Impact Report 2022

 Welcome to the Global Sisters 2022 Impact Report

We are excited to share our evidence-based insights into how Global Sisters supports our Sisters and the impact we have on their lives. This report covers one year from 1 April 2021- 30 March 2022.

Global Sisters exists to make business possible for women nationwide. Our purpose is to unlock women’s potential and support them to overcome any barriers so they can create their own employment via micro business and improve their long-term economic security.

In April 2022, Global Sisters conducted an in-depth Impact Evaluation to measure our direct impact on Sisters, the diverse women Global Sisters support across Australia. Our impact data shows that  Sisters are progressing through the stages of our Impact Roadmap (see interactive diagram below), from overcoming barriers to starting their business toward achieving long-term economic security for themselves and their families. 

Our evaluation showed that after six months or more with Global Sisters, the overwhelming majority of Sisters are participating economically and generating their own income. Our Sisters are more likely to be:

Improving their business acumen

Launching new businesses

Transitioning from government income support

Increasing their financial resilience

Creating a financial buffer to weather economic shocks

Creating new jobs by employing others

Extensive external data and academic research show that when you support one woman, this ripples out to positively impact others in their family and community. Our data demonstrates that this is true for our Sisters through the impact of their business income, empowerment, and ethical business practices.

The Journey to Economic Security

Our data shows that Sisters are progressing along the Global Sisters Impact Roadmap towards long term economic security

The below Impact Roadmap visualises the steps a Sister will take from starting her business to achieving long term economic security for her and her family. Hover over each stage of the interactive roadmap to see evidence of Global Sisters impact on each stage of a Sisters Journey to long-term economic security.

Our research1 shows that the top four barriers to women starting a business are:
  • Lack of confidence
  • Lack of connection and support
  • Lack of business skills and acumen
  • Financial barriers
After six months or more of engaging with Global Sisters, 79% of Sisters have launched or are growing their business. 67% of these Sisters did not have a business before joining Global Sisters

Global Sisters enabled over $1,000,000 in pro bono business support directly to our Sisters.
72% of our Sisters are earning a business income after six months or more with Global Sisters.
For Sisters who have been with Global Sisters for six months or more and have started earning a business income, $1162 is the average monthly business income
15% of Sisters surveyed are earning more than $2000 monthly business income
43% of Sister respondents who were on government support when they started with Global Sisters have decreased or ended their reliance on government support completely.17% increase in Sisters who have household savings of three months or more
23% increase in Sisters who can raise $2000 if needed in an emergency
198 Sister businesses have hired employees in the last year, with 436 new jobs createdSisters have reinvested $9.1 million of business income into their families and community in the last year alone

Our research1 shows that the top four barriers to women starting a business are:

Lack of confidence

Lack of connection & support

Lack of business skills and acumen

Financial barriers

Sister’s starting point

47

had not started their business yet

54

were in the start-up stage or beyond

Economic participation/job pathway

After 6 months or more with Global Sisters, of the Sisters surveyed:

71

agree/strongly agree they now have the skills and knowledge to run a business

79

have launched or are growing their business

67

did not have a business before joining Global Sisters

48% of female entrepreneurs3 lack guidance from competent and experienced advisors. However, in the last year, with Global Sisters facilitation:

295

women were connected with expert business coaches & pro bono support

$1,000,000

enabled in pro bono business support directly to our Sisters

Job creation

Women are more likely to be underemployed than men in Australia (10.3% compared to 8.5%) and therefore are less likely to have adequate income to stay above the poverty line4.

72

of Sisters are earning a business income after six months or more with Global Sisters

This income average of $1162 per month can supplement or replace other household income to increase economic security.

Job & income sustained

After 6 months or more with Global Sisters, Sisters surveyed are creating jobs for themselves and earning income through their business.

1162

per month is the average income for Sisters who have started earning from their businesses

42

of Sisters are hoping to make a supplemental income through their business. For these Sisters the average income of $1162 achieves this goal. For the other 58% of Sisters who want their business to provide full time income, this is progress towards their goal.

15

are earning more than $2000 monthly business income

Welfare & other dependence reduced/eliminated

There are 437k women receiving Job Seeker payments  in Australia5; however, after six months or more with Global Sisters, Sisters earning a business income are receiving an average business income of $1162 a month, which is almost equal to Job Seeker. This means that Sisters who are consistently earning about the Job Seeker rate can therefore transition transition off Job Seeker or other welfare payments.

43

of Sisters respondents who were on government support when they started with Global Sisters have decreased or ended their reliance on government support completely

Women’s financial inclusion & assets

Two indicators of financial resilience are the amounts a person has in superannuation and savings. In 2015–16, the median superannuation balance at, or approaching, 55–64 years for women was $96,000, considerably lower than $166,300 for men6.

62

of Sisters have insufficient savings when joining Global Sisters

(no savings, or savings of less than two months household income)

After 6 months or more with Global Sisters, there is a:

23

increase in Sisters who can raise $2000 if needed in an emergency

Employ others

There are over 548,000 unemployed people in Australia. With Sister business increasing their income and sales, many Sisters need to hire employees, creating new jobs for others in society who may have previously struggled to find flexible or appropriate work. We estimate:

198

Sister businesses have hired employees in the last year

436

new jobs have been created often targeted at women and people experiencing vulnerability

Long-term economic security and macro ripple effect

Ability to financially weather a crisis

1 in 10 Australians don’t have access to $2000 in an emergency7 but for our Sisters, often women experiencing vulnerability, this is significantly higher. Our data shows that a high number of our Sisters have a low level of economic security when starting at Global Sisters, however due to increasing and sustained business income, there is an increase in Sisters who are now have a financial buffer and security to weather economic shocks.

56

of Sisters are unsure whether they could raise this money if needed, before they joined Global Sisters.

However, after six months or more with Global Sisters, this percentage decreases by

22

Poverty Reduction

11.8% of the population, including 750,000 children, were living in poverty in early 20228.

