Female-led businesses achieve almost $2 billion in exports
Female-led businesses supported by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) are delivering almost $2 billion in international export revenue annually.
“A study by US-based Boston Consulting Group showed that businesses with at least 30 percent women in senior leadership see a six percent revenue increase. Despite this, women are materially underrepresented across export and investment. Having more female-led businesses is good for New Zealand,” says New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Chief Executive, Pete Chrisp.
At the end of 2021, NZTE started a Women in Export Programme designed to address barriers and support women-led businesses to leverage opportunities.
“Our goal for the programme was to double the number of women-led companies we work most closely with by 2026 by tackling the key barriers female founders face, like lack of networks and difficulty securing investment,” says Pete.
“As a result, we have seen the number of female-led businesses we work closely with increase from 16 percent to 24 percent.”
Sophie Cooper from natural body and hair care company, Anihana says, “NZTE’s Women in Export Programme has been instrumental in building a strong network of like-minded women who are navigating the challenges of growing globally.
“The peer-to-peer connections and support have been invaluable, providing not just business insights but also the confidence to take on new markets. Being part of a community that genuinely champions female-led businesses has made a huge difference in our export journey.”
* The figures in this story relate to female-led businesses in NZTE’s Focus portfolio (excluding large New Zealand companies with significant international operations) – a group of 1000 established export businesses that are generating international revenue and prioritising growth that NZTE provides intensive, personalised support to.