i-Marbella brings you an exclusive interview with an amazing woman, Sandra Europe, who has been running a Ladies Club and  Business Speed Networking. Before talking about what speed networking means, here is a short bio of Sandra's life and how she got to where she is today!

In 2005 Sandra had an accident - she fell down a flight of stairs and she was paralysed, injured, shocked, traumatised, operated on and nursed and she wondered why such a near fatal accident had happened to her! That made her realise that she just needed a different direction and the accident was severe enough to make her change it! Sandra was told by the doctors that she could be in a wheelchair indefinitely. During her early recovery she would sit for hours knitting, making music cds, watching gardening programmes and soaps! She was in a very old woman´s frustrated body with a healthy brain that just wouldnt connect together.

Eight months after the accident her healing begun, when she went for a yoga retreat in Mainland Spain with the help of her friends and with the determination to gain the strength in her body that she had had before the accident. Sandra enjoyed the heat and beaches of Spain so much, she decided to buy a caravan near Marbella where she could visit to aid my recovery, travelling back and forth from Jersey. Getting a little stronger, she  visited Mallorca a couple of times, again to find yoga centres and therapists. 

When Sandra's eldest son Andre finished University and returned home, she asked him to start a website for her, so when Sandra came back to Mallorca, she could meet likeminded people and make new friends. So they called it Mallorca Ladies Club and they had our first lunch in March of 2007. This year it is becoming more well known and we are having some amazing ladies join us, not only English but German, Austrian, Swedish, South African, Australian and Spanish.

In 2006 Sandra qualified as a certified spinning instructor and later went on to qualify on the Swiss Ball, as a C.O.R.E. Instructor, which helped to strengthen her core muscles. Sandra was always working out in some way or another and having such a strong back is probably what helped cushion her spinal injury.

Recently she had been asked by the male population if they could advertise on the ladies website!? She pondered over the idea as in these times of crisis a different approach was needed to networking businesses so she started another Club called Mallorca Business Club which the guys could also attend. In 2009 took place the first business speed networking event in Mallorca, which was a great success. And now she has Costa Business Club and she feels like she certainly has a purpose here in Spain!

To read the whole bio go to http://www.costabusinessclub.com/bio/

1. What does speed networking mean?

Speed networking is a new concept of networking and a much more structured approach to traditional business networking events. During a 2 hour event you will have a series of 1-2-1 ³mini-meetings² with a number of business professionals. Each meeting lasts approx. 6-8 minutes with each person getting 3-4 minutes to speak about their respective businesses. The event host will call time and you then move onto your next meeting. In this way you can quickly learn about other individuals and their businesses and establish whether pursuing a business relationship would be beneficial. Speed networking is an efficient and cost effective way to promote your business face-to-face, build new business to business relationships and increase your client base.

2. How often do you organize these meetings and who attend them?

We have monthly meetings and any large or small business associates are eligible to attend.

4. How long does one meeting last and where do they take place?

The Speed networking session lasts for approximately 2 hours and the meetings are held in chic restaurant/bar areas.

6. Name some "success stories"

Testimonials:

How could one possibly have a useful business conversation in only 3 or 4 minutes?? But after just one exchange I was hooked. At my first meeting I spoke to 14 other business people. From those 14 I made 6 follow up appointments there and then! Not only did I get my message across and increased my sales, but I made strong business friends too. I now cannot envisage a more profitable way to spend 2 hours or so than at a Business Club, Speed Networking meeting. By the way when is the next one? Count me in!² P.B

......

I was so happy to see people want to approach me to advertise in my magazine. I feel that it is all part of brand awareness and both networking and advertising have their place and can work very well side by side. If all goes to plan from the new contacts I made today and I can close the business, then it should be one of the most successful days for me financially ever. Thank you for inviting me. S.M.

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7. When is the next meeting?

The next Business Speed Networking Meeting is on Monday 29 November at noon, at the Chic Mozaic Restaurant, El Rosario (beachside).  Bookings are essential. Call Sandra on 634 364 131 or Tess on 681 359 554

For more info email: info@costabusinessclub.com

or visit www.costabusinessclub.com