If you are a woman in business did you know that research shows that women remain less financially protected than men - short on life assurance and pensions, short on long-term investments and short on protection against loss of career.

Here is an interesting conference that will be addressing these actors: The Smart Women, Smart Money, Smart Future conference - in summary:

Where: Four Seasons Hotel,Ballsbridge,Dublin 4
 
When: Friday, 27 May 2011

Timing: Registration at 8.00am and the seminar closes at 12.30pm

Registration: It is free to attend the Sheconomy Conference but you must register online here.

This conference focuses not on how women spend their wealth, but on how they can acquire, retain and grow it and will be addressing:

· How do you use your income now, to build wealth for the future?

· How do you protect your money, your career and your income?

· How do you increase your earning power in today's challenging economy?

· How do you protect your family when you are gone?

For more information contact Zara Mulholland of Mulholland Life and Pensions Ltd who are oganising the event at sheconomy@mlap.ie.

Are you a female entrepreneur and wondering how you can use social media and social networking to attract more leads to your business?

If you are based in the Fingal area of North County Dublin, then why not join me on the 12 April 2011 when I will be speaking at the Fingal Women in Business network about how to boost your lead generation and bottom line profits in 2011 using free, popular and low cost online marketing channels.

Here is the agenda:

6.30pm: Registration and open networking

7pm: Structured Networking Exercises and Pitch Opportunities

7.20pm: 'Lets Get Social' In this session I will guide you on how to get started using social networking and social media in your business

8pm: Q and A Session

8.20pm: Informal networking

9pm: Event close

For more information contact Fingal County Enterprise Board WIB Network Manager Eve Bulman, email: wib@fingalceb.ie or contact Eve by phone on 087 649 7036. Check out the full details of the programme on the Fingal CEB website.

In case you missed my previous update about this, if you are a female entrepreneur in Ireland, don;t miss out on the opportunity to join the 'Going for Growth', programme for 2011.

This programme involves seven high profile 'Lead Entrepreneurs' who will be sharing their learning, meeting for 'roundtable' discussions with small groups of women in business. The sessions are not intended as training modules, rather, the round-table sessions are designed to foster development through structured, agenda-led discussion within the group about various aspects of business expansion and growth.

The Lead Entrepreneurs for 2011 are detailed on the Going for Growth website and include Amanda Pratt (Avoca), Rita Shah (Shabra Plastics), Anne O'Leary (Four Star Pizza)  and Lulu O'Sullivan (GiftsDirect.com).

Duration of the Programme Roundtables will meet monthly from January to June 2011.

The closing date for receipt of completed application forms is Tuesday 30th November.

To be eligible to apply you need to be:

-          The female owner/manager of a business (of which you own at least 50%)

-          Working full-time in the business

-          Have been trading for at least two years.

A selection process will take place, and if successful, participation is free of charge - the programme is funded by the European Social Fund, Enterprise Ireland and the Equality for Women Measure, Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, and the willingness of the Lead Entrepreneurs to contribute their time voluntarily.

Check ou the Going for Growth website for more details - the closing date is 30 November 2010.