Secret women's business: Women's only networking groups

What started off as a bit of a joke for Jane Lu and Gen George is now a women's networking group with over 50,000 members.

"We started Like Minded Bitches Drinking Wine very casually, we just grabbed 20 girls that have their own business and had dinner and then we though we'd just roll it out to the public and it's just had huge organic growth and demand," she says.

The entrepreneurs have tapped into a growing call among female entrepreneurs for women-only networking groups.

Less ego

Lu is the founder of online fashion retailer ShowPo which turns over $30 million a year, while George sold her start-up OneShift to labour hire and maintenance giant Programmed for an undisclosed sum earlier this year.

"We've got drinking wine in the name but it sets the tone for how casual it is and very close," says Lu. "Sometimes you go to a panel or hear speakers and you may or may not talk to the person next to you but at our events everyone knows they are like minded and everyone has had a glass of wine so they all talk away." Read more

Cara Waters - Brisbane Times - 10 Dec 2017