Debbie was born and raised in Harrow and has not strayed far from her roots – she has only ever moved 8 miles north to Hertfordshire!

After leaving school, she went to the London College of Fashion to train in dress design, pattern-cutting and textiles. That wasn’t taxing enough so she then retrained in computer programming and analysis which kept her very happily employed until in 2001 she started planning her wedding and realised that there was nobody out there who could help with the finer details of the planning and then be there to help out on the day.

Following her wedding in 2002, Debbie decided to fill that gap in the market and Wedding Wonders was born. 2 years later, Debbie took the plunge and left the comfortable computing contract and realised that networking was a great way to build her business.

Being a people-person, Debbie thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to network with like-minded business women and having a chance to help others with their businesses.

Since joining Athena, she has never looked back and now, as well as being a Regional Manager for 4 Athena groups in the North West Hertfordshire and Middlesex regions, she is launching a new Watford group in October.

You can read more details here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Athena-Watford/277537212275410?sk=app_211519365579403

Debbie Diggle
Regional Director Watford
The Athena Network
m : 07733 076775

Regional Director, South East Hertfordshire and Enfield

Rosy Holt runs “Networking the Athena Way” groups for pro-active business women meeting monthly at lunchtime in Potters Bar, (second Tuesday of the month) in Enfield (third Thursday of the month), Botany Bay – Enfield (fourth Tuesday of the month) with a fourth group in Radlett (meeting on the fourth Wednesday of the month).

Rosy joined Athena in 2008, when she was looking at networking opportunities to promote her business. She wanted something that was convenient enough to fit in with her other commitments and that could slot without too much trouble into her life style, she didn’t want anything too pressurised, but didn’t want to be classed as “a lady who lunched” either, she also wanted to benefit from regular structured networking at a time that suited her, not the early morning breakfasts or in the evenings. Although The Athena Network fitted the bill she did not join a group, she bought the franchise!

Rosy believes that there are many business ladies out there who benefit both personally and professionally from the support and inspiring  opportunities that Athena offer to those that actively seek them. It is very important that the groups Rosy runs are pro-active, friendly and welcoming, enabling ladies from various professions to join together to share business knowledge, contacts and expertise in order to increase their businesses without feeling overpowered and just as importantly, while enjoying themselves.

Following a long career in both in Italy and in London on her way to work one morning Rosy decided she wanted more much more from life and went about turning her life round and now is involved with a few carefully chosen businesses As well as running her Athena Network groups Rosy is also involved in other small businesses which provide a lot of variation and are the total opposite to the focused career she followed for many years in the travel and tourism industry.

In September 2010 Rosy went to Tanzania to help renovate a primary school located at the foot of Kilimanjaro, she is on the committee of her local Toastmasters group and has just been asked to become an Ambassador for World Vision.

One of the great rewards of running Athena groups is for Rosy standing back and watching the results, whether that is strategic alliances being formed, new business being passed, or friendship and support being offered, or simply watching ladies reaching out from their comfort zone and finding they quite enjoy the experience.

Rosy Holt

Regional Director – The Athena Network

Telephone: 01707 271466

Mobile: 07711 361368

Email: Click Here To Email Rosy

Have you seen the South East Herts and Enfield Facebook page?  http://www.facebook.com/#!/NetworkingtheAthenaWayinSouthEastHertsandEnfield

 

Spearheading the Singapore/Asia Pacific Athena Network launch is “rock chick entrepreneur” Gina Romero, who previously served as Athena Operations Director and Regional Director of the North London area.

Now based in Singapore with her family, Gina is poised to launch the Athena Network in the Asia Pacific Region, alongside her brand “Business Rocks!”.

Gina’s boundless energy and go-getter attitude teamed with her ‘big picture’ approach to anything in life has led her on a number of adventures to date; and with the imminent APAC launch of The Athena Network, there’s definitely no stopping her now.

“Singapore has a thriving community of small businesses and entrepreneurs. I am very excited about the opportunity to bring the Athena brand here to APAC. My vision is to create a dynamic community of inspired women who come together for personal and professional development, fun and of course to open the door to bigger and better business opportunities for all. I believe the key to success in business is collaboration and Athena is a wonderful platform for women to learn, grow and connect.”

Although shy and a little intimidated at her first networking event in 2005, Gina swiftly saw the enormous benefits of this innovative women’s networking organisation which led her own IT solutions company to a lucrative business opportunity and ultimately their family to the warmer climes of Asia, where they relocated in 2010.

“Joining the Athena Network was one of the best business decisions I ever made. I had amazing success as a member and I put this down to the support I have received from other members and the founder of Athena Jacqueline Rogers over the years. Being part of the Athena head office team, was a phenomenal experience and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to work with so many outstanding business women. I am extremely proud to be an Athena woman and I am delighted to be an ambassador for the Athena Brand here in Singapore and Asia Pacific.”

Gina’s passion for helping small businesses to achieve their goals is infectious: she is a rare 50:50 left brain/right brain thinker which means she can incorporate both the logical and creative elements needed for brand evolution and business development. A self-confessed ‘girl geek’ Gina is always on the lookout for new ways to utilise her love of technology in the business world as well as help small businesses to benefit from the immense power of social media.

Gina’s latest venture Business Rocks showcases just how far she has come, and where she sees her future. “I just love to work on interesting projects, with people that inspire and motivate me. I want to create a hub for brilliant, inspired people to collaborate, share resources and attend fantastic events!”

The Athena Network was the perfect forum for Gina to utilise her top notch people skills after leaving her role as a long haul stewardess for the world’s favourite airline. It took Gina no time to create a dedicated following of like-minded women, eager to shake up the male dominated business world with no nonsense, forward thinking strategies. The APAC launch of The Athena Network is the next giant step for this inspiring and passionate rock chick entrepreneur.

Gina Romero
Head of The Athena Network Asia Pacific
Website & Blog: www.ginaromero.com
Connect with Gina on Twitter: @gina_romero
Email Gina
Mobile:+65 8511 6912