On the initiative of the HVB Women's Council, HypoVereinsbank has launched a mentoring programme: experienced businesswomen support selected women start-up entrepreneurs on the road to founding their own company.

Eligible candidates are invited to apply for one of six mentoring places by submitting their idea and business plan or concept. The winners will be selected by a distinguished jury. The deciding factors will be the quality of the business plan or concept and the start-up idea itself. Amongst the mentors is DLD Co-Founder Steffi Czerny.

We published an 85 Broads article today, about the changing definition of success, which really struck a personal chord with me. It got me thinking about all the outstanding female entrepreneurs I have interviewed over the past year, and the common threads I have noticed weaving through so many of these conversations, particularly with regard to the notion of success.

By the traditional metrics, I would by no means be considered successful (no university education, husband or mortgage in sight and a humble salary to boot), but in my mind, I've "made it".

Dear readers in the US and Europe (especially the UK), for the next few moments please let’s not worry about what our political views may be about Margaret Thatcher, whether we like or dislike her or if we agreed then or now with her politics, but let’s look at Margaret as a female. In the move ‘The Iron Lady’, Meryl Streep does a superb job playing the role of Margaret Thatcher, the only female Prime Minister in the UK politics.

Perhaps the reason that so many of us remember Margaret’s politics is that she was had great resolve, determination and did not play to win the votes of the politicians, rather to do what she thought needed to be done. Right or wrong.

Again, removing the political veil from this discussion, it means she was a woman of strong resolve! Also, let’s remove the hollywoodization element, which perhaps may make Margaret Thatcher seem different than she is in the movie. We are only talking about facts here. Her election, the climate of female politicians in the UK then and now and the global scene. All facts. She did all that while being a mother as well.

I’ve spent a large portion of 2011 helping professionals and business owners become more confident to both stay in to network as well as going out to network. Every time I run a training workshop focusing more on the working the room part of networking, there is normally someone who wants to know how to enter a room confidently.

It sounds like a trivial matter to enter a room confidently. Or at least that’s what we try and tell ourselves, when we are beating ourselves up because we still haven’t cracked the secret of confidently entering a room. Let’s be honest, it can be very daunting to turn up to a networking event and find the room packed full of small huddles of people.