Challenges and opportunities explored this Business Day In

COMMERCE Ballarat’s Business Day In will aim to inspire people to elevate their businesses during the COVID climate on Thursday, 27 August.

The professional development opportunity, previously branded Business Day Out, has moved online to run via Zoom, with two keynote speakers and a group discussion.

Economist, Nicki Hutley will explore business challenges and opportunities during and following the pandemic, while thought leader, Shane McCurry is set to discuss the “big five” for sport and business; purpose, connection, authenticity, vulnerability and storytelling.

Federation Business School dean, Professor Christina Lee will facilitate a group chat with meat producer, Chris Balazs and brand strategist, Tash Menon.

Commerce Ballarat CEO, Jodie Gillett said her team believes it’s crucial to have opportunities on offer now for businesses to continue learning, even though difficult circumstances make this time stressful.

Each session will offer something different, challenging participants’ thinking.

“Being online gives them the opportunity to access the information live or they can do it later, whenever they want. They don’t have to take time away from doing their business, which is really important at the moment,” she said.

“We’ve worked really hard to find ways to make it as affordable as we possibly can for our business community, knowing that things are incredibly tough out there and circumstances have changed greatly since our planning in May.

“We rescheduled the actual sessions, so we’ve brought in an economist to look at what’s happening locally, statewide, nationally and internationally. Her and her team will be putting together a comprehensive look at what’s going on and maybe how they can do things a differently into the future.”

Commerce Ballarat hosted their first Business Day In, free of charge, on Wednesday, 27 May, also via Zoom. Feedback from that event was, ‘can you please do it again?’

“So we are. People thought it was fantastic to have it online and great to access it when they wanted it,” Mrs Gillett said.

“It’s not been possible to offer the second one free, but we’ve certainly tried to keep it at a really reasonable rate, in particular for our members to be able to access these three sessions for $40.

“The disappointing part is not having the networking element, which is something everybody is missing, to get into a room and chat, but we’re constantly looking to find ways to do that.”

Visit commerceballarat.com.au for more information and to register.