On the last International Women’s Day on the 8 March, Simone Cimiluca-Radzins published author, speaker, and podcaster who spends her time empowering women to obtain financial freedom, organized a networking brunch in Lagos for businesswomen, female entrepreneurs and leaders who want to make a difference. Simone’s passion is to “empowering women to thrive professionally, personally, and financially”, and this event emerged as an opportunity to unite a big group of like-minded women who are eager to network with others.

Simone’s networking brunch allowed for long chats and connections between the women who were excitingly sharing their dreams and projects, at the same time they were enjoying a delicious and healthy brunch, with vegan and gluten-free options, prepared by Goji the Hidden one. In the lovely venue, there was also a women’s day inspired photo booth and a hand-made poster with attached envelopes which had all the names of the women participating in the event written on them, with the aim for them to place and exchange business cards, comments, or anything else they would find relevant in them.

Comfort zone

Throughout the morning, which was filled with laughs, there was also time for a few games. Simone kindly prepared a set of activities which enable the women to get out of their comfort zones and express themselves, being it in relation to where they come from, how they define their professional activity, what their personal or professional goals are for 2024, alongside others. The women who took part in the brunch represented a wide range of business sectors, including corporate workers, social media influencers and managers, digital nomads, freelancers, internet entrepreneurs, small-businesses marketers, financial and wellness coaches, massage therapists - a few examples among many others.

Credits: Supplied Image;

Still in a circle, everyone took turns speaking and sharing a little bit about their goals for 2024 by passing a plastic ball one to the other. “I really want to build a very big online community of women where we can really connect and grow”, Simone revealed. Amber, from Belgium shared that she “wanted to shift her marketing business from doing to managing”. Natalia on the other hand aims “to empower as many women as possible in order for them to use their creative power and ask for abundance”.

Lena Grosso, a Portuguese entrepreneur residing in Lagos has two businesses. She manages Instagram accounts for small businesses, a project which she started two years ago, and she also has a brand-new Chai business where she sells black tea with spices powder that can be mixed with milk to make Chai Latte. The Chai Latte, which was being served at the brunch, can be found for consumption at different coffee shops in Lagos, and can be bought at a few local shops or online, via Instagram.

Networking

Regarding the networking event, Lena revealed “This is amazing; I need this type of events to hang around with real people, who are also interested in these types of things”. Just like Lena, a lot of people share the same feeling for the need to connect. Although being a digital nomad or having your own online business sounds amazing – sometimes there is a lack of connection with other people and with the outside world. “That is why events like these, which bring together women with the same interests, are crucial”, Lena said.

The inspirational networking brunch brought together women from all over the world that found their permanent or temporary place in the Algarve, and just like Simone, are willing to share their dreams, ambitions and successes and influence other women to do the same and find their own community. As Simone noted “This event is more than just a gathering; it is a movement towards promoting financial abundance, inclusion, and the empowerment of women in business across the Algarve” adding that “If you are seeking an inclusive community that inspires and challenges you to step out of your comfort zone, you've found your place”.

Viviene Rodrigues, also a social media manager, came all the way from Brazil in 2020 to experience a new life in Portugal. “That is why I’m here, to connect, to talk about our own businesses and discuss our goals and ambitions”. Viviene, who is also developing a new business involving tours and events, stated that “I truly believe we cannot do anything alone, I believe that networking is a major power that we should use to improve our businesses as well as our social life”.

From The Netherlands, Jasmin Latupeirissa is one of the owners of a female-led Dutch design agency which helps other companies with branding for books and magazines. ‘Stranger Girls Club’ exists under the motto “Never boring” and aims to “provide outstanding and high-end print by playing with typography and colours”. Although the business is based in The Netherlands, she is able to work abroad in the sunny Algarve.

Heide Machado was born in Germany but has lived in Portugal for the last 40 years. She owns a different type of business, a Thai massage centre in Praia da Luz, a passion she discovered later in life. “I started when I was 50, and I could not be happier. I love my job; I found my place in Lagos and I have my roots in here”. As she added regarding the event “it is a great initiative, a networking activity which is not online, and brings together all these women, can only bring benefits”.

In addition to sharing their businesses and goals the event also contributed to the divulgation of co-working opportunities, the creation of new partnerships, the development of new connection with women the same ambitions, the chance to give and receive advice from others, and even more crucial the freedom to empower each other. As Viviane manifested, “If you are always alone you cannot motivate and inspire yourself, but if you are surrounded by women which may be in the same situation, you inspire yourself, let others be inspired by you, and it is also a great way of finding new partnerships”.

Author

After studying Journalism for five years in the UK and Malta, Sara Durães moved back to Portugal to pursue her passion for writing and connecting with people. A ‘wanderluster’, Sara loves the beach, long walks, and sports. 

Sara J. Durães