Dragon's Den

This is a post which talks about one of the most feared Dragons from BBC's Dragon Dens soap opera. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden/ . This specific dragon is Deborah Meaden, she launched her own glass and ceramics export company straight out of business college and has since made her name in the holiday park business and she drives a smart car, fast.

Fearing the Dragon lady
Who’s the person you’d least like to go to, cup in hand, when trying to raise cash to start your business?
Is it your parents, who are still annoyed you stepped off the corporate ladder, and ‘safe’ career path to pursue some harebrained business idea? Perhaps a well-off mate who clearly has the money, but who’ll make you fell indebted long after the last repayment has been made.
Apparently not. According to a survey by Business Link, the person budding entrepreneurs would be most scared of pitching their business to is Dragons’ Den panellist Deborah Meaden.
The poll questioned 720 aspiring entrepreneurs, and Meaden received a fifth of all the votes. This compared to a mere 10% for Bannatyne, Jones and Paphitis.
So what is it that’s so frightening about Meaden? Why does she strike fear into the very hearts of all you otherwise plucky and daring entrepreneurs? Afsana Shukur, head of diversity and equality at Business Link London, sheds some light on the matter:
“There is no denying that Deborah's passion and direct approach has helped make her the successful business woman she is today. It’s unfortunate though, that many successful businesswomen tend to be viewed as domineering and aggressive.”
Is Meaden any more domineering and aggressive than the other Dragons? Or is it just that those qualities are not well received in a woman, therefore making her an unappealing choice.
Shukur says that the UK lacks female entrepreneur role models that buck this traditional stereotype, but I disagree. What was Dragon-like about the late Anita Roddick, cited by so many as truly inspirational? Sahar Hashimi, co-founder of Coffee Republic, is another example of a successful entrepreneur that made it without asserting that aggressive quality apparently so hated in women.
There are all kinds of female entrepreneurial role models out there, some aggressive and some not. But in what is supposedly a gender equal society, why are we still having this conversation. Alan Sugar is undoubtedly aggressive and domineering but strangely enough, he’s nowhere near the top of the poll.

taken from http://www.startups.co.uk/

Slainte

Gordon

Planning your time at exhibitions and conferences

Planning your time at exhibitions and conferences:

This is a short post today, and too the point I hope. I have been in companies where the, sales, marketing and R&D guys see the attendance to these events as mandatory, and a "jolly", where manning a stand or exhibit is to be avoided and every night is one big party ? does this ring any bells. I suggest a strategy to get as much value from these events as possible, I have heard engineers come back from these events and be asked by the rest of the staff, so how was it? and they get a 20min discourse on the beer , wine and women, and 5min on the content of the event. These events are primarily a major networking event, and information gathering, you never really make any big sales or sign any deals at these events, the purpose changes when you are a multi million business where , you need to be there, for presence, our you could just break the mold.

Preparation

Before the event you have a "campaign meeting" set the ground rules, dress code and major objectives, these are the same for any meeting you have. Once you have defined the reason for attending, you select who you can spare for the event, use your own criteria, but the organization should still function at 100% when the attendees are absent. The next step is to list the key contacts you want to make, with suppliers, customers and future customers and give everyone there own targets, and a back up list. The evenings are set aside for customer relationship meals, invite customers, and interested parties, be seen to be organising a meeting not just for your benefit, but also for the attendees, this way you are sure to have people wanting to attend, be personal, give a personal invite. The key is to get key decision makers there in the one room, pick a relaxed venue and make sure your guys are being good hosts,make sure the guests can get back to there accommodation safely.

During the event

Have team briefings daily during the event, over breakfast, away from your accommodation, so you can speak freely, and adjust the plans, as you are updated on progress to your objectives of the campaign. Make sure everyone has a supply of the C-Level guys business cards in the company so if they meet someone interesting , they can get your card in there hands and make sure they get one in return. Include a back from base update, this could by a http://www.skype.com/ conference, a short update to the team back at base on how things are progressing, there and back at the company.

Back from the event

Review reports from all who attended, follow up emails or contacts completed by the first week back. Have an "all hands " meeting to inform the company, how things went, what difference it made to the company, that you attending the event made. Decide if you are going next year.

These events can be good for the company and a good use of resources, or they can be a waste, planning makes the difference.

Slainte





Gordon