Running until 7 Sept, the festival showcases hundreds of events across Victoria on every small-business topic under the sun, from marketing and comms to managing digital disruption in a changing business landscape. Flying Solo is proud to be an official partner.
Small Business Festival Victoria is a great opportunity to learn from speakers and from each other; to connect, network, inspire and celebrate success.
There’s a big range of online offerings this year, with podcasts and webinars that bring networking and learning opportunities right to your laptop or mobile device.
Celebrating women in business
This year is a special one, because the festival is launching its first-ever Women In Business Week.
Women in Business Week celebrates and connects women in business: the business owners, managers, thought leaders, entrepreneurs and rising stars who inspire us and who are shaping the future of business in Victoria.
Some events to look out for include:
- Women in Front Networking lunch with Dr Susan Carland. Author, academic and social commentator Dr Susan Carland will speak on equality, leadership and diversity. Susan regularly appears online, on radio, on television and in print writing about contemporary Australia and we’re thrilled to have her as part of Women in Business Week. ·
- Modern leadership for the modern woman. A webinar that encourages women to develop their own leadership style rather following out-dated, gender-biased leadership models from the past. Find a leadership style and approach that works for you!
- Women in Business networking breakfast. An opportunity for like-minded businesswomen to share their stories and be inspired by leading women in business. Also includes a delicious hot breakfast.
- LinkedIn business brand booster blueprint for women. Find out how to get the best out of this powerful social media platform, including creating an authentic blueprint to boost your business brand and optimise your company profile.
Check out the festival website to find an event near you.
Learning to soar with Lydia Lassila
Gold-medal Olympian and entrepreneur Lydia Lassilia is taking her inspiring story on the road this year, with the Festival Roadshow Learning to Soar: Dinner with Lydia Lassila OAM. The Festival Roadshow will be visiting Bendigo (2 Aug), Geelong (15 Aug), Warrnambool (16 Aug), Wangaratta (29 Aug), Ballarat (30 Aug) and Traralgon (31 Aug).
Lydia embodies the enterprising spirit of a small-business superhero. Seeing a gap in the remedial cold-therapy market, Lydia developed BodyICE, a high-quality product that is now sold around the world.
Learning to Soar is an opportunity to network with other business leaders in your community over a delicious two-course meal. Lydia will inspire you to unlock creative ideas to help your business hit the heights.
Unlocking the innovator within at Small business, BIG Ideas
Small Business BIG Ideas is all about managing disruption in an ever-changing small-business landscape. You’ll learn how to harness the opportunities that are out there and bring your business into line with online trends and technologies.
This event attracts over 800 participants and features keynote speakers, a panel discussion, an exhibition of business providers, networking sessions and free expert advice. It’s also a great opportunity to get the lowdown on the latest marketing trends and techniques and understand how global changes may affect your business.
This year’s speakers are Dr Amantha Imber (founder of innovation consultancy firm Inventium), Gus Balbontin (previously from Lonely Planet) and Yovnne Adele, aka Ms Megabyte.
The Small Festival Victoria kicks off 1 August to 7 September. Check out the website to find out more.