Suzi Dafnis
Community Director
Australian Businesswomans Network
www.abn.org.au
Suzi Dafnis is an entrepreneur. In 1994 she co-founded Pow Wow Events, a multi-million dollar seminar company (which she has since sold) that produced hundreds of events and served over 250,000 Australians and New Zealanders.
She also started a boutique publishing company, which, over 10 years, sold more than 1.2 million books (including the longtime bestseller, Rich Dad Poor Dad). In 2000 she opened her first business in the USA, an events company that over six years presented events all over the USA including in New York, San Francisco, and Dallas.
Suzi has invested in a number of start-ups, a passion that was very much in line with her decision to be on the judging panel of Channel 7’s business TV show “The Dragons’ Den” in 2005.
Supporting women in business:
Since 1995 Suzi has headed up the Australian Businesswomen’s Network, which supports thousands of women business-owners to increase their skills and their networks. ABN is the peak body representative for businesswomen in Australia. With over 10,000 community members, ABN caters to the largest community of women business owners in Australia.
ABN provides advocacy, mentoring, inspiration, education and networking opportunities for businesswomen. “The goal is to help women build, sustain and grow successful businesses.
ABN provides a voice for business owners and entrepreneurs in the community. We lobby for good public policy and legislation across a range of key issues impacting business women.”
An early adopter of new technology, the ABN harnesses new media and innovation to deliver education and to engage its online community. ABN uses a comprehensive range of online business management tools including webinars and a national mentoring program that uses social media to give women all across the country access to mentoring (from both local and international mentors) and business skills training.
“I didn’t have any formal business training when I started my first business. Mentors have played a big part in my success. That’s why I’m so passionate about helping others find mentors, resources and the information they need to grow and learn”.
Achievements
Suzi, a finalist in the 2001 Telstra Business Women’s Awards, employs innovative marketing techniques such as pay-per-view and web-based seminars, e-marketing and a volunteer training program.
In 2003 she was a finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Eastern Region awards in the category: Services – including Financial, Business and Property.
Suzi has appeared in the prestigious BRW Young Rich List in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, and 2007, profiled amongst the country’s great talents in business and entertainment.
Suzi has been featured in many national publications including: The Australian, the Sydney Morning Herald, Canberra Times, My Business Magazine, Virgin’s in-flight magazine Voyeur,The Australian Financial Review, Daily Telegraph, New Woman magazine, BRW Magazine and on numerous radio programs and TV shows.
Suzi is often asked to comment in the media on issues related to women in business. Her passion for marketing continues and she travels regularly to attend educational events in Australia and overseas – learning of new technology and business practices that are then shared with her 10,000 strong community through the use of innovative learning technologies.
Her expertise is in the social media and direct response marketing area and her company was one of the first in its industry to use the power of email marketing and the web to do business.
Today she’s asked to speak on Social Media and the Australian Businesswomen’s Network’s use of new media to provide education and mentoring to women in small business.
Suzi ranks as one of Australia’s top users of social media to engage community, to network and to do business.
Follow Suzi on Twitter: @suzidafnis
HerBusinessBlog: www.herbusinessblog.com
