Easy as 1-2-3? Sheryl Sandberg thinks so.

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Sheryl Sandberg is Mark Zuckerberg’s second-in-command.  Yes, that Mark Zuckerberg.  Sheryl is Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer, and since joining the social network giant in 2008, has forged a strong partnership with its elusive founder and made a name for herself both online and off amongst techies and businesspeople alike.  Sheryl is also a strong advocate for women empowerment, particularly in the workplace.  Her talk at TED in 2010 about why we have too few women leaders comes up as one of the first three results on Google when you search for her. The clip is about 15 minutes long, and in it you’ll see a polished, well-spoken, commanding woman who is obviously the envy of the crowd she’s addressing.  When Sheryl Sandberg talks, people listen.  At TED, Sheryl discusses a problem – women are not at the top of any career sector, from technology to non-profit, and haven’t been for a while.  How do we change this?  She breaks it down to three pieces of advice:

1)     Sit at the table.  Women systematically underestimate themselves and their abilities, and tend to attribute success to external factors for which they are not responsible.  This translates to women standing off to the side and purposely not joining the guys at the table, even though they probably belong there, discussing deals, proposing ideas and taking credit for results.  “No one gets to the corner office by sitting on the side,” Sheryl says.  So, own your success – sit at the table!

2)     Make your partner your real partner.  In couples where both partners have full-time jobs, women tend to perform a disproportionate amount of housework and child care.  Basically, we’re trying to equalize things in the workplace, but we haven’t yet equalized things at home.  Home life duties need to fall to both partners, and it has to be valued – no matter who is doing the work.

3)     Don’t leave before you leave.  Women who are thinking about the next big thing in their lives get trapped in a mindset that makes them forget about the present.  Sheryl advises to keep your foot on the gas pedal all the time.  Keep engaging, keep learning, and keep challenging yourself – up until you move on to the next chapter.

What I loved about Sheryl’s talk at TED is that she addresses a very real, very big issue – but offers us small, doable chunks of guidance that, when done one at a time, or in baby steps, can have significant, sizeable impact.  Not enough women in leadership positions?  How can I – one woman – affect any kind of change to shift this statistic?  Well, I personally can start by saying a simple “thank you” at my department meetings when I’m complimented on the success of a major project.  I always say “it was a team effort and I just worked with some great people.”  I can also quit beginning some of my sentences with “This may have been done before, and it might sound kind of dumb, but here’s my idea.”

Do you, dear YWiB-ers, agree with Sheryl’s tips and tricks?  Is it that easy?  Can we change the way things are by employing her three tactics outlined at TED?  What’s something you can do to help move women onward and upward?

And for your viewing pleasure...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18uDutylDa4&w=500&h=284

Leadership Lessons Transcend the Workplace

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Submitted by Christina Low, YWiB Marketing Team - photo c/o http://www.biv.com/lliwib/index.asp. In November 2011, 12 lucky girls had the opportunity to attend the 3rd annual Leadership Lessons from Influential Women in Business, presented by Business in Vancouver and the Professional Women’s Network with support from YWiB.  Sponsored by Fasken Martineau and  Vancity, and taking place at the Marriott Pinnacle in downtown Vancouver, this half day forum consisted of interactive panel discussions with some of BC's most influential business women; networking time and lunch.  This year’s overarching theme was Leadership - understanding the opportunity and the challenge, with discussions digging deeper into topics such as how to develop your personal leadership strategy, how gender affects business relationships and developing your leadership plan to strategically achieve your leadership goals.

YWiB was well-represented and of course, took away some great learnings from the afternoon.  Myriam Choma of UBC was grateful for the chance to attend and glean some inside info on the workings of the male/female work dynamic and how to succeed in both the workplace and life.  There were some surprises, too - “As a student who has not yet had to break out into the "big bad" working world, I was both shocked and outraged to hear of the harassment some of the delegates had experienced from male coworkers or superiors,” she reflected post-event.  “However, I was extremely grateful that they could use these experiences to produce thought-provoking discussions that had both the panel and delegates bringing some important lessons to light. From these discussions, I realized just how important it is to be passionate about your work, and that it is this passion which will provide you with both the will and motivation to overcome difficult situations like these. The wonderful panel also helped us understand that leadership is not always about being the first person out, making the decision. Stepping back, listening to others and contemplating decisions from the outside can be just as effective a method. These are lessons which I know will serve to be useful not just in my future workplace, but also in life in general.”

