We often hear how entrepreneurs made it big — but how did they first get that little idea off the ground? We asked the five recipients of the Ones to Watch Award presented by Freshco.ca, a category added this year to the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards. These stellar new business owners have all […]
By Merilfor Toneatto The empowerment of professional women is at the forefront of our cultural conversation, ignited by movements that bring gender pay equity and workplace sexual harassment to the forefront. Women’s economic empowerment is not just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do. Closing the gender pay gap can […]
If Mandy Rennehan’s entrepreneurial success story doesn’t inspire you to get up and get moving towards your goals, we suggest you check your pulse. The Blue-Collar CEO of Freshco.ca, a boutique construction firm that dubs itself “The Fun Company,” Mandy is an award-winning entrepreneur who started with nothing on the East Coast of Canada and […]
There’s a difference between bragging and self-advocacy. Here’s why you need to know how to do the latter, and some tips for getting started. By Dana Rubin When I talk to my female clients about the skills of thought leadership, there’s one question I hear over and over: “I don’t like to […]
For women, getting ahead can sometimes come with negative consequences. A recent survey points to successful employees being attacked, criticized, and ostracized too often at work. Here’s what organizations can do when their tallest poppies are being cut down. By Rumeet Billan and Todd Humber Successful women are being undermined at your […]
The first year for any business owner is bound to be full of ups and downs. Co-founders of Eivey, an online marketplace for luxury, pre-worn fashion, share their best tips for surviving year one without losing it all – including your mind. Entrepreneurs and friends Maryna deLannoy and Laura Sim decided to enter […]
Digital transformation impacts all aspects of an organization, from leadership and strategy to marketing, innovation, finance, operations and IT. In the digital age, employees with skills in digital business and strategy execution is essential. Does your organization have what it takes to build a digital business model? In June, the International Data […]
Addressing the “women can’t have it all” reality of Toronto’s political arena—and what we can do to change it By Katie Underwood No matter what Hillary Clinton tells you, it’s never been a better time to be a woman in the political arena: A mere two-and-a-half years ago, the world […]
Your mental, emotional and physical energy is your greatest asset and key to high performance. Being able to manage that asset requires discipline, effort and focus but first and foremost it requires self-awareness. It’s why Billie Jean King said, “self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion.” The first step towards […]
By Rebecca Heaton Being assertive in a professional setting isn’t always easy, and you’re not alone if you feel like you’re often not being heard. This is especially true for women who may find themselves to be silent observers — in other words, wallflowers. To them, I would ask: Are […]
by Viviana Kohon, Namita Tandon-Walsh, and Caitie Yue All entrepreneurs enjoy the independence and thrill of working for themselves and creating something new. Having partners or co-founders is an added bonus, giving you the option to consult with each other, and to ensure multiple areas of the business are covered through different […]
By Stephania Varalli Co-CEO, Women of Influence Hiring exceptional talent can be one of the toughest tasks as a small business owner. When you only have a few employees — and 54% of private employers in Canada have less than five — there is no room for underperformers. So how do you […]
by Robin Behrstock The flexibility that comes from being self-employed is undeniable. Add to that the freedom to work from wherever you choose (including your bed) and it comes as no surprise that more and more people — especially women — are foregoing the typical office environment for the comfort and adaptability […]
by Sabrina Parsons In the age of Lean In and #MeToo, office relationships and workplace culture are shifting drastically, often in ways that can affect employees quite negatively. The recent explosion of #MeToo stories and the Lean In movement have surfaced lots of hard questions about equality in the workplace, inclusive office […]
by Jennifer Reynolds “Skills of the future” is a topic that is starting to dominate talent discussions today. Technology is rapidly shifting the landscape in all industries, and as a result, continuously changing the skill sets that are in high demand. The question professionals today need to ask themselves is: how do I […]
Why wait until you land your first job to start preparing for success? Our Women of Influence co-op student, Elizabeth Papadopoulos, is still in high school, however, she’s already begun the work to ensure she’s well-equipped to start her future career on the right foot. Here are her tips — learned through personal […]
by Jeannie Collins-Ardern There are many instances where a well-trained person takes a career break, and after a period of time wishes to resume their professional life. This is far more frequently a problem for women, typically after child rearing or elder care. To help make the transition smoother, there are a few […]
If you have been searching for productivity tools recently, you may have already come across bullet journals. This new system for staying organized is designed to be quick and intuitive — and with these three helpful tips, you can make the process even simpler. Bullet journals are finding popularity with productivity fans — from […]
By Heather Fraser Innovation is the lifeblood of any organization that aims to create new and distinct value. It is not the job of a few inspired people; it takes an entire enterprise to create and deliver new value. To build a sustainable enterprise-wide capacity to innovate, it’s critical to create a winning […]
In the quest for gender parity, it’s crucial that we as women consider the ways we can truly help, rather than compete with, one another. I believe that one of the key ways to do this is to seek out inspiring role models, women who have ‘been there and done that,’ because, at […]
By Stephanie Ray, Founder, Grayes Building a work wardrobe can be a daunting task. It is easy to lose your own sense of style as you try to conform to an office look and it can be hard to stick to a reasonable budget. Often you end up heavily investing in pieces you will […]
If you’re an entrepreneur, the question of how to make more money is one you probably ask yourself every week. It’s common, and I highly suggest this type of self-talk, because it means that you’re on route to helping more people and growing your business as a result. The problem is, most entrepreneurs […]
When sitting in an interview chair, we often rely on our resumes and glossy portfolios to demonstrate our writing, our expertise and capabilities. But once we land the role, can we be certain that our strong writing skills will translate into an ability to communicate and work effectively with our peers and our […]
Tanya van Biesen left her 21-year career in the corporate world of executive search to take on a leading role with a global non-profit supporting one of her passions: advancing inclusive workplaces. By Kristen Sears For Tanya van Biesen, it was kinda, sorta déjà vu. Two summers ago, she left […]
by Andrea Lekushoff Andrea Lekushoff is the Founder and President of Broad Reach Communications. She’s not only a leader in the Canadian public relations industry, she also committed to supporting the efforts of women in business. Earlier this year, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in a leadership program at […]
Christine Laperriere is a seasoned expert on helping leaders and teams reduce internal conflict, improve employee engagement, and more effectively engage with customers and prospects. Working with the Women of Influence Advancement Centre and through her own consultancy, Leader in Motion, she has spent the past ten years teaching hundreds of leaders how to be […]
Q: I’ve been offered a new role that I think is more of a lateral move than a promotion, and my current position is a good one. Since it’s not a big step up, I’m having trouble evaluating whether or not to pursue the opportunity. It’s within the organization I work for now, so […]
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