Event Galleries – Women of Influence

Women of Influence Evening Series – Joanna Griffiths

Alexa Feldberg — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 15:16:24 +0000

On March 7, we welcomed to the podium top entrepreneur Joanna Griffiths, to share her insights on how she disrupted a $2.5 billion underwear industry and created a brand for every body.

Here’s are some of Joanna’s key insights about entrepreneurship and becoming your own boss:

“You have to love a challenge. You have to thrive outside of your comfort zone.” Entrepreneurship involves a great deal of risk. Before starting out on a new business venture, reflect on your personal comfort zones. Are you OK with uncertainty? Are you OK doing things outside of your area of expertise, or pushing yourself to learn new things?
“Successful people do what unsuccessful people won’t.” Great entrepreneurs know there is no task too big or too little. It can be easy, especially in the early days on entrepreneurship, to become discouraged when you encounter set-backs or obstacles. Remember that success doesn’t come easy, and that hard work will pay off!
“I let myself be upset or disappointed for 48-hours. Then I move on.” In the world of entrepreneurship, there isn’t time to dwell on the negative. That said, you shouldn’t swallow your feelings either. When you encounter a set-back, or if a teammate lets you down, allow yourself a moment to be upset and disappointed, and then focus on how you can make the situation can become a teachable learning or help make your team stronger.
“Your job as a leader isn’t to tell people exactly how to get into the boat. Your job as a leader is to get people so excited by the beauty of the ocean that they can’t wait to figure it out and get in themselves.” The best leaders understand that the best way to get the job done is to inspire your team to believe in the project and to motivate them to want to do a fantastic job. Micro-managing rarely works.

Women of Influence Luncheon Series – The Americas Powerhouse

Alexa Feldberg — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 16:35:11 +0000

On March 6, we held the Americas Powerhouse Luncheon in partnership with Women Who Rock. The panel featured valuable insight from Canadian treasure hunter and geologist Ashley Kirwan, Argentine agronomist Andrea Grobocopatel, the Mexican force of nature Veronica Richards and Peruvian diplomat Ana Gervasi.

Here’s what we learned:

“We need more role models.” By developing visible role models for women in industries like mining and geoscience, we can inspire more women to pursue careers in these fields.
“The challenge of workplace equality starts in the cores of our homes.” Gender equality must operate at a social and family level- not just in the workplace. For example, true workplace equality includes equal paid paternity and maternity leaves, which encourages shared familial responsibilities between both parents.
“You don’t have you give up your career and business goals in order to have a family.” In many societies today, women are still often deterred from starting a family because they fear that pregnancy and child-rearing will serve as setbacks to their careers and professional goals. As Ashley Kirwan (President and CEO of Orix Geoscience and mother to a 7-month old baby) taught us, it is possible successfully to navigate the obligations of a career and motherhood.

Women of Influence Evening Series – Debbie Travis

Alexa Feldberg — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 16:06:56 +0000

On December 11th, 2018 we hosted the Women of Influence Evening Series in downtown Toronto, featuring Debbie Travis.

2018 Top 25 Women of Influence Luncheon

Alexa Feldberg — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 05:23:37 +0000

On December 10th, 2018 we hosted the Women of Influence Luncheon Series in downtown Toronto, celebrating the 2018 Top 25 Women of Influence with a keynote presentation from The Honourable Chrystia Freeland.

2018 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Gala

Alexa Feldberg — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 21:54:17 +0000

On November 21, 2018, we presented the 26th annual RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards. And while the gala delivered on it’s usual expectations of inspiration and celebration, we also learned some great lessons thanks to the amazing women that took the podium that night.

“I’d like to thank me”

– Glain Roberts-McCabe, The Roundtable

The Lesson: Own your success.

Take time to reflect on the hard work and sacrifice necessary to get you to where you are now. Recognize your victories, no matter how small, and use that feeling of proud accomplishment to propel you towards future growth.

“Why do we have to celebrate women? Because there aren’t enough of us to inspire all of us.”

– Marjorie Dixon, Anova Fertility & Reproductive Health

The Lesson: Share your story.

Excellence inspires excellence. When you share your story, you inspire the next generation of thought leaders and change makers, and you strengthen the narrative of entrepreneurship in Canada.

“There’s only one way to gain confidence, and that’s to work together. To help each other. To slap each other on the back and help each other rise to our potential”

– Debbie Travis, Design Icon & Best-Selling Author

The Lesson: We’re stronger together.

Support your fellow entrepreneurs. When we collaborate and champion each other’s ideas, we grow stronger both individually and as a community.

“Never say no. Just keep plugging through, and eventually you will get to where you need to be.”

– Victoria Sopik, Kids & Company

The Lesson: Yes is a powerful word.

Accept the trials and challenges of entrepreneurship, in fact, welcome them as an important part of your journey. The obstacles and set-backs you may face in your career offer learning opportunities that will help you grow towards your goal.

Women of Influence Evening Series – Tech Panel

Alexa Feldberg — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 19:49:49 +0000

Women of Influence Luncheon Series – Michele Romanow

Teresa Harris — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 21:49:07 +0000