Congratulations to Cybele Negris!

We would like to congratulate one of our amazing supporters, Cybele Negris!  Cybele has been recognized as one of the Influential Women in Business by Business in Vancouver.  She is the founder of Webnames.ca, and was a speaker at Beyond Pink 2008.  Cybele has been selected for her outstanding achievements in business and influence in the business community.

Cybele's fellow honorees include: Janet Austin, CEO, YWCA Vancouver (past YWiB speaker) Ida Goodreau, Corporate Director and former CEO LifeLabs and Vancouver Coastal Health Sarah Morgan-Silvester, Chancellor, University of British Columbia (past YWiB speaker) Janine North, CEO, Northern Development Initiative Trust

Lifetime Achievement Award - Julia Levy, Corporate Director and Co-Founder QLT Inc.

Congratulations Cybele, and thank you for your ongoing support of YWiB!  See below for an exclusive chat with Cybele on her thoughts for women in business:

where do you go for inspiration? I have chaired the e-series Program (entrepreneur training for high-growth businesses) at the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs for a number of years. each year we choose 15 women entrepreneurs to participate in a 6 month program of education and mentorship. we bring in the speakers/instructors who are entrepreneurs themselves who have done it all before or experts in specific  topics who are the top of their industry. I get inspired by the women participating as well as the speakers. even though I have witnessed these sessions numerous times over the years, each session I attend still re-energizes me to keep driving my own business to the next level.

when balancing your life, what actually works? it is still a work in progress for me.  between Webnames.ca, a construction business with my husband, serving on the boards of 4 organizations (Small Business BC, Vancouver Economic  Development Commission, Small Business Roundtable of BC, Forum for Women Entrepreneurs), chairing a charity event (Canary Derby – technology community building and racing soapbox cars to raise money for early cancer detection for the BC Cancer Foundation) and 2 young children, time management is key.

luckily, I don’t need a lot of sleep and I tend to be up until 1 or 2am quite often to get everything done. I actually keep a spreadsheet which includes my top tasks for the week prioritized under each of the above commitments.  I’m also starting to learn how to say “no” which has not been easy for me. I try to limit  events outside of work hours to 1, maximum 2 a week and other evenings and weekends are dedicated to family. 

what advice would you give to your 20-year old self? simple - get yourself a mentor and network, network, network.  

as a woman working in technology and web, what were the most difficult obstacles to overcome? I don’t feel I have experienced any obstacles because I’m a woman in technology. in fact, it has been an advantage because there are so few women, especially those in executive positions, in technology. I have learned over time that it is a good thing to standout and to embrace it.

the technology industry as a whole for men and women moves extremely quickly so it is important to keep up with changes and not be left behind.  this can also become very distracting so balancing keeping up with the next big thing with focus on goals and objectives is always a challenge.

where do you find the most support in vancouver, as a woman in business as well as a mother?

• there is no lack of support for women in business in Vancouver. personally, I have been involved with the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs since its inception in 2002. Initially the focus was on high-growth business and this was a great fit for Webnames.ca. Over the years, programs have been expanded and developed to support other types of business at various levels of growth; now with seven core programs. I suggest all women in business join here.
• women in technology should join Wired Woman. Membership is free and their mentorship program has benefited over 330 women since launch in 2007.
• mothers should really check out the MomCafe Network with chapters in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto or Enterprising Moms Network with 8 chapters throughout BC and a Toronto chapter.
• looking for money to start or expand your business?  The Canadian Youth Business Foundation provides youth (age 18-34) with start-up financing of up to $15,000 based on the character of the business and a great business idea with flexible three to five year repayment schedules. They couple this with pre-launch coaching, business resources, and mentoring to increase the chance of success of these companies.  The Women’s Enterprise Centre offers loans up to $150,000 for BC women.
• young women really need to join Young Women in Business (YWIB) and I would not say this without having seen firsthand the level of leadership and quality of conferences and events hosted by this group.  To see such young women achieving their level of success and inspiring other young women is very special.
• the Women’s Enterprise Centre has a comprehensive list of organizations that support women in a variety of businesses and geographical locations.

what is your hope for young women just entering your field? I do hope first of all that more young women choose the technology field and that more strive for executive level positions. I also think of “my field” as entrepreneurship and I do believe more and more women will choose this path. ninety-eight per cent of businesses in BC are small business (defined as 50 employees or less) and 35% of these are currently owned by women.  since the mid-seventies, the Canadian growth rate for self-employment in women (5.3%) has been almost double of that of men (2.2%).  With more women balancing career and family and the flexibility self-employment affords owners, I see the number of women entrepreneurs continuing to grow. I hope that more women own and run higher growth businesses.

guilty pleasure? I don’t get much chance to watch TV and I hate to shop but I have to admit really enjoying the TV show “What Not To Wear”.

do you have a mantra or small bit of advice to share with the members of YWiB?

