Business Workshop: Building an Affirming Trans Business

This event is for transgender, gender diverse, and non-binary people age 18+

This workshop is workshop #1 in a series of 5 Business Skills workshops designed for the trans community to enhance your business knowledge, skills, and confidence.

This Business Skills series is aimed at trans people running or building their own ventures with practical sessions on building a trans affirming business, inclusive business design, ethical sales, marketing, service design, and high level financial compliance (not financial advice). Stuff they don't teach you but absolutely should.

You are welcome to book as many workshops in this series as you like. No need to attend all of them. Choose the ones that you want.

Business Workshop 1: Building an Affirming Trans Business 101 + Q&A

There's no shortage of generic business advice, but most of it wasn't written with a trans or gender diverse business owner in mind. 

This session cuts through that noise with real-world frameworks, examples, and challenges of building a trans-led business. There will be space to ask the questions you can't google an honest answer to from someone who has built a business from the ground up. 

Topics covered:

• Small Business 101 (foundations, structure, supports)

• Capitalism Vs Commerce

• What's actually possible and what choices you have

• Pricing, visibility, and building a support toolkit

• Q&A with lived-experience insight

This is a peer-led, lived-experience session. Not legal, financial, or professional advice. Take what serves you and leave the rest.

Who is it for:

• Trans, gender diverse, and non-binary folks who are curious about running their own business or want to enhance their current business skills and knowledge.

• If you ever thought - I want to work for myself, or how do I start?

• Whether you are looking to move out of your 9-5 or just plain curious, come along. 

About the facilitator:

Sam Dengate (he/him) has over 10 years of entrepreneurial experience building T Gen Gyms.

T Gen Gyms was the 2026 Victorian Pride Awards winner for Excellence in Small Business.

Register for the other workshops in this Business Skills Workshop series here:

Business Workshop 2: Sales Without the Sleaze

Business Workshop 3: Marketing 101 - Getting Found by the Right People

Business Workshop 4: Sustainable Service Design

Business Workshop 5: Business Back End

If you have any questions, please contact us at programs@tgv.org.au