YWiB member Kiran Nagra agreed.  "I am so glad that YWiB provided me with the opportunity to attend BiV’s Leadership Lessons!” she said.  “Getting the chance to connect with successful professional women from all backgrounds and participating in the panel discussions left me feeling inspired, equipped with invaluable advice and information, and ready to take on the world!"

YWiB is proud to work in partnership with other womens' business groups such as Business in Vancouver and the Professional Women’s Network to offer opportunities like Leadership Lessons to our members and other young women in the community.  We are excited to do so again in the near future, so keep watching this space for more upcoming events!

Professional Women's Network 15th Anniversary Celebration The Fairmont Waterfront Hotel September 29, 2011

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Professional Women's Network 15th Anniversary CelebrationThe Fairmont Waterfront Hotel September 29, 2011

Hors d'œuvres were circulated, live music was performed, drinks were poured, and inspirational words were spoken at the 15th anniversary celebration for the Professional Women's Network (PWN). Over 250 business and community leaders gathered to celebrate women in business and the launch of the new PWN website. Keynote speakers included Anne Lippert, president of Consulting and Advisory Services; Pauline Lipska, president of Young Women in Business; and Jennifer Sung, VP of Young Women in Business.

PWN was founded in 1997 by national chair Michelle Pockey (a business lawyer), together with three other Vancouver-based professional women. The network was established to help women to connect, refer business to one another, and assist each other in navigating the unique challenges faced by female professionals advancing in their career. Currenty the PWN is in Calgary and Vancouver, with additional chapters under development in Toronto, Montreal, and London, UK.

BC Business - full article & photos

For Immediate Release: BC Champions Recognized with International Awards

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August 2, 2011 Vancouver, BC:  The International Alliance for Women (TIAW), a global umbrella organization uniting professional women and their networks, has announced the 2011 winners of its prestigious World of Difference 100 Awards. This year, eight exceptional individuals from British Columbia have been internationally recognized for their work promoting and supporting the advancement of women in business. The 2011 awards recognize 100 achievers from 27 countries for their efforts in advancing the economic empowerment of women locally, regionally or worldwide.  The 22 Canadians honoured in this year’s awards also included Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette of Quebec, in the Public Service /Government category and Charles Coffey, O.C.,  currently Co-Chair, Aboriginal Human Resource Development Council of Canada and retired Executive Vice President, Government and Community Affairs President, RBC Financial Group, who was named in the Male Champions category.

This is the second time anyone from BC has made the list since the awards’ inception in 2008, when Doreen McKenzie-Sanders was recognized for her work creating the Women in the Lead Directory of qualified women candidates for appointment to corporate boards.  That same year, Sarmite Bulte, former Toronto-based MP and founder of the Women Entrepreneurs of Canada, was awarded for her advocacy of women’s rights.

Every year, TIAW invites nominations in several different categories. Award categories include Education, Community, Entrepreneurial, Non-profit, and Public Service/Government.  This year, Young Women Leaders, Male Champions of Women’s Economic Empowerment, and Corporations were added to the list. Hundreds of nominations were received from all continents, from which the top 100 were selected. The 2011 awards to the BC recipients were granted in the following categories (in alphabetical order):

  • Laurel Douglas, CEO of Women’s Enterprise Centre, in the Education category;
  • Jill Earthy, CEO of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE), in the Community category;
  • Bob Elton, Chair of the Board of Governors of Simon Fraser University, in the Male Champion of Women’s Economic Empowerment category;
  • Paulina Lipska, President of Young Women in Business (YWIB), as a Young Women Leader <25;
  • Anne Lippert, Principal of Anne Lippert Consulting, in the Corporate (Individual Women) category;
  • Barbara Mowat, President of Impact Communications, in the Entrepreneurial category;
  • Michelle Pockey, Partner at the law firm Fasken Martineau, in the Entrepreneurial category;  and
  • Jennifer Sung, Vice President, Young Women in Business (YWIB), as a Young Women Leader <25.

Bob Elton, who serves on several boards, including the Minerva Foundation for BC Women, has this to say about being one of the first male recipients of the award: “It is great to see so many BC recipients recognized for this award, and I'm proud to be in this company.  All parts of our society, including business, clearly benefit from having a mix of men and women working together.”  

Anne Lippert, a veteran corporate director who provides philanthropy consulting services, notes the benefits of investing in women and giving back.  “We’re very fortunate in BC to have such a supportive environment for women, and so many committed leaders who work together for the benefit of all,” remarks Lippert.

