Suzy Jacobs, Managing Director, The Athena Network – Australia & New Zealand

Suzy Jacobs is the force that drives The Athena Network in Australia; she chose the role following extensive experience in both corporate and small business.  Her energy, enthusiasm and determination are fired by an absolute commitment to have women in business prosper.

Whilst Suzy grew up in a world flourishing with academics, philosophers and lawyers, she was acutely aware from a very early age it wasn’t the world for her.  Leaving school early she threw herself into the corporate world with an aim to connect with people and specifically, customers.  She began her career working for some of the big names in recruitment – Drake Personnel and the international arm of UK recruitment firm Brooke Street Personnel.

In 1990, keen to involve herself in the PC world she hooked up with the retail division of IBM, learning the ropes as she made her way to National Sales Manger.  Not one to rest on her laurels she made the move to Compaq as National Training Manager (Networking) determined to increase her technical understanding of the computer industry and develop her training skills.

By 1995 Suzy was looking for new challenges – ones that would broaden her knowledge and understanding of business.  So began her love affair with SME.  Suzy and her partner launched Think Lateral Company – a design company and manufacturing plant in Sydney.  With her husband taking the lead in design, Suzy implemented the business structure and during the time they were both on board they were recognised in the industry receiving awards in both design and customer service.

However, it was an overseas posting that had a major impact on the direction Suzy was taking in life.

London came calling at a time when Suzy had pulled out of the workforce to focus on her young children.  She was not to know that it would lead her to finding her life’s vocation – coaching, motivating and inspiring women to have the confidence to be the best they can be.

Having completed a Personal Training and Life Coaching Certificate and a B Sc – Health Sport Fitness, Suzy opened the doors to Inform Fitness, a boutique health and wellbeing centre for women.

The business was designed for women who had lost a sense of power in relation to their health. Teaming up with a leading nutritionist and physiotherapist, Suzy used her Life Coaching tools to provide the support, encouragement and education to set her clients on the path to better health and fitness.

Whilst in London, Suzy’s active involvement in women’s issues and SME brought her into contact with The Athena Network, the UK’s leading business networking group for women.

From her very first meeting, Suzy was captivated – here was a business network with a structure that could support her vision “to have women in business prosper.”  Suzy immediately recognized The Athena Network’s universal appeal and specifically, the economic benefits the network could bring to businesswomen back home in Australia.

Danita Needleman, the first Australian Regional Director/Franchisee of The Athena Network, has run her own businesses for over 15 years.

Starting with studies to gain her B Sc.(Psych) Hons, Danita has always focused on people and their needs.  On completion of her degree, however, Danita took a more commercial direction.   Over 15 years, careers in retail, advertising and recruitment provided valuable working experience.  Danita then took the entrepreneurial path teaming up with colleagues to form a recruitment business of their own.

In 1997, Danita moved into her own bookkeeping and small business consultancy.  In 2004, seeing her partner working in the coaching field, Danita realised her solid foundation working in both her own and other people’s businesses together with her initial studies were ideal for a business coaching role.  Danita undertook coaching training and together with her life partner Laurence, created their Aviel business.

As Business and Personal Navigators, Danita and Laurence work with business owners and individuals to stay on track with their purpose, heading toward their desired destination; as any good navigator would!  Aviel also uses navigation by the stars (using astrological birth charts) as an optional part of its toolkit.

Danita has been largely responsible for the marketing of the Aviel business.  Networking has been a major aspect of this and over the years Danita has been an attendee at a variety of events, networking groups and functions.

Having attended the Australian launch of The Athena Network in 2009, Danita became a founder member.  Within a few months, enjoying the Athena sense of community and the rewards it was bringing both for herself and her business, Danita joined a second Athena group.

When looking at broadening her horizons further in 2010 – and becoming a serial entrepreneur! – the enjoyment of the Athena environment together with her interest in people’s business and personal development led to Danita taking on an Athena franchise.

Being part of the process of women building communities – rather than simply networking – within a structured yet fun & relaxed format is truly a pleasure for Danita.  She combines her pragmatic interpersonal skills and practical business acumen within the Athena framework to join with Suzy Jacobs in fulfilling the mission of ‘having women in business prosper’.