Katy Kennedy

Speed Networking

February 6, 2020 By // by Katy Kennedy

Speed Networking for International Women in Business Düsseldorf this Tuesday was a huge success!

More than 35 women came to the event and they even managed to pass the obstacle course presented to them as the front doors were broken in our Downtown location!

We were kindly hosted by Frazer Jones on Tuesday 28th January for our Signature Event Speed Networking. Thank you so much to James Casey who stayed late, opened doors and elevators for us!

We had new women come to the meeting and it was a pleasure to meet so many new faces. We think this was down to the location of the event – right in the centre of town.

Women speed networking — Speed Networking

How it worked:

We asked everyone to find someone they didn’t know and talk for five minutes about themselves and then listen to the other person. We had five minutes to connect.

Then we blew the whistle, so they moved onto the next person.

We discussed some of our challenges:

– I want more conversations with like-minded women to talk about non-child related subjects
– I need assurance and motivation
– I need help deciding about my career path
– I want to make my business grow
– I need to find a job
– I want to transform my business idea into a reality
– I would like to meet internationally-minded women

People shared their business problems and others helped to solve them

We will definitely be offering Downtown locations again for our informal meet-ups and our workshops. Watch this space!

Welcome to our new Leadership Team member

October 17, 2019 By // by Katy Kennedy 1 Comment

Please welcome our newest member of the Leadership Team – Valeria Trussi

I am from Buenos Aires, Argentina, where I was born and lived until 2016. Then I moved to Dusseldorf with my husband, a 1-year-old daughter, and 7-months pregnant. It was indeed a quite interesting adventure, a radical change of life. I was suddenly not working anymore, and was going to give birth in Germany! It was an intense start and our first time as Expats.

My background is really diverse, I graduated as a graphic designer, and specialized in Marketing. I got an Executive MBA and was also a Marketing teacher at Universidad de Palermo in Argentina. I am very passionate about Marketing, Digital business, and Branding. I got a certificate in Digital Business from Columba University, and a certificate in Business Sustainability Management from Cambridge University, a topic I am really interested in. I worked in advertising agencies, had my own marketing and communication agency for 7 years, and managed marketing and product development teams in multinational companies as well.

After three wonderful years in Dusseldorf, I’ve been lucky to be close to my little kids, and enjoy every piece of their growth milestones. Living abroad makes you rethink your life, your expectations, and your dreams. It’s a twist in your life that really not many people have the privilege to experience. Now my kids are in kindergarten and my own time is back!.

I was given the chance to join this wonderful network where I felt part of it from the very first day. I strongly believe in the richness of shared experiences under a multicultural environment, and the power of collaboration between women. This is why I joined the International Woman in Business Düsseldorf, and embraced the great opportunity to become an active member and help grow this wonderful Network.

Talent Fair Testimonials

October 10, 2019 By // by Katy Kennedy 1 Comment

Talent Fair Testimonials from our Presenters at the March Talent Fair.

In March 2019, we hosted our 1st Talent Fair. Twelve women with international backgrounds presented themselves to organisations from across Düsseldorf.

We are very proud that we helped 8 of these women find a new job within 3 months.

“Your precise feedback helped me hone my presentation and interview skills to a top level, allowing me to land an amazing position in a dynamic company.”
Diana Steurenberg

“I shall be starting work as an Operations Excellence Manager. ‘Thank you” is too small a word to say for all the efforts the lovely people from iwibdus.“
Sandyha Kashyap

“I had my first day of work today 🙂

So I really really have to thank you for making this happen! I have no words to express how grateful I am! Thank you for organising and thank you to all women being so inspiring!“

Yasmin Zudem

Companies found this event to be a brand new way of finding talent!

“That’s a fantastic success rate beyond most recruitment agencies dreams! Well done to you for organising it and the quality and talent on display was clear to see. Congratulations!”
“This is an untapped talent pool of women who are motivated and experienced who we can have access to. Sign us up!”
“How fantastic that our community has such amazing women. We need to share these events across more expat women.”