Kathryn Joel has been running her business, Get Cooking, for the past 10 years, but like so many other businesses, when COVID hit she had to consider how to move to an online format. Since her website was designed with an in-person event model in mind, there were a lot of hurdles for her small team to figure out.
2020 AWE Awards Recipients Announced
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our first virtual-edition of the AWE Awards on October 1st, 2020! It was an evening of great inspiration and encouragement, and reminded us of how grateful we are to be part of such an engaged and supportive entrepreneurial community in Alberta.
Although we would have loved to have been able to celebrate with you in-person, it was truly wonderful to see so many people come together virtually to recognize some of our province’s most outstanding entrepreneurs. For those of you who were not able to join us, you can view the entire event online here.
AWE was delighted to have Carrie Doll as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening. As an entrepreneur herself, Carrie understands the unique journey of owning your own business.
We were also joined by Justin Riemer, Assistant Deputy Minister, Alberta Region, Western Economic Diversification Canada, who spoke about some of the creative ways that women entrepreneurs have pivoted their businesses over the last few months – producing hand sanitizer, masks, and moving services online. He underscored the importance of supporting female entrepreneurs, noting that “helping more women become entrepreneurs is both the right thing to do for our society, and the smart thing to do for our economy.”
A common theme of the evening was that despite all the uncertainty, challenges, and sleepless nights – entrepreneurship is an incredibly rewarding path for many women. Heather Lastiwka, Vice-President of Adaptation at ATB Financial summed it up best when she remarked that "entrepreneurship is a symphony of freedom and sacrifice, empowerment and mistakes, risks and ultimately rewards."
We are pleased to share that the 2020 AWE Awards Recipients are:
Emerging Entrepreneur Award: Kristina Botelho, Kb&co
As the "kb" in Kb & co, Kristina opened the "fast casual plant-based café" on 104th Street downtown after experiencing the health benefits of a plant-based diet. In June 2016, Kristina unleashed her creations to the public opening her first location. 1.5 years later, she expanded into the southwest of Edmonton and since then has continued to grow the concept into St. Albert, Kelowna, BC and Calgary.
When accepting her award, Kristina commented “I share this [award] with all of those who were nominated because I know the struggle. I know the pain; I know the heartache and I know what you guys have been going through and I'm just so grateful to be chosen."
Upsurge Entrepreneur Award: Kendall and Justine Barber, Poppy Barley
Kendall and Justine Barber are the Co-Founders of Poppy Barley, a company rethinking every step of the footwear industry. Partnering with family-owned factories in Mexico and Brazil, they ethically craft polished, foundational footwear and chic, functional accessories—selling them at fair prices and donating 1% of sales back into our communities.
In their acceptance video, they shared that “For us entrepreneurship has been like a seven-year roller coaster, there's been a lot of up and downs...but I think when it comes down to it our biggest wish at the end is going to be that we get to do it all again.”
Indigenous Entrepreneur Award: Koleya Karringten, Absolute Combustion International
Koleya Karringten has spent a decade successfully designing and developing ground-breaking cleantech solutions for multiple industry sectors, including aerospace and Oil & Gas. She is a driving force in Alberta’s blockchain technology industry as the Executive Director of the Alberta Blockchain Consortium (ABC), and co-founder and board member of the Canadian Blockchain Association for Women (CBAW). Koleya strongly believes that uniting diverse voices behind a common goal is the path to creating a fairer, more sustainable and prosperous Alberta.
When accepting her award Koleya underscored the importance of role models, stating that “I hope that every young girl watching this knows that no matter what you can do it, you can be successful. You can be a woman in STEM."
Celebration of Achievement Award: Lara Murphy and Karen Ryan, Ryan Murphy Construction
When Lara and Karen met on a Banff construction site in 2008, they turned their shared experiences and ideas into a strategic plan and vision on which Ryan Murphy Construction was founded. This vision is simple but unique: Ryan Murphy Construction is highly approachable, transparent, and responsive. Eliminating the assumption that everyone knows how to build, they opt to educate clients throughout the construction process - an innovative model.
In her speech last night Lara Murphy shared that "being an entrepreneur is not always easy, there's no path put forward for us. We all make our own path and that takes bravery and courage."
Congratulations to all of the 2020 nominees, finalists, and recipients! Although the awards ceremony is over for this year, women entrepreneurs will continue to be leaders and trailblazers in our communities.