• advice: same as what I would have told my 20 year old self. get a mentor and network!
• mantra: work hard, be grateful for what you have and give back to the community.

Inspiration from Sally Parrott

Here are a few of our favourite quotes from our event last Monday when we partnered with Aritzia to bring you Sally Parrott! Share your favourite quotes, inspirations and brainwaves with us too! "Sometimes it's okay to get off the bus - it's about finding balance in your life"

"Actively deciding to do something that's important to me - sticking to your values and doing something you love"

"Make sure you have enough pie for everything you want to do"

"Be selfish with your time - if people were not adding value or are not giving as much as you are, there are people who are not contributing positive energy"

"You really have to figure out who you are and what  you stand for, developing yourself as an entire person"

Book recommendation: "The Artist's Way"

If you felt inspired and motivated by Sally, send us your thoughts, stories, or ideas and we'll post them here so you can share your comments with the YWiB community.  Email info@ywib.ca.

Balance Yourself with YWiB & Aritzia

join YWiB & Aritzia in a conversation on balance in your personal and professional life. YWiB is very excited to host Sally Parrott, Senior Director of Marketing at Aritizia as our featured speaker for this evening's event.  she will be sharing her unique story as a successful woman in business and lessons learned along the way.

combined with an exclusive private shopping event at Aritzia's newest store in Pacific Centre (including a fun gift from Aritzia!), come out and mingle with other ladies in an evening of balanced inspiration, learning and fashion.

date | march 22nd 2010 time | 7pm to 8:30pm venue | Aritzia @ Pacific Centre  (3rd Floor, 609 granville street in downtown vancouver) price | $20 per person [$10 for YWiB members] rsvp | this event is now sold out!

--------

YWiB is very grateful for the generous support of:

and

and

Jeremy Lim Photography

Girls Night Out

Join YWiB, YWiB SFU and SIFE SFU for a movie night on March 18 at Empire Theatre.  We'll be watching Remember Me starring Robert Pattinson. We'll also be hosting four speakers who will talk about "Being Your Own Boss" and "Finding Hidden Market Opportunities to Build and Expand Your Business".  Event starts at 6pm and is free for YWiB, YWiB SFU, and SIFE SFU members who bring a friend! RSVP here or on Facebook.

Interview with Heather White

On Feburary 8th, Campus Ceo was graced with the fiery presence of Heather White. Her honest and engaging demeanor made for an inspiring evening full of questions, answers and connections. She shared her experience as a student and growing into her role of entrepreneur, the backbone of 2020 Communications and a member of the Ghost Ceo posse. So many women were captivated by the conversation; they stayed almost an hour after discussing business ideas, obstacles and wine. For those of you who missed it, here is an interview with Heather White that will leave you wanting more (trust me…).YWIB: What does the future look like for women entrepreneurs?

HW: Great question! Though I’m still working on honing my psychic powers, my general feeling is that women entrepreneurs will be the drivers of the new paradigm of business. Naturally gifted with intuition, their ability to form strong relationships and their solution focused mind-set, women bring a soft yet effective skill-set to the table.  I think entrepreneurs, in general, will thrive in the coming years as we look to do business with people/companies who are servicing more specific needs and wants, therefore more niche, versus the mass consumerism that we’ve become accustomed to.  I think the future is rich with opportunity and what we make of that is yet to be seen.

YWIB: What is the best way for women to support each other?

HW: Stop competing and start collaborating.  Throw age, race, looks, experience etc. out the window – it doesn’t matter. The most important way to support each other is show up as your whole self, look to add value in an enthusiastic and passionate way and synergize with the other women (and men) in your life.  Gone are the days of having to ‘know it all’ (not that I’m sure that ever existed) and now we must be clear on what we have to offer and find others who offer complimentary knowledge, skill and service.  This is how we will grow to the next level. No more one-upping each other, it’s about joining forces.

YWIB: Where do you look for inspiration? Do you have a mantra that keeps you going when times get rough?

