Enterprise and battle of the sexes on agenda

Meetings, conferences and gatherings on offer as business picks up in the new year:

Linda Jenkinson, one of New Zealand's most successful female entrepreneurs, will lead a women-only morning workshop on February 18 at Unitec on gender and entrepreneurship, "Enterprising women lead growth companies".

In the afternoon, media and IT guru Hal Josephson continues with "Radical entrepreneurship" - for men only.

Both genders will share some of their insights over lunch, where workshop presenters and others will debate whether men or women are better entrepreneurs.

Charges apply. See the Zealand Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship website for details.

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Australian entrepreneur and marketing guru Brad Sugars says he understands those who may be cynical about a multi-millionaire sharing his wealth-creation secrets.

Those of a suspicious inclination may ask: if his methods are so successful, why doesn't he keep them to himself?

Sugars says he has heard the argument before but he would be suspicious of a millionaire who did not teach his secrets to others as it would show he didn't understand how his money was made.

Despite retiring at 26, Sugars still personally trains all new entrants who join his Action International business coaching franchise.

This month he will present Billionaires in Training in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

The seminars are aimed at people who run their own business, those thinking about their first venture, and serious investors focused on cashflow and return.

Sugar's first foray into business was at 15, when he decided his paper round was too much hard work. He hired some friends to deliver papers. They got a wage and he kept a profit.

At the age of 20 he had already had 20 jobs and gave up a $65,000-a-year salary to go into business for himself - buying out his boss and running the print shop.

It took two more years to become a millionaire, having discovered that the majority of people do not know how to make money.

Today, he is international chairman of Action International. The company has more than 200 coaches in New Zealand, Australia, Asia and North America.

The Auckland "Billionaires In Training" seminars are on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, February 26 and 27 (two separate seminars), at the Sheraton. Charges apply.

For more information email murrayflewellen@action-international.com

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Economic development - fast, smart and connected - is the theme of this year's annual conference of the Economic Development Association of New Zealand (Edanz), to be held at the Spencer on Byron Hotel in Takapuna from April 2 to 4.

Economic development is being hotly debated. Edanz chairman Tony Rush says local and central Government and business people acknowledge the need for co-ordinating effort to achieve the solid economic growth required to fund the standard of living that New Zealanders desire.

Economic development agencies have a critical role in facilitating local and regional economic development issues.

Hosting the conference for Edanz is Enterprise North Shore, North Shore City's economic development agency.

Leadership, innovation, infrastructure and skill development - all crucial issues for economic and business development - are among the themes the conference will discuss, says Edanz executive director Ann Verboeket.

The focus will be on NZ's future and the need to plan for a new workforce while at the same time focusing on the patterns and forces that shape economic development in localities and regions.

Enterprise North Shore

Economic Development Association of NZ