We estimate Sisters have reinvested 

$9.1m

of business income into their families and community in the last year

Most of which are experiencing poverty or vulnerability (Estimation based on research and our data sample. See hereThis figure is based on evaluation data of 132 surveyed Sisters.  This data shows that the average income is $772 (including Sisters who aren't yet earning an income).  Therefore we can extrapolate these findings for our 1101 engaged Sisters throughout this period, assuming a 90% reinvestment rate based on external research9, to estimate $9.1 million.) for our methodology for this estimation).

Economic security for older women

Older women are the fastest-growing group at risk of homelessness in Australia, with a 40% increase in older women sleeping rough between 2006- 2016. However, after six months or more with Global Sisters, women over 50 are:

29

more likely to have access to an emergency fund

77

are now earning income from their business

745

is the average monthly business income being earned by these Sisters

3

higher than their business income before starting with Global Sisters

Ethical businesses

370

businesses are selling on The Global Sisters Marketplace that meet Global Sister’s GOODbusiness ethical criteria. These businesses have a focus on sustainable and ethical business practice and products. The ripple effects of women businesses operating in this way ripples out to benefit society.

Women Led

Eco-conscious

Kind to animals

Community minded

Click on the button below to skip to more extensive insights on how we impact our Sisters, or keep reading for an introduction to our work, intended outcomes, impact measurement methodology, as well as an introduction to our Sisters, and the intersecting barriers they face. 

Jump to "Our Impact"

What We Do

Global Sisters exists to:

Make business possible

Support women to start earning an income

Help women achieve a sustained income

Help women build long-term economic security for themselves

Impact communities through the ripple effect of increased economic security for women

Our Programs and Services

Global Sisters provides a roadmap of long-term business education, incubation and acceleration support to women. Depending on their stage of business and individual needs, Sisters can choose the programs and tools that they need to launch and grow their business. Our programs and tools are categorised into business education, business coaching, microfinance and sales & marketing support. Every Sister’s journey is different however their more iterative approach to business means that long-term, flexible and practical support, underpinned by a supportive community and connections, is key to our model. The below figure provides a summary of the programs and tools provided by Global Sisters.

Direct Sister Impact

#GOODbusiness embedded throughout the roadmap of support.
Connection to community, networks and opportunities.

Our Impact Domains

Through extensive discovery research and evaluations of our programs, we know that sisters require a range of support to build sustainable businesses that will support their long-term economic security. For women to achieve long-term financial resilience through self-employment, they need help to develop their business knowledge and skills, build a solid and influential business community, and build confidence in their businesswomen abilities. Progress in these areas is required to achieve our ultimate goal of business women who are economically secure throughout their lives, including in a crisis.  When women are empowered, they support those around them and positively influence their families, community and society.  This is referred to as the ripple effect, which we will discuss more in this report. Our approach to these outcomes for our sisters is represented in our six impact domains below. These six impact domains (business acumen, connection, enterprise, financial resilience, empowerment and influence) are the core outcomes of Global Sisters and are visualised in the image below.

Key Steps On a Sisters journey to Economic Security

Our Sisters’ achievement against each of these impact domains happens over time and  supports them to progress through their business journey, towards long term economic security. The below ‘Impact Roadmap’ visualises the steps a Sister will take from starting her business to achieving economic security for her and her family. Note the Sister Impact domain icons below each step of the journey to see which impact domain supports each step of the journey.

Impact Roadmap

How We Measured Our Impact

Long-term positive outcomes for our Sisters are why Global Sisters exists, and we are committed to an evidence-based approach to designing and running our programs. In early 2022 we conducted a point-in-time evaluation to ensure a better understanding of our Sisters’ needs and our success in achieving our six impact domains.

1101

Sisters

were the focus of this report and engaged throughout one year from 1 April 2021-31 March 2022

All the insights in this report were developed using evidence that we collected through:

Baseline survey

657 Sisters
was the survey baseline of Sisters near the start of their journey (straight after Sisters’ school, before they embark on our other programs)

2022 Impact Survey

132 Sisters
completed our Impact Survey in April 2022, with 24 comprehensive questions mapped against our impact domains that compare directly to our baseline survey questions.

Sister chats

26 Sisters
were spoken with directly

Internal data

Global Sisters is powered by data. We collect information on who our Sisters are and their progress throughout their journey.

Insights from Global Sisters discovery research

Research such as ‘The real barriers to women’s employment and business startups’ in 2021 in which we surveyed 193 Australian women.

External Data

Global Sisters is constantly reviewing external data to understand the context in which we work. We drew on this data to interrogate and validate our findings.

The 2022 survey was conducted by Sisters who engaged throughout the year and have been with Global Sisters. Of the Sisters who responded to this survey:

15

live with a disability

23

have English as a second language

38

are currently in causal or unstable work

23

experienced issues with their mental health

18

are a carer for an older person or person with a disability

46

Are over 50 years old

27

identify as a migrant or refugee

3

are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander

21

were from regional/rural areas

13

were single mothers

We gathered all of the above data, interrogated it and pulled out the key insights found throughout this report. We have chosen to use videos, visuals and interactive content to centre the voice of our Sisters throughout this report and ensure that this report can be read, viewed and understood by all.

Who Are Our Sisters in 2021/22

Our Sisters live all over Australia in cities and rural areas. Their diversity of lived experiences, such as age, migration, single parenting and living with a disability, motivate and inspire them to develop uniquely tailored business ideas that will provide safety, meaning and value to their lives. However, due to their backgrounds and circumstances, they face intersecting barriers to stable mainstream employment that would support them and their families to thrive. Throughout 2021-2022 we continued to see a large number of Sisters over the age of 50 or from migrant and refugee backgrounds engaging with our community. Many Sisters are unemployed or in unstable or inappropriate employment that does not allow them to feel financially safe or prepared for a crisis. In a COVID landscape, this feeling of security and preparedness for a crisis is more critical than ever.

