At the Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Conference in Rio de Janeiro, I had the opportunity to speak with Carley Roney, co-founder of The Knot, the world’s largest wedding website.
“This is an incredible conference,” said Carley. “The women entrepreneurs here are passionate, incredibly smart and always trying to think about how to really solve problems for women but also for the world at large. “When you’re in a room with them, you’re constantly re-thinking your own pitch, your own business strategy and it’s great to be reflexive and make sure you’re doing what’s best for your business and your customers.”
The Knot started with five people in New York City and now has 700 employees around the world.
Carley beamed as she reported, “We have 90 percent market share in the U.S. It’s exciting to help women plan amazing weddings and to employ so many women as well as to empower small-business owners.” When I asked Carley about the role of social media in her company’s success, she said, “Being an expert in your field and being recognised as such is basically free publicity for you. If your business is content-based like mine is, it’s absolutely mission critical! But even if you’re in a product-based business, to be an expert and to position yourself in the marketplace is critical to your long-term success. People want to do business with people who they are confident about, not only in their knowledge of their own business but their knowledge in the world at large.” However, she cautioned, don’t try to masquerade as an expert in a particular field if you’re really not. People will notice the disconnect and lose trust in your brand.
“Be authentic and talk about what you know – and you will develop followers and readers who will develop trust for you and want to do business with you,” advised Carley.
Enjoy this interview with Carley Roney at the Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network 2011 event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network 2011
From June 5-7 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, more than 120 female business leaders from around the world gathered with Dell to learn about technology, marketing, brand, social media and raising capital while building relationships and sharing insights. It was an impressive group of participants, including Moira Forbes, Arianna Huffington and Luiza Helena Trajano, the founder of the third largest retail chain in Brazil. Over the course of two days, the conference participants explored and learned that women entrepreneurs truly share a unique perspective and approach to business. Building on Dell’s entrepreneurial heritage and recognising the unique challenges and rocky journeys entrepreneurs can face led to the inception of the Dell’s Women Powering Business Initiatives, including Dell’s Women Entrepreneurs’ Network (DWEN). DWEN strives to help women entrepreneurs expand their networks, innovate and grow their businesses. The DWEN event and LinkedIn community supply a social network to grow B2B and exchange ideas to help build confidence. Dell’s believes never in the history of the world has the entrepreneurial spirit been more alive or in a more favourable position to drive global growth. Australian women business leaders are invited to join in the conversation and share who and what inspires and motivates them as entrepreneurs and leaders via the Women Powering Business Network group on LinkedIn.
