The Club Womens Network celebrates not-for-profit status

THE first official in-person meeting of the board, committee and ambassadors of The Club Women’s Network for 2024, and most notably, the first since The Club’s new designation as a not-for-profit Social Enterprise was held recently.

Joined on the morning in Kildare by Minister of State for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Neale Richmond, the board, committee, and ambassadors were delighted to get an opportunity to convey the essence of The Club.

Minister Richmond commended the work of female founders as well as expressing his firm support for women in business and his belief in the need for equality and equity across business.

“I am excited to formally announce the new board members, committee members, and ambassadors for The Club, who are all esteemed business-women in their own right.

“Collectively, we’re excited to get to work to support female founders nationally, empowering them, instilling confidence, and giving them practical tools and peer-to-peer support needed to survive and thrive in business” said founder of The Club and board member, Cork-based entrepreneur Sian Horn.

Born out of Sian’s desire to connect female founders during the hard days of Covid lockdowns in 2020, The Club has evolved and grown over the past four years, all leading to its new designation as a social entreprise.

Other Cork-based female founders who are on the board of The Club Women’s Network for 2024 include freelance business consultant and founder of Monnarch Business Solutions, Pamela Walsh; Corporate and Commercial Lawyer at ReganWall Business Law Firm, Sarah Connolly, and business coach, mentor and entrepreneur, Loretta Kennedy.

The National Committee also features many Cork-based female founders including life and mindset coach and winner of the 2023 Contribution to The Club at the Female Founder Awards, Lisa O’Carroll; career transition coach and founder of The Pivot Coach, Margaret Quane; web designer, online business manager and founder of Holistic Designs, Kate O’Callaghan-Gapsa; social media manager and digital marketer, Olivia Forde; and finally, Cognitive Behavioural Coach, Podcast Host of The Mind your Mind Podcast and founder of Rainbow Crescent, Sandra Hayes Buckley.

In 2023, there were approximately 1.17 million people employed by SMEs in Ireland, so the strength of this sector and the contributions that these small businesses make to our economy is immense.

Over the coming months, The Club will offer our members networking opportunities, education, learning, and support to help them succeed.

To learn more about The Club visit www.theclubwomensnetwork.com