Intersecting Barriers Our Sisters Face

Economic security for women in Australia

Women in Australia have consistently faced significant barriers to economic security, and COVID has exacerbated these issues. Data shows that women were hit hardest by COVID, which is particularly true for our Sisters, for whom COVID has added to or increased the impact of barriers already standing in their way.

“The COVID recession dealt a heavier blow to women than men, but women also began the crisis on an uneven footing. The recession came on top of existing economic vulnerabilities for women: women are more likely to be in casual and insecure work, more likely to be employed part-time, and typically earn less per hour. The downturn will widen the lifetime earnings gaps that result from these vulnerabilities and is expected to further extend the already glacial timeframe for achieving gender equality”8.

Since COVID, there are

55

fewer women in jobs compared to 9k men9

The two worst affected industries during lockdown were majority female employees (arts & recreation and hospitality)10

42

of Sisters were unemployed or in unstable or unsuitable employment

when they started with Global Sisters

58

of government income support recipients are women

48% of sister households were receiving government support before joining Global Sisters, and for 38%, this is their primary source of income.

There are

226

single mothers on government income support payments

10% of our Sisters are single mothers

Financial security

Two indicators of financial security are the level of a woman’s personal savings and superannuation accounts

In 2015–16, the median superannuation balance at, or approaching, 55–64 years for women was

42

lower for women
at $96,000 – considerably lower than $166,300 for men12″

62

of our Sisters have no savings or savings of less than two months household income before joining Global Sisters

Financial security for our target women

Single Mothers

65

of our single mothers do not have access to $2000 in an emergency

38

sighted age and lack of flexibility as a critical barrier to finding workfrom respondents to Global Sisters research into ‘the real barriers to women's employment and start up’13

Women over 50

Older women are increasingly economically vulnerable due to lower lifetime income, less access to financial assets such as superannuation because they are more likely to fulfil unpaid caring responsibilities, relationship breakdown, and the consequences of family and domestic abuse.

Between 2006-2016 Census data shows there was a

44

increase in older women experiencing homelessness14

Of respondents to Global Sisters research into ‘the real barriers to women’s employment and start up’

34

cited age discrimination as a critical barrier to finding employment15

First Nations Sisters

There are a multitude of barriers to First Nations women having economic security, with significant barriers to  access to culturally safe workplaces.

First Nations women are

10

more likely to ‘often or very often be unfairly treated at work than Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander women who work in culturally safe businesses, and 20 times more likely to hear racial or ethnic slurs16

Of our First Nations women before joining Global Sisters

78

did not have access to $2000 to support them during them an emergency.

Women living with disability

Women with disabilities face a unique set of barriers to accessing mainstream employment, such as discrimination, scarcity of jobs that meet their physical or intellectual abilities and need to take time off or do shortened hours17.

Only

49

of women with disabilities are in the workforce
compared to 58% of men with disabilities, and 72% of all women18.

Of our Sisters with disabilities

68

did not have access to $2000 to support them during them an emergency before joining Global Sisters.

Migrant or refugee women

Our Sisters from migrant and refugee backgrounds report facing barriers such as discrimination, lack of employment networks and language barriers to finding suitable mainstream employment.

64

did not have access to $2000 in an emergency
before joining Global Sisters.

Regional/Rural

Our Sisters living in regional/rural areas report that the availability of full-time stable work is a significant barrier to finding suitable mainstream employment. Other barriers include limited services for support with mental health and family violence.

58

did not have access to $2000 in an emergency
before joining Global Sisters.

Barriers to mainstream employment

In 2021 Global Sisters conducted research into the key barriers women face to finding employment or starting a business. The full report is available here. The 193 research participants cited the following as being the biggest barriers to them finding stable and suitable employment.

Top 3 barriers to women finding work:

34

Age discrimination

38

Lack of flexibility

43

Confidence

Of the respondents that did find work only a third experienced job satisfaction. The top three reasons being:

Work was insecure (54% of all respondents & 64% of single mothers described employment as insecure) - watch one of our Sisters talk about her experience of working in casual or unstable jobs here: https://vimeo.com/712744318

Work was low paid

Work was unfulfilling

Barriers to starting a successful business

As evidenced the economic security of women in Australia has a long way to go

Mainstream employment is not providing suitable options for many women in Australia. Therefore women are turning to self-employment, by setting up their own business that allow them to find value and meaning, and provide a stable and long term income for them and their family. Setting up a business in Australia is a brave and challenging task and there are a multitude of barriers women need to overcome in order to succeed. Global Sisters builds our programs to support women to overcome these barriers so that they can achieve their financial and personal goals and feel security.

Our research19 and our baseline survey (a total of 849 respondents combined) indicates that top barriers to women starting a business are:

Lack of confidence

Lack of connection and support

Lack of business skills and acumen

Financial barriers

Other barriers regularly mentioned were:

Caring responsibilities for children or family

Health issues or living with a disability

Family violence and abuse

Mental health

Discrimitation

Watch our Sisters share some of the barriers they faced when setting up their business:

“Meeting government income obligations but also wanting a more secure future for myself and my children – how do I manage the transition from one income stream to another?”

“Coming from another country, the lack of understanding of how to start business here limits what you can do”

“Creating a network for women, that men automatically have, that many women don’t”

Our Impact In Detail

The following sections of this report outline our impact over the year in more detail, exploring our progress and impact on each of our six impact domains:

Connection

Enterprise

Business Acumen

Financial Resilience

Empowerment

Influence

Connection

A strong business network and a community of support are essential for the success of any business

Business is highly relational, with strong networks, relationships and trust leading to funding and sales opportunities, partnerships and brand awareness. Far from being isolated (heroic) individuals, entrepreneurs gain multiple benefits from warm and trusting interactions with various people. As outlined in a report by the Australian Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, women entrepreneurs lack the same access to support and professional networks as men, as well as facing barriers such as gender bias when pitching their business to funders or trying to build brand awareness and business partnerships.

