CEOs, business executives, wives, mothers and carers – today women have to be more then ever before and it’s exhausting… but hey, we’re nailing it! Last Friday women showed up in their thousands to share, listen, pick up some useful life tips and celebrate their business success at the full-day informative workshop, 9 to Thrive, held by global company Business Chicks.

The event was not your average business expo – there were no dull Powerpoint presentations, no monotone speakers and certainly no instant coffee! Instead, 9 to Thrive hosted a line-up of panel discussions, workshops and talks from influential women such as Kemi Nekvapil of Raw Beauty Queen, nutritionist and author Lola Berry, Oz Harvest CEO and Founder Ronni Kahn, and Mamamia Founder and Creative Director Mia Freedman – just to name a few.

The event showcased speakers on the Main Stage emceed by journalist Magdalena Roze; and in a more intimate setting, The Garden stage, emceed by marketing and digital extraordinaire Danielle Di-Masi.

We learnt everything from self-love to social media strategy and psychological life hacks to approaching your first start-up business. In between the proceedings, more than 100 exhibitors bided for our attention with a number of products to purchase, including a professional headshot photographer and a Benefit salon station with beauticians on-hand to wax and tint the perfect brows for the weekend.

Hitting the Main Stage just after lunch were three women leading the way in social media, to discuss the business of connection. Sophie Blachford from Instagram, Mia Garlick from Facebook and Karen Stocks from Twitter sat together on stage for a rare opportunity to discuss how much social media has grown and its transformation into a driving force behind many start-up businesses.

Whether you have a visual business that is suitable for Instagram, or are looking for the blanket marketing approach of Facebook, social media is offering small businesses the opportunity to reach its audience in creative and cheaper ways then traditional marketing.

After a barista-made coffee in the King Living lounge and a delectable Business Chicks cupcake, the pièce de résistance toward the end of the day was the panel discussion with Mamamia executives; Founder and Creative Director Mia Freedman, General Manager of Podcasts Holly Wainwright, Editor Kate De Brito and National Sales Director Kylie Rogers.

Questions were tweeted in by the audience as we heard about Mamamia’s humble beginnings on Mia’s lounge room floor, the website’s amazing success and a little about how they managed to keep their finger on the pulse since 2007.

Not surprisingly, we learnt that women love to share on social media based on five simple principles. Women share on social media if they feel something, if they knew it first, if the post reflects the public mood, if they find it funny or if the post is particularly entertaining. However, Mamamia has found that women repel anything that is negative, makes them feel guilty or inadequate in some way.

As a young woman just starting out in my career, I found 9 to Thrive particularly eye-opening. Women are making a big difference in the corporate sphere and are showing that you can do it all! If you practice self love and a holistic lifestyle then women can still be mothers, lovers and carers, as well as succeed in business.  

If you missed out on the Sydney 9 to Thrive this weekend don’t fret, there is more to come as an equally fantastic line-up of speakers will hit he stage at the Melbourne Showgrounds on Friday 2 and Saturday 3 September.

Click here for more information and tickets.

Images from: Business Chicks