Outside the Grand Ballroom, I meet Estie Rand, volunteer coordinator at the conference. Founder of Strand Consulting, a business consultancy that specializes in supporting entrepreneurs who wish to start or upgrade their business, Rand shared an insider’s story about the corporate assistance offered by Temech. “A client who had been running a home-baking shop from a basement for ten years approached me to help her expand her business. First I taught her the principles of professional pricing. As a result, she cut out selling on consignment (which in Israel, in particular, is very costly) and began to focus on selling retail and wholesale. Then we worked on branding and finding a logo with a professional designer.”
Learning More About Other Organizations
Outside the Ballroom, women mill around the booths of a range of organizations, learning more about garnering the tools that can help them start their business or promote an existing one. Mati, a non-profit organization, offers consultations, business mentoring courses, and financial aid to entrepreneurs looking to start up or expand a business. Chavi Rubel, originally from the States, opened the first women’s gym Jerusalem in 1992. “Mati helped me find the grounds for my gym, build a financial plan so that I could get a loan and advertise successfully,” says Ruble, who later moved into other fields.
For women who need more preparation before launching their business, Temech invited Tiltan and Ray of Light. Dr. Metuka Horowitz from Tiltan, who lectures regularly at Temech says, “We lay the ground work for women. First we help teach them to move beyond blockages that could be holding them back. Then we teach them how to build a business.” Shoshi Oron, from Ray of Light, offers five courses, one of which deals with building and prompting a business. Yisrael Katz, Israeli Minister of Transport, can thank Oron for helping his office manager redefine her direction.
Leah Hass sums up her expectations in coming to the conference: “Of course, I come to have an enjoyable day out,” she begins, “but the conference puts me in a different place: Firstly, I come away feeling invigorated and empowered by being with women who are like-minded. Secondly, I’m given the chance to network and make new connections.”
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The JerusalemHub
The Hub was designed to offer owners of small businesses and freelancers the space to build their businesses. Every work-at-home or self-employed woman can cite the benefits and disadvantages of her choice – low overhead costs and lower babysitting fees. Disadvantages of a home-based business can be worked around by dedicating a separate room in the house to office space and setting aside specific work hours. But since this doesn’t always work, some women prefer to move their business out of the home. Temech now provides the perfect solution. Located close to the Central Bus Station in Jerusalem, the Hub offers the religious businesswoman workstations, private offices, meeting rooms, and business services. In addition, coaching and networking opportunities are easily available. Work-at-home and self-employed women can finally say goodbye to fighting for space at the dining room table, trying to hear a client above the hollering two-year-old, and the loneliness that can accompany long workdays spent alone.
Programs Offered by Temech
Professional Training: This includes subsidized and free-of-charge courses in a variety of occupations; financial aid for vocational training courses; introductory computer training courses; workplace readiness courses and leadership training courses.
Corporate Assistance:This includes helping businesses develop a position and access the skilled individuals who can help them; supporting foreign-based companies so that they can outsource in Israel; setting up forums in which women can meet and exchange ideas and interfacing with governmental bodies and municipality heads for the advancement, training and occupation opportunities for religious women.