The brunch offered a unique space for inspiration, knowledge sharing, and networking. Seventy inspiring women, founders, and aspiring founders, came together to hear insightful stories from two powerhouse female leaders, along with a panel discussion and most importantly, the space to connect with each other.
🤝Culture First, Growth Always
Camilla Scholten (Co-founder and COO at CustomerGauge) kicked off the event by sharing her journey with CustomerGauge. She emphasized the importance of a strong company culture, especially when scaling internationally. CustomerGauge’s values guide decision-making and actions, ensuring a cohesive and adaptable team regardless of location.
Camilla Scholten presenting to the female participants
😩Learning From Failures: Building on Success
Micky Chen (Co-founder and CEO at Minite and HerFuture), her second time speaking at the event, offered a refreshingly honest perspective. She shared the story of Minite and HerFuture, highlighting not only their successes but also their failures. From the initial, unpolished version of Minite to the learning curve of balancing workload, Micky’s story resonated with many. Her final takeaway – “not knowing the right people frustrated us to the bone – but hustling built our network” – encapsulated the entrepreneurial spirit perfectly.
Micky Chen presenting to the female participants
🌎Navigating the Global Arena: A Panel Discussion
A dynamic panel discussion took center stage, moderated by Yeni Joseph, Head of Ecosystems & Public Policy at TNW, the panel featured Kaoutar Ashour (Program Director at ScaleNL), Camilla Scholten, Micky Chen, and Maxime Lubbers (AI Ecosystem Lead at Techleap). Their diverse backgrounds, wealth of experience and deep insights provided a well-rounded perspective on scaling internationally.
The panel covered various aspects, including:
- 🔥Motivations for international expansion: Expanding internationally opens doors to new markets, talent, and growth opportunities.
- 💡Challenges and solutions: The panel discussed overcoming obstacles like cultural differences, finding the right resources, and adapting to local regulations.
- 🌎Building a global network: Leveraging accelerators, government programs, and local communities can be instrumental in navigating new markets.
- 💵Funding and investment: Exploring international investors and strategically seeking funding can fuel global growth.
Panellists engaged in the panel
🥸Advice for Aspiring Global Leaders
The panel concluded with valuable advice for female founders considering international expansion: importance of product-market fit and thorough market research, as well as a clear go-to-market strategy and understanding investor expectations.
🌟Beyond the Panel: Takeaways and Inspiration
Beyond the insightful panel discussion, the brunch offered a chance for attendees to network and build connections – it was great to see old and new faces, some attendees returning for the 4th time! This supportive environment allowed women to share experiences, forge partnerships, and learn from each other.
❤️Key Learnings
- Building a strong company culture is crucial for international success.
- Learning from failures is an essential part of the entrepreneurial journey.
- Resources and networks are key ingredients for navigating international expansion.
- Confidence, calculated risks, and continuous learning are vital for female leaders.
The Female Founders’ Brunch serves as an inspiring platform for women in tech. As they scale their businesses across borders, these entrepreneurs are breaking barriers and paving the way for a more inclusive future – stay tuned for the next edition 👏
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