To celebrate International Women’s Day, we asked some of our favourite Global Sister businesses what this important day means to them, what makes them feel empowered and the “why” behind their purpose-led business.


Catie Fry, Clovendoe Distilling Co. 

     

What does International Women’s Day mean to you? 
International Women’s Day acts as a reminder of the achievements and struggles of women past, present and future. A celebration of the resilience and grit of women all across the globe enduring all levels of gender inequality yet holding steadfast in their power. March 8th also acts as a potent marker on my calendar to stop, reflect and ask the question...Am I championing enough? Am I championing in the right direction? For all women? It’s just a great opportunity to do a scrub up and reset every 365 days. 

What are the biggest challenges you face as a woman in business, and what are the solutions?
My biggest challenge is my own unconscious gender bias. My childhood was steeped in sexism, so naturally I became conditioned to believe I didn’t deserve a place at the head of a table. No matter how many times I tell myself that’s bulls@!* there’s still many years’ worth of conditioning to work through. The brambles are thinning at least. Now, when I’m faced with big challenges in my business, I try to stop, breathe, talk myself out of the strong desire to blow the situation up and then seek out support and advice from other women in business. 

What makes you feel empowered? 
Watching other women walk the talk. 

Tell us a little about your business and your “why” for founding it?
Clovendoe Distilling Co. is Australia’s first No & Low ‘mindful’ distillery. We are female owned and operated and we craft natural, functional and premium non alcoholic and lower in alcohol spirits.  Back in 2016, I co-founded a rum and gin distillery with a team of men, over time I realised my products and my voice weren’t being given the space nor the respect they deserved. It was in fact four years ago on International Women’s Day 2019, that I woke up and decided to give my products centre stage and raise my voice. I knew it was time to go my own way. That’s when, how and why Clovendoe Distilling Company was born.  


Yuko Nakao, Shokunin Store

     

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
To me, International Women’s Day means it is an opportunity to celebrate women and our achievements, a chance to raise awareness of challenges that we face, and do something to help better our standing.

What are the biggest challenges you face as a woman in business, and what are the solutions?
I would say the biggest challenge I face as a woman in business is funding.  There should be more networks and resources available for women to secure funding.  And change requirements and regulations to fund women.  Our financial systems and social structures need to change.  Maybe we as women need to be educated earlier about what is to come so that at least we can be more prepared.

What makes you feel empowered?
I feel empowered when I have the means to help someone or do something good, especially if it is through this small business I have created.  I employ women and mothers, trying to give as much flexibility as they need in terms of working conditions.  This feels good because I myself at one point in my life found it extremely hard to be working from outside home and felt frustrated.  I also am a woman in small business so I would like my income (no matter how small!) to be spent on employing other women who have shared the same sentiments in the past.

Tell us a little about your business and your “why” for founding it?
I have an e-commerce and wholesale business offering traditional Japanese artisan tools and crafts including garden tools, kitchen tools, sewing tools and homewares.  My “why” is that I saw problems and solutions that are interconnected between Japan and Australia, my motherland and my adopted home.  Japanese traditional crafts such as scissors are on the verge of extinction despite being the world’s best.  Japan has amazing craftsmanship and a wealth of knowledge cultivated over centuries that haven’t been fully discovered by the world.  The world is full of cheaper alternatives and “fast” products that do not last and Australia is no exception. But I knew that Australia was sick of them and that people wanted products that were made with care.  These cheaper “fast” products are already driving Japanese traditional crafts to fruitless price wars and making their industries highly unsustainable.  So I decided to promote these truly functional, sustainable quality Japanese products.  Another “why” is that I saw the need and opportunities for female distributors, particularly for our steel products which are heavily male dominant industry. 


Cyana Duong, Camie Fleur

    

What does International Women’s Day mean to you? 
IWD means to celebrate, acknowledge the women throughout history that have paved the way so women like myself can achieve their dreams. These women are my mom, aunties, grandmothers and female leaders of the world. IWD also means to challenge gender stereotypes and gender imbalances. We still live in a world where, in many countries, women are killed because of their gender. Where women suffer violence and there are no criminal repercussions. Where education is not available to them. Where human traffickers target women and girls for prostitution or forced labour... Today is an opportunity to remember that gender equality is a human rights issue and still needs work by all human beings.  

