Hundreds gathered at a function today that sold out in 15 minutes to see the new Women in Business Program launched.

Port Adelaide chief executive officer Matthew Richardson is firmly behind promoting the new program through his club’s own HERstory: Business Collective Program, telling the crowd how Port Adelaide already has appointed an all-female leadership for its new AFLW team.

“People look at sport and think ‘what can I possibly learn from elite sport and take it into my business, it’s a completely different world’,” Richardson said.

“I can tell you it’s exactly the same, the businesses many of you are running, it all starts with people. My job is to get great people, align them to a clear and powerful vision and then let them do their jobs.”

Small and Family Business Minister Andrea Michaels said the new business program would be delivered over four years with two main streams she hoped would be as sought after as tickets to today’s event.

“Our recent engagement with the small business community across South Australia revealed that more than 38 per cent of female respondents still experienced a host of barriers including gender bias, sexism and a lack of up skilling opportunities,” Minister Michaels said.

“My hope is that as this lunch sold out in 15 minutes that these projects will sell out really fast and I’ll be going back to cabinet to ask for more money.”

The two elements of the program include:

Women in Business Foundation Program supported by Adelaide Business Hub – for women in the early stages of establishing a business to gain support around financial literacy, digital marketing and business planning.

Women in Business Advisory Program being delivered in partnership with Behind Closed Doors – to support women leading high growth businesses to grow even more with support around establishing best practice governance, undertake strategic planning, and establish effective and balanced advisory boards.

Women in Business launch. From left: Uncle Mickey O’Brien, LBWco Lisa Bishop, Minister Michaels, Ochre Dawn’s Rebecca Wessels, Edible Blooms Kelly Jamieson, Rebecca Morse and PAFC’s Matthew Richardson. Photo: supplied

“As a woman who grew up within a family business, and was running my own small business until just recently, I’m acutely aware of the specific barriers that face women in business,” Minister Michaels said.

“These barriers include unequal access to capital, networks, and up skilling opportunities, as well as the well-documented juggle between work and caring responsibilities.”