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When it comes to business women networking events, nothing beats business chat with a glass of French champagne, a fashion showcase and luxurious gift bags.
The European Women in Business hosted A French Garden Affair in one of Melbourne’s most heavenly floral destinations, Flower Temple, which is more an ode to all things botanically luxurious (think candles, room sprays and fragrant soaps) than a mere florist.
The evening began with a glass of French champagne as we were treated to the audible delights of songstress Tania de Jong AM, an Australian soprano, social entrepreneur and international keynote speaker on leadership, creativity and innovation. Tania was generous with her insights and sharing of her own experience and joked that she was told she ‘could not sing’ as a child. She stayed on to mingle and chat to guests. She founded Creativity Australia and Creative Universe and works with disadvantaged communities through the ‘With One Voice’ choir social inclusion programs. Tania presents keynote speeches and leadership programs for major organisations and performs internationally with her group Pot-Pourri who have toured overseas on over 40 occasions and released 7 CDs. She is Founder of Music Theatre Australia Entertainment & Events. It was a true pleasure to meet Tania and compare notes on combining business with social responsibility.
The evening’s special guest presenter was Inge Fransen of Vranken Pommery, French champagne house. Inge started her career specialising in International Business in 2005 in a marketing project for Duvel in New York. This was followed by various projects in France (Paris, Montpellier) and Spain (Madrid, Barcelona). She joined Vranken-Pommery Monopole in 2011 as Sales Development Manager Belgium & The Netherlands, before being offered the role of Managing Director of the Australian subsidiary at the end of 2012 and relocating to Melbourne. Inge took us on a historical journey of Pommery champagne, explaining how in true entrepreneurial fashion, widow Louise Pommery assumed full control of the business after her husband passed away in 1860. We continued to sip of the French label as the coveted ‘rose’ corks were “eloquently removed from their bottles”, rather than popped – part of our lesson in champagne etiquette, Inge shared her own experience of having embraced change, working and living around the world.
No European Business Women networking event is complete without a little fashion and this was no exception with Tanya Heath Paris’ private showing of her latest collection. Tania’s innovative idea enables an interchangeable heel to be used with each shoe, from a practical, chunky low platform to skyhigh 10cm stilettos perfect for any power networking event. Tania’s designs, once only available in Paris, are now accessible via www.tanyaheathparis.com.au
All in all a high class business women networking event teamed with a magnificent celebration of all things French and a take-home gift bag to match with lush inclusions from Vitruvius Divine Skin Clinics, Mor Cosmetics, macarons and French Provincial Magazine!
For more information on networking events held by the European Women in Business, visit www.europeanwomeninbusiness.com.
