by McKayla T.
This term, I attended a SECNA meeting to represent Community Flower Studio. SECNA, or the Social Enterprise Council for NSW and ACT, is the main role of SECNA, which provides community and advocacy for social enterprises in NSW and ACT, led by all types of social enterprises from both states. SECNA defines social enterprises as “a business that puts people and planet first” that “trade[s] like any other business but exist specifically to make the world a better place”. I have been to one meeting, and since then, the organisation has grown, especially with additional funding from the government.
This event allowed social enterprises to hold discussions amongst themselves, where we could relate to each other’s triumphs and struggles. One of the challenges was pushing myself out of my comfort zone and talking to people I didn’t know. Although this was nerve-wracking, I used the strength of public speaking I had developed as a workshop facilitator. This allowed me to gain perspectives on issues of global significance as each social enterprise dealt with these problems on local, national or international levels.
By talking to other social enterprises, I witnessed the value of social networking. Each social enterprise offered different assets that could often assist other social enterprises. With Dr Bibiana Chan, we talked with other like-minded organisations and gave each other guidance and stories.
Overall, this was a valuable experience that allowed me to challenge myself by talking to new people, gaining insight into issues I was unaware of, and collaborating with other enterprises.
Good networking