Back Her Brilliance
Our Vision
A world where every woman is provided the opportunity to create her own economic future.
Our Purpose
Making business possible; Unlocking the potential in every woman to own her economic future.
Impact Snapshot
Global Sisters recently launched our 2022 Impact Snapshot and full 2022 Impact Report: ‘Increase Her Odds: Economic Security Re-Designed with Women in Mind’.
Impact Report 2022
We heard from over
800
Sisters
about their experience with Global Sisters and the impact on their business and financial resilience, and found some incredible results.
After six months or more our Sisters are more likely to:
Be generating business income
72
of survey respondents were generating income
1100
is the average monthly income for these Sisters
Transition off government income support
43
of survey respondents who were government income recipients decreased or were transitioning off government income support completely
Increase their savings
and have financial safety nets during an emergency
We are also seeing an amazing ripple effect, with Sisters’ success positively impacting their families and communities. In the last year alone we have seen Sisters:
Reinvesting
$9.1M+
business income was reinvested back into Sister’s families and communities
Creating jobs
400
staff were hired by our Sister’s businesses
Role modelling
to their children, family and other women
Giving back
to their communities through good business principles
Able to leave/recover
from family violence, avoid homelessness, better support their families and improve their mental health and wellbeing
Jump to section
Case Study
Suzie Fletcher,
Tidy Canberra Gardens
Micro business specialising in design and construction of small gardens and outdoor spaces. Suzie has purchased and paid off her home.
Read Suzie's story
Our Programs
This year our local presence on the ground took a back step and the majority of our support was focused nationally online. Community and connection continues to be a core pillar of our programs and impact, so we focused on building community through our hybrid model which combines accessible digital platforms (Facebook, Sister Portal, Zoom) with genuine human connection.
Business Education
In 2021-22 Global Sisters continued to offer a range of business education programs for women at different stages of their business journey. Here’s a snapshot:
346
My Big Idea participants
214
Sister School participants
487
Participants in business
workshops & events
In 2021-22 we tested a new delivery model for Sister School
4.5 day online intensive course
facilitated by an expert facilitator
alongside a group of Sisters
This program attracted larger numbers than the traditional 12 week model, with evaluation findings indicating that both learning outcomes and connection were equal if not greater than the traditional model.
Business education workshops and events were delivered in collaboration with corporate supporters, Google and Visa and a selection of functional business experts and founders
They covered a wide range of topics:
Business topics
Google my Business, Finance by Visa, Understanding your numbers, Crowdfunding for your business by LIFT Women, Digital & Social Media strategy, Identifying your customer, Photography for micro-businesses, Converting online views to sales
Entrepreneurial mindset
I am remarkable, hitting your goals out of the water, the power of reflection, overcoming overwhelm – less scattered more gathered, tackling imposter syndrome
We also joined Global Sisters Founder, Mandy Richards and Alexandra Smart, Founder of Ginger & Smart in a new series, Behind her brilliance
Pro Bono Business Coaching
& Services
This year corporates and business leaders showed growing support for women’s micro business through the Global Sisters Coaching & Pro Bono Services programs.
290 volunteers
provided coaching and pro bono support to Sisters in 2021-22
$5 million +
has been transferred in pro bono support to Sisters
New corporate coaching and pro bono services partners included Allianz, Ebay, FiftyFive5 and we were delighted to welcome back returning corporate partners including Minter Ellison, Visa, Hubspot, Unilever, AMP, Afterpay and Google.
New Coaching Program: The LAB
The LAB pilot commenced in June with the purpose of supporting Sisters to convert online views to sales. 12 Sisters participated, supported by a 15 person expert panel and 12 x one-on-one coaches.
The value of Global Sisters Coaching program was recognised this year with three Corporates paying for cohorts of staff to participate in the program. The benefits to companies include: staff development, wellbeing and retention; access to good news stories; and, alignment with SDG, ESG and DEI goals.
“This has been a great learning experience for me also and a chance for me to develop my coaching and mentoring skills in a relaxed and supportive environment. My matched Sister notified me last week that not only has she launched her business, but she is booked out!”
Hubspot employee
Global Sisters has focused on the development of the coaching community by offering coaching and leadership development training by Paul Mitchell of The Human Enterprise.
Global Sisters Marketplace is Australia’s first marketplace supporting women’s micro business. It provides women with an immediate user-friendly, quality e-commerce presence requiring no tech management – all in one place, so they can create an online revenue stream and gain easy access to customers. Watch this video clip to see the impact Marketplace has.