Commenting on the high levels of cooperation between many of the BC women’s business organizations represented with these awards, Jill Earthy of the FWE, a leading association of women business owners, adds, “I think it is truly extraordinary the level of support and collaboration we all share”. 

Michelle Pockey, who in 1997 founded and serves as National Chair of the Professional Women’s Network, which celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2011 notes, “I’m very honoured to stand alongside some of Canada's most dedicated champions of women in business as a 2011 recipient of the TIAW World of Difference 100 Awards.”

Barbara Mowat, who is also Chapter Chair of three Women President’s Organization groups in Vancouver, highlights the impact of the awards:  “This international recognition inspires us and strengthens our resolve to continue empowering women to their business success.” 

Laurel Douglas of Women’s Enterprise Centre, which provides loans, training and business advisory services to BC women business owners, concurs.  “Our organizations all work together closely, partnering on events and initiatives.  I believe this award will encourage even greater collaboration.”

Some of the successful collaborative initiatives co-hosted by these organizations include the Leadership Lessons from Influential Women in Business conference in October 2010, the Connecting to Contracts Workshop in April 2011, and the Embracing Award Opportunities seminar in June 2011.

Young Women in Business leaders Paulina Lipska and Jennifer Sung add: “It’s so encouraging to be part of a community in Vancouver where all the women networks and leaders truly support the younger generation. We’re very excited to see how the future female leaders will continue to create positive change.”

The 2011 TIAW World of Difference 100 Awards will be presented to the recipients on October 27, 2011 at the Canadian Embassy in Washington DC as part of the annual TIAW Global Forum.

TIAW (www.tiaw.org ) is an international umbrella organization which strives to support and promote professional women through resources and networks. Founded in 1980, it has emerged as the global voice of businesswomen who want to make a difference in their communities. TIAW connects leading women’s organizations and their members worldwide to leverage their reach and resources. Located primarily in the Americas, Asia and Europe, they represent more than 35,000 members worldwide.

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Media Contacts

Laurel Douglas

CEO, Women’s Enterprise Centre 250-212-5180 laurel@womensenterprise.ca

www.womensenterprise.ca

  Anne Lippert

Principal, Anne Lippert Consulting

604 733 1979

anne.lippert@telus.net
Jill Earthy CEO, Forum for Women Entrepreneurs 604 682 8115 jill@fwe.ca

www.fwe.ca

  Barbara Mowat

President, Impact Communications

604 644 8298

barbara.mowat@impactcommunications.com

www.impactcommunicationsltd.com
Bob Elton Chair of the Board of Governors, SFU 604-590-7500 bobelton@me.com Michelle Pockey Founder, Professional Women’s Network 604 631 4825 mpockey@fasken.com

www.fasken.com
Paulina Lipska President

Young Women in Business paulina@ywib.ca

www.ywib.ca

 Jennifer Sung Vice President

Young Women in Business jensung@ywib.ca

www.ywib.ca

 

 

2011 Canadian Winners of the TIAW World of Difference 100 Awards

Mary Aitken Canada Corporate (Individual Women)
Lynda Bowles Canada Corporate (Individual Women)
Janet Burn Canada Public Service/Government
Charles Coffey, O.C. Canada Male Champions
Patricia Douey Canada Corporate (Individual Women)
Laurel Douglas Canada Education
Jill Earthy Canada Community
Bob Elton Canada Male Champions
Lydia Fernandes Canada Entrepreneurial
The Honourable Celine Hervieux-Payette Canada Public Service/Government
Anne Lippert Canada Corporate (Individual Women)
Paulina Lipska   Canada Young Women Leaders<25
Janet  Longmore Canada Non-Profit/NGO
Natalie MacNeil Canada Young Women Leaders<25
Janice McDonald Canada Community
Barbara Mowat Canada Entrepreneurial
Michelle Pockey Canada Entrepreneurial
Helen Reeves Canada Corporate (Individual Women)
Joanne Stanley Canada Non-Profit/NGO
Jennifer Sung  Canada Young Women Leaders<25
Genevieve Vanderveldt-L’Esperance Canada Young Women Leaders<25
Dilara Yegani Canada Corporate (Individual Women)

Passion, Chaos, and Dreams- Important Lessons Learned By Young Women At Beyond Pink Conference