Women-focused support networks exist, however these are often accessible or targeted to women from more privileged backgrounds and not appropriate for many of our Sisters due to their background and intersecting vulnerabilities. Therefore as well as facing gender barriers building strong business networks, our Sisters are also impacted by biases such as racism, ableism, ageism and classism.

There is also a lack of visibility in the business sector, with women being less likely to know an entrepreneur whom they can collaborate with or turn to for advice and support. In response to this, Global Sisters puts a strong emphasis on supporting women to connect through the Global Sisters community and connects Sisters with expert coaches, business connections and pro bono support who  help them break through gender and intersectional bias and give them access to opportunities they otherwise would not have had. This is an essential outcome for our Sisters on the road to making business possible and supporting them to build long-term economic security.

This year:

295

Sisters were connected with specialist coaches

Ongoing and point-in-time support for things like finances, legal support (including patenting), taxation advice, and ongoing supportive coaching over several months to help Sisters make their first sales. Our coaches are experts in their sector and include senior leadership professionals from organisations such as Visa, Afterpay, Hubspot, AMP Vogue Australia, Delia Group/Providoor and Nestle Oceania.

30

Sisters participated in Global Sisters’ annual Sister Pitch

in which they were provided with intensive support to develop their business pitch, paired with a CEO mentor and provided support and networks from a panel of sector experts. You can jump to  learn more about the impact of Sister Pitch here. As a result, the Sisters were provided with exciting opportunities, including:

A sales partnership offering from Beechworth Honey

Bondi Wash stocking sister products in their stores

Pro bono customer journey strategy support from Boston Consulting Group

Pro bono legal and compliance support from Maddocks

Jump to our Impact Case Study below to learn more about the 2021 Sister Pitch.

106

Sisters participated in our Sister School Sister Pitches

This is a supportive event where Sisters practice developing a business pitch and pitching it to business professionals for feedback and network support.

539

Sisters joined our closed Sister Facebook Community

This brings our total members to 1652 Sisters, which sees high level engagement from our Sisters

As a result of these networks:

In one year

1000000

of pro bono support from corporates and businesses

was provided to our Sisters

3490968

of pro bono support

has been provided to our Sisters since Global Sisters started

Key impact:

Sisters are significantly increasing their networks and business community

through engagement with Global Sisters, with DOUBLE the number of Sisters reporting that they have the networks and community they need to lead their business after six months or more engagement with Global Sisters (this is a 112% increase compared to before sisters joined Global Sisters).

Sisters benefit from connection to essential networks and support from business experts

Women lack the same access to a professional network as men and therefore lack access to important relationships and opportunities for business success. Sisters report the important benefits of the coaching, sales opportunities  and networking introductions provided by Global Sisters.

“I am only a micro-business. It is really hard to get the word across. Shane Delia even mentioning my products is huge. I have already felt the effects”

“I started this business without much knowledge. I did what I thought was best but I didn’t know what to do. Sister School and the pitch knew the right people to connect me with”

“The calibre of the mentors and people provided is mind blowing”

Sisters are ‘no longer alone’ and are now operating with a community of support

This community provides a safety net where Sisters can access information and accountability and build confidence in facing barriers. Sisters can also form mutually beneficial partnerships and collaborations. As stated above, female entrepreneurs are less likely to have other entrepreneurs; therefore, starting a business can be an isolating experience. This prevents many women from taking risks and feeling confident enough to do so. Many of our Sisters report that having the community of support provided by Global Sisters staff, networks and other Sisters has been essential for them in pursuing and succeeding in their business journey.

“Not feeling so isolated. When you put a question out there you have a wealth of knowledge and experience in the Global Sisters community”

“If I had any questions I could come and know they are going to guide me”

“We lift each other up. They have skills, knowledge and connections I don’t have and we share them with each other”

“In a lot of spaces men dominate. To be in an all women group feels so safe. You understand each other”

“It forced me to be organised accountable and gave me a place I feel supported”

Global Sisters provides networks to women who lack access to business networks

This includes women from migrant and refugee backgrounds who do not have strong networks in Australia and women living regionally & rurally. Global Sisters connects to essential business experts and enables women with similar and diverse circumstances to connect, such as women living regionally throughout Australia who might otherwise feel relatively isolated. These women can share their stories and successes and support each other to overcome obstacles in their way.

“Being an immigrant what I lacked the most was network. Sister Pitch gave me a massive opportunity to speak with CEOs, get support and spread the word about my business”

“A community of very broad women, all based in different parts of Australia. There were other regional women who I could relate to”

Business Acumen

Global Sisters support significantly impacts our Sisters’ understanding of the Australian business landscape and their knowledge of running and growing businesses

As identified by many of our Sisters, this learning does not happen at a point in time; instead, knowledge continues to build and increase as they progress through Sister School, our coaching programs, business meet-ups and presentations from business experts and ongoing engagement with our Sister Facebook Community. Through Sisters, School business education program, Sisters are provided with necessary foundational knowledge. As they start to set up, launch and grow their business, they can continue to ask questions, test ideas and learn from the Global Sisters community as they need.

In the last year:

251

completed our 12-week or intensive Sister School program

144

Sisters completed our First 10 Customers coaching program

63

Sisters engaged in our Industry circles

Key impact:

A significant increase in Sisters’ business acumen

Global Sisters’ suite of programs and support focused on foundational and up-to-date business knowledge is significantly increasing Sisters’ business acumen, including their understanding of business and business finances, providing Sisters with access to valuable knowledge from business experts and providing them with the information they need to take their business to the next level. Hear more about this from our Sisters in the videos below.

71

agree/strongly agree that they have the skills and knowledge to run a business

when surveyed after engaging with Global Sisters for at least six months. This is a 20% increase compared before sisters joined Global Sisters*.

NB: Sisters fill in the baseline survey after completing Global Sisters Sister School (a 12-week business education course). Therefore should the baseline be conducted before the sister school, we expect this increase to be significantly higher.

