Letters from the Editor

Women of Influence President & CEO Carolyn Lawrence shares her insights, experience and inspiration for success.

I’m inspired by: feeling balanced, and knowing the facts.

Trigger: On the mat after a 30-minute online (YogaGlo.com) yoga class at home.

The question: Am I balanced? After yoga I felt great; balanced, in fact, which got me thinking, about the power of actually feeling balanced; whether or not you actually are. I had previously imagined that “having balance”, the oft aspired holy grail for women and men in business, was somehow always a fool’s errand as it somehow implied that your work and life are in fact in 50/50 balance.

The facts: I remembered the advice of sports psychologist guru and lifelong friend, Dr. Haley, (fitandfirmsecrets.com), and did the numbers. Well let’s see then. Is it just a feeling of off-balance, or actual fact?

I calculated all my active waking hours:
Work 42 : Life 44

Aha!: What?! The numbers are actually balanced. Now that I see it in front of me, I can’t believe it. I had thought that my allocation of time looked different. Although indicative that I’m still 10 months into being a mom, I can also see where I would like to be (more work)! What I can confidently say now is that I don’t need the numbers to balance; that’s not what I’m trying to achieve.

Advice from Women of Influence: The wisdom and lessons from the successful role models we profile say that the concept of balance doesn’t exist; one must instead have priorities. And you may be able to achieve them all, but perhaps not all in the same day, week, month, year, or even decade.

Insight: I’m not aiming for balance; I’m aiming for success, love, joy and health. There’s no recipe for that kind of balance. But if I feel it; I am.

Over to you: Look at the facts. Ask yourself if you feel good: in balance. If not, define your priorities. Your balancing act may not look 50/50, but if you’re not falling, and you feel great, that sounds amazing to me.

Read More:
Article: Bring it On Home, Dr. Marla Shapiro

Book: Susan Welch 10-10-10

Video: Christine Day, CEO of lululemon

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Rain Emily is the winner of this year’s Deloitte Start-up Award at the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards. She runs a hotel furnishing business, Willowest Enterprise Co Ltd. This year her company grew 300%. This video summarizes why we do what we do, why helping women entrepreneurs helps the community, and builds our country, and why they inspire us so.

“They” say the qualities of an entrepreneur are the following:
1. Disciplined
2. Confident
3. Open Minded
4. Self Starter
5. Competitive
6. Creative
7. Determined
8. Strong people skills
9. Strong work ethic
10. Passionate

I say, the qualities of Women Entrepreneurs are different. Starting with the first key element:

1. Passionate – Always striving for the light of something better. Better health care, better water, jobs in their community, a better life for their children… women entrepreneur always want something to be better.
2. Lucky (lucky!) – That’s, of course, if you ask them, if you ask me, #2 is also “Passionate”.
3. Gracious – Always quick to credit their success to their supportive family, community and bankers. But perhaps this is how they motivate teams of people and communities to help them turn their passions into reality, or help their dreams come into the truth.

To the women who’ve inspired at our events, and in the pages of our magazine,
To those whose courage, talent, passion and dedication have inspired us to strive for the light of something better,
To the sponsors who enable us to shine brighter still,
We celebrate the influencers, and we thank the supporters.

The end of December 2012, is said to be a time of great transformation. Women of Influence is ready, and the seeds have been planted, transform along with us.

• First Washington, D.C. Senior Executive Dinner, March 2013 more information >
• Women of Influence Advancement Centre more information >
• Introduction of “Gender Intelligence” and a new language for women’s issues
• Amanda Lang addresses the Luncheon Series in Toronto on March 1st discussing innovation and asking us “what do you think?”

To a happy new year,
Carolyn.)

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Last year I sat down with Facebook Canada’s Managing Director, Jordan Banks, to ask what it takes to leverage social media for success. And while at present the public company is facing its own serious challenges, we have found these tips work for us – with a lot of work. Click here to read their engaging and educating chat on how Facebook is essential to building your brand, “You’ve Got to Have Friends”.

To increase our reach and impact on the community, here’s what we did to get from zero likes to over one thousand likes:

1. Create a Facebook page

The easy part: www.facebook.com/womenofinfluenceinc

2. Develop an inspiring and useful voice

We see our voice as a bridge to get you where you want to go on your path to career success.

3. Find friends and build your social graph

Women of Influence staff shares event pages with their friends. We include links to like our page in all email campaigns, on our website, and even include signage at our events with QR codes for easy access.

4. Post interesting content

Sharing irrelevant, dull content with your community will hurt your brand. We post event photos, engaging videos, and the latest in business news, such as career advancement tools, individual achievements and entrepreneurial feats.

