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’.