“It was something I was missing. Sister School gave me more knowledge. It was eye opening and taught me things I didn’t know”

“To access people in that higher end of the corporate world and be able to ask questions has been fantastic. The information is so helpful. I want to know what is cutting edge and connect with people like this”

“Coming to Australia from another country it was so good to learn this information with a focus on Australia”

“The resources provided are truly amazing. I had a coach who worked in finance, which is my weak spot, and now I understand it. This is invaluable”

Global Sisters business education is unique in that it was designed by women, for women, and tailored to the needs of women led micro-businesses

Women setting up micro-businesses have specific learning needs and styles and face a range of barriers different to those faced by men. Global Sisters successfully addresses these needs and barriers leading to an increase in business acumen for our Sisters. Watch the video to hear our Sister share how Global Sisters suited her business style and approach.

“Most other places where you do business don’t suit my business style. They don’t really consider micro-businesses to be real businesses”

Sisters’ business acumen continues to increase

Having ongoing access to the Global Sister community and programs means Sisters’ business acumen continues to increase as they set up and grow their business. Sisters can return to the community to access specific information relevant to their business needs and overcome hurdles they face. Watch the video below to hear two of our Sisters talk more about this.

“They can help you at any stage in your business and you can keep coming back for more”

“Having the ongoing access to information  and being able to come back to the information when I needed”

The Global Sisters programs support women from diverse backgrounds, ages and abilities with varying degrees of business knowledge

They support women to build business acumen by using accessible teaching styles and resources and by providing essential knowledge on the Australian business landscape needed by women from migrant or refugee backgrounds.

“My knowledge is mostly based on Mexico. The fact that I could learn from an Australian point of view was really handy”

“Global Sisters is user friendly and not daunting. For people of non-English speaking backgrounds and no business experience would not get overwhelmed with the way it is presented”

“You don’t feel stupid in areas you don’t know anything and in places I did know something I didn’t feel they were talking down to me”

Enterprise

Through the provision of tailored business education and solid networks and support, Global Sisters is making business possible for our Sisters

Global Sisters has mapped out the business stages from pre-idea to growth and helps Sisters progress through them to develop sustainable businesses.

Pre-Idea

“I’m interested to see if business is something I would like to explore”

Idea

“I have found a business solution to my customers’ problem – and this idea could really work!”

Set-Up

“My idea has been developed further and I am ready to make some sales”

Launch

“I have my first 10 customers, I have chosen a business model & I know I can make a profit”

Start-Up

“My business is on the path to breaking even. Access to experts and networks will help my achieve my goal”

Growth

“I’m the proud owner of a profitable business that’s helping me achieve my goals”

Our data and consultations with Sisters show that:

Sisters are setting themselves up for success

Sisters are spending increasing amounts of time working on their business

Sisters are progressing through the business stages, from pre-idea to growth

Sisters are making sales, allowing them to test their products and refine their strategy

Sisters are increasing their sales
especially post-COVID lockdowns, which negatively affected many businesses

Sisters are hiring employees

Key impact:

Sisters are setting themselves up for success

They are developing robust business plans, e-commerce platforms and social media channels for their businesses.

87

of sister respondents have finalised or almost finalised a business plan after six months or more with Global Sisters

99

of our Sisters have social media channels for their business

90

of sister respondents have or are currently developing online sales channels

Sisters are spending the time to work on and grow their businesses

78

of sister respondents who have been with Global Sisters for six months or more use their smartphone every day/several times a day to work on their business

Sisters are spending an average of

50

hours per month
working on their business; after six months or more of engaging with Global Sisters

82

of sister respondents who have been with Global Sisters for six months or more use a laptop, tablet or computer every day/several times a day to work on their business

Sisters are progressing through the business stages
After six months or more of engaging with Global Sisters:

79

of Sisters have launched or are growing their business

16

of these Sisters are currently in the growth stage 

67

of Sisters plan to be in the growth stage in three months

Sisters start making sales early on in their journey

Our consultations with  Sisters indicated that the support provided by Global Sisters through the Global Sisters Marketplace, our First 10 Customers program and the connections and knowledge provided leads to Sisters making sales early in their business journey. This allows Sisters to test and refine their products and processes in different markets and, with the support of the Global Sisters community, to improve business success.

“We can actually take the business globally (as a result of Sister Pitch). We have a prototype that needs to be tested. It will be really exciting to test our reach globally”

“Launch date was in September and things are going really well. I am finding that the face-to-face approach works best”

“I did a lot of markets at the end of last year and it went really well. It shows me customers like and buy my product”

Online sales increases

We are seeing many examples of businesses continuing to increase their online sales with support from Global Sisters Marketplace. Additionally, the end of COVID restrictions is helping sales for many businesses. 

“Sales are increasing so much post-lockdowns. All the weddings and events are back. From now until the end of this year we are fully booked”

“I make sales on Global Sisters Marketplace due to their email campaigns, marketing, product photo shoots they do. They have helped me sell the products that I struggle to sell on my own website”

Increasing sales means that some Sisters start hiring employees to meet demand

This benefits the sister as it allows her to expand her capacity to meet sale requests and also provides employment for others in the community. As discussed in the ‘influence’ section below, many Sisters are focused on hiring employees who face barriers to traditional employment, such as women with disabilities and mothers who require flexibility. This provides employment opportunities to people who may struggle to find work that suits their needs.

18

of Sisters had hired employees within the last year

48 employees were hired by the respondents in the last year. Of the businesses that are hiring employees, the average number of employees is 2.2

When we extrapolate this hiring pattern to all our engaged Sisters throughout the year, we can estimate that:

198

sister businesses have hired employees in the last year

436

new jobs have been created through Sister businesses

“I am ready to pass on my good fortunes. The girls that I employ are mothers like me. I am as flexible as possible so that these women can work as long as they want to”

Financial Resilience

Key impact:

Global Sisters is successfully supporting women to increase their financial resilience and progress towards building long-term economic security for themselves and their families.