5. Communicate frequently and build your brand personality

To build our brand personality, we first got to know our readership. Once receiving a higher level of engagement, we gradually began to post more content.

6. Confirm the CEO Mandate

• To bring our extended audience into the conversation, we live-tweet from events and post engaging photos to our Facebook page.
• We connect with daily resources for inspiration and career advancement tools to ensure our audience remains motivated and never loses their drive to succeed.
• We share stories recognizing strong women in the media. We engage our community by asking pertinent questions, conducting polls and encouraging them to participate by tagging themselves in photos and sharing information.
• Keenly invested in promoting our sponsor initiatives, we follow them closely so that when they post relevant information, we are the first to engage with the content and pass it along our community.
• The Interns of Influence Blog confirms our company vision and showcases the development of employees internally.

7. Develop an Integrated Social Network Strategy

Our strategy is broken down by brand, informational content vs. promotional content, and finally, by Women of Influence

8. Integrate Facebook into your overall market strategy and test Facebook ad products

We integrated a Facebook community landing page where followers can increase their involvement with our brands.

9. Establish and nurture relationships

Whether they’re directed at us, or simply mentioning us, we always respond to comments, questions, and posts. To engage our community further, our Winter 2011 cover was chosen via social media poll.

10. Leverage group functionality

Our Facebook event updates reach a geo-targeted following.

11. Use sponsored stories

We recently used sponsored stories through a free Facebook advertising promotion and saw our impressions sore to almost 10,000.

12. Social Management

Weekly Facebook analytics give us a picture of who we’re writing to and who is engaging back with us. We use this information to post with our audience’s interests in mind.

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I’m inspired by…

Sarah Richardson’s hardcore dedication to her brand standards: if it’s not a match, it won’t do.

Lisa Lisson’s brave speech on the tough emotional journey she has taken alongside her steep rise through FedEx Express Canada’s corporate ranks.  Many people couldn’t handle both.

Shelley Broader’s speaking notes: an iPad with the clock ticking down from 30:00.  That was it.

The packed loft of well-heeled aspiring marketing mavens learning from Sandra Sanderson’s top tier career brands.

The parallels I draw from the season include… it takes nothing less than a firm commitment and absolute priority to get to the top of your dream.  If you want that level of success, follow the path, don’t get distracted, don’t dwell on the hardships, put one step in front of the other.  But it’s all possible.  We are all capable of incredible feats.  I believe we should keep pushing until we find out how much we’ve got.

These women of influence keep reminding me I can do more, with the grace and fire of a great leader.  And I can’t wait to see who inspires us next season.

What inspired you most? What are you looking forward to in the Fall season?

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Having wondered for years how I could possibly manage both an ambitious career and the daunting task of being a good parent, I put off the decision as long as I could. Amazingly, as soon as the decision was made, my stance changed; I’m not the first woman to have a child and run a business, so I’m sure I’ll figure it out.

On March 5th I welcomed my first child into the world, and after looking within myself and consulting countless other professional women who make their work-life balance work for them, here’s how I’m doing it:

For the record, there is not much I have any influence over these days. He sets the agenda! So, I left the office in capable hands, with a well-documented plan to stay in touch via weekly reports and a call with the senior team.

Six weeks in, I manage to work 15-20 hours a week from home, around my son’s frequent feeding schedule. And the plan is to gear up slowly from here, adding more hours, more face time at the office, gradually until Women of Influence Inc.’s fast-paced fall event season requires my full time attention. How’s it working? I must say, I am appreciative that I can keep one foot in the door, and work my way back up to full-time as I’m ready, as opposed to the all-or-nothing scenario that the corporate world often demands.

The options presented to me as an entrepreneur are challenging, as I can’t turn it all off, but nor would I want to. While the big blue eyes staring up at his Mama do a very good job of distracting me, I like having work to do to keep my brain intact in the face of the hormones “dumbing me down” as they say. And I am grateful that I don’t have to go back to a full schedule after six weeks, cold turkey.

While I don’t think I’ve solved the work-life dilemma of the ambitious mother, I am confident that this option is working for me.

Click here to read more about Carolyn Lawrence’s path to motherhood in an exclusive interview with the Toronto Star.

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As an entrepreneur I have come to love the holidays as a special time to recharge. The world quiets down for a few blissful days, so I often plan to be far away from the grid (in mind if not also in body) and look forward to planning what goes into this gift of free time. Each year my holiday to do list includes tackling new activities, old movies, and most importantly devouring books.