As Marcela Mandeville, CEO of AWE, remarked last night “The talent, the leadership, and the passion of women entrepreneurs in this province is incredible. We’ve come so far in the last 25 years...we are so proud to support you and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
Thank you to our AWE Awards sponsors!
Presenting Sponsor
Advocate Sponsor
COVID-19: Support and Resources
Updated on July 17, 2020.
Alberta Women Entrepreneurs recognizes that the impacts of COVID-19 are significant for many small business owners. We’re here to support you during this period of uncertainty.
Here’s how:
Meet with an AWE Business Advisor (remotely) at no cost
An AWE Business Advisor can help you talk through your business strategy, your delivery model, and how to manage cash flow. They can also delve into marketing, talk about mindset management, connect you with other resources, and more.
Access up to $40,000 as part of the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF)
The Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) will provide financial support directly to women-owned businesses to address COVID-19 impacts on their short-term stability. This financing will support small enterprises that are struggling with working capital needs and are unable to access larger federal relief funding programs or unable to obtain a loan/credit from traditional financial institutions.
Join our upcoming webinars
We’ve got several free online webinars lined up on topics such as writing a business plan, leading digital transformation, and determining readiness for entrepreneurship.
Stay updated on COVID-19 resources for women entrepreneurs
There’s a lot of information out there right now. We’re doing our best to organize valuable resources for women entrepreneurs and update it regularly.
The health and safety of our staff, our clients, and our community is our top priority. As such, any scheduled in-person events, workshops, and meetings are postponed until further notice.
We are dedicated to continuing to support women entrepreneurs in Alberta and will proceed with delivering webinars and online programming, remote advising sessions, and answering inquiries via email and telephone.
Please email info@awebusiness.com if you have any questions or concerns.
Government of Canada to invest $8.3 million in western Canadian women entrepreneurs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 16, 2020
EDMONTON, AB – Canadian women entrepreneurs are contributing to the economic success of our communities. At the same time, they have unique and systemic hurdles to overcome when starting and growing a business, and have been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, many of the sectors where women entrepreneurs tend to operate like retail, accommodation and food services, have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
To help remedy this situation, Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Western Economic Diversification Canada), today announced $8.3 million through the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund to support the Women’s Enterprise Initiative (WEI) organizations across Western Canada. PS Duguid made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD).
The Women’s Enterprise Centre in British Columbia, Alberta Women Entrepreneurs, Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan (WESK), and the Women’s Enterprise Centre of Manitoba will each receive $2 million in additional loan funds for women entrepreneurs. In addition, $300,000 in operating funding will be divided equally among the four WEIs to meet the increased demand for advisory services and business supports.
Targeted support for women entrepreneurs in Western Canada
These organizations will use the funds to assist Canadian women-owned businesses unable to access larger federal relief funding programs by providing them with immediate liquidity to face COVID-19-related challenges. WEI organizations have extensive experience working with women entrepreneurs, assisting them to overcome barriers and challenges in building their businesses. They also have a proven track record in providing loans and after-care services to women entrepreneurs to ensure their long-term success.
Supporting businesses during this unprecedented time of crisis is an integral part of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan. These businesses are the backbone of our economy—they provide good jobs that support families across the country. By supporting employers today, Canada will be in a stronger position as we come out of this crisis.
Quotes
“Our economies and communities are stronger when women are full participants in entrepreneurship. We know that the effects of COVID-19 have been significant on women entrepreneurs, with many experiencing decreased revenues and difficult decisions. Access to relief financing is key to ensuring women-owned businesses are able to find a path forward through crisis and recovery.”
Marcela Mandeville, CEO, Alberta Women Entrepreneurs
“Women entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses are facing unique challenges in Canada and across the West. I’m pleased the Government of Canada is able to provide these supports so they can continue operating and building Canada’s economic future. Women entrepreneurs want to go back to building their businesses, and we will be there to help them build back better.”
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, MP for Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada
“Western Canadian women entrepreneurs make incredible contributions to our economy and communities every day. Their economic empowerment is essential for a thriving economy and will be crucial for the economic recovery of western Canadian communities. With WD’s assistance and other Government of Canada supports women-led businesses will come back stronger than ever.“
Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Western Economic Diversification Canada) and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change (Canada Water Agency)
Quick Facts
On May 13, 2020, the Government of Canada launched the $962 million Regional Relief and Recovery Fund—including $304.2 million for Western Canada—to support businesses economically impacted by the COVID-19.