HW: I’ve made a point of building a strong team around me to help nurture my personal and professional journeys. I have a two-hour standing appointment with my Life Coach once a week that keeps me grounded and committed to the things that are most important to me.  I have the most supportive Business Partner that I call on for professional advise and support in my business development.  Furthermore, I participate in a Mastermind group once a week (and have for the past four years) allowing me an outlet to ask for guidance and support when I need it. I’m a family girl, so much of my inspiration comes from my parents (I was lucky enough to have three), my 3 siblings, and my other half – all of whom are huge champions and supporters of me and I of them.  My office is decorated with vision boards and quotes to keep me going day to day and in terms of a mantra, my go to is: “Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won’t so you can spend the rest of your life like most people can’t” – Author unknown .

YWIB: People often talk about what they wish they knew when they were in their twenties. What are a few work/life balance tips you have for young women entrepreneurs?

HW: Nothing is as big a deal as you think it is. Our mind is an amazing instrument, but, left mis-understood, or to it’s own devises and it can get out of control and create Mt. Everest out of a mole hill.  Having fun is one of the easiest ways to stay in the flow of life and when you’re in the flow of life, a lot can happen easily and effortlessly.  I was very much old school mind-set when I first entered in to business believing I had to “work hard” and put in super long hours in order to be successful.  Today I know what a myth that was.  I have had huge successes come out of just showing up, being curious, having fun and enjoying life.  I think when you take life too seriously you are in for an uphill climb. When you let go and let it flow, it rewards you in ways you didn’t know or believe were possible.

YWIB: What was your favorite part about speaking at Campus Ceo?

HW: The energy in the room. I travel all over North America speaking to groups and the vibe in the room that night was phenomenal. It told me that I was in the right place.

working on our fitness - postponed

YWiB is excited to partner with COS to offer an hour Bootcamp class on February 22 from 7:45pm to 9pm.  Entrance is a  $10 minimum donation; with all proceeds going directly to charity.  Specific charities will be announced soon. Visit www.YWiB-Bootcamp.Eventbrite.com to register. Location is 11 West 10th Ave in the back of the building behind Sport Check.

February is Health and Wellness Month

There are so many places to go for health advice I never know where to turn. Diet books, magazines, blogs, health food stores – you can get lost in it all. We all know it’s best to eat real food and move our bodies once in a while, but when it comes to overall health its best to talk to a pro. Luckily my dear friend Dr. Giselle Lefebvre, a Naturopathic Physician at Vancouver’s Sinclair Wellness Centre gave us a list of 5 simple things for us to do. First and foremost – •    Pay attention to how your body feels, how different foods effect your body, what happens when you stay hydrated all day. •    How are you sleeping? 7-9 hours waking rested? •    How are your bowel movements - ideally once a day. •    How is your cycle? Is your period regular? Future plans of having babies can be supported by doing the work now to ensure your body systems are healthy. •    How is your energy?

5 THINGS TO DO

Breathe - Pay attention to your breathing, it helps us deal with stress, keep our body oxygenated, and helps with our energy flow

Eat - Office work doesn't always support a proper diet. Have healthy snacks on hand. Whole food like fruit - apples are great and in season and travel well or try figs, dates or nuts. Make your own trail mix. Make sure to have lunch every day and don't spend that time at your desk. Give yourself a break from the florescent lights and get your body moving.

Drink - Workplace is full of coffee and muffins so do your best to not  get sucked in to the unhealthy lifestyle. Coffee is okay for the mornings but try alternatives for the rest of the day. Drink herbal teas such as rooiboos (antioxidants), mints (good for digestion) cold or hot.  Have lots of water and keep it by your desk at all times. Take movement breaks to fill it up every other hour.

Exercise - Movement is important.  Stretch every morning. Break a sweat at least three times a week. Since most jobs involve sitting all day, this affects posture, circulation and begs for weight gain. Move to help your blood circulate and rid yourself of the toxins of the work place.

Breaks - Take a technology break. Many of us spend ALL DAY with computers and then go home and do the same. Find space for nature and give your eyes a break. This will reduce eyestrain, carpal tunnel and headaches.

Starting a new job or semester means lots of change and a new schedule. It is good to take stock of where you are and also to pay attention to what your benefits are with the job. If you are spending all day in an office or library you need to take advantage of the support your job offers. Get a health team together to make sure those occasional aches and pains don't turn in to chronic problems. Remember this is the time to get a good understanding of your health - go see a naturopath to help you get yourself organized and learn simple natural ways to take better care of yourself.

For more questions visit Giselle at the Sinclair Wellness Centre located downtown Vancouver or email her at doctorgiselle@gmail.com.