Here’s what I loaded my new Kobo with this holiday season:

• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
• Brain Rules for Baby: How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five by John Medina
• Katie Couric’s The Best Advice I Ever Got: Lessons from Extraordinary Lives
• YOU: Raising Your Child: The Owner’s Manual from First Breath to First Grade by Michael F. Roizen, M.D., and Mehmet C. Oz, M.D.
• Maria Bartiromo’s The 10 Laws of Enduring Success
• And all balanced with some Yoga-nidra mediation practises downloaded to iTunes to help me find more calm

While I took something from all of these, learning and getting inspired along the way, I was most engaged with Dale Carnegie’s timeless bestseller, because of how simple yet powerful his teachings and practises are on how to influence and make friends. CBS Sunday Morning even had a special on Dale Carnegie and on how to win friends in the digital age. A good reminder for all of us that success comes to those who smile more, are genuinely interested in others, and to those who give first, not take.

What did you read?

Carolyn Lawrence

President & CEO Women of Influence Inc.

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In the spirit of fall fashion trends and in honour of the amazing women who have led the way in business, aerospace, mining and politics, in this issue we shine a light on the trendsetters. We have sought out those women who have inspired and influenced, led by example and ruled by experience. We profile, question and delve into the lives of those who have broken ground and glass ceilings with grace and fire in hopes their work will continue to inspire future generations.

At the same time, we recognize the Four Trends in women’s advancement, in a recent article by the Women’s Business Initiative. They site a growing number of emerging role models, more adaptations of an agile (or flex) work day, ever increasing female entrepreneurship, and the liberating and barrier breaking use of technology. The article goes as far as to say that the trends and transparency created by social media will enable women to move beyond the barrier of old boys’ networks!

Following these pillars, we examine the leaders of today’s business world, such as our cover woman, Bonnie Brooks, and the brilliant women in diamond mining. We celebrate the upcoming 20th anniversary of Canada’s first female astronaut, Roberta Bondar, who reflects on her continuing inspiration into new frontiers. We look at Kim Campbell’s and Isabel Bassett’s distinguished political careers and their determination to strengthen women’s voice in the political arena, and in lead up to the Deloitte Women of Influence Luncheon Series Summit on Women in Politics on December 2nd.

New to this issue is the “A Day in the Life” column. To satisfy our innately curious minds that want to know what’s behind the amazing women we profile, we take a sneak peak at what their day-to-day lives really look like, starting with PR maven Natasha Koifman.

At our own headquarters, Women of Influence is launching a new program as part of our mandate for increasing the impact we have. This fall, students at select business schools will be privy to the first “Women of Influence Career Activation Program,” in an effort to assist graduating classes with the first milestones in their professional development.

As an organization, we continue to be thrilled to act as the bridge to women’s professional success. And, if we could recommend one thing to do this fall, it would be to enrol in “Elevate your Influence” and take those skills to the boardroom, and the bank.

This season, while markets may be unsteady, it is no time to back down. Stand strong, work smart and power on to achieve success in the short-term, always moving closer to the long-term vision you seek.

We hope you enjoy reading through this issue and website bursting with opportunities to inspire you on your path to achieving success and being fulfilled.

Carolyn Lawrence

President & CEO Women of Influence Inc.

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When a woman is supported there is a ripple effect.

Tonight we are celebrating the Top 25 Women of Influence™.  The inaugural ranking of the best in Canadian talent in various industries and roles.

But what we are celebrating and talking about is not their influence or power that has been achieved, but their commitment to mentor, sponsor and champion other women, so that their influence will be felt far beyond their reach.

Mentors are instrumental to our growth.  And their presence has been key to my own.  While never in a formal mentorship program, I’ve had my back covered on a bad outcome, I’ve received creative advice, solicited and unsolicited, and I’ve been cheered through tough moments, and challenged in proud ones. Each time I grew taller and smarter.  And simultaneously I mentor and pass on the wisdom for others.  It’s a powerful thing.

Today, tell your mentor how much you appreciate their guidance by giving one emerging leader a piece of your leadership.

VIEW THE COMPLETE LIST >

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Women who start the trends we follow,
Women who break the rules,
Women who stand tall,
Women who lead by example,
Women who practise,
Women who share their tales of adversity,
Women who’ve scaled mountains literally and figuratively,
And women who look fabulous doing it.
I’m inspired by the women on the pages of our fall issue, and the women who grace our podium this season, what are you inspired by?

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Lights are shining on Canada’s female entrepreneurs, including from Kate’s visit to Ottawa!

Great recognition and reason to celebrate female entrepreneurs in Canada: Over 3000 female entrepreneurs were nominated in this year’s RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards, doubling the year before, thank you for standing up and taking notice of the amazing efforts and success of these impactful women; AND the Duchess of Cambridge wore a jacket by favoured canadian female designers of Smythe, Christie Smythe and Andrea Lenczner

Congratulations and keep up the great work!

Look for the finalists announcement in October and winners celebrated on November 28th at the Fairmont Royal York.

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