The funding announced today is provided through WD, which strategically invests in projects that promote sustainable community economic diversification, enhance business development and growth, and facilitate innovation.
In 1995, WD established the Women’s Enterprise Initiative (WEI), creating an independent non-profit organization in each western province to support women entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses. The WEI organizations provide business advisory services, loans (up to $150,000), mentorship and networking opportunities to support women entrepreneurs.
The Government of Canada is advancing women’s economic empowerment with the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, a nearly $5-billion investment that seeks to double the number of women-owned businesses by 2025.
Related Links
Associated Links
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Media Contacts
Jeremy Ghio
Communications Director, Office of the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages
Devonne Kendrick
Marketing Lead, Alberta Women Entrepreneurs
devonne.kendrick@awebusiness.com
WD Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-WEST (9378)
TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired): 1-877-303-3388
Entrepreneur Feature: Shani Gwin
AWE Awards nominees are recognized for their resilience, innovation, and leadership in their communities. Though we’ve had to postpone our 2020 AWE Awards celebration, we’ve taken this opportunity to talk to nominees, exploring their journeys and the challenges they’ve overcome to build successful businesses in Alberta.
Shani Gwin keeps her heritage close and her family closer. She is a sixth generation Métis woman dedicated to elevating Indigenous voices in her community, which is what led her to start her own communications company, Gwin Communications, in 2016.
Shani lives a block from her childhood home, in between her parents’ homes, who separated when she was in grade two. They have instilled in her a desire to help others, with both of her parents having been involved in the Indigenous community throughout their lives.
“I have these amazing role models and I knew I needed to give back.”
Before starting her company, she worked with the City of Edmonton in the Indigenous Relations office. Shani provided support to First Nations communities, which is how she met Chief Tony Alexis of Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation. As they got to know each other, Chief Alexis began encouraging her that her skill set was needed in the Indigenous community.
“I always had this thought of running my own business.” She considered her options and asked herself, “Could I actually make a go of this? Should I be working for Indigenous organizations and helping them navigate the media and helping them tell the stories that are never told?”
Her mind was made up when she was presented with a full-time contract opportunity she couldn't turn down. What she had started as a side gig officially became her career.
As a mother to her nine-year-old daughter and two-year-old son, Shani says the challenges of owning her own business while managing a family can be overwhelming, especially during these unprecedented times.“These are things that women, specifically, who are business owners struggle with — these unsung pieces of motherhood.”
As a small business owner, Shani says that each project she takes on feels like an achievement. “It’s amazing that people trust me and are happy with the work.”
Some of Shani’s career highlights include working with the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation and helping to position Chief Alexis as a key contact for media inquiries on Indigenous issues and statements. “His successes are my successes because I feel like I have a small role in helping him shape that sort of media presence and that relationship.”
Shani has been working with the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund for a few years, and last October, the organization flew Shani out to Toronto to attend Secret Path live. The immersive multimedia show brought together artists to tell the story of Chanie Wenjack and the painful legacy of Canada’s residential school system. “It was an emotional evening.” Shani helped coordinate all marketing and promotions leading up to the event.
As an AWE Award nominee, Shani says being recognized makes her proud of herself and the other women involved: “I'm so honoured to be a part of that growing list of women. It makes me emotional!”
“It's really important to acknowledge and recognize women and the amount of time and effort that they spend on making their dreams come true. I do believe it is so much harder for us to realize these dreams of ours.”
Shani has been able to find support from many women in her life, including her elders, her sisters, mother and her late grandmother. “I have a daughter who I learn from everyday — she's a huge motivator behind my success. I’m going to show her that she can do whatever she sets her little heart to.”
This year, Shani hired her first summer student, a First Nations woman from Ontario, which she says is “part of the dream;” having Indigenous women working together and supporting each other.
“I know there are more challenges for Indigenous women, especially, to take that next step.” Shani says having that support is integral and encourages anyone looking for advice, or just wanting to talk, to reach out to her. You can connect with Shani and learn more here.
