Max Your Nights At PAX Network

Finally, there's now a better way for women to spend their vacant nights than to indulge in idle chatter at the newest coffee joint. PAX's Network Nights are an opportunity for young and opinionated professional women to come together to debate and discuss topics that concern them. Purplelips checks out the scene at November's Network Night, held on a rooftop at Boat Quay.

--------------------------------------------------------------------- By Tanny Chia

[eastciti.com, November 18]

Time: 7pm

Location: The rooftop of Ligero's, a 6-floor restaurant and bar at Boat Quay. Occasion: Network Night's discussion on "Women in the Boardroom and Bedroom".

Scene: About 40 or so women, mostly in their mid 20s to 30s, clad in executive attire and mingling around with drinks in hand. The regulars cluster around in groups chattering away while several others, noticeably the newcomers, stand around nervously waiting for the braver ones to strike up conversations.

If you are alone and introverted, a PAX Network Night may prove to be an intimidating experience. Everyone looks like the ideal bright-eyed and dynamic woman, and almost everyone looks like they know someone, woe to the new visitor. But each registered visitor wears a sticker with her name written in bold, which makes it much easier for newcomers to approach a friendly face.

Moreover, the networking evening is an ideal occasion if you are keen on just meeting like-minded peers in an all-women, "inspiring and supportive community", as the Network's website describes, and expand your circle of friends. Others come solely to engage in some cerebral debate amidst intelligent women, much like those open philosophical debates so popular in the bars of European countries.

While the night's topic was not exactly philosophical, it was nonetheless one that concerned many professional ladies on their way up the corporate ladder. A sizeable group had turned up eager to lend their ears to the 3 invited male speakers: Patric, an Australian working in a local dot-com, Peter, a British in the banking line and Cary, an American lawyer, who were about the only male faces that night and were invited based on their high-flying and diverse backgrounds. Perched on stools facing a sizeable and outspoken female audience, the 3 professionals were visibly nervous but warmed up sufficiently to speak candidly on the topic based on their own working experiences with women.

Arul, one of the organiser, explained to me the objectives behind PAX Network. "There are 3 arms: the Information arm, which is about education, about making women more net savvy; the Network arm that aims to bring together women from different walks of life; and the Community arm, which sends women interested in non-profit work to help refugees and tribes in third world countries." Seminars, workshops, book club discussions, nature park walks and even yoga classes are also organised regularly for members of the non-profit organisation. For an annual membership fee of only $50, it's a steal, if you ask me.

Admittedly, not every newcomer may feel comfortable at PAX's network nights where, unfortunately to some, idle small talk is still the order of the night, as it is with all networking events. But some of the topics discussed on such nights are worth paying the $10 entrance fee for (which includes drinks and refreshments) and the founders have an admirable intention - to "further both personal and professional development, foster a spirit of volunteerism and community service….".

If you are woman, between 20 to 40 years of age, dulled and bored stiff with doing the rounds at the usual club circuit, drop in at PAX Network's next event. Oh, and remember to bring along a friend.

>> PAX Network's official website

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