Organisers now preparing for a second round of participants
The She Means Business pilot, designed to support women working in male-dominated sectors, has recorded early positive outcomes, preliminary evaluation of the program showed.
The assessment found that 86.7% of participating businesses achieved moderate or higher improvement in at least one capability area, with leadership, mentoring, skills development and workplace policy identified as the areas of greatest progress.
Nine mortgage and finance broking businesses took part in the finance sector component of the scheme. Using grants and mentoring support, participants pursued a range of initiatives, including leadership coaching, greater workplace flexibility, financial literacy programs, technology adoption and diversity measures.
Tripti Goyal (pictured top left), director at Trusted Financial Choice, said the program had supported her transition into a leadership role and the launch of a new venture, Oriri Finance, which focuses on financial empowerment for women.
“One of the biggest things this program gave me was the courage to step forward and be visible,” Goyal said. “Not because I have all the answers, but because my visibility might create possibility for someone else.
“When women see other women leading businesses, working in finance and creating opportunities for others, it changes what they believe is possible. That’s how lasting change begins.”
Melanie Kafka (pictured top centre), executive member experience and partnerships at the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia (MFAA), said the results underlined the benefits of supporting women and small businesses in developing tailored solutions.
“More than eight in 10 Australians now choose a mortgage and finance broker when arranging a home loan,” Kafka said. “That means our profession has an important role to play in reflecting the diversity of the communities we serve.
“Programs like She Means Business help more women build successful businesses, develop as leaders and create pathways for the next generation of mortgage and finance brokers. That’s good for our profession, good for small business and ultimately good for Australian consumers.”
Kafka added that the program's flexible design had allowed participants to address their own specific challenges. “Each of our participating businesses approached the program differently because every business faces different challenges,” she said. “Some focused on leadership development, others on mentoring, innovation, workplace flexibility or financial literacy. That flexibility is one of the program’s greatest strengths.”
Skye Cappuccio (pictured top right), chief executive of the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA), said the pilot demonstrated what small businesses could achieve when given adequate support.
“From the very beginning, She Means Business has been about giving women the opportunity, confidence and support to succeed in industries where they have been traditionally underrepresented,” Cappuccio said.
“Partnerships have been central to the success of the program. Working alongside organisations like MFAA has allowed us to connect with businesses that are committed to building more inclusive workplaces and supporting more women to thrive.”
According to the independent report, the most significant improvements were recorded in capability building, mentoring, leadership confidence and workplace practices. Participants also reported increased business confidence, wider professional networks and improved customer outcomes.
With the pilot phase now concluded, organisers are preparing for a second intake, due to begin in October, which will offer further mortgage and finance broking businesses the chance to take part. Kafka encouraged eligible businesses to register their interest.
“This isn’t about a one size fits all program,” she said. “It’s about helping businesses identify the barriers they’re facing and giving them the tools and support to create lasting change. We’re excited to welcome a new group of participants later this year and continue building a profession where more women can thrive.”
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