moms Conference (New York 3/10/18).

I am aware of the huge success you had with your online shopping website for mums called Bubbler.com.au. I believe you grew to a community of 150,000 mums before selling in late 2016, (amazing)

• What were some of your key learnings? What was the main focus of your business to grow it to such a large community?

Great question. I think I was only successful in growing my first business to such a large community of mothers was because I could really relate to them. I was in their shoes with three young children at home. I recognised their problems, motivations and wants. This enabled me to demonstrate a level of empathy which other big brands couldn’t. I was very connected with my community and this allowed my stay relevant with what we offered on our website. This deep level of customer understanding was an important factor in my success.

• What motivated you to start Marketing to Mums?

When I was running my first business, I quickly learned that brands were really struggling to understand mothers. They would lump them all together in one big group, perpetuate old stereotypes and wondered why their creative wasn’t being well received. I saw mothers becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the way they were being communicated with brands and, with that, I spotted a gap in the market and launched my marketing and research consultancy in late 2015.  I now support brands with education around mothers, research around their mothers and help them build a strategy which delivers sales growth and market share gains.

• What are some challenges facing marketers in 2019?

I think there is a great deal of pressure on senior marketers to deliver growth and this can be extremely challenging when your customers are changing so quickly and there are so many tools you could use. I see increasing overwhelm in the market as to where to start and working out what strategies will perform best for a brand. There is also increasing pressure on marketers to be able to demonstrate ROI for their marketing investments.  Successful marketers today are great storytellers who deeply understand and are connected to their customer. They are also happy to do things differently and are happy to take some risks.

• You teach at ADMA what are you seeing as the key areas of interest for students and companies?

Yes, I am the Instructor for the Digital Marketing Certificate and Digital Marketing Essentials courses for ADMA in Melbourne. Our first class always kicks off with understanding what the student’s current challenges are. In many cases, they’ve done their marketing degree but their digital skills are not up to date and this is what motivates them to enrol in the certificate class. In other instances, they are a senior marketing manager and managing all the marketing function but there are current areas they don’t feel strong in and I aim to fill that gap for them over the ten weeks we spend together.  Much of their initial interest lies in learning about the more technical aspects of paid advertising and search marketing however I feel that over the course this really expands.

• Can you please give us some insights into how you see the current digital landscape?

I’d like to answer this question from my client’s perspective. Clients say to me that they find the current digital landscape overwhelming. Many don’t have strong digital skills and they are finding it tough to keep up to date. These issues are particularly highlighted when these people are managing a market team. They feel that there are so many different tools and strategies which could be used but they need help understanding what will be most effective. I always bring them back to their customer. Typically, I start with an assessment to better understand where I think they have gaps or unmet opportunities. Then I undertake a research project to identify and understand their most profitable of the Mum market. I take my time in this stage as I need to understand their customer very deeply. I want to also understand their journey to finding the brand also. Once this is identified I can assist them to work out what are the best digital strategies they can employ as I have strong expertise around communication preferences of different segments of mothers based on my ongoing research into Australian mothers.

• What are the top trends for 2019/2020?

We are seeing kids and dads getting a growing voice in large purchasing decisions as younger Millennial families adopt a more egalitarian approach to parenting. Many brands need to be considering their strategy to reach these segments as well as mothers now and this means considering different digital marketing channels. A classic example is in the travel industry. Kids are shaking up the family travel market as we know it. They are heavily influenced by You Tubers they follow (from around 9 years of age) and they want to travel to places they’ve seen in their favourite You Tubers videos. So, we are indirectly seeing travel being impacted by You Tubers targeting tween and teens. Most travel companies aren’t considering this factor at all.

Amongst mothers, we are seeing a growing use of Podcasting which represents a great opportunity to get her uninterrupted attention. Brands could be sponsoring or looking to be featured on podcasts to build stronger, deeper relationships with mothers.

