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Elena Rivera, Rivera Design Group.

Graphic Designer Brushes Up Her Skills with Women's Enterprise Centre.

Visual imagery comes naturally to Elena Rivera MacGregor. For the last 15 years, she's been operating Rivera Design Group, a Vancouver graphic design and web design firm.

In 1997, Rivera MacGregor heard about the Women's Enterprise Centre business-planning course and quickly signed up. At the time, she knew she had more to learn about operating a business; what she didn’t know was that she would meet an important network of business associates that she still continues to draw from.

"Five of us who met in the group still meet after all these years," said Rivera MacGregor. “Although we now only meet once a year as a group, we still support each other individually by phone and e-mail. We continue to push each other so we can take our businesses to the next level and not become complacent.”

“My company has grown considerably since following through with the Women’s Enterprise Centre pilot session on strategic planning,” adds Rivera. “In 2005, my company won the national competition to design the Vancouver 2010 Olympic-Emblem, chosen from more than 1,600 entries across the country. This win increased our profile quite dramatically in the papers, the web, and the media.”

Rivera MacGregor reminisces, “Looking back, it’s been quite a ride. It was when I sat down with a Women's Enterprise Centre Business Analyst that I realized my objective was to draw my business plan into the future. Taking care of my 10-month old baby and owning a business has allowed me to learn how to successfully juggle career and family life. My baby comes with me to the office everyday and his nanny looks after him while I work. I’ve made time for both.”

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