Women’s Network Australia Blog

Networking Streets Ahead

I have spent the last week or so in beautiful Tasmania. I was officially on the ground to host our inaugural networking event, which took place in the usual civilized surroundings of one of the top hotels and it was a fabulous success.

However the day after the event my travels took me to the beautiful  Oatlands area. We dropped in for a nosh up at a fabulous little eatery - run by two wonderfully enthusiastic young women who cooked up a storm in kitchen but it was whilst wandering the streets and browsing the shops that I got a real feel for the community that exists between the traders that line the streets of this quaint township.

As always I found myself interviewing the entrepreneurial women running the various antique and craft shops that lined the towns centre. How did they network and share ideas and what forum did they find worked best for them to exchange ideas? It didn’t take long for them to introduce me to their afternoon ritual of a cuppa on the footpath outside the shop of whosever’s turn it was to boil the kettle that day.  From the footpath each store owner can see the comings and goings from their various shops and unlike in the city there is no fear of items being stolen or broken. The sense of trust was soothing for the soul.

It was an amazing experience and just exactly like a WNA Networking Event except held in the beautiful main street of Oatlands. I am not sure that we city folk have it that good after all. A big thank you to my new friends in Tassie, I loved the opportunity to take part in footpath networking. I’m on my way back in the month of November - so put the kettle on girls. 

Lynette L Palmen is the Founder and Managing Director of Women’s Network Australia W: www.womensnetwork.com.au