More women in business

Press, 4 March 1989, Page 8

More women in business

By

DEBORAH McPHERSON

New Zealand women are stepping out in their own businesses by the thousands, a trend which could make them a powerful economic force, says a leading American businesswoman. Mrs Beverly Kievman, the owner of two businesses and a director of the First American Bank of Georgia, has been in New Zealand for two weeks, leading seminars for women entrepreneurs and saleswomen. She said she had had an overwhelming interest in her seminars from women from all walks of life. By the year 2000, about half of all businesses in the United States are expected to be started by women. A similar trend was occurring in New Zealand, with about 26,000 starting their own business by the end of last year compared with 5000 in 1985. In Wellington, Mrs Kievman also spoke to many Maori women who were keen to set up business. She found they had often done a lot of voluntary work and had good communication skills. She tried to help them translate those skills to business skills. “It is important to realise you can start off small without a lot of money.” Women in small business in the United States were becoming an increasingly powerful economic force that retailers, banks and other business corporations had ignored at their own loss, she said. "Women should not be afraid to go to banks and other financial and legal businesses and ask for information about how to prepare loan requests and legal requirements. Those businesses should be prepared to offer those services, because they will profit in the end.” Mrs Kievman is an example of how personal ambition and family life are not incompatible. She can speak from experience of the problems and rewards of juggling a 29 year business and sales career with a family of six children. The key to working in paid employment and raising a family was not to feel guilty about it, she said. It is important to make some time for yourself and delegate chores, as well as making dates to do fun things with your children. “I don’t think children lose anything by having working parents.” Mrs Kievman has been brought to Christchurch to conduct two seminar for the New Zealand Institute of Management.