The final Women in Business Luncheon was hosted at the Levin Kia showroom on Friday the 24th November.
Dining with the ‘cars’ became the new catch phrase as forty women had the chance to mix and mingle and meet other businesswomen, and then enjoy a lunch from The Baked Dane.
Lisa Brink the owner of Baked Dane provided the catering, with the help of her friends at Get Content, set up a beautiful graze table of salads and open sandwiches to enjoy, as well as Danish Pastries to follow with tea and coffee.
On arrival the guests enjoyed networking time before being seated for lunch and listening to three guest speakers from different backgrounds.
Photo Melissa Hanson (THCL), Kelly Gordon speaker, Renee Cohen (THCL)
Photo : Helen Wall from Get Content setting up the catered lunch
Kelly Gordon welcomed everyone to her showroom before telling a heartwarming story about her dad calling asking her to leave her job in banking to come and run a dealership in Kapiti for him at the age of 21.
Photo : Justine Street, Donna Batten, Levin Kia Kelly Gordon and Sandra Patterson
That made her the youngest and only female Dealer Principal at the time. She spoke of balancing her family life and building the Levin Kia premises through Covid and then opening to a world of uncertainty when new car purchases had manufacturing delays and how she managed by having a great team around her.
Photo : Shelley Mitchell-Jenkins, Donna Batten and speaker Jo Mason
Jo Mason told her journey of being not only an elected member of council but also Deputy Mayor. She spoke of her and her husband Ken’s Auto Electrical business and how she adapted to a world without him when he sadly died. Jo spoke of her recent travel to walk the Portuguese Camino for 30 days - the funny moments and what got her though walking 600km.
Photo : Catriona McKay and speaker, with the THCL team, Vicki Timpson, Renee Cohen, Rachel Mason and Melissa Hanson
Lastly Catriona McKay, CE of THCL, spoke about her journey as a commercial lawyer and professional business consultant, and her career at MBIE. She gave highlights of her recent 3 month stay in Sāmoa (her husband’s homeland), volunteering, and spending time reflecting on their future goals.
Catriona said the WIB events (which are held quarterly), are a great way for business local women to network and make new connections within the regions business community. We are consistently seeing new faces join us from a range of business and careers, and we have heard from a range of exceptional speakers this year too.
The first event for 2024 will be held on International Women's Day, Friday 8th March and if you would like to register for the WIB mailing list, register here: Women in Business Mailing List
