My favorite thing
is to go where I've never been.
Diane Arbus,
Photographer
<>
The Small Business
Administration
SBA WNET Roundtable -- Meet, Munch, and Help Each Other Out
SBA WNET -- The Small Business
Administration Mentoring Program for Women Entrepeneurs
.
The WNET (Women's
NETwork)
Roundtable grew out of the SBA Mentor-Protege Program. A WNET Roundtable
is not available in all areas, but it is well worth checking to see if there
be a chapter in your area. There are actually about 150 Roundtables
nationwide, so your odds are good of finding one.
The SBA WNET
is a cooperative effort of the SBA Office of Women's Business Ownership, SBA's
Women's Business Center and Small Business Development Center programs, and
the Service Corps of Retired Executives. Participants from all of these
groups, as well as representatives of chambers of commerce, universities,
women's professional organizations and other business organizations
participate in the roundtables.
Immediate
Face to Face Meetings
There's nothing
like asking questions directly to the person who can answer. That is
what the Roundtables are structured to do: put you immediately in touch with
expert advice. You may find yourself next to the Vice President of the
local bank, or the buyer of your product/service. All-in-all it's a
really great support system to have in place.
Should You
Join?
All women with
strong entrepreneurial skills who are willing to share ideas are invited to
joint WNET Roundtables. You don't even have to have a business
yet! In fact, before your business becomes a reality may be the best
time to join -- find out what's what in your neighborhood.
Contact your
local SBA office to find out if there is an SBA WNET Roundtable in your area,
and when and where they meet. Then join in.