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The latest scoop on news and happenings of interest to women entrepreneurs.
Last chance to apply for national award
Unique program educates girls in finance
Northern women flourishing
Nominated for Prestigious Awards? Don’t Miss the Application Deadline
August 10, 2007 is the deadline for nominees for the 2007 RBC Canadian Woman Entrepreneur Awards (CWEA), sponsored by RBC Royal Bank, to submit applications. It’s well worth it to apply. The awards, which will be presented at a gala ceremony in Toronto on November 20, are a prestigious honour, providing national recognition to Canada's women entrepreneurs whose successful businesses play a pivotal role in the growth of our local, national and global communities. If you have been nominated but haven’t yet submitted your application, now is the time. Don’t be modest!
“Not enough women apply for awards – we tend to be too modest about our achievements and accomplishments,” says Andrina Lever, Awards Selection Committee representative. “The reality is that we, as women, do fabulous things and need to honour that. And, if you take the application seriously, it forces you to analyze and articulate what your company can do.”
So what exactly does it take to be among the extraordinary women celebrated each year? Here are some tips to assist you in submitting a winning application:
- Select the appropriate category Visit www.theawards.ca for award categories, eligibility requirements and information about the selection process and tailor your submission appropriately.
- Yvonne Tollens, ComputerAid Professional Services Ltd., winner of the 2006 Innovation Award, started the process intending to submit the application in a different category. Realizing that “we are constantly innovating”, she applied for the Innovation Award, focusing on how the company solves the unsolved and makes its technology work in the field.
- Set aside some time. Decide up front that you are going to reserve time to gather the information and package it strategically. If you do not have the time, consider hiring a freelance writer or professional marketing firm to help you, especially if your expertise is not in marketing.
- “The earlier you get started, the better. It’s good to draft it, set it aside, and come back to it a few times as you will think of other things to add.” Suzanne Mick, Discover Wines Ltd. (2006 Start-Up winner)
- Engage your staff. For example, have your marketing or sales team pull together an overview of your company and its products/services. Past winners have found this to be a double-edged advantage - not only does it enhance the submission, it gets everyone thinking about the company's accomplishments, of which they're a part.
- “I turned the application over to one of my key people. It’s hard for me to take credit for the work that I do and I probably would never have been able to state the case the way she did.” Yvonne Tollens, ComputerAid Professional Services Ltd (2006 Innovation Award winner)
- Consult with your accountant or banker if you need help completing the financial data section of the application form. And you can also ask your accountant or banker to help you pull together financial data.
- "Ask your bank manager what to highlight financially. Getting that financial advice was invaluable." Lynda Powless, Turtle Island News (2005 Trailblazer winner)
- Learn from past winners. View the DVD sent with your application form to find out what the 2006 Award winners have to say. And check out the advice from many previous recipients who share more insights on what they did to submit a winning application.
Previous recipients say that winning one of these awards has boosted their profile and market presence and opened the door to new business opportunities. But winners have experienced other benefits as well. “Winning gives you credibility at a different level,” adds Suzanne Mick of Discover Wines Ltd. “We got incredible press and lots of hits off the RBC Women Entrepreneurs web site.”
To learn more, visit www.theawards.ca, e-mail: info@powerpointgroup.com or tel: 416-923-1688, toll-free at 1-800-354-3303. And watch here for more exciting news about the Awards in the months ahead.
(May 2007)
Unique Program Educates Girls in Finance
Sixteen girls, ages six to 12, took part in a unique event recently that introduced them to the principles of financial literacy. The girls from the Kingdom Covenant Academy in Mississauga, Ontario played the game CASHFLOW for Kids developed by the Rich Dad Company in a partnership program between the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO) and Sam’s Club.
The morning program began with an early breakfast at a Sam’s Club store in Toronto, followed by facilitated small group playing of the board game created by WPO member Sharon Lechter in the U.S. The game covers the basics of finance, savings and money management in a fun and non-intimidating way, teaching the girls how to make money work for them. At the end, each girl received the game in return for a promise to teach 10 other girls to play it.
“To see the eyes on those girls as they were accumulating assets was amazing!” says Rhona Levine Ruben of RLR & Associates, who was instrumental in the development of the first WPO chapter to Canada back in 2001.
“Everyone was very excited – from the children who were thrilled to come to Sam’s Club to the parents who joined them and were so pleased about the potential for their kids to start learning financial terminologies,” adds Dr . Pat Francis, Chancellor of Kingdom Covenant Academy and one of the original members of WPO’s first chapter in Canada. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for the children to learn about cash balance, cash flow and leverage – things I didn’t even know about until I was an adult entrepreneur.”
What stood out during the morning for Lora Crestan, Regional Sales Manager of Sam’s Club Canada, was the full engagement of both the girls as well as their parents. “And the parents are now helping their girls introduce the game in their neighbourhoods,” she says. “They can’t believe kids are talking about assets and liabilities even at six-years-old!”
Events similar to the Toronto one took place throughout the U.S. in June. “These events are teaching girls about financial management which is necessary to thrive in today’s world,” explains Marsha Firestone, President and Founder of WPO. “They are aiding in the commitment of WPO, Sam’s Club and the Rich Dad organization to improve the financial literacy of children around the world.”
The Women Presidents’ Organization connects women entrepreneurs at the million and multi-million dollar level. The mission of the Rich Dad Smart Kid initiative of the Rich Dad organization is one of education and empowerment.
For more information on the CASHFLOW for Girls program, contact Rhona Levine Ruben at rlr@rogers.com. Call 1-800-308-3585 or e-mail customerservice@richdad.com for details on purchasing the CASHFLOW for Kids board game.
(May 2007)
Outstanding Women from Northern Ontario Recognized
More than 1,000 attended two Influential Women of Northern Ontario celebratory lunches in Thunder Bay and North Bay recently, celebrating award winners in private, public and young entrepreneur award categories. A special award, Woman of the Decade, was added for this year only, to mark Influential Women’s 10th Anniversary. The awards were created to seek out, profile and honour women in Northern Ontario who have contributed to economic wealth, job creation and growth in Ontario's northern region.
The 2007 awards and winners are: Woman of the Decade– Louise Paquette, Director General, FedNor; Northeast Private Sector – Lois Henderson-Campbell, Vice President of Finance, Cementation Canada; Northeast Public Sector - Marianne Bérubé, Ontario Director, Wood WORKS!; Northeast Young Entrepreneur - Chantelle Gorham, owner, Northwest Fudge Factory; Northwest Private Sector - Irene Kozlowski, Partner, Sencia Canada; Northwest Public Sector - Dorothy Wright, CAO (retired), Northern Ontario School of Medicine; Northwest Young Entrepreneur - Teri Treftlin, manager, North Winds Farm.
For more information, contact Patricia Mills, tel: (705) 673-5705 Ext. 306, toll free 800-757-2766; e-mail: pmills@nob.on.ca
(May 2007)
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