Corban & Blair - Blog

The Westpac Women’s Markets movers and shakers- Larke, Sue and Rebecca attracted a most inspiring group of women (as they always do) to share the experiences of speaker Kylie Charlton, Managing Director of Unitus Capital.

Lunch at Aria on the Quay with a few words from the chef and Larke, before Sue introduced Kylie Charlton (in pink shirt)

In 2003, after more than 10 years in conventional investment banking, Australian Kylie Charlton set out to use her background in global capital markets to solve some of the world’s most challenging social and environmental problems.

This included arranging US$100M for microfinance institutions in India and $300M for microfinance institutions and social enterprises across Asia.

In the following six years Kylie lived in the UK and then the US, joined the international not-for-profit, Unitus Inc, in Seattle and established a team that arranged capital for microfinance institutions around the world, advised banks and investment funds on their microfinance investment strategies, and developed and raised capital for specialised investment funds.

In 2008, Kylie co-founded Unitus Capital which has since arranged more than US$100M for microfinance institutions in India and is actively raising capital in excess of US$300M for microfinance institutions and social enterprises across Asia.

While “impact investing” has little profile in Australia, in the US and Europe it is forecast to grow to US$500B in 10 years. And the global financial crisis did not curb the momentum with the top 10 microfinance investment funds growing by 32% in 2008.

Kylie returned to Australia last year to focus on the development of social investment in Australia through her Heloise Waislitz Fellowship at the Asia Pacific Centre for Social Investment and Philanthropy at Swinburne University and this year through her position as Social Investment Fellow at the Centre for Social Impact.

For more about Kylie and how investing can change the world, please click here

www.unituscapital.com

How do we learn these days? This is how our book club does it . . . it is hard to define what is learning and what is entertainment . One thing is certain it feels good, is stimulating and USEFUL.

From Jill Ruchel when she got back home to Melbourne.

“We had a great book club last night.

We discussed ‘The World Cafe’. Some of us hadn’t read it at all, none of us had read all of it, most of us had read parts or skimmed it. The interesting thing was the fundamental idea – how you can create conversations that involve and inspire many people using a cafe style model; sitting around small cafe tables, butchers paper at the ready, ready to listen effectively, take responsibility for the conversation, participate and contribute. For me the most useful chapter was that on questions and how to form questions that will open rather than close conversations (much more than just a simple ‘open questions’ model).

Gillian recounted using some of the methods at her work – asking each of her staff to come prepared with a 3-4 minute presentation on a specific area of social media. The result was extraordinary – people were inspired and energised. It changed the whole atmosphere of the place.

As usual the food was good and the company better. We evolved into looking at some of the online initiatives we have been taking, like Kate’s new Facebook page, Kate’s website in progress, (stemgifts.com.au) Gillian’s website, and Susie’s new website (yes Susie’s – we insisted that it was ready to launch and she didn’t have to wait any longer). That’s an achievement in a year! I was pleased to show a new website I am working on for a client, with a groovy little character who walks across the scene. Fun!

Susie and I had a great conversation about the information products she could create from her business, and Gillian and Kate pored over Kate’s new Facebook page, sharing tips and demonstrating new features.

We realised that there was much to be gained out of sharing what each other has learned. I can’t remember whether we finally decided on doing the book ‘Drive’ by Daniel Pink, or having our next session showing each other all our new online skills and achievements. 
A truly great evening. Hope you all can make the next one. Thanks again for the delicious dinner and the lovely venue’

* Frances was not there but this is her contribution “Just to add to the mix… here is an article on home pages – why they are not as important as we think they are”

http://www.cmswire.com/cms/web-engagement/web-design-the-decline-of-the-homepage-007269.php?awt_l=IYwNF&awt_m=1fFzFxJmB4n0sm

* Bobbi who could not attend either as she is putting the finishing touches to her new website. I have seen it – and it is fabulous.

www.mahlabmedia.com.au

Having intelligent inspiring friends is just great. Anyone else have friends like mine?

Has anyone further feedback, ideas or other places to learn and be inspired?

The Connectnow Conference held in Sydney 7-9th April was great. Paulette & I went from Corban & Blair. We found it informative thought provoking with broad implications across all the social media platforms we use and interact with.

Exceptionally interesting were Darren Rowse@problogger (Australian) and Gary Vaynerchuk@garyvee (American). They stood out (others we good also) for their ideas, tenacity, passion and generosity. Both are worth having a look at.

We took away things like- know what your purpose and goals are, LISTEN and know what is happening out there, learn from the success of others, be useful, build a community- extend your community onto further platforms, be personal, tell stories, be unique, leverage what you have, craft your content, be transparent, be consistent and prolific -just get out there learn, adapt and improve as you develop and achieve your goals. Authenticity matters if you want a “real” community, as does transparency and the equity you can build into your brand.

This was just a snippet of the conference offerings.

If you have suggestions of other conferences, blogs, books, people we should look into let us know. Like most other successful creative businesses we are learning and making it up as we go.

Any wisdom you have to share would great. Just put it in the comment box and we will respond

See Connectnow.net.au for information on the other speakers.

It Happened One Summer by Shahram Zadgan.

A photographic exhibition featuring a series of photographs shot with film, inspired by young lovers, washed up players and European natives. It was held at the China Heights Gallery in Surry Hills. Corban & Blair provided the black slim box frames that complemented the images.

For more information or to purchase the photographs contact www.chinaheights.com or bahar@rescu.com.au

For a treat visit Jason, Clare and staff at their new store,

Level 2 in the Queen Victoria Building.

Bristol & Brooks. Also have a store at Chifley Plaza, 2 Chifley Square Sydney NSW 2000

Browse or purchase on line www.bristolandbrooks.com.au

Our first winner is

Shari Kitchin of Hyde Park in Queensland who bought her product from Urban Loft in Townsville. Shari will receive her frames next week.

Congratulations Shari.

(all unsuccessful names will stay in the draw for the next 2 months)