Four successful entrepreneurs and experienced angel investors seek to help "connect women with the resources they need to start and build sustainable high-growth businesses" in this instructive guide. Full of examples of women who mixed passion, vision and a pioneering spirit to achieve professional success, the volume offers both encouragement and practical advice. Ninety-five percent of all investor financing goes to men, the authors say, but it doesn't have to be that way. They explain that entrepreneurs aren't daredevils-they're optimists who take calculated risks. Although the tone is upbeat and the tales are inspiring, the authors also examine the downside of entrepreneurship; beginning and running a business often takes a toll on families, they write, and the need for enormous stamina can test one's spirits. It's estimated that 50 percent of small businesses fold within their first year, so this book's objective is to provide the other 50 percent, many of which are run by women, with the necessary tools for increased opportunity and success. From topics such as raising capital all the way to exit strategies for the CEO of a successful venture, this volume is a treasure trove of business know-how from some savvy "old girls." An appendix, which includes sample legal forms, term sheets, business plan templates and PowerPoint presentations, should also prove extremely helpful.

With chapters by eight management thinkers and practitioners from around Australia, the subject is approached from a variety of angles and perspectives. The theme underpinning all chapters however, is the crucial role of the manager in leading and shaping the culture of the organisation. Chapter headings include measuring the immeasurable: defining and measuring culture; The power of culture: using the soft stuff to drive the bottom-line; power, politics and people: cultural survival tactics; culture shock: mergers, acquisitions and integration; When the conductor leaves: handing over the cultural baton.