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Women's Enterprise Centre Launches New Mentoring Program Province-WideMentoring programs can help build confidence, improve business knowledge, increase productivity and offer emotional support. Building a strong foundation for your business is critical in the first two years of operations. Having support during that time, either from an experienced entrepreneur or from women who are going through the same process as you, can be vital to your success. There are many mentoring programs available, but there is an existing gap for helping women in the first two years of business. For that reason, Women’s Enterprise Centre is launching a mentoring program developed specifically for women who are new to the world of self-employment. This three-stage mentoring program will be launched throughout 2007. Extensive research has found that we can best meet the needs of women transitioning to self-employment, by offering mentoring programs in several different formats. Peer Mentoring Groups, which will be launched in five communities this spring, will provide women entrepreneurs support from a facilitator and others in their community who are facing the same challenges. One-to-one mentoring which will be launched in the fall of 2007, is an opportunity for mentees to share and learn from the knowledge, experiences and challenges of an experienced entrepreneur. In winter 2007, Mentor Advisory Forums will provide opportunities for women around the province to discuss common issues they face in business with a panel of experience mentors. Peer Mentoring GroupsWomen’s Enterprise Centre is pleased to announce the launch of Peer Mentoring Groups in Kamloops, Terrace, Cranbrook, Whistler and Kelowna. Peer Mentoring Groups are designed specifically to help women entrepreneurs address the issues and barriers they experience while making the transition to self-employment. These issues could range from creating a balance between work life and personal life, to facing a steep learning curve while developing new business skills. The group facilitators will help new entrepreneurs identify what they need to learn to run the business and offer support while group participants work towards success. These groups will also provide participants with an opportunity to learn from other women’s experiences. Each group will consist of 6 to 8 women, a trained facilitator and meet for six, two-hour sessions. At the launches (locations listed on the left), Women’s Enterprise Centre staff will introduce the local facilitator(s) and explain the Peer Mentoring Group format, program and materials. There will also be an opportunity for women to ask questions about the program and to sign up for the local Peer Mentoring Group. A reception including finger food will provide an excellent networking opportunity. If you are a woman in the first two years of your business and would like an invitation to attend the launch, you are invited to contact stephanie@womensenterprise.ca or call 1.800.643.7014 ext 112 to confirm your attendance. We look forward to seeing you there! IWIB Awards Sue Adams Presented with Influential Women in Business Award
“Maybe I have just been lucky, but I can’t think of anything that I wanted to do that I wasn’t able to accomplish,” says Adams. “Sometimes the course might have had to change and adapt on the journey, but I did not see this as a barrier, but an opportunity to learn.”
Women's Enterprise Centre Loans Client, Shushma Datt, Awarded for Being an Influential Woman in Business Shushma Datt, a pioneer in South Asian television and radio programming in BC, was recognized for her accomplishments at the Influential Women in Business Awards in Vancouver last month. Datt was awarded for being the founder, president and CEO of i.t. Productions Ltd. and its subsidiaries Radio Rim Jhim and AM radio station RJ1200. Multicultural programming being her focus, she produces nine multilingual TV programs on Shaw Cable Television and OMNI TV.
Women's Enterprise Centre is proud to offer their newest resource guide - pick up a hard copy or download it for free.Pick up a hard copy from one of our offices, or download the FREE GUIDE today and begin your transition into self-employment.
Mentoring Facilitator Profiles Denise Pallesen, Nutters Bulk & Natural Foods Driven by her desire to own her own business, ten years ago the opportunity arose and Denise took over Nutter’s Bulk & Natural Foods in Cranbrook. “I have grown my business by having the ability to offer superior customer service, by having excellent staff who continue to make a difference in our customer’s lives and by having the ability to change with the market,” Read More... Diana Alexander, Elite Beauty Group Inc. When Diana Alexander kept missing her daughter's school activities because of her job, she knew something had to change. It didn't take long before Diana dove into entrepreneurial waters and started Sante Skin & Laser Centre. “Listen and learn, is my personal motto. I listen and learn in every way that I can, every minute of every day,” Read More... Lori Merrill, Sidewalkers Thirteen years ago, Lori had a vision of a women's clothing store that supports Canadian designers and manufacturers. After looking into the needs of her community and finding her niche market, Merrill opened her women's clothing store, Sidewalkers. “A very important part of starting and maintaining a business is making sure that it is appropriate for your community. Understanding your community needs and capacities will help you see where your ideas fit.” Read More... Vera Stark, Academy of Hair Design & Esthetics When Vera Stark decided to buy the small hairdressing school where she had been working for 2 years, she didn’t know what she didn’t know. “I took over an existing business but it was all new to me…I had never really owned a business other than a salon in my house at one point in my career and I had absolutely no business background. The previous owner didn’t stick around long so I had to learn a lot myself." Read More... Patricia DiFrancesco, At Second Glance Books Taking on entrepreneurship also meant facing a steep learning curve for Patricia, however her energy and enthusiasm for her business helped her persevere. At Second Glance Books has now been in business since 1999. “The last eight years of my life have provided me with the opportunity to use the many skills I picked up during the first fifty odd years of my life,” says DiFrancesco. “The learning curve has been tremendous to say the least. I wake up each morning with so much enthusiasm and energy for the day ahead that I can hardly believe eight years has gone by. Read More... Cassandra Tompkins, The Woman's Place Fitness Group Cassandra's entrepreneurial spirit and her need to be in charge started at an early age with her first lemonade stand. She then, as an adult, spent 25 years working in the legal industry, including running her own legal document preparation service for 15 years, while taking business courses on the side. “I was drawn to the idea of running my own business because I wanted to be the one in charge; I wanted to be my own boss,” says Tompkins. “To have the freedom to organize the business and the operations the way I wanted them to be and to have more flexibility in my work schedule was amazing. Read More... Tracy Gray and Suzanne Mick, Discover Wines Combine passion for BC-made wines with savvy business sense and you get Discover Wines, Suzanne Mick and Tracy Gray’s perfectly distilled retail creation. “People are so busy right now, so we have to give our customers the convenience they need. It’s not just about the product; it’s about the experience involved in getting that product.” Read More... Sue Adams, Co-owner, Bevendale Enterprises Inc. Most people are familiar with at least one of the businesses that Sue has owned or co-owned and operated since the early 1970's While still in her 20s, she was the managing partner of the Pyrogy House Restaurant in New Westminster. Read More.. For Women's Enterprise Centre Client Success Stories, click here Courses, Events and Happenings
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Taking the Leap to Entrepreneurship is meant to lend support to women who are thinking about making the transition to self-employment. We'll give you a sense of what being an entrepreneur is all about. We will explore the internal process and offer inspiration. This guide will educate and support women who are making the transition to self-employment.