This International Women's Day, Business Mentors New Zealand are proud to stand alongside female entrepreneurs, leaders, and professionals across Aotearoa New Zealand. The 2025 theme, "For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment," calls us to take bold steps to accelerate progress toward gender equity. Our commitment is to empowering women in business through mentorship, advocacy, and action.
Mentorship is an agent for empowering women in business, and we’re heartened that our programme has attracted more outstanding female Business Mentors than ever before. They're stepping up to guide and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Through mentorship, women gain access to invaluable advice and networks. A Business Mentor can not only help you identify and nurture key relationships, but they may also be able to share the benefit of their own networks. Introductions can connect women with decision-makers and resources that might otherwise be out of reach.
Often, women in business juggle more than their counterparts due to caregiving responsibilities. Mentoring arrangements are flexible enough to fit with this. Additionally, advice on balancing family obligations with professional ambitions can make a real difference. Female Business Mentors bring strategies tested through experience, offering practical ideas to manage work-life balance while achieving business growth.
These Mentors also help female business owners tackle challenges such as limited resources and imposter syndrome. By sharing their own journeys, they provide relatable guidance.
Beyond individual support, Business Mentors can encourage business owners to advocate for systemic changes. These efforts benefit individual business owners and contribute to broader societal progress toward gender equity.
The Business Mentors programme has supported over 85,000 small business owners since its inception, in 1991. Our Mentors know firsthand the struggles and triumphs of running a business. They are committed to helping others succeed — not just for individual growth but for the betterment of communities across New Zealand.
We must drive change in key areas to accelerate action for women in business. Here are some priorities.
Less than 5% of global venture capital funding goes to female-led businesses. Targeted funding initiatives are essential to breaking down these barriers.
Women continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of unpaid caregiving responsibilities. In turn, this limits their ability to reach their potential in the business arena. We need a cultural shift toward shared responsibilities at home.
This International Women's Day, let's commit to accelerating action for gender equity and make this year's theme — Rights. Equality. Empowerment — a reality for all women in business.
Whether you're a Mentor ready to share your expertise or a business owner seeking support, Business Mentors New Zealand is here for you.
Together, we can create a future where every woman has the opportunity to thrive in business — and beyond.