Entrepreneur Feature: Banyk Chia
AWE Awards nominees are recognized for their resilience, innovation, and leadership in their communities. Though we’ve had to postpone our 2020 AWE Awards celebration, we’ve taken this opportunity to talk to nominees, exploring their journeys and the challenges they’ve overcome to build successful businesses in Alberta.
Banyk Chia is the CEO of Alternative Legal Service Firm Inc. (ALSF), a bilingual firm with a team of paralegals, but she prefers the term “legal agents.” ALSF provides assistance in self-representation before the Alberta Provincial Court and organizations like the Alberta Human Rights Commission. Her firm also assists clients with legal drafting, family mediation, commissioning of oaths and immigration consulting services.
Banyk, whose first language is French, came to Canada in 2014 from Cameroon with a background as a lawyer. “When I arrived, I was full of ambition of becoming a lawyer [in Canada]. I wasn't aware of all the challenges I would have to face. I didn't know where to start.”
After doing some research, she discovered she would have to take seven exams to practice law in Canada. The Federation of Law Societies of Canada gave her five years to complete her accreditation. In that time, she knew she needed two things: to learn English, and to find a job.
While getting settled in her new home, she saw an ad on TV for a legal assistant program with CDI college. She soon enrolled in the one-year program, and was confident she could find work with a law firm and start her path to becoming a lawyer once again.
“Things didn't happen the way I wanted and that is life!” After graduating as a legal assistant, Banyk was unable to find a job. “It was a challenge. No one wanted to hire me. That's when I started to get depressed.”
She applied to countless law firms. She didn’t have any connections and she knew nothing about networking. Banyk kept applying online and getting nowhere. She did that for three years.
By the end of 2017, her husband was growing concerned, and asked her what she wanted to do. “I refused to give up on my dream.” She knew she needed legal experience, even if it was unpaid. She began volunteering within the Alberta court system.
“That's how I found it was possible to be a legal agent and run your own business as a paralegal. I thought, ‘If I create my own organization of legal agents, I will have the experience of the legal system and I will have money to prepare my career as a lawyer.’ ”
That’s exactly what she did.
In 2018, Banyk incorporated her organization. “I'm so happy! It was the best choice in my life! But I still had challenges; I had to run an organization. As an immigrant, I didn't know how to make it happen. I had no connections.” She didn’t let that stop her. Banyk attended business classes for many months in order to learn how to set up her own firm.
Her journey to owning her own business wasn’t an easy one. Banyk’s inspiring resilience kept her on track: “I wanted to give up. You have to fight harder — triple time — just to reach your dream.” With limited English, no connections, and no knowledge of the Alberta court system, Banyk has done her fair share of fighting for her dream, and she hopes other immigrant entrepreneurs, especially women, are inspired by her journey.
“The biggest challenge as an immigrant was credibility. Being an entrepreneur is a challenge; being an immigrant entrepreneur is more challenging because you have no connections. You need to build that credibility. You need to believe in yourself.”
Banyk is now continuing her studies to practice as a lawyer and hopes to start her own law firm. She has been nominated for the AWE Awards (2020) and the Afro-Canadian Best Entrepreneur (2019). She’s received this year’s award for Best Immigrant Entrepreneur from the Economic Development Council in Alberta.
Communicating During Times of Rapid Change
The importance of communicating with your customers frequently and openly has been made glaringly clear by the pandemic. As the stages of the quarantine progressed, customers needed to be updated on business closures and adaptive offerings, and now that Alberta has begun its phased reopening this is all the more true. Wherever you’re at - reopening, sticking to curbside pickup, or something else entirely - if your customers aren’t informed, they’ll likely find it difficult to support your business despite their best intentions to do so. Looking for inspiration to bolster your communication efforts regardless of your current state of operations? Keep reading!
If you are reopening…
Communicate hours and expectations.
Will your customers need to bring their own mask? What are you providing (hand sanitizer, disposable masks, etc.)? Are there new systems of operation? For example, will they be expected to wait in their vehicle prior to appointments? Are there social distancing markers in place? What forms of payment are you accepting?
Outline how you’re doing your part.
What are you doing to protect the health and safety of your patrons and your staff? Are you following guidelines set out for your sector by the Alberta government and/or recommendations from a professional association? Are there additional disinfection procedures you’ve been undertaking? We’re all facing so much uncertainty in almost every regard, so communicating your efforts to slow the spread and ensure the safety of your customers is paramount for rebuilding trust and consumer confidence.