After six months or more with Global Sisters (based on Sisters surveyed), Sisters are more likely to:

Earn a regular business income

72

are earning an income from their business
21% increase compared to before Sisters joined Global Sisters

1162

is the average monthly business income
for Sisters whose businesses have started earning them an income

838

is the average monthly business income
taking into account Sisters who are not yet earning an income

Transition off government support payments

43

have decreased or ended reliance on government support completely 

Have financial security to weather a crisis

17

increase in Sisters who have at least 3 months of household income

54

can raise $2000 in an emergency
23% increase compared to before joining Global Sisters

Use time more efficiently to bring in profits

Sisters spend the same amount of time working on their business but earn double the income compared to before Sisters joined Global Sisters. This indicates that:

Sisters are building their business acumen and are learning how to use their time to increase sales and profit

Sisters’ businesses are moving from the growth to set up stages and therefore their time is equating to income generation

COVID had a significant impact on Sisters’ business income

Now that COVID lockdowns have ended, Sisters are reporting increases in revenue due to:

The ability to run face-to-face elements of their business

Many Sisters make a significant portion of their income at local markets. Needs are essential for many Sisters as their brand and story are crucial to selling their product, so speaking with customers face-to-face significantly increases their sales.

Being able to focus on the day-to-day running of their business

Rather than pivoting and adapting to COVID they can now focus on increasing sales.

Key insight:

Sister’s financial goals differ, with some Sisters aiming to earn 100% of household income through their business and others looking for their business to supplement other household incomes.

42

were looking for their business to supplement another household income

rather than looking to earn a full-time income

Sister goals differ based on other factors in their lives. This includes whether they:

Have access to another household member’s income

40

rely on a family member as their primary source of income, i.e. a partner’s income

Are in a safe, healthy relationship that they can rely on for financial safety

1 in 6

Australian women will experience violence from an intimate partner22. In instances where DV occurs, it is likely necessary for a woman to have her source of income.

Have other income streams, such as part-time employment

42

are earning a percentage of their income from traditional employment

The stability of their employment, e.g., whether they are in an unstable job that they can’t solely rely on for sustained income

38

were in casual/precarious employment whilst setting up or growing their business

Are a single parent who is solely responsible for bringing in income

10

of Global Sisters engaged Sisters are single mums

The importance of women earning a supplemental income

This is more important than ever in Australia to keep up with the rising cost of living and provide a financial safety net to survive the ongoing economic impact of COVID.

5.1%

was the cost of living rise last year, with wages rising only23

2.4%

This increase in the cost of living is the largest since the introduction of the GST in Australia 20 years ago24. As a result, 867,000 Australians now work two jobs, according to the latest ABS statistics – more than any other before 1994, when the bureau started25.

Poverty in Australia is increasing, with the Henderson Poverty Line rising by $35 a week between June and September 2021

88

a day is the minimum needed for a single person in Australia to sit above the poverty line26

11.8% of the population, including 750,000 children, were living in poverty in early 2022, a decrease from previous figures due to the COVID June relief payments. However, these figures are expected to rise significantly with the cessation of COVID Job Keeper payments and the increased cost of living 27.

Despite the increases in business income and savings there was a decrease of

24

in the number of Sisters who can quickly meet daily living expenses ‘easily or very easily’

This is compared to the baseline collected over the last two years for Sisters surveyed who have been with Global Sisters for six months or more.

Key impact

When broken down by demographic, our data shows that

all our target demographics increase their average business income

 after six months or more with Global Sisters.

Key insight

Despite business income increasing for all our target demographics, due to intersecting external barriers, some demographics are less likely to be able to raise $2000 in a crisis compared to before Sisters joined Global Sisters. These exceptionally vulnerable groups include women with disabilities and single mothers. This decrease in vulnerable women’s financial safety net, despite increasing business income, further highlights the devastating impact that COVID and the rising cost of living in Australia are having on our society’s most vulnerable groups.

Demographic Snapshot

NB: The following figures are for sisters who have been with Global Sisters six months or longer and average calculations include Sisters who have not yet started earning an income, and are therefore conservative calculations.

Migrant or refugee

The average income for migrant or refugee Sisters surveyed is

7X

higher

1136

is the average monthly business income.
Compared to an average of $150 per month for this demographic before Sisters joined Global Sisters.

61

increase in migrant Sisters who could raise $2000 in an emergency.
36% compared to 58% before joining Global Sisters.

Regional/Rural

The average income for regional and rural Sisters surveyed is

3X

higher

662

is the average monthly business income.
Compared to the average income of $218 before joining Global Sisters.

24

increase in regional/rural Sisters who could raise $2000 in an emergency.
52% compared to 42% before joining Global Sisters.

Over 50s

The average income for Sisters over 50 surveyed is more than

3X

higher

573

is the average monthly business income.
Compared to an average of $145 per month for this demographic before joining Global Sisters.

29

increase in Sisters over 50 who could raise $2000 in an emergency.
62% compared to 48% before joining Global Sisters.

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander*

The average monthly income for First Nations Sisters surveyed has

Doubled

413

is the average monthly business income.
Compared to an average of $194 per month for this demographic before Sisters joined Global Sisters.

50

increase in Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Sisters who could raise $2000 in an emergency.
Compared to 22% before joining Global Sisters.

NB: the sample size for First Nations Sisters is small; therefore, our survey data alone cannot determine strong insights. (N: 4 Impact survey Respondents, compared to N:9 baseline respondents).

Single Mums

The average income for single mother Sisters surveyed has

Doubled

108

is the average monthly business income.
Compared to $186 before joining Global Sisters.

61

decrease in single mothers who could raise $2000 in an emergency.
38% compared to 45% before joining Global Sisters.

Disability

Based on Sisters surveyed, Sisters with disabilities take a little longer to earn an income than other demographics. After one year or more with Global Sisters:

278

is the average monthly business income.
Compared to an average income of $204 before joining Global Sisters.

