Polaris Women In Business Network

The Polaris Women In Business (WIB) Network is a Polaris Centre initiative guided BY women in business FOR women in business, and proudly supported by the Office for Small and Family Business and the City of Salisbury.

As the world embraces a more diverse and inclusive society, women are increasingly joining the business workforce as well as business ownership. While this brings a more representative balance to business governance, research shows that women face different and additional barriers to men that can impact their entry into the business world and how they run and grow their businesses.

The network was originally formed in 2007 to provide a community for women operating their business from home, and to minimise professional and social isolation in Northern Adelaide. Our WIB Network has expanded over the years and now welcomes over 1800 women from all over greater Adelaide and inner regional areas. 

The WIB Network hosts regular WIB Networking Dinners that include guest speakers who are local Adelaide businesswomen to share their business story and journey. Additionally, the WIB Advisory Committee organises Business Showcasing and Speed Networking events at a Northern Adelaide venue. The advisory committee is made up of experienced businesswomen that meet regularly to organise the events, select the guest speakers and coordinate delivery requirements. 

Our female only WIB network creates a community in which women can feel comfortable asking their peers for assistance.  

Whether by nature or nurture, men tend to be more forward in pursuing what they want, according to authors such as Suzanne Doyle-Morris, who wrote about this factor in her book – Beyond the Boys’ Club: Achieving Career Success as a Woman Working in a Male Dominated Field. In contrast, some women feel less confident about shouting from the rooftops about their excellent skills and experience, thus possibly hindering their career progression – and their effectiveness at networking. Put simply, men are more likely to ask others for help or to partner to attain more success, while women prefer building relationships. The problem is that if you don’t ask, you don’t receive. 

Our female only WIB network makes it easier for our members to be more confident about presenting themselves, asking questions, and promoting their skills and ideas. Since they will be together with other business or career women who share the same experiences and needs, our members are assured that when they speak up, they’ll be amongst those who can understand and relate.

Regardless of whether you identify as a businesswoman or career woman, there are invaluable reasons for you to join and participate in our WIB Network.

2024 South Australian Women in Business Conference

The second annual South Australian Women in Business Conference was held on Friday, 15 November 2024.

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