Another trend we are seeing is the return to minimalism. Marie Kondo has really led to enormous change as mothers are looking to simplify their lives. It’s about quality over quantity, particularly amongst Gen X mothers in Australia right now.

Mums are also rewarding brands who demonstrate diversity, sustainable business practices and bring more fun and playfulness into their brand communications. It means there needs to be a rethink about how you are communicating with mothers.

Digitally speaking Mums in Australia are still lovers of Facebook, although we are seeing increasing use of Instagram as younger women become mothers. YouTube is overlooked in my opinion and I am also seeing a return to greater use of Google advertising as brands become dissatisfied with their results from Facebook advertising.

• Last we spoke you had recently returned from a speaking tour in Paris and New York – what were some of the key global insights you can share?

I am writing about this at the moment in my book. I speak in the US each year and last year I also had the opportunity to share my research about Australian mothers. I have found that there are some insights which are universal. Brands still don’t understand mothers in enough depth and this means they are wasting much of their marketing investment with poor marketing channel selection. Many brands are continuing to perpetuate old stereotypes. There is a growing dissatisfaction with brand communications amongst mothers across the world which many brands have not woken up to. Globally, I see that opportunities within the Mum market abound. Whether that be in exploring poorly catered for sub-segments of the Mum market, to launching into other geographic markets, there are plenty of opportunities for brands to drive sales, profit and market share.

• What’s next for Marketing to Mums?

I am currently writing my next book which is pitched at Board Directors, C-Suite and Senior Marketers. The book helps answer the question of ‘Where can I get growth for my brand over the next decade?’. I highlight the enormous financial opportunities which abound in key sub-segments, geographic locations and industries. It will launch in October.

I’m also very committed to my podcast which I launched late last year. Marketing to Mums the Podcast helps marketing professionals improve their communications and sales to mothers around the world. I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to interview global brand leaders, leading researchers and best-selling authors to share the latest insights about mothers.

We are delighted to host at Digital Women’s Network, Katrina McCarter on the topic of the ever-changing digital landscape! On the night we will explore what all business should be doing digitally, unpack the landscape, explore design thinking and its application. Discuss the digital trends, tools, service design, digital innovation and customer data strategy. Hope that you can come along and hear more from Mark and our incredible line up of speakers including;

• Mark Cameron Digital Strategist, keynote speaker, media commentator and CEO W3 Digital
• Katrina McCarter, International speaker, Founder and CEO of Marketing to Mums
• Lisa Wade Founder and Principal of CareerXD.com
• Angela Mellak MCIM, Top 3# Australia Linkedin Influencer, Anthills Judge top 100, Marketing Strategist Co-Founder and Digital White Space and Founder of Digital Women’s Network.

Join us to network the evening away, meet like minds and enjoy the Grossi hospitality.

• Arlechin.
• May 22nd 2019
• 6-8:30 pm
• Mornane Pl, Melbourne VIC 3000 (in the alleyway just behind Grossi Florentino)
• Nibbles provided by Grossi!

Looking forward to seeing you there!

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/how-to-keep-up-with-the-ever-changing-digital-landscape-tickets-58364636198?aff=erelexpmlt

The post Here is my sit down with the guru of Marketing to Mum’s appeared first on Women's Networking Events - Melbourne.

Do you see more or less balanced workplaces at TMP? Unfortunately, it’s sitting at the same levels over the last few years at management level, about 20-25%. Definitely not where it should be.

How does balance affect the sales teams you work with? The reality is that makes them stereotypical and blokey. They feel a need to compete for more than collaborate, a female balance in the mix would be a huge plus for so many organisations.

What are you working on at the moment that would benefit from more balance? Applied emotional intelligence; where empathy, understanding, authenticity, vulnerability and a realisation that you need these attributes and broad diversity to move forward and grow the effectiveness and performance of a team.

How would a balanced workplace benefit your clients now or in the future? More holistic customer experience and the opportunity for broader growth.