66

decrease in Sisters with a disability who can raise $2000 in an emergency.
11% compared to 32% before joining Global Sisters

Key impact:

We are seeing early instances of impact with 15% of Sisters earning more than $2000 a month from their business

Sisters are successfully progressed from setting up a business, starting to earn an income, to making a sustained income and building long-term economic security for themselves. These figures are from Sister respondents who had been with Global Sisters six months or longer.

3

Sisters are earning $5000+ monthly business income

13

Sisters are earning between $2000-$5000 monthly business income

6

Sisters are earning a $1000-$1500 monthly business income

Hear from our Sisters

Watch a video of one of these Sisters talk about her journey to economic security, and read the case studies about her and two other Sisters who are successfully building long-term economic security for themselves in the case studies.

“My sales have tripled and I can rely on that income. My things are selling everyday and I can concentrate on scaling the business”

Read the case studies

Meet Yuko and her business Shokunin Store

Meet Cyana and her business Camie Fleur

Meet Yoko and her business Cooking with Koji

Empowerment

At Global Sisters, empowerment for our Sisters means they perceive themselves as businesswomen with dignity, freedom and choice

This is one of the most significant impacts our Sisters report, with their business success and the Global Sisters community providing them with newfound confidence and changing their perceptions of themselves and their hope for the future.

After six months or more with Global Sisters, we see significant increases in Sisters’ confidence in their skills and abilities as businesswomen. For our sister respondents:

45

increase in women who are confident/ fairly confident to work under stress74% of Sisters report this after six months or more with Global Sisters

36

increase in women who are confident/ fairly confident to come up with ideas83% of Sisters report this after six months or more with Global Sisters

2

increase in women who are fairly/very confident in their ability to employ and train staff46% of Sisters report this after six months or more with Global Sisters

41

increase in women who are fairly/very confident in their ability to develop and maintain business relationships73% of Sisters report this after six months or more with Global Sisters

44

increase in women who are fairly/very confident in their ability to see new opportunities for their service or product63% of Sisters report this after six months or more with Global Sisters

“It gave me confidence in what I knew. When I started on my own I was floundering. My confidence dropped because I was new. Sister School is very empowering…you can focus on what you need to do without worrying about whether you are capable”

Sisters feel more hope for their future due to the meaning, purpose and choice that their business brings to their life

Often women, particularly from groups experiencing vulnerabilities, choose employment based on necessity and to fit in with other factors in their lives, such as their caring responsibilities for children and family. It is a widespread reflection from Sisters that becoming a businesswoman and being able to support themselves and their family doing something that matters to them is the most significant impact of Global Sisters. These changes have flow-on effects to enhance sister wellbeing, mental health and happiness. Watch the videos below to hear our Sisters discuss this further.

“It just strengthens me so much more and keeps my head clear everyday. Global Sisters is a massive massive force”

“I’m seeing examples of it working for other women. I’m like, WOW, if you are doing that I can do that to”

Influence

Global Sisters knows that when you support a woman, this naturally ripples out to benefit others

It is a typical pattern amongst our Sisters that early on in their journey, they express plans to build up a business that will positively help others, either through the way they run their business in line with good business principles, through hiring people from groups that experience barriers to employment, by reinvesting their profits back into a social cause, or by leading the way and removing barriers for other women who will follow them.

 This evaluation highlighted several ways in which our sister businesses are not only improving their lives, but that benefits are also rippling out to their families and communities. These include:

Financial ripple effects

Sisters supporting others to break down barriers

Role modelling and inspiring others

Paying it forward through responsible business

Enhancing the visibility of female-run business principles within a male-dominated sector

Key Impact:

Profits from sister businesses are reinvested back into sister families and communities

As Sisters are often from backgrounds or circumstances that face vulnerability, this is a significant investment into the economic security of vulnerable families and communities around Australia.

A phenomenon called the multiplier effect has been widely proven and has informed gender empowerment policies and investments in Australia and internationally.

When you invest in women, they re-invest

90

back into their families and communities

This rate is considered exceptionally high, especially as the publicised average for men is only between 30 to 40 per cent28.

Based on this data and the average monthly business income

we can conservatively estimate our Sisters have re-invested over

$9.1M

back into their families and community in the last year alone

See our methodology for calculating this estimation hereThe average monthly income = $772 (including Sisters who aren’t yet earning a business income), multiplied by 1101 engaged sisters for this reporting period, with a 90% reinvestment rate = a conservative estimate of $9.1 million reinvestment into Sister families and communities..

Influence & story

As Sisters progress along the business stages and build up their economic security, many express desires to use their influence and story to actively support other women facing businesses to employment or starting their businesses. This includes supporting other women in their communities or from a similar experience and returning to Global Sisters as mentors or coaches to help other Sisters.

“I would like to influence other women. One of the factories I am ordering my products from is in Pakistan and run by a woman. So I will be supporting this woman. I believe what I am doing will open doors to others from the same or different backgrounds to me”

“Cultural and age barriers to women succeeding will start breaking down. I can be a support person for other women like me. The more women see these barriers are breaking the more women will have the confidence to come in and start their own business”

“Global Sisters inspired me to start a business mastermind group with other women”

“We would love to be able to support other Sisters, give them guidance and share what we have learned along the way”

“There are alot of people in society who have a really rough time and find it difficult to take that step into employment. I want a studio where these women who are older or are experiencing family issues can come and work”

Our sister businesses are ‘paying it forward’ by adopting ethical business principles

#GoodBusiness is a core principle of Global Sisters are; therefore, we attract and target women who are focused on creating a business that is:

Women-led

Eco-conscious

Kind to animals

Community minded

In addition, for Sisters to be eligible to sell on the marketplace, businesses need to fit with multiple ethical criteria for being a marketplace seller. See the Impact Case Study: Global Sisters Marketplace section for more information.

