Get Anna to Hawaii (it's not a holiday, swear)

Get Anna To Hawaii (it's Not A Holiday, Swear)

Project 2014-05-24 11:54:57 +1200

I've received a scholarship to attend a forum for Women in Business in the Pacific. While they're covering most of the costs (hotels, fees, internal flights), I still need to get over there. And, that's pretty hard on a start up salary.

One of my sage friends reminded me that crowdfunding is all the rage (ironic, I know) so I thought I should see if I could get you, my crowd of family, friends, and fans, to help me get over to this forum.

Who am I?

If you're reading this, you probably already know me (and probably quite well - hi family! hi friends!). But, if you don't know me - my name is Anna, and I co-founded this platform a few years back. That's me below.

Why this conference?

Some of you will know I'm passionate about bringing more diversity into business. One area of diversity is, of course, around gender (though - I totally agree - that's not the only area!).

I'm pretty early in my thinking around women in business - and my first real foray into discussing it came about last year, when I was asked to talk at a conference on the "Future of Feminism". Which, I thought was pretty funny at the time because I was adamant my partner, Mike, was more feminist than I was. The conference organisers thought that was great, and I think it made them want me to come and talk even more.

Since that talk, I've been doing a bit of research. I fell into the rabbit warren of 100% Men and Jezebel. Read Caitlin Moran's How to Be A Woman. I got enraged about the census results, engaged in subsequent discussions about the gap in men and women's median salaries, and started actively discussing diversity with my team (and more recently, my board).

So when an acquaintance told me I should apply for the East West "Changing Faces" Leadership Seminar, I got excited. But, being the stupidly busy person that I am, I wrote my application letter in about 30 minutes (15 minutes while I was still in bed, and then 15 minutes whilst scoffing down lunch).

Thankfully for me, the application committee must have seen some glimmer of hope in that application letter (and the two reference letters - thanks Jody and Brendan!) and they offered me a spot at the seminar, with a scholarship if I could get myself there.

What do you want to learn?

I want to discuss the role of women in business, and how we can increase the number of women founders getting funded, women investors funding, and how that could lead to more women on boards. I think part of the solution might be this equity crowdfunding thing.

I want to talk about how we build more social enterprises, and how equity crowdfunding can support that space as well.

But, most importantly, I want to figure out what I can do to help the above. And, since part of the forum is creating an action plan, I know that'll happen.

So what do I get out of this?

I've put a bit of thought into rewards (as have my rockstar friends on Facebook). Most of the rewards are actually things my much suffering boyfriend will need to provide - but there's a few things I can do as well. I've included some photos below - and you can read more about the rewards themselves there -->

Thank you!

Just thank you. Thank you for taking the time to read this, for taking the time to send me facebook messages, for being my staunch supporters (in all the random aspects of my life) and for generally being you. I'll love you even if you can't pledge, I know many of you are in the same start up cycle that I am.

x

A

 ps. Final thanks to: Hayden, for making me apply. Jody and Brendan, for writing reference letters. My Board for telling me I could take the time to go. Charlotte, Gemma, Rebecca, Herman, Ants, Hilaire, Sam, Tori, Logan, Anna, Gerald, Jody and Marian for piping up on FB with reward ideas. And, of course - to Michael for humouring me in all things, and offering to draw up some rewards.

pps. Here's a video that was made about me last year. I think it explains why I'm into crowdfunding, and social enterprise pretty well (thanks Tim, Guy, and the BeCause team!).

Anna // The PledgeMe Story from Inspiring Stories Trust on Vimeo.

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