SA Women in Business Advisory Program Scholarship winner Dr Sarah McGrath Our lovely marketing manager said to me I should share with all of you a bit about what we are up to when we are not being vets: I am delighted to win this scholarship, but first and foremost I need to note that my success also due to the exceptional business partner that I have. And the magnificent team who serve our communities each day. So last week I trot off to the big smoke to attend a launch event for the scholarship I have recently been awarded. I arrive in Adelaide and do what every self respecting insecure, post having a gaggle of children, professional woman with imposter syndrome and a freshly awarded acronym of neurodivergence does…. I booked a make up session at a big department store and purchased a black dress. Oh and I brushed my hair. Focused on hiding the podgy bits and not showing sweat marks and determined to blend in (see photo above of me saying is this what you do when you are posing for a photo).. I was ready to go stand in a room of 100 professional women and 3 men to talk about business. Needless to say I was shitting myself. For anyone that knows me I am usually the person more comfortable standing with a group of farmers telling a dirty joke. And shockingly I never played netball so I did not even have that as a fall back to draw upon. I got to the door and then Kim (marketing manager) pushed me through it….into a room of noise and professional speed dating…. I had to walk up to a small group of women who were already consumed in getting to know each other and say " Hi I am Sarah" (insert vomit face), when each person I met asked what do you do? I quickly learnt to stop saying I am just a vet... How often do we use the word “just” when describing ourselves instead of proudly saying “ I am a full time mum” or being proud of the thing that gives us passion in life... The kindness in the room meant that I quickly became confident to say “ I am the director of a veterinary clinic, which I share with my husband, we have two sites in great regional communities and team of 26 staff. Guess what I did not die or vomit… The black dress helped on all insecurities… but none of that mattered, I met some incredible people and turns out they share many of the same challenges in business as we do. I Met the very approachable and friendly Minister for Family and Small Business and I had the opportunity to share challenges we face regionally with convincing people to come to the country and trying to retain them, we discussed mental health challenges for young people in our modern society and the accomodation shortages we have regionally for seasonal workers and businesses trying to attract workers to regional communities. I met other women from regional business who echoed the same themes. I met people who have experience in areas of business that would be wonderful to share with other people in our local community, and I met people who we just incredibly fascinating in businesses that I did not know existed. I hope over the nest 12 months of receiving mentoring from this business community, that I can improve my self confidence as a small business owner. And share lessons I have learnt with my team to continue to try to support them to thrive and service our community with pride in what they do. Next time I gather with all of these clever and interesting people I might even go dressed as me… Please find the link below to find out more about the scholarship https://business.sa.gov.au/programs/women-in-business/advisory-program PICTURED BELOW - 2024 Women in Business Advisory program scholarship recipients with Andrea Michaels the Minister for Family and Small Business, Donny Walford the Managing Director Behind Closed Doors. |