With International Women’s Day just around the corner, the question of how to facilitate greater participation and belonging for women will be brought to the fore. This is most notably captured in next year’s announced theme of ‘Count Her In’, which focuses on economic inclusion.
However, belonging doesn’t just refer to how much money women make as a measure of inclusion and gender equality. Helping women reach their full potential in business and in life also has to do with being valued, seen and heard.
Powerful Steps and The CEO Magazine have joined forces with Commonwealth Private – one of Australia’s largest full-service Private Banks which offers personalized service, bespoke financial advice and investment, and commercial law firm Holman Webb to bring women an exclusive event designed to do just that.
With the inaugural luncheon taking place on 8 March, 2024 (International Women’s Day) in Sydney’s iconic Botanic House – a world-class dining destination nestled within greenery – guests can expect an uplifting and nurturing experience.
As respected, forward-thinking business leaders, Powerful Steps Founder Tory Archbold and The CEO Magazine’s Co-Founder, Anna Dutton, are united in their vision of helping female leaders take their success to new heights with the support of like-minded individuals in the business arena.
The foolproof way to grow your network and your net worth
It’s no secret that technology is at the heart of how we network today. It’s easy to accept a LinkedIn invitation to connect at the click of a button, but even more powerful to show up at an in-person event.
An advocate of the ‘three coffee dates a week’ strategy, Archbold has won high-profile clients and fruitful partnerships at the helm of two global businesses – Torstar and Powerful Steps.
If anyone knows how to network, it’s her.
It’s this framework that can elevate even the best of leaders and open the doorway to opportunity and forward momentum when you have nailed the art of mutual exchange, she adds.
Archbold’s podcast Powerful Stories is a direct outcome of fully harnessing that skill, as is the creation of her own little black book of industry secrets entitled Self-Belief Is Your Superpower.
Speaking of skills, Archbold tells The CEO Magazine that she’ll be channeling her flair for bringing people together cultivated over two decades into this event.
“After 20 years in the PR game, I know that every person who steps into a room to celebrate a product, brand or service is there for a reason,” she says. “When you bring the right people together at an event, you can lean into the magic of conversations and build connections that add meaning to women in business and life.”
“My biggest love in business is hearing people’s stories and helping them to share them. This event endeavors to create a beautiful opportunity to help women in business do just that.” – Anna Dutton
Everyone from newcomers in business to entrepreneurs and seasoned executives can benefit from surrounding themselves with people who bring different perspectives and ideas to the table, Dutton points out.
More than a premier business title, the iconic global media brand that Dutton co-founded in 2007 is a powerful vehicle to keep the ball rolling toward more equitable and inclusive leadership. As a female leader, achieving parity in the business world is close to her heart and has a lot to do with showing up authentically.
“You need to open yourself up and have that confidence in yourself to find those people and be open with them, otherwise you won’t build those connections. If you can be absolutely authentic and show yourself as a human being, then you will attract like-minded people,” she says.
“It is so important to that you surround yourself with like-minded people; people who will pick you up, give different perspectives on ideas and can lend an ear when needed.”
It is this passion to connect and share the stories of women (and men) who have made their mark on the world that is reflected in the overarching aim of the publication and its reputation for driving business excellence.
Events like The CEO Magazine’s 2023 Executive of the Year Awards are part of Dutton’s crusade to champion women in the C-suite who are driving positive change.
“My biggest love in business is hearing people’s stories and helping them to share them. This event [The Power of Connection] endeavors to create a beautiful opportunity to help women in business do just that,” she says.
Indeed, the event will kick off with cocktails and the opportunity to network with other female leaders who have walked their fearless business journeys. This will lead into a curated lunch prepared by Chef Luke Nguyen, paired with wines by renowned sommelier Louella Mathews.
Plus, you’ll also have the chance to glean some wisdom from the confirmed guest speaker, Dr Kristy Goodwin. Goodwin is a researcher, speaker and author who helps people to cultivate digital habits that support their wellbeing and performance in the digital age. She’ll be sharing the specific ways that you can leverage your biological blueprint to get better results.
Stepping into the unknown
The theme takes its cue from the myriad women who have leaned into the power of community and a heart-based approach to rise in business.
“The power of true connection when you attend one of our events comes from not being afraid to say hello to someone you do not know and embracing the unknown,” Archbold says. “Together, Anna and I are known to attract the right women from our global network to facilitate this.”
The event itself is the culmination of two women who met for a coffee date that sparked future collaborations and mutual support. “Together we have been able to collaborate on many stories since then for women in business and it gives me great pleasure to support her, as she does for me,” Archbold adds.
“We provide a framework to break away from these feelings so that women can step out of their own way to claim their power and crown without ego because they understand the power of who they are and what they stand for.” – Tory Archbold
For Archbold and Dutton, 2024 is a year of expansion, as it could be for more women who choose to step out of their comfort zone. With plans to host events both in Australia and in the United States, taking on new challenges is inextricably linked to overcoming the things that hold us back.
Whether you feel invisible within your organization or you’re struggling to speak your mind or let others down, there is truth to the adage that what we often fear most is our own success.
“We provide a framework to break away from these feelings so that women can step out of their own way to claim their power and crown without ego because they understand the power of who they are and what they stand for,” Archbold explains.
If you’re ready to make the most of International Women’s Day and join in the fun, you can buy your tickets to this exclusive event here.
