Big names dominate MyBiz Expo seminars

Business is about to get better in New Zealand, with MyBiz Expo attracting some of the country’s biggest brands to participate in the inaugural event at the ASB Showgrounds, Sunday October 14 – Tuesday October 16, 2012.

Targeting the more than 500,000 SME business owners throughout the country, MyBiz Expo is focused on creating the best business one-stop-shop for all their product and service needs.

Included in the expo is a powerful speaker programme, featuring world heavyweights Microsoft, Facebook and Google, as well as local industry giants TradeMe, Vodafone NZ, BNZ, isite Media and Natural Step NZ. Leading financial commentators Bernard Hickey and SME Business Network founder Tenby Powell complete the line-up. 

“This is best line-up of speakers with a tailored message for SMEs of any event we know of in New Zealand,” said Brent Spillane, exhibition director and founder of MyBiz Expo.

“We’re focused on creating an event that will help time-poor SMEs to make decisions about products that can grow their business and reduce their costs,” he said. “Some of that help extends to leading seminars where SMEs can better understand new world business technology and tools.”

There are few businesses bigger than Google and their seminar “SMB NZ: Making Most of the Web” presented by Google country manager New Zealand, Tony Keusgen, will be highly valuable to any SME. Keusgen will show how Google can magnify the impact of marketing spend for any business in New Zealand and global markets. 

A strong understanding of social networking is vital in today’s business climate, which is why the seminar “Build a Thriving Business in a Connected World” presented by Facebook’s SMB manager Australia and New Zealand, Nick Bowditch, will be invaluable to any SME. Bowditch will take MyBiz visitors through the four steps to building business success on Facebook and how to save money doing it.

Bernard Hickey is regarded as a leading commentator on business and finance in New Zealand and on behalf of Kiwibank, Hickey will discuss the day-to-day challenges SME business owners face – whether it’s diversifying into a new market, access to capital, taxation, finding skilled employees, venturing into importing/exporting or just maintaining a constant revenue stream in a constantly changing market place.

As founder of the SME Business Network, renowned business guru Tenby Powell is a leading commentator on giving SMEs a voice and power in the highly competitive business sector. With experience spanning the private sector, Government entities, not-for-profit and the military, there’s little that Powell doesn't know about the world of business. Powell will lead a panel session of leading business executives and commentators to give their opinion on a broad range of issues facing SMEs in New Zealand.

Also joining the must-see line-up is CEO of the Natural Step NZ, Simon Harvey. With today’s global desire to build more sustainable and eco-friendly business strategies, Harvey will be presenting an unmissible seminar on how SME businesses can create sustainability and shared value through collaboration. 

Microsoft is another heavyweight in the line-up, exclusively demonstrating the new Windows 8 operating system and providing a glimpse of the new, yet to be released Office products. With Cloud computing on the rise for SMEs, their seminars on will focus on this subject. They will be led by Zaid Alkadhi (Microsoft Office Product Lead), Warwick Grey (Distribution Account Manager – SMB), Fred Piliu (Online Services Partner Business Development Manager) and Paul Bowkett (Online Services Business Manager).

With the business world becoming increasingly mobile, the “Make Mobile Marketing Work for Your Small Business” seminar presented by Vodafone New Zealand’s GM of Marketing, Becky Lloyd, will be a highly beneficial seminar for any SME.

Other confirmed speakers include Craig Jordan, TradeMe's head of marketplace and speakers from isite Media and BNZ’s implementation manager, Michael Ashby. 

A full speaker list is available on the expo’s website: www.mybizexpo.co.nz/seminars.php 

Registration for SMEs is free and is open now. To register and for a full list of exhibitors and a full seminar schedule, visit the website www.mybizexpo.co.nz.