Graduate Women Otago (GWO) August Lunchtime Lecture

Thursday 24 August 2023 at 12:15pm (no charge)
Billiard Room, Ground Floor, Staff Club, University of Otago

Speaker: Anna Guenther, Ministry of Trade and Enterprise, Wellington

Women in Business: Opportunities and barriers women face in Aotearoa

Anna will talk about women in business - her personal experience studying entrepreneurship and starting multiple businesses, as well as insights into the opportunities and barriers women face in Aotearoa, and how we can support more women to grow businesses here and overseas.

Anna Guenther is the co-founder and Chief Bubble Blower of PledgeMe. Since launching over 1,600 creative, community and entrepreneurial campaigns have raised almost $70 million through crowdfunding. PledgeMe was the first licenced equity crowdfunding platforminNewZealand,andoneofthefirstinAustralia. PledgeMehelpspeoplefundthe things they care about, with a focus on the funding representing the countries in which they are based (e.g. 50% female led, 30% in the regions).

Anna has also worked for MIT and Harvard, completed her Masters in Entrepreneurship through the University of Otago with a focus on crowdfunding, and accidentally started a cheese subscription box with friends called Cheese Cartel. She also worked with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise helping kiwi companies grow for the good of Aotearoa and the world, specifically focusing on removing barriers for women leaders.