What are the biggest challenges you face as a woman in business, and what are the solutions? 
My biggest challenge I face as a woman in business is Limited Funding and Inadequate Support System. Women’s businesses are among leading ventures that lack financial support, the relevant connections to needing financial access or emotional support. We also need mentors and sponsors to guide us in new paths.

The Solution is to get educated, talk about that within friends, families. Support organizations with the same values to advocate for women rights.   

What makes you feel empowered? 
I feel empowered when I take action towards my dreams towards my goal whether it’s the small thing to drink 3 litre water everyday or to tick off monthly tasks for my business. 

I feel empowered when I help other people, someone around me, in my family or friends or someone I have never met. My grandmother used to give me 10,000 Vietnam Dong, which is not even a dollar and told me its plenty to share.

Tell us a little about your business and your “why” for founding it?
My business is Camie Fleur and it was founded less than 3 years ago. It is a home of dried preserved and high quality silk flowers for events, weddings and gifts that last forever. We provide an alternative option for fresh cut flowers and promote sustainability with hiring options that flowers don’t go to waste after a few hours.  

I found Camie Fleur from my childhood memory playing with paper flowers with my twin sister Hien who has brain damage during my mother’s labor. The doctor didnt know she was pregnant with twins so they took me out first and Hien got oxygen suffocated. we never grew up the same way. Playing with paper flowers was the happy moments Hien and I share together that drives me to have Camie Fleur. I hope I can provide jobs for people living with disabilities who love flowers just like Hien and I. 


Emma Rolls, EMRO Designs

     

What does International Women’s Day mean to you? 
International Women’s Day means to me, celebrating all we are as women and our incredible achievements. It’s also a reminder of the immense power we hold as women in solidarity with each other. 

What are the biggest challenges you face as a woman in business, and what are the solutions?  
My biggest challenge as a woman in business would be wearing all hats – as a mother & business woman it can be a real juggling act doing all of the things! It can be really overwhelming at times, and I believe we need to be kinder to ourselves and not put so much pressure on ourselves. 

What makes you feel empowered?  
Being around, and witnessing other incredible strong women that are smashing it in their field! Seeing women that follow their passion and doing so with honesty, integrity and authenticity is really inspiring and empowering.   

Tell us a little about your business and your “why” for founding it? 
My name is Emma Rolls, I am a proud Minjunbgal woman from Bundjalung Country & the Founder of Emro Designs.

Emro Designs was founded by a passion and desire to embed more Aboriginal culture into Early Learning through our rugs. The stories behind the design as well as the artists are taught to children, and really help them connect to the story as well as, having an appreciation & understanding for our rich culture. 

Since starting a little under 3 years ago, our products have grown and we have established ourselves as a homewares brand for those looking for products with captivating, colourful and meaningful designs with a real story behind each one. 


Alies Bol, FRIKA Activewear 

     

What does International Women’s Day mean to you? 
International Women’s Day for me is a day that women are celebrated, appropriate and recognised for being inspirational and strong women as mothers, sisters, daughters, friends and amazing business women. 

What are the biggest challenges you face as a woman in business, and what are the solutions? 
Lack of information, not knowing where to look or who to contact as I was new to the business world with no experiences. It was hard for me at the beginning, however due to doing some research and joining programs related to business I was able to find a solution. 

Not having the right support or connections, there were times that I felt like I was going around in circles. I kept seeking help from different groups till I was able to find the right connection, which was global sisters. Through the programs that I was taking part in I was able to find global Sisters and through them I was able to find the right support and help I need to move forward. 

Funding is also a big challenge for me as well. 

For the first few years I was able to start my business with the funding that I have set aside. I also work during the day to support myself and my business, through that I was able to organise samples, set up the website and other business related expenses. 

What makes you feel empowered?  
My faith and self-confidence is what makes me feel empowered.  

Tell us a little about your business and your “why” for founding it?
I own an activewear business by the Frika Activewear, which is inspired by beautiful bold and bright African prints designed with uniqueness for all genders, age groups, African and non-African descents. My activewear range from sports bras, leggings, shorts, T-shirts, hoodies, sweat pants and jackets. As a personal trainer who loves both fitness and fashion, I discovered an absence of activewear styles and designs that I could identify with.

With Frika Activewear, my mission is to represent the vibrancy & uniqueness of African culture in the activewear market. Through four years of continuous research, educational programs and collaboration with the right suppliers, I was able to curate my collection of garments that are made from African prints that come from different tribes and countries in Africa.