Microfinance
Micro Loans
Global Sisters continues to offer micro loans for early stage micro businesses, filling a persistent gap in the market and making finance accessible for women-led micro businesses.
In 2021, our annual impact report findings confirmed anecdotal evidence that the women we support do business differently from the mainstream startup sector – and spend a lot longer in the incubate phase – only seeking business finance when they are comfortable with their business viability after a solid period of market testing and iteration. The majority of Sisters work PT casual jobs or are dependent on welfare/partners to support them when they are getting the business off the ground rather than accessing any form of finance or investment.
In 2022, we are starting to see an increase in the demand for our loans, referrals to access larger finance and demand for innovative forms of business funding like pre-sales and crowdfunding.
Business loans stats to date
14
loans made
$31.4k
borrowed
97%
on time payment
This year, Global Sisters has continued to support Sisters to access larger funding pools or financial products by facilitating / introductions to:
AMP Tomorrow Makers grants
Crowd Funding through the LIFTWomen platform
Pre-sales through the Global Sisters Marketplace
First Australians Capital Finance
Read about Global Sisters experience and action research findings in Australian Microfinance
Micro Insurance
This year saw the end of the pilot phase of the AAMI Small Business Insurance product.
During the pilot phase
72
calls to the AAMI Call Centre
22
quotes provided upon request
11
policies issued
The majority of calls came from businesses in Manufacturing, Retail Trade, Accommodation & Food and Professional & Tech Services.
The product has subsequently been redesigned with a key change in eligibility criteria for premium discount to an annual turnover of under $100k. The revised product is being relaunched in October 2022.
Development of further financial products and services designed by and for women. Global Sisters has partnered with Ecstra to design, build and offer a suite of financial products and services, in partnership with financial institutions. This year we have begun the process to map the journey and needs of women on low incomes in order to inform the design of products and services that support financial inclusion and economic security.
Sister Pitch 2021
November 2021 saw 30 Sisters pitch their businesses to 30 CEOs and leading executives from some of Australia’s most notable organisations. They pitched for introductions, networks and support to take their businesses to the next level.
Read more
Over $150k of support was pledged with just some of the highlights being:
Re-branding by Jack Morton & Weber Shandwick, and ongoing mentorship of Angie Poller, Remedii by Russell Parker, prior CEO Melrose Health
$10k deal between Ira Puspita, Kayu & Co and Beechworth Honey
Catie Fry from Clovendoe mentored by Bill Heague, CEO Mars
LIFT Campaign
In April Global Sisters launched a pilot Crowdfunding campaign in collaboration with LIFT Women to explore the potential for Crowdfunding to generate working capital to pre-finance production or fund business expansion.
12
Pilot projects
6
Campaigns closed successfully
34
Raised
Key insight: whilst Global Sisters and LIFT Women can drive reach and awareness, successful funding of projects relies on founders’ ability to promote and get their community on board to pledge.
Afterpay Fashion Week
5 of our fabulous Sisters were involved with Afterpay Australian Fashion Week 2022: Native Swimwear, Clothing the Gaps & Ngumpie Weaving graced the runway, Ginan of G-TAB modelled and Nikki of Blind Grit consulted on their progressive approach to inclusion.
Happy Boxes Project
5 of our fabulous Sisters were involved with Afterpay Australian Fashion Week 2022: Native Swimwear, Clothing the Gaps & Ngumpie Weaving graced the runway, Ginan of G-TAB modelled and Nikki of Blind Grit consulted on their progressive approach to inclusion.
Case Study
Cyana Duong,
Camie Fleur
Young migrant with an eco & social purpose floristry business. Cyana has a mortgage, a commercial lease & is employing three other young migrant women.
Read Cyana's story
Systems Change
Global Sisters systems change work is designed to “change the odds” for women. By levelling the playing field and addressing the systems and structures that hold women back, Global Sisters can help women sustain and leverage their business income to achieve long-term economic security.
In 2021-22, Global Sisters moved our systems change agenda forward in the following ways.
WE ARE CHANGING SYSTEMS BY
Elevating micro business
Elevating micro business as a genuine solution to women’s economic participation and security. We started designing the Australian Women’s Micro Business Index (coming in 2023) and brought stories of transformational women’s micro business to the Australian public.
WE ARE CHANGING SYSTEMS WITH
Financial Products & Services
Developing a roadmap of financial products and services designed by and for women. Global Sisters has partnered with Ecstra to design, build and offer this suite of financial products and services, in partnership with financial institutions. This year we have worked with our partner AAMI to redesign and upgrade the microbusiness insurance product for Sisters. We have started the process to understand the needs of women on low incomes to improve their financial inclusion and economic security.
