IWD2016 – Leaders making a difference
by Susan de Vriend
Madi Sharma’s passion shined through from the beginning of her speech when she spoke about business and specifically about shared ideas.
She shared some statistics on women-owned businesses that were compelling but noted that these statistics are only measured in the US. Currently, she is pushing for it to happen in the EU. It’s been refused because if we saw how many times women owned companies were denied bank loans and other such discriminations, well, it is suggested, they, the EU, may just have to change some laws.
As for the US, it is a law and they report great things that come from women owned or managed companies. For example, women bring in a ROI (Return on Investment) 21% greater than their male counterparts! Productivity goes up, creativity and much more. This is great incentive for us to keep going because as Madi says, “We are leaders individually and we are leaders together.”
Madi’s company is named MADI Group. M-ake A D-ifference I-Deas. In her words, “Everything I do has to make a difference. If I did not change one person in this room life today then my life on earth was wasted. That’s how I get through my days by changing one person’s life every day.”
She talked about how she works with her employees. It is based on trust, not hours and holidays. As she says, “Everyone decides their own time and holidays. Everyone is empowered and many have even started their own businesses under the MADI group.”
She continues, “It’s not about protecting your ideas. It’s not about you anymore. It’s about teamwork. It’s about building a sustainable economy. If I can do it you can do it. There are no excuses.”
Later on, she asked us to write on the top of our paper what is the one thing we want to do to change the world. She said it can only be one thing or the Universe gets confused.
Then she gave us a blueprint for finding our passion and developing it.
She called it the 7 F’s:
- Fantasize
- Feasilibility
- Foundation
- Fit for Purpose
- Failure
- Focus
- Face
At the end of her presentation we were given a special gift to remember our wishes to change the world as a reminder to make it happen.
Follow Madi’s workshop below:
Video by Alma Films
Madi Sharma – EESC, Rapporteur female entrepreneurship, Founder Global Entrepreneur Envoy, Chair of the Madi Group
Madi Sharma is an Entrepreneur who founded and runs the Madi Group, a group of International private sector & not for profit companies, and NGOs. The philosophy is to create innovative ideas tailored to local action which can achieve global impacts beneficial to a sustainable society. She is also a member of The European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels.
Madi is a public speaker internationally, particularly in the field of entrepreneurship, female entrepreneurship, diversity; gender balance and her passion for corporate social responsibility CSR. Her presentations, spoken from the heart, motivate and inspire and seek to make others consider their ability to affect change. It is now tagged #MadiEffect
Find out more about Madi and the MADI Group by visiting: madisharma.org
IWD2016 & WBII 10th Anniversary Celebration
Our International Women’s Day program and WBII 10th Anniversary celebration was held on March 8 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in The Hague; an afternoon of workshops and a vibrant evening of networking interspersed with a ‘planking’ dinner, silent auction and inspiring keynote speakers.
IWD2016 Sponsors:
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IWD2016 Media Team:
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About the author:
Susan de Vriend also known as the Life Coach for Expats. I’ve been living in the Netherlands for 7 years. I support expatriates in creating an exciting and fulfilling life fit for their new home in the Netherlands by exploring with my client on what home feels like to them. www.susandevriend.nl