Wonga Wonder Woman

Sandy Davies is a crusader for women all over the Shire and beyond, not only for International Women’s Day and week, but for each and every day.

The Kansas native came to Australia to study at the University of NSW, met the love of her life Harry and moved to Wonga Beach after they both fell in love with the seaside town while up here on holidays.

It’s as though Sandy Davies clicked her heels together in Kansas and ended up in Wonga which is certainly her emerald Oz.

Inspirational book

Sandy has a business called Happy Pause and is co-author of the book ‘Courage and Confidence What it Really Takes to Succeed in Business’ sharing advice and inspiring women to overcome their fears to follow their calling and never be put off by anything.

Combining the inspirational stories and expert business advice of 24 Australian female business leaders her book shares the life-changing power of what can happen when you embrace your courage and confidence.

“There is proof in there that no one needs to leave the Shire to succeed in business and you don’t have to spend money on a fancy office in town or in a big city, you just need your computer and a brain” says the local entrepreneur.

“Even in Wonga Beach, where the internet is dodgy, I still get it done”. Sandy says the book is an essential guide for women who are serious about creating the business they’ve been dreaming of and know they have the ambition and determination to get there.

Proceeds from the sale of the book will provide scholarships to women to attend The Women’s Business School.

Inspirational mum

One of the reasons Sandy is so successful now, is what she learnt from the most important woman in her own life, her late mum Leona, whom she describes as an 80’s glass ceiling breaker.

“My mum and dad lost everything in the Savings and Loan (S&L) Crisis in the US” says Sandy. The financial disaster came to a head and resulted in the failure of nearly a third of the 3,234 Savings and Loan Associations in the United States between 1986 and 1995.

“All of their retirement monies were gone, and they were left virtually penniless, so it was a sink or swim moment for both of them.

Unfortunately, my dad ended up in a deep depression, so my mum went into the workforce, firstly for Mary Kay Cosmetics where she actually earned enough to receive a ‘Pink Cadillac’ which you could strive for in those days”.

Leona then, ironically, went into the financial services industry, where she became the first woman in Kansas with a securities licence and was super successful in what was a male dominated industry.

“I was so inspired by her” says Sandy “every time she hit a barrier, she managed to find a way through, and she certainly formed my imprint for success”.

Perimenopause and its impact

Sandy says many women are leaving the work force at aged 45 to 55 years because of Perimenopause and it’s something she herself has suffered from. Perimenopause is the transitional period before menopause where levels of estrogen, a key female hormone, start to decrease.

It would appear that Australian women are not finding support in the workplace to deal with it. “One of the 34 symptoms of Perimenopause is brain fog, hot flushes, lack of concentration and memory problems” says Sandy. “We are so far behind in Australia but in the UK, they actually have government menopause policies in workplaces” she says.

Sandy couldn’t find any product that was free of nasty substances to help with Perimenopause, so she made her chemistry teacher at school very proud and developed her own range. “Nobody expects to get Menopause at 40” says Sandy. She says her doctor kept saying “don’t worry it’s just Perimenopause but in fact it’s a hormonal roller-coaster”.

Don’t worry be happy

Now Sandy sells ‘Happy Pause’ products to the world from Wonga Beach. One is an aromatherapy that’s a happy hit (it’s fine it’s legal) to clear the chatter in your brain and hopefully get you a better night’s sleep and the other is a cream that may help in the bedroom and many other symptoms arising from Perimenopause.

‘I just love helping people and this is a great way of doing that” says Sandy.

Online women’s festival

In conjunction with the book ‘Courage and Confidence’ a 5-day online festival is being conducted featuring interviews and presentations from each of the 24 dynamic women in the book with orders available via www.happypause.com.au

For more information about ‘Courage and Confidence’ and the launch week celebrations visit www.ausmumpreneur.com.