WE ARE CHANGING SYSTEMS WITH
Welfare Reform to Support Self-Employment
Changing aspects of the welfare system that prevent women from starting micro businesses. Global Sisters has designed a number of demonstration projects with specific cohorts of women which aim to not only make business possible for women but create the evidence base for the policy changes required to create a welfare system that promotes self-employment.
Read the proposal
Global Sisters Impact Roadmap
Case Study
Fiona Harrison,
Chocolate on Purpose
First Nations business producing chocolate with Australian native botanicals. Fiona’s business is on track to be a success but she needs to scale manufacturing which requires investment into equipment & facility.
Read Fiona's story
Meet Our...
Team
Mandy Richards
CEO/Founder
Heather Thomson
Chief Operating Officer
Allison Dunlop
Chief Financial Officer
Jessica Cameron
People and Culture Lead
Lisa Edinburg
Strategic Projects
Robyn Robertson
Women’s Financial Inclusion Lead
Gershon Nimbalker
Policy and Advocacy Advisor
Pakiza Syed
Coaching & Pro Bono Services Lead
Laura Vavra
Marketing Manager
Lauren Wilby
Project Management Lead
Janet McLean
Data and Systems Effectiveness
Emily Hope
Membership Experience & Program Coordinator
Kirsty Ainsworth
Graphic Designer
Kelly Barran
Admin, Finance & Customer Service Support
Board
Mandy Richards
CEO/Founder
Deanne Weir
Chair
Michelle Dixon
Director
Caitlin Iles
Director
Nick Garrett
Director
Richard Denniss, Director
Nicky Sparshott
Director
Case Study
Maureen Nugent,
Beadoire Glass
Glass Artist, Jewellery Designer & Educator. Maureen has exited income support & is running a sustainable business.
Read Maureen's story
Financials
The 2021/22 financial year has seen Global Sisters continue to grow and strengthen our valued partnerships with our corporate, philanthropic and government partners who are committed to our vision of a world where every woman is provided the opportunity to create her own economic future. Revenue has remained consistent with the previous year and we continue to focus on diversifying our income streams to build sustainable revenue and passive income streams.
We are committed to the majority of our expenditure being incurred on programs directly supporting our Sisters and we were able to achieve this objective again during 2021/22. Our infrastructure costs have remained low due to our generous partners providing services at pro bono or discounted rates.
Financial report 2022
Case Study
Angie Poller,
Remedii
CRPS sufferer with a business producing heat based pain relief products. Angie is working with her coach to get her business ready for licensing & export opportunities.
Read Angie's story
Award Winning
We are so thrilled to announce that our Founder Mandy Richards has awarded one of Pro Bono Australia’s 2022 Impact25 winners. Mandy was nominated alongside 450 change makers, shortlisted to 150 nominees, and was then chosen as one of the 25 most inspiring and influential people in the for purpose sector. More than 21.000 votes were cast for this year’s winner! In addition to this she was presented with the Judges Award for INNOVATOR. Mandy celebrates these awards as recognition for the entire Global Sisters team, Board and partners – past and present, who have made Global Sisters’ achievements to this point possible.
What's next?
Global Sisters is focusing on depth and breadth of impact across Australia. We will continue to scale, ensuring that women all over the country can access self-employment support, no matter where they live or what barriers to economic participation they are facing.
To leverage women income from micro business for long term economic security and change the systems and structures that are prohibiting women from becoming sustainably self-employed, Global Sisters is pursuing our systems change agenda and running a number of demonstration projects with specific cohorts of women. These demonstration projects will not only support women facing severe barriers to economic participation but create the evidence base for policy change that will provide an enabling environment for women’s micro business nationally.
Join our movement
Mandy Richards, CEO/Founder
mandy@globalsisters.org
Heather Thomson, COO
heather@globalsisters.org
General enquiries
hello@globalsisters.org
Find out more
About Global Sisters
globalsisters.org
Our Impact
impact.globalsisters.org
The Marketplace
marketplace.globalsisters.org
Sister Portal
sisters.globalsisters.org
Follow us
ABN 36 162 363 180.
PO Box 4077, North Curl Curl 2099, NSW
Case Study
Yuko Nakao,
Shokunin Store
50+ migrant with a business offering high end Japanese garden tools, kitchen tools, homewares and gifts. Yuko is financially independant and working to sustain centuries old traditional artisan crafts in Japan through creating market opportunities.
Read Yuko's story
