A graphic designer, innovator, marketer and recently turned entrepreneur, Gabrielle moved to the UK from Auckland about 8 years ago that just so happened to co -incide with the worldwide financial crisis. Luckily, with a few months up her sleeve, before the full effects of the crisis ricocheted across London, a job was secured. Not one to stay complacent, and realising the role was similar to the one Gabrielle left in Auckland, albeit on a larger scale, she took a gamble and quit to hunt for a role she really wanted.

"Thankfully it paid off and I spent 5 years with a great company within sports marketing that took me across the globe. To off beaten paths in China where I didn't see another foreigner for the entire duration, sampling food I had no idea what or where it came from, through to functions in Rio De Janeiro. Interestingly enough, at these functions I was often asked if I was the wife of my boss, in a world that is very male dominated."

PLEASE NOTE: APPLICATIONS FOR THIS MENTOR GROUP HAVE NOW CLOSED. PLEASE CONTACT THE MENTORING PROGRAMME TEAM IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING A SIMILAR GROUP.

Are you committed to a new business idea and are now ready to crystalize the offering and move it forward? Or are you interested in starting your own business and have a few ideas but would like some help to ensure that the idea is the right one before commiting to this new start-up journey? Either way, this is the mentor group for you! Get the support and advice to move from start-up idea to start-up reality.

Mentor Group: From Start-Up Idea to Start-Up Reality

Dates: Six sessions starting on Thursday 16 April 2015. You must be able to attend all of the following eight dates: 16 April, 30 April, 21 May, 4 June, 11 June, 2 July, 16 July, 23 July
Times: 6:30-8:30pm
Location: near Trafalgar Square, London
Mentor: Avril McDonald

Avril McDonald grew up in a small beach town in New Zealand, trained as a primary school teacher and then worked hard to become a Managing Director of a Global Digital Entertainment Company in London and became a mum.

She specialises in transforming ideas into reality. Right now she wants to transform ideas that have great meaning to her and a positive sustainable impact on our world. She wanted to create beautiful characters and stories that help kids manage tough emotions and feel brave (because we all have to be a little brave sometimes). She created www.feelbrave.com and continues on the delightful yet challenging journey of trying to develop a global children’s brand both as a business and with a charitable arm that has the vision to give children everywhere access to tools to help them feel brave and reach their pure potential.  

Applications closed: 9am Monday 23 March 2015

Our unique mentoring programme is an ongoing initiative that enables network members to jump-start their own individual journeys towards overcoming challenges, seizing opportunities, and realising their aspirations in any area of their life. Full details of the programme can be found here.

Dates don't work for you?
If you're unable to make these dates but are really keen to join a group on this theme then let us know and we'll see if we can get another group on the same theme started at some point in the future.

Not interested in this theme but want to be mentored?
New themes and groups will be launched regularly so make sure you are a member of the NZBWN to receive all the latest information. A list of upcoming themes can be found on the mentoring webpage.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Kea and the New Zealand Business Women’s Network would like to invite you to 'Women Creating Change in Business: How Do We Make It Happen?' held at New Zealand House on Monday 09 March.

Join the Kiwi community in London along with panel members Katherine Corich, Director of Sysdoc, Jen Ferguson, Founder of Hop Burns and Black, Milly Olykan, Festival and Events Director at The 02 will now be joined by Lara Bowen, Head of Digital and Content at RedWorks, Simone Lanham of Incognito Artists and Sewell Foundation, and Avril Mcdonald of FeelBrave.  Our panel, who will be introduced by Hilary Timmins of Dream Catchers, will discuss their career/business, how and why they made it happen.  Whilst looking at this year’s focus of “Make It Happen”, addressing equality, growth in women owned businesses, recognition in the arts and financial independence.  Further panel members will be announced next week. 

New Zealand wine has been kindly sponsored by Yealands, with the evening starting with a glass of wine and the chance to meet with other women from Kea and the New Zealand Business Women's Network while canapés are served.

When: 6:30pm-8:30pm, Monday 09 March
Where: The Penthouse, New Zealand House, 80 Haymarket SW1Y 4TQ
Tickets: £20 + booking fee, Book Now