Our Blueprint Mentorship Program kicked off with a fantastic event about communication and leadership; take a look at what attendees learned and what they hope to get out of this year’s program!
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Faye Wightman, President and CEO, Vancouver Foundation
Faye is one of Canada’s philanthropic leaders as the President and CEO of the Vancouver Foundation. She brings to the Foundation a strong conviction that philanthropy can and should play a powerful role in shaping society. Since her arrival in 2005, she has led Canada’s largest community foundation through a number of important changes designed to increase its impact in BC communities.
Prior to joining Vancouver Foundation, Faye was President of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation for 14 years and then spent two years as Vice President of External Relations at the University of Victoria. She has served as an Executive Director for Sunny Hill Foundation for Children, as well as Campaign Director for the United Way of the Lower Mainland.
She is on several boards, most notably: Imagine Canada, Emily Carr University and BC Housing. Her influence has been recognized by Vancouver Magazine, where she has made their Power 50 list twice. As well, in 2004 she was one of five women honoured with the “Influential Women in Business Award,” an annual award presented by Business in Vancouver magazine.
Katie Ainsworth, Creative Director, Ainsworth Communications
Katie has created many award-winning and memorable campaigns across every medium imaginable in her twenty years in advertising. Starting her career in Toronto, she also worked in San Francisco during the dot-com boom then fled to Vancouver during the dot-com bust.
Her resume includes stints at Cossette, Y&R, BBDO, TBWA and Rethink––where she was both a Creative Director and a Partner. In 2010, Katie became a freelance writer and now enjoys the luxury of only working with companies and people she truly believes in. (Yes, she used a preposition at the end of a sentence and is totally okay with that decision.)
Katie has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in European History and Germanic Studies from the University of Victoria. It has not been terribly useful, to be perfectly honest. She also mentors young writers through the not-for-profit group AdGirls.
Sandy Thompson, Global Planning Director, Y&R
Sandy Thompson is the Global Planning Director at Y&R and has been working in the advertising world for over 20 years, she is regarded as one of the industry’s most innovative and productive strategists, always working with her clients to find the truth behind what people do, not what they say.
How does she do it? She accepts every opportunity to give her clients a new and fresh perspective. She takes the time to dig in to how people feel about brands, listens to what they are saying and digs into consumer’s lives by taking the time to feel what is important to them.
Sandy believes that opportunities surround us – you just have to put yourself out there to not only find them, but to do something with them.
Check out the rest of the speakers AND mentors on Beyond Pink's website
Without the YWiB Internship program, I would definitely not be where I am today. Getting paired with Popchips led to numerous learning experiences and unique opportunities. I was fortunate enough to have an event planning based internship, which took learning beyond the classroom and helped me contribute to expanding the brand. One of my greatest memories was working with the field marketing manager to create a charity event for the BC Society of Transition Houses and Ryan Kesler. I have also been given the opportunity to travel within BC, attend industry events, and meet some influential faces along the way. As the fit was perfect, I am now a Brand Ambassador and maintain my intern position. Not only have I gained a mentor through meeting my ambitious boss, but I have also created long lasting relationships and experienced events that I would have never gotten the chance to experience elsewhere.
I hope this write-up helps and inspires people to get involved!
name| judy brooks social| twitter: @judybrooks
name three people you'd like to have a dinner party with
Why stop at 3? The more the merrier! Those who know me best will tell you that my greatest pleasure is a evening with lots of friends, cooking dinner for them, a drink or 2, lots of conversation and laughs (and maybe a game of scrabble).
But 3 people? Dinner with my daughter Devon, my husband Denis and Val (one of the Co-Founders in Blo and a YWiB supporter) is a evening to feed my heart and soul.
you co-founded Blo Blow Dry Bar – tell us what is the one thing you need to have a great hair day every day?
I know nothing about hair (but something about creating and growing a business). When we visioned Blo - we knew the end goal was confidence, women feeling great about themselves. So we were selling confidence.
Having said that, the trick for great hair everyday is a getting someone else to do it! Get your hair blo-ed!
a lot of people fear taking the chance to start a small business. Did you experience that in the midst of the plans for Blo? How did you overcome that fear/apprehension?
Blo was my 3rd business, so I have had more than a bit of experience in the feelings that come with founding a business -the good and the overwhelming! In starting a business there are always those moments when you think " What am I doing here? Is this going to work? Can I make payroll?". You have to have the stomach for it. And just like everything that takes commitment, tenacity is key. Lots of people would say choose something your passionate about - Blo Co-Founders Val Litwin, Devon Brooks and I would say figure out your core values, and make sure they align with what you are doing. Then when the going gets tough, and it will, you will know why you are doing what your are doing and you can bring the energy it takes to achieve success. Check our our Passion Conspiracy Blog for more on that! http://www.bravolimaoscar.com/
what is your favourite part of your new role as chief of staff at nurse next door?
Always, always my favourite thing about a business (whether it is mine or not!) is the people - seeing the team learn, grow and execute. It is the most awesome of experiences. At Nurse Next Door I have had the opportunity to watch this gem of a company and these incredible people take off; from Co-Founders, to VP Team to Care Services Centre Specialists and Franchise Partners, everyone is focused on the same vision of care. Being trusted to help the team to organized and ready for their next stage of growth is interesting, fun and a privilege. Besides, who can resist a business whose purpose is Making Lives Better?
why do you think YWiB and the YWiB philosophy is important for females in Vancouver (and beyond)?
Any organization that supports personal growth, that allows you to gain confidence, helps you connect and build relationships and gives you access to mentors, serves a valuable purpose. YWiB does that. I have had the honour of being on the Board for YWiB, speaking at their events, moderating panels, and getting to know past and current YWiB'ers - I love the transition, as someone starts in the YWiB, to when they really start to understand the power and influence they have in a room when their voice gets heard. Magic. When companies ask me if I have anyone to refer for positions in their organizations, YWiB is one of the first places I reach out to.
I wish I had the kind of connection, mentorship and access YWiB gives when I was starting out.
Young Women in Business is a community for emerging female leaders and young professionals who want to create their own success.
We believe every woman and young professional stepping into the workforce or growing in their career should be well equipped with the proper set of tools and knowledge to reach their fullest personal and professional potential.
We provide young women and professionals with events, programs and an engaged network of ambitious women, to help them become successful in their careers, take on new challenges and develop skills.
