The deadline for applying to volunteer with YWiB has been extended to October 31st. This is to accommodate for our newsletter going out later than we expected to members annoucning the opening of the positions. Please see here for information on applying!
Thank you to everyone who has already applied - we will be in touch soon if we already haven't!
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.
September 29th marked the 15th Anniversary Celebration of the Professional Women’s Network (PWN). Founded and chaired by YWiB Advisor, Michelle Pockey (whom we love!), YWiB was extremely excited to volunteer at the event and support these amazing women who have supported us!
The celebration honoured both women and men who have made, and continue to make, a significant contribution to the advancement of women in the professional workplace. The list included many familiar faces such as YWiB Advisors Frieda Granot and Bob Elton, Beyond Pink speakers Judy Thomson and Gayle Hallgren-Rezac, and the most familiar faces of all, YWiB President Paulina Lipska and Vice-President Jennifer Sung. (full list)
The theme of the evening was to recall the past and celebrate the future of professional women. The keynote address (and the highlight of our evening!) was given by Anne Lippert (President, Consulting and Advisory Services) and our very own Paulina and Jen!
Anne shared stories of her experiences in starting out in the working world. The proverbial glass ceiling was very much a reality in her time. After being told countless times that ‘women were not management material’, Anne fought to be recognized as an equal and was one of the first women in BC to participate in a trial program at RBC to train women managers. She provided incredible perspective on how much change has occurred.
Paulina and Jen followed with exciting stories of young women who are following their passions and pioneering new paths. The stories were of friends seeking opportunities for exploration, for making and impact, and for starting something new. Using a metaphor of ‘crayons’, Paulina and Jen explained that the options for professional women have grown from a ‘small pack of 12 colors’ to over 120 in the box. Their ‘call to action’ for all women present was to ask and invite young women to sit at the table. Exposing young women to all the crayons will help them find their favourite color, and to continue to add more crayon colors to the box.
A big hug and heartfelt CONGRATULATIONS to Michelle and PWN! And an even bigger THANK YOU to all the women and men who were honoured for their contributions to helping us all to keep on growing, exploring and excelling.
marica
click for feature article in BC Business
YWiB would like to invite you to join our Board of Directors! We're looking for a great fit for our team to take on the role of Director of Finance. Click here to view the job description.
a complete application includes:
due date applications are due by October 23rd at 11:59pm - and should be emailed to info@ywib.ca with the subject field “YWiB Position Application – Position Name Here”.
The following positions are open until October 11th:
We need someone like you! YWiB is currently on the hunt for a few spunky individuals to add to our team! Be a part of a fun-loving, hardworking, wine-indugling team and add your creativity, insight and expertise to the conversation. If you love white-boarding ideas, developing projects and cultivating relationships, one of the following positions just might be right for you:
a complete application includes:
due date applications are due by October 10th at 11:59pm - and should be emailed to info@ywib.ca with the subject field “YWiB Position Application – Position Name Here”.
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):
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 |
Anne Lippert
Principal, Anne Lippert Consulting 604 733 1979 |
| Jill Earthy CEO, Forum for Women Entrepreneurs 604 682 8115 jill@fwe.ca | Barbara Mowat
President, Impact Communications 604 644 8298 |
| 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 |
| Paulina Lipska
President
Young Women in Business paulina@ywib.ca |
Jennifer Sung
Vice President
Young Women in Business jensung@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) |
We are so excited, over-the-moon, ecstatic and thrilled at the announcement of the recipients of The International Alliance for Women 2011 World of Difference 100 Awards. 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 honored in this year's awards include (drumroll please!) YWiB President Paulina Lipska and Vice-President Jennifer Sung in the Young Women Leaders category! We are so proud of Paulina and Jennifer! For the past three years they have been the inspiration and motivation for YWiB's initiatives as well as so many others. Where would YWiB be without Paulina and Jennfer...that remains to be unknown, but it definitely wouldn’t be what it is today – the go-to organization for young women in Vancouver, and internationally recognized as a model for brining women together in an environment that encourages women to push their boundaries and to build their stories to share with the world. The YWiB story is full of bumps, jumps and trying ‘til we succeed moments. But the moments that stand out are the ones where Paulina and Jennifer said ‘we’re going for it’, regardless of what anyone else was telling us. Their energy and passion has motivated the team through some of the biggest challenges we’ve faced as students, and as young professionals. Paulina and Jennifer lead the team with all their hearts. “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” – Theodore Roosevelt
for the full press release on The International Alliance of Women 2011 Awards, click here.
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.