Inform your customers of price adjustments.
If your prices have changed, be transparent and upfront. Customers are much more likely to respond positively if they are aware of the details and know that you’re being honest about pricing.
Remember, customer satisfaction is about meeting and exceeding expectations, so be sure to set appropriate expectations to begin with.
If you’re not opening…
Let your customers know!
Are you awaiting a certain time in the future? Is your business in a later phase of reopening? Loop in your customers so they know what to anticipate and when they might be able to stop by your location in the future.
Keep communicating what you ARE offering.
Are you directing customers to an online shop with curbside pickup? Are you doing deliveries or offering take-out orders? What about services available via telephone or video chat? Again, adapting your offerings to suit current restrictions won’t help your business to succeed if your customers aren’t aware of them.
Times are rapidly changing, and most customers are understanding of entrepreneurs altering their distribution channels. The key is letting them know where to find you.
If you have nothing to sell right now…
Don’t stay quiet! There are multiple ways you can continue to engage with your customers organically, including:
Building out your email list for future email marketing opportunities.
Providing value-added content by sharing your expertise, such as tutorials, informative blogs, behind the scenes material, sneak peeks of upcoming products/services, showcasing your employees, the list goes on!
Building out your social media profiles; brainstorming, writing, scheduling content that you may not have had time for in the past will help generate buzz for when you are ready to begin selling again.
Just as your customers trust you to provide them with a superior product/service, trust that the community you’ve built will stick around through tough times like these, so long as you continue to connect with them!
Methods of Communication
Yes, social media is a big part of communications in 2020, but don’t forget about other important lines of communication!
Your Website
When you have a question, where do you turn? Google! As the most important source of information, your website should be a priority to inform those actively looking. Update your website frequently with your current hours of operation, offerings, and other pertinent information.
Email
Sending out a newsletter to your customers with valuable updates ensures that information is sent straight to their inbox. Just be careful to review and segment your mailing list - no one needs another COVID-19 related email from a place they got an oil change five years ago. If you’re looking for tips, Campaign Monitor has some relevant best practices here.
Phone
If you offer appointment-based services, this is a very beneficial method. When scheduling or rescheduling appointments, it is convenient and effective to contact your clients directly and outline any new processes or expectations. Other options could include recording a greeting message with important things to note, or an updated voicemail message if your doors are still closed.
Social Media
In addition to the above, social platforms are an effective method of disseminating information. Nonetheless, don’t assume that all your customers are seeing your social posts, be sure to use other methods of communication in conjunction. Furthermore, social media can be quite the black hole of information, so do your best to cut through the clutter rather than add to it. You may also consider advertising on social networks to spread the word about new online offerings, or your reopening.
The current landscape for business owners has been changing rapidly for months, and it will likely continue to do so for months to come. Accordingly, communicating with your customers is a necessary and worthwhile endeavour. Most importantly, you want to be open and honest about the situation your business is facing. Managing times like these well, you can end up farther ahead in positive perceptions and customer loyalty while showcasing the humanity behind your brand.
Still not sure where to start with your communication efforts? We’re here to help! AWE offers advising services to assist with communications, business strategy, managing cash flows, and more.
Entrepreneur Feature: Janessa Marshall
AWE Awards nominees are recognized for their resilience, innovation, and leadership in their communities. Though we’ve had to postpone our 2020 AWE Awards celebration, we’ve taken this opportunity to talk to nominees and highlight how they’ve adapted their businesses to weather the pandemic. This month, we interviewed Janessa Marshall, entrepreneur and owner of Red Deer’s The Forum.
The Forum can be considered a physical fitness centre, but owner Janessa Marshall explains that it is so much more than that. Established in 2016, The Forum is dedicated to helping people find their best versions of themselves while prioritizing movement. Its mission revolves around community and lifelong education, with people coming together to share knowledge, passion, and play.
Janessa’s passion began as she started looking for ways to find more joy in life and pursue what is interesting, valuable, and exciting.
“I kept coming back to movement. The concept was: what if there was more possible with our bodies than we give ourselves credit for? The more I took training, the more I started to see that maybe there could be something else.”
Throughout this venture, Janessa sought to reach out to her community and ask, ‘What do you have to share?’ Creating synergies between vocational certifications and lived experience, The Forum allows for a collective of shared passions and social connection. When the pandemic hit, it became clear that this community could grow into something beyond in-person experiences.
