Have you felt “lonely” running your business? Who do you learn from, or who can you turn to for advice? How best to navigate challenges thrown your way? Are you making the right decisions? This is where mentorship can be a game-changer for female entrepreneurs, offering invaluable business guidance, support and wisdom. Mentorship offers tailored guidance and support that can propel female entrepreneurs toward their goals. Whether seeking a mentor or becoming one, these relationships can be transformative, creating lasting impacts on both personal and professional levels.
With mentorship, you can gain:
- Confidence and Clarity: Helps clarify vision and boost confidence for bold steps.
- Skill Development: Shares expertise to grow your business.
- Networking Opportunities: Opens doors to valuable contacts.
- Emotional Support: Offers empathy and understanding on a sometimes isolating journey.
Through WENStart, WEN’s Mentorship Program, our objective was to create positive real-life impact for our mentees on their business and themselves.
Vanessa Misso-Venness shared how her mentor helped her with her product and her self-esteem. “She helped me formulate a coaching package for my clients, which I’ve since offered and she has been my cheerleader, helping me appreciate my own worth as a business owner!”
Nicole Chabot shared how her mentor’s empathy helped her navigate difficult decisions: “I think it was her continual empathy. I was agonizing over pricing and she said it was always difficult and you just needed to decide. It helped me make decisions and go for it more than otherwise.”
Ruchi Bhave benefited from her mentor’s practical advice: “My mentor asked me not to spend money on marketing. Since then I have evaluated every marketing opportunity that has come my way. I have strived towards collaborations and barter system.”
Mentoring also brings benefit to both the mentor and mentee. As Jessica Yuen found, “mentor and mentee both learn a lot about their (respective) businesses and gain from each other’s experiences”.
So how does one get the most out of a mentoring relationship? We asked our graduates from the WenStart program and collated their top tips:
- You don’t need to stick to just one mentor for the long term. As you and your business progresses, re-evaluate what your needs are and take on different mentors.
- You also have the choice to change mentors if you find that your current mentor is not a good fit for you.
- You just need to speak up and end the mentoring relationship politely.
- Come prepared to not just maximise meeting time but also respect your mentor’s time. Ruchi prepared agendas in advance, wrote all her questions down and shared them on a Google Drive with her mentor.
- You can give back too! Nicole ended each mentoring session by giving a book recommendation to her mentor.
- Go into the mentoring relationship with a growth mindset. Vanessa Misso-Veness had wise words about the mentoring mindset: “To choose to be mentored means to be open to receiving and learning”.
Mentorship is a powerful tool for unlocking potential and driving success. Consider joining or becoming a mentor for WENStart to inspire and support the next generation of women entrepreneurs.
Introduction: Embracing the New Year with a Fresh Style
The Chinese saying goes “The planning of the year starts from Spring” (一年之計在於春). As the Year of Dragon has begun, it brings a unique opportunity for women entrepreneurs in Hong Kong and Asia to refresh their personal style. In this blog, I am going to share the significance of revamping one’s image for the new year, emphasizing the importance of aligning personal brand with outfits, accessories, and colors.
Why Refreshing Personal Style Matters
The start of a new year signifies growth and change. Refreshing your personal style is more than a cosmetic update; it’s a powerful signal to the world that you’re ready for new opportunities. For women entrepreneurs, a renewed image can boost confidence, stimulate creativity, and set the stage for a successful year ahead.
The Impact of Personal Branding on Your Image
Before delving into wardrobe choices, understanding personal branding is crucial. Your personal brand is an extension of your passion, purpose, values, and unique qualities. Aligning your style with your personal brand creates a cohesive and impactful impression, laying the foundation for success in business and beyond.
Dressing According to Undertone and Body Shape
Picking the right colors and outfits based on undertone and body shape is a game-changer. For warm undertones and an hourglass figure, earthy tones and fitted wrap dresses enhance natural beauty. Explore cool blues for medium-toned, pear-shaped bodies, creating a balanced silhouette. Tailored sheath dresses flatter those with neutral undertones and rectangular bodies. Deep burgundies and flowing tops accentuate deep undertones and apple-shaped figures.
Decoding the Significance of Red
During Chinese New Year, red takes the centre stage, symbolizing luck and prosperity. However, not all reds suit everyone. Understanding your undertone, profession, and personal brand is key. The right shade of red, whether fiery for warm undertones or burgundy for cool undertones, can enhance your unique style and make a powerful statement.
Selecting the Perfect Shade of Red
As an image stylist and color specialist, I always advise clients that their journey to finding “the perfect red” begins with knowing their undertone. Warm undertones lean towards vibrant reds, while cool undertones shine in burgundy or cherry hues. Experimenting with different shades ensures you discover the red that aligns with your personal brand, leaving you feeling confident and empowered.
Festive Yet Professional Outfit Ideas
Chinese New Year festivities call for a balance between festivity and professionalism – this is particularly important for women entrepreneurs who need to project a powerful image and demonstrate the right set of energy when they run their businesses. A tailored red blazer paired with black trousers or a red dress with subtle gold accessories strikes the perfect equilibrium. Incorporating traditional elements like embroidery or gold accents adds cultural flair without compromising sophistication.
Embracing Traditional Chinese Accessories
For an extra touch of cultural significance, consider incorporating traditional Chinese accessories. Qipao or Cheongsam dresses radiate elegance, while jade jewelry brings luck and protection. If not jade, peals are always a great pick to elevate the elegance feeling. Red envelopes (Hongbao), tassels, knots, and floral hair accessories contribute to a festive yet meaningful ensemble.
Confidence is Your Best Asset
In wrapping up, the key takeaway is to know and embrace your personal brand, special qualities, and facial features. Confidence is the ultimate accessory, and showcasing your best self involves aligning your style with your unique identity. As you usher in the Chinese New Year, let your renewed image reflect not only cultural significance but also the empowered woman entrepreneur that you are.
This simple guide aims to share some quick tips for women entrepreneurs who run businesses to navigate the new year with style, confidence, and cultural relevance. May the upcoming festivities bring success, prosperity, and a renewed sense of self.
Author:
Tracy Ho
Personal Branding & Image Consultant, Executive Presence Coach
CEO & Founder, Frame & Fame Personal Branding
2024 February
Website: www.frameandfame.com