Handmade

Australia Made

Recycled or Upcycled

Vegan

Social Enterprise

Certified Organic

Indigenous Business

Eco Packaging

Natural Materials

Plastic Free

Even early in their business journeys, Sisters are reporting that they are inspiring and role modelling to others around them

This includes the younger generation, their children, other women interested in finding more suitable or meaningful work and others in society. Visibility of women in the business sector is not enough, and therefore seeing others similar to you achieve their goals is extremely important for enabling more women to set up businesses to support their economic security in the long term.

“Strangers who have family members with disabilities have contacted me to share that they find hope through my story. Global Sisters impact is more than business, the impact is not just on me, it’s on others around me, my family and the younger generation in Vietnam”

“I have two daughters. They are observing me going out and doing something different, the highs and lows and the courage involved. It’s impacting them to feel confident to step into their own power”

With a male-dominated business landscape, it can be difficult for women to break in and succeed without adhering to more male ways of doing business

The visibility of female-run companies is essential as it breaks down barriers such as unconscious bias and legitimises how many women prefer or need to do business. Through research29 and experiential evidence, we have seen trends in how women approach business. How our Sisters approach, business fits with global trends for female entrepreneurs. These include:

They take a collaborative approach to business

They build their business around their needs
such as family, caring etc. Flexibility is often more important than for men.

They are looking to build a sense of control in their lives, which builds their confidence

They are not risk-averse but consider risks, as they often have other dependents or people they are responsible for supporting

They aim for a steady growth rate, with a focus on sustainability

They often have a focus on ‘good business’, with sustainability and social good in mind

Watch two of our Sisters discuss this further:

“There is a lot to be said for how women run businesses as opposed to men. I want a very heart centred approach and not fall into running a business in the ways male dominated industries have traditionally run their businesses”

“We want to empower women to make their place in society like men have. You can’t do this on your own, you can support each other to flourish”

 Impact Case Study : Sister Journey Maps

Each of our Sisters’ business journeys is unique, following different timelines, facing enablers and hurdles along the way, and requiring different levels and types of support from Global Sisters

To portray the way our suite of programs impacts Sisters at various stages of their journey, we have developed a series of Journey Maps. These maps step through the timeline of where a sister started and the barriers in her way, how she interacted with Global Sisters and the impact of these interactions, and where she is now and planning to go next. In line with the style of this report, we have used a video format to enhance accessibility and humanise our Sisters and their experiences. 

Fabiola Campbell’s Business Journey

My business, Professional Migrant Women, works to grow migrant women’s visibility and representation across the Australian corporate landscape. Within less than a year of engagement with Global Sisters, I have continued to grow my confidence to advocate with high powered stakeholders, accelerated my business knowledge and significantly expanded my networks and awareness of my brand. My business has momentum and is growing rapidly with support from the Global Sisters community.

WATCH MY JOURNEY

Apply for large government grants ($1m+) to pay my wages and hire staff.Continue networking and building brand awareness with high level stakeholders and decision makersContinue to run advocacy events and experts panels:
www.professionalmigrantwomen.com.au/our-events/
Professional Migrant Women

Watch my journey

My Journey with Global Sisters
September 26, 2022

Introducing Karin Lee:
Florapeutic

Global Sisters has supported my business journey, from developing Florapeutic as an idea and start-up, to a growing business that is bringing in an income to support my financial resilience. Since joining…
My Journey with Global Sisters
September 12, 2022

Introducing Angie Poller:
Remedii

My business Remedii, is inspired and built from my lived experience of living with an incurable disease called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Since joining Global Sisters my business progress…
My Journey with Global Sisters
August 18, 2022

Introducing Fabiola Campbell: Professional Migrant Women

My business, Professional Migrant Women, works to grow migrant women's visibility and representation across the Australian corporate landscape. Within less than a year of engagement with Global Sisters, I have…

Impact Case Study : Sister Pitch 2021

30 passionate Sisters presented their businesses to 30 CEOs as part of the Global Sisters 2021 Sister Pitch event

Curated groups of 5 CEOs and their 5 Sisters met in virtual private breakout rooms where women pitched their businesses for support via advice, networks and business opportunities. Sisters were provided extensive support from Global Sisters to prepare, including refining their pitches, articulating their strategy and what offers of help they needed from the CEOs.

Key Impact

This evaluation highlighted five key impacts from the 2021 Sister Pitch that align without key impact domains and themes throughout this report. These key impacts of Sister Pitch included:

Sister Pitch will accelerate the growth of their businesses

Sisters are no longer alone on their journey – they are part of a strong community of female entrepreneurs

Sisters are connected to influential networks they could not have accessed prior

Sisters now have more substantial confidence and belief in themselves as businesswomen

Sisters have a clearer business strategy and clarity of what it will take to achieve

Sisters received partnership offers and pro bono support to grow their business. These outlined previously in this report, these offers include:

A partnership offering from Beechworth Honey

Bondi Wash stocking sister products in their stores

Pro bono customer journey strategy support from Boston Consulting Group

Pro bono legal and compliance support from Maddocks

Watch our Sisters discuss these impacts and their experience of sister pitch.

 Impact Case Study: Global Sisters Marketplace

In November 2020, we launched the first online marketplace dedicated to women-led micro-businesses & social enterprises

The aim was to provide a fast, efficient & affordable solution to selling online, alongside the complete suite of wrap-around business support & an uplifting community. This was particularly important during the COVID lockdowns, as Sisters who primarily sold face-to-face required an easy e-commerce platform. To provide further support, Global Sisters also runs digital marketing campaigns throughout the year and offer free professional product photography to our marketplace Sisters to increase the professionalism and visibility of their brand.

The ethical criteria for joining the marketplace requires businesses to meet some or all of the following:

Handmade

Australia Made

Recycled or Upcycled

Vegan

Social Enterprise

Certified Organic

Indigenous Business

Eco Packaging

Natural Materials

Plastic Free

In 2022, the Global Sisters Marketplace had:

165

of our Sisters selling

4219

products selling

2013

orders placed with sister shops

109416

worth of products purchased from our Sisters

Watch our Sisters discuss these impacts in the video below.

Thanks for reading about Global Sisters Impact