“We asked ourselves, ‘What is the core of what we do and why do we do it?’ That's not confined to a space. When we converted online, we were committed to continue providing the foundational skills, the development, the routine, and the structure that people are seeking. We're just doing it online now. People meet with us one-on-one through video conferencing and other mediums. We chat about how people are doing, where we need help, where we need more support, and how we can show up more for each other. We also offer online group classes in an extensive schedule.”
That isn’t to say that the transition was easy. Converting to online distribution involved building a completely new website that could accommodate members logging in and accessing content that was normally provided in a live setting. Since then, the process has involved listening to community members and asking questions like: What’s working well? What could be better? What are you struggling with? Then, they can continue to tweak the system in order to accommodate those needs.
As for maintaining her own wellbeing, Janessa emphasizes the importance of connecting with other people and the simple necessity of being outside.
“Getting outside, being outdoors, is a must-do for me everyday. Usually when we go to work, we go grab coffee, we go do this or that, and we're outside for a cumulative two hours or more. In this situation, when you have to intentionally do it, it's hard! But we need it. And then, connection with people. Intentionally reaching out to people to connect and having that vital human interaction.”
The foundation of The Forum comes from supporting people in movement, which is why they’ve expanded their offerings to include free access to live classes online for everyone, everywhere. Additionally, they have free offerings for frontline healthcare professionals, including unlimited access to live classes and recordings of those classes.
“Frontline healthcare workers are showing up so much right now for us, that we wanted to be able to give back and say ‘We see you. We want to show up for you, too’. We wanted to make sure that when they wanted or needed that workout, when they needed that time for themselves, that it was available at whatever time of day.”
And finally, as our province begins its phased reopening, Janessa underlines that her current aim is concentrating on the now and how they can serve their community today. Further building out this online platform, The Forum can expand beyond a physical space while continuing to offer clients the flexibility they’ve been enjoying with an at-home offering.
At the end of the day, her ultimate goal is to remind people that they are worthy. When schedules are busy, when life brings so much uncertainty, and when others need our support, it is absolutely necessary to prioritize our own wellbeing.
“We are worth spending the time on ourselves. It's in times like these that we downgrade our own worth and say, ‘I'm just going to show up, I have so many people I have to support, I have to show up for them. I don't have time. I don't have energy.’ And those are the moments that we really need to show up for ourselves, so that we have the ability to be there for everyone else. Especially as women, we show up for our family, we show up for our friends, we show up for our business, for all of these things we show up, but we always put ourselves last. And if we can't get up, who's going to show up for everyone else?”
To learn more about what other AWE Awards nominees are doing to adapt to the new business environment click here.
A Message from our CEO, Marcela Mandeville
This month marks AWE’s 25th anniversary as an organization. Since 1995, we have been focused on supporting women’s entrepreneurial dreams. Today, our purpose remains the same, but how we accomplish that has certainly changed over the last 25 years. It has also significantly changed in the past two months.
It’s been over nine weeks since I announced that AWE would be indefinitely postponing in-person events and programs. Our programming has shifted to be entirely virtual with workshops becoming webinars, and advising appointments being done via video or telephone calls.
In the weeks since then, I have felt moments of fear, grief, joy, and calm (sometimes I experience all four in one hour). As I reflect on the past nine weeks, I am grateful that AWE has been able to continue our work with women entrepreneurs across the province, especially in this challenging time. I am also incredibly grateful for our team’s commitment, adaptability, professionalism, and kindness.
We sent out a survey a short while ago to check in on how our community is doing and how we can best support women business owners. The impacts of COVID-19 have been far reaching, and many of you shared that your businesses are experiencing decreased revenues and you have faced difficult decisions, and are trying to find the best path to manage through crisis and recovery.
The survey also indicated many entrepreneurs have shifted their businesses to provide products or services online and 38% have come up with new products to address market needs. It has been amazing to watch women entrepreneurs pivot their businesses and step up for their teams, their families, and their communities.
We understand the responsibilities of being a business owner, as well as a friend and family member are weighing heavily on many of you. Our survey revealed that many who responded have high confidence that they are supporting their teams during this time, however, only half have high confidence that they are equipped to manage their own mental wellbeing.
As we see many business owners work incredibly hard to survive and find ways to thrive, I am reminded that “you can’t pour from an empty cup”. Your business is important, and so are you. I hope you are taking care of yourself, and I encourage you to reach out if you need support.
A strong community that supports each other has never been more important. In this time of rapid innovation and digital transformation for many businesses, we have been working with partners across Alberta and Canada on how to best support entrepreneurs through these challenges and opportunities.
Last week, AWE participated in the Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC) Virtual Symposium, which brought together to bring expertise from across the country to reach a national audience of women entrepreneurs. I am excited about the future opportunities that will exist because of new technologies and a strong desire to digitally transform our organizations.
As Alberta begins our phased reopening, we know that there is still a lot of uncertainty about what the future will hold, and we would like you to know that you are not alone. AWE is just one of many organizations here to support you, to advocate for you, and to listen to you. If you are looking for support or have feedback to share with us, please reach out.
Always with gratitude,
Marcela
Reading Break: 9 Inspiring Books for Women Entrepreneurs
In one way or another, we’re all dealing with added pressure as a result of the pandemic, whether it’s due to new uncertainties as an entrepreneur, bored children pulling you in all sorts of directions, or just plain old cabin fever. Now more than ever is it important to take time for yourself - prioritizing mental wellness and giving your brain the break it likely needs. Braving the storm that is COVID-19, many entrepreneurs are indulging in new and past-neglected endeavours to stay optimistic and cope with stress. Reading can be one such activity to take a break from your work (and your screen). We asked some AWE team members what inspiring, entrepreneurial books have been open on their nightstands as of late. If you’ve been dipping your toes into the literary arts and are looking for more, be sure to check out these recommendations!
Thrive by Arianna Huffington
“Thrive by Arianna Huffington redefined what it means to be successful in our fast-paced and modern world. This book made me realize that I needed to prioritize my well-being, sense of wonder, inner wisdom and compassion, so that I can not only survive but truly thrive.” - Nicole Cayanan, Financing Specialist
Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis
“I like it because it is a no-nonsense, easy read that all women business owners should read, reminding themselves of the important things to keep themselves and their businesses running. The personal and the professional should drive. It is a confidence booster that takes you back to the basics.” - Kandis Neth, PeerSpark Facilitator
Brave, Not Perfect by Reshma Saujani
“I loved it because it’s relatable to many women who are struggling with striving for perfection in all areas of their lives, due to societal ideals, and letting that get in the way of being able to truly follow their dreams because of their fear of being perceived as anything less than perfect. This book offers great insights and motivation to help women live their dreams fearlessly.” - Kiran Sagoo, Program Specialist
No Filter by Sarah Frier
“This book walks through the story of Instagram and the $1B dollar sale to Facebook. It is interesting to me how the brand grew so quickly, and the fact that they had a server devoted to Bieber's followers. I would recommend it to anyone that ever felt their idea would never amount to anything.” - Amber Hall, Business Advisor
Good to Great by Jim Collins
“This book was assigned reading for a class I took on change management and it delved into the seven characteristics that companies that transition from being good to being great have. I really enjoyed how the concepts in this book were backed by real-life examples which made it so much more interesting to read. I’d recommend this book because there are some really good nuggets of information that women entrepreneurs can apply in their own businesses.” - Fatima Mohamed, Marketing Assistant
This is Marketing by Seth Godin
“I believe great marketing comes from understanding your niche audience first and foremost. In this book, Seth Godin focuses on creating success through stories, great products/ services, and treating customers like people, not numbers. Marketing doesn’t have to mean shouting, scamming, and being manipulative. You can do marketing that's ethical, generous, and effective. This book is not a checklist, but rather a marketing manifesto for long term success. It's one of those books that needs to be savoured like a bar of decadent chocolate, small pieces. Here's to less hustle, more humanity.” - Jenifer Horvath, Business Advisor
4 Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferris
“This book is about adopting a new mindset completely toward your work/life balance.” - Eliana Salazar, CFO
Brotopia by Emily Chang
“Brotopia focuses on Silicon Valley and the tech industry, but I think the topics explored by Emily Chang can be applied beyond that. This book really changed the way I think about the concepts of meritocracy or hiring for culture fit, and challenged a lot of my initial assumptions about why women are underrepresented in certain industries. Ultimately Chang addresses the question of ‘How did we get here