Views on balance for better? I think it will take a generation to make it happen at a management level in Australian businesses. Overbalance, and all women management teams are not the answer either. It needs to be the right person for the job, but the pipeline must be balanced, and the evaluation criteria need to be balanced. I believe these are the levers for change along with a fundamental change in mindset across both genders.

Tell us about your mentors? Do you seek both genders is that important? Yes, I do, particularly in the TEC ecosystem where I have many valued mentors.

Tony, please tell us about the Children’s Cancer Foundation you have been so instrumental in growing and what this big bike ride is about?

As you know my son Benjamin McGinn at three years was diagnosed with Cancer and as you can imagine it was a stressful and devastating time for us all. The passion to see change drove me to start the Million Dollar lunch,  of which I am now the Deputy Chair. Today Ben who is a healthy 21-year-old young man (Thank God!) and I regularly get involved with the charity to do what we can to raise funds and support them.

Sadly we still lose too many children to cancer and we will until we see it gone. My son Ben and I are riding the 350 KMs Murray to Moyne with Peter Downie, the brilliant doctor who cured Ben and we are doing it for money for Children’s Cancer Foundation, I promise you every cent will go to our programs to both support children on treatment now and facilitate and fund collaboration on research to see childhood cancer gone in our lifetime.

Please if you can help us to help children fight cancer till its gone. We will do all the peddling and hard work. You can donate here: https://lnkd.in/gTDFXyB

Thanks and looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow and unpacking the topic of Balanceforbetter in detail tomorrow!

Cheers,

Tony McGinn OAM

Principal – The McGinn Partnership
TEC Chair – Melbourne
Founder  – Australian SME Growth Forum

m. +61 417 576 238
e. tony@themcginnpartnership.com
Level 3, 162-168 Collins Street Melbourne VIC 3000

A little more about Tony McGinn OAM

Tony created MCM entertainment at 22 which he grew to a $50Mil global business across media, from radio, video to digital. He is also the brains behind the Million Dollar lunch, who has strategically changed the game for fundraising to raise over 17.8 million for children’s cancer – which was the catalyst behind his OAM (Order of Australia Medal). Today Tony has continued giving back and is paying it forward as the Melbourne Chairman of TEC (The Executive Connection) and behind The McGinn Partnership focused on supporting CEO’s and leaders to improve their sales and business development performance.

I look forward to brining these insights to you by the end of the week!

Many thanks,

Angela Mellak MCIM
Judge for Anthills 2018
Top 10 LinkedIn influencer 2017
Co- founder and Marketing Strategist – Digital White Space
Co-founder – Digital Women’s Network

Level 3, 162 Collins Street,
Melbourne, VIC 3000
+61 466 619 631
angela@digitalwhitespace.com.au
digitalwhitespace.com.au

“Your smile is your logo, your personality is your business card and how you leave people feeling after they dealt with you becomes your trademark” – Angela Mellak

The post Here is my sit down with the powerhouse Tony McGinn OAM appeared first on Women's Networking Events - Melbourne.

What a fantastic turn out and amazing event on the future of leadership with our incredible panel made up of  Penny Locaso – Female leadership expert & Futurist,  Jon Yeo – Curator & Speaker coach, Peter Thurin – Mentor, Thought leader & motivational speaker, Rebecca Bradshaw – Mentor, Speaker focused on culture & process.

So what is the future of Leadership? Well as you can imagine there are many layers to this question but the one thing the panel agreed on was Leadership is and will continue to be about being human.  It will be important that leaders continue to explore and implement digital technology but only in order for it to solve human problems and needs. Oh and don’t forget that not being afraid to fail is vital to great leadership, of course you need to learn, get back up again and keep on moving forward.

The good news is we all have the power to make that choice for ourselves. In order to see more women in senior roles the current executive level workplace model needs breaking and reinventing. Will we see flexibility, and  shared job roles at C suite level in the future in order to ensure high level roles can work for both men and women who wish to share family responsibilities while still reaching the top level of their career?

 

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How do you view networking?

An essential part of any successful career and overall personal and professional happiness.

Is there a difference in how you approach networking now from what you did when you first started out in business or your career?

Absolutely. When you’re new to your career I see a lot of people talk about themselves and the things they’ve done to sort of reinforce ‘I am qualified to be here’. I remember what it was like and I guess I’d say that the quickest way to learn is to ask questions and that regardless of all of the ‘things’ built up around someone – title, experience etc – people are just people: everyone wants to come to work happy, have a great day, leave happy and tell their partner/themselves/their pet about it. Just have a conversation, relax, it’s going to be fine.

What do you think the best questions to ask at a networking event?

My number one piece of advice is to just relax and have fun with it. After getting the basics out of the way I like to talk about something neutral that you’re going to have in common – the speakers at the event, one of the questions that was asked or other topics like sport, holidays, renovations, kids. Just get people comfy with the conversation and see where it leads.

As an example of something a bit fun, I tried a little while ago: I was getting asked the standard ‘so, head of digital eh… busy at the moment?’ I replied with something like ‘Well yeah but truth be told right now I feel like I’m quickly becoming a kitchen reno expert!’ and I then asked if they had any recommendations – that was an amazing Kickstarter for conversation! The amount of passion people have about kitchens, grand designs, this and that style, builder, plumber, taps, basins, – it was such great conversation and best of all, the people that I caught up with later asked for a kitchen reno update. And finally, always have a drink in your hand…in case you need a refresher at some point.

What is your approach to creating an effective 30 sec elevator pitch?

I think the most effective ones use plain language, ask open questions, align to a problem statement and doesn’t ask for much more than a 1-1 chat in the first instance.

How have you grown your personal brand?

I focus on sharing and helping the people I work with to be even better and the output of what we do together will be greater than the average. It’s hard to describe in words it’s always just been a feeling really but I have always just enjoyed having open, honest, real relationships with the people around me, particularly our agency partners – I and my team treat our agencies just like one of us. The work we do together is so much better and the doing of the work is so much more enjoyable when we feel like a team of teams, instead of client and agency.

How have you built Confidence?

I think it’s about having a go, trying things and backing yourself and having the right people around you as a mutual support and trusted advisors. I’m open with what we need to achieve, and how we get there is up for discussion. I seek input, take on people’s views and that in itself builds confidence – and there’s always better ahead of us.

How do you take advantage of digital and social media to improve your personal brand?

I have to confess in the last 14 months with the birth of my little girl it’s really fallen off. I should do something about it…

Are there any books you suggest to read that have given you insight or guidance?

These books might be a little left of centre of the usual ‘networking’ types but the books that have given me great food for thought:

– Predictably Irrational, Dan Ariely.

– Don’t make me think, Stephen Krug.

– The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success, Will Thorndike.

Thanks again Rowan!

Join us on 18th April to hear more from Rowan as he talks more about his career moves, his experience at our signature event, The art of Networking & Advocacy. This year to look at tool, techniques and how great business networking can help you to succeed in your career and personal life. Rowan Wilde https://www.linkedin.com/in/rowanwilde/

Where; Space & Co

12, 360 Elizabeth sStreet Melbourne 3000

When; 18th April 2018

6:00pm-8:30pm

Nibbles, catering and a glass of wine included

Drinks at bar prices

Bring your business cards ☺

We look forward to seeing you there.

Many thanks,

Angela Mellak MCIM

Ranking Top10 LinkedIn influencer 2017

Director and Strategist – Digital White Space

Co-founder – Digital Womens Network

Level 3, 530 Collins Street, Melbourne 3000

M: +61(0)466 619 631

E: angela@digitalwhitespace.com.au

https://digitalwhitespace.com.au

https://www.digitalwomensnetwork.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelamellak/

“Your smile is your logo, your personality your business card and how you leave people feeling after they dealt with you becomes your trademark”.. Angela Mellak

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