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VANCOUVER, B.C. (November 22, 2010)- What a spectacle it was to see as over 150 women dominated the Four Seasons Vancouver hotel this weekend to prove that beauty and brains make the perfect combination. Reason for the occasion? The third annual Beyond Pink conference hosted by the Young Women in Business Society (YWiB). Delegates came from all over the Lower Mainland to learn how to “make their brand and leave their mark.”The impressive line-up of speakers included Michelle Rupp (Principal and Founder,Lighthouse Leadership), Ken Sim (Co-Founder of Nurse Next Door), Lisa Vogt (Partner of McCarthy Tétrault LL), and Judy Brooks (Co-Founder of Blo Blow Dry Bar), all whom shared their stories and lessons that they have learned on their way to success. Ken Sim began one of his workshops by asking the ladies to stand up and proposed the question, "What would you do if you only had 30 days left on this planet, would you continue to live the way you are now?" The ladies who answered “yes” were asked to sit down. Only two women sat down. He then continued to teach the important lesson of following your passion when choosing a career path. The Power Couple Panel brought together Gayla and John DeHart, Katie Dunsworth-Reiach and Nick Reiach, and Andrea and Chris Scott, three power couples of Vancouver.They were all proven examples of an ideal work-life balance sharing their knowledge and experience to an audience of aspiring women. As the couples discussed about stress and chaos in life, John Dehart noted, "The common bond where you focus on a vision makes the chaos more manageable.” You could almost see the hearts melting in the crowd of women as his wife Gayla DeHart later added "we don't know the specifics or details...But we do know we're going to get through anything together." As the weekend came to an end, the ladies gathered one last time at the celebratory Gala dinner. In consideration of the goal of Beyond Pink, a platform that pushes young womento their dreams, one of the Gala Speakers, Tsawwassen First Nation, Chief Kim Baird left the delegates with some food for thought as she asked, "What is your dream, and what are you going to do about it?" These young women then walked out Saturday night knowing that they are going to do something to make their brand and leave their mark on the world.

Article can be found here: http://www.vancouverobserver.com/localvocal/2010/11/24/passion-chaos-and-dreams-important-lessons-learned-young-women-beyond-pink

Photos by Jeremy Lim Photography http://www.jeremylim.ca

YWiB: Beyond Pink Buzz

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Amy Fabulous - Getting Started in your Career So you’ve graduated and your last four years of classes, exams and essays seem exciting next to trying to find your first job. Your resume is blank aside from some previous retail or serving stints, and you don’t know where to start.

Sound familiar? If so, fret not, I was once there too, and there’s also a whole lot more who are in your exact position. The good thing is, you’re just a stepping stone away from building the next layer of bricks to your foundation, of creating your career and hopefully one day, your dream job/position/role.

Here are a handful of tips that I learned along the way that I hope will provide some helpful tips:

Support. There are many organizations out there that can be a valuable resource for you. YWIB (Young Women in Business) is a network that connects young women from a variety of careers and industries. They have an upcoming event called Beyond Pink on Nov. 19 – 20, a two day conference where 250 females will listen to a line up of successful business people, network, and take away real world skills.

Read the full article here: http://amyfabulous.com/getting-started-in-your-career/

Daily Gumboot - A Community Beyond Pink

The Young Women in Business Society (YWiB) will hold its third annual Beyond Pink professional development conference on November 19th and 20th.  The conference aims to connect young women with diverse backgrounds and inspire them to discover their personal brand. Up to 250 delegates are expected to attend.

This year will feature a unique addition to the conference program, the Power Couple Panel Session which brings together 3 of Vancouver’s ‘power couples’ to provide insight on the ups and downs of a successful dynamic duo. Two of the three power couples are Gayla and John DeHart, and Katie Dunsworth-Reiach and Nick Reiach. This will be Dunsworth-Reiach’s second appearance at Beyond Pink as the Smart Cookie was a keynote speaker at the Gala in 2009.

Read the full article here: http://dailygumboot.ca/2010/11/a-community-beyond-pink/

Vancity Buzz - Beyond Pink 2010

The Young Women in Business Society (YWiB) will hold its third annual Beyond Pink professional development conference on November 19th and 20th. The conference aims to connect young women with diverse backgrounds and inspire them to discover their personal brand. Up to 250 delegates are expected to attend this conference.

This year they will feature a unique addition to the conference program, the Power Couple Panel Session which brings together 3 of Vancouver’s ‘power couples’ to provide insight on the ups and downs of a successful dynamic duo. Two of the three power couples are Gayla and John DeHart, and Katie Dunsworth-Reiach and Nick Reiach. This will be Dunsworth-Reiach’s second appearance at Beyond Pink as the Smart Cookie was a keynote speaker at the Gala in 2009.

Read the full article here: http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2010/11/beyond-pink-2010-vancouver.html