Helping New Zealand women
thrive in business.
A nationwide community and registered charity, backing women in business since 2008.
Born as Venus.
Evolved for the future.
NZBW started with a simple belief: that women in business do better when they do it together.
What began as Venus in Tauranga in 2008 grew into a nationwide community. Eighteen years on, thousands of New Zealand women have found their people here, met every fortnight, referred each other work, and backed each other through the hard bits.
“When I took it on, I wanted to honour everything that made it special and grow it into something that would last. So we became NZ Businesswomen. Same heart, with a name that says exactly who we're here for.”
Carolyn Banks, CEO
Today we operate as a registered charity (CC55760), here to make sure no woman in New Zealand has to build her business alone.
Meet Carolyn Banks
NZBW is led by its CEO, Carolyn Banks. With nearly two decades of experience running her own IT consultancy and a background in senior roles at Spark and RNZ, Carolyn knows exactly what it takes to scale a business.
She sits on the board of the EMA and has judged the Best Places to Work awards. Carolyn leads with people first, and she is relentless about the network running on its values.
Meet Michelle Gould
Michelle Gould is our National Manager. She keeps the network running day to day, supporting facilitators and members across the motu so every group has what it needs to thrive.
Her focus is the practical side of a national community: the systems, the support, and the steady hand that lets members get on with growing their businesses.
A note from Carolyn
“You're building a successful business. You've probably got good people around you, but they don't always understand what it actually takes. That can feel lonely.”
“I want you to be ambitious. Think bigger. Back yourself. And know you don't have to do any of it on your own. Because when women feel supported, their businesses grow, and so does their confidence, their families, and their communities.”
Carolyn
CEO, NZ Businesswomen
What we believe
Five things sit at the heart of how we work.
Empathy
We meet each other as we are, our similarities and our differences both.
Integrity
We're honest and open, because that's how trust gets built.
Collaboration
We look for ways to work together, not against each other.
Growth
We keep investing in ourselves, personally and professionally.
Commitment
We show up, for ourselves, our businesses, and each other.
NZ Businesswomen at a glance
- Name
- NZ Businesswomen (NZBW), formerly Venus
- Founded
- 2008, in Tauranga
- Status
- Registered charity CC55760. NZ Businesswomen Limited, company 6185550
- Leadership
- Carolyn Banks, CEO. Michelle Gould, National Manager
- Groups
- 33 local groups in 14 regions
- Meetings
- One hour, every fortnight
- The rules
- One profession per group. Members never sell to each other
- Your first visit
- Free, as our guest
- Head office
- Level 4, Textile Centre, 125 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell, Auckland
Questions about us
What is NZ Businesswomen?
NZ Businesswomen is a registered New Zealand charity and a community of women in business. Members meet every fortnight in local groups across the country to connect, refer each other work and learn together.
Was NZ Businesswomen called Venus?
Yes. It began as Venus in Tauranga in 2008 and grew into a nationwide community. It became NZ Businesswomen, with a name that says exactly who it is here for.
Who runs NZ Businesswomen?
Carolyn Banks is the CEO and Michelle Gould is the National Manager. Each local group is run by a facilitator, supported by a regional manager.
Is NZ Businesswomen a charity?
Yes. It is a registered charity, number CC55760, run by women, for women.
No woman has to grow her business on her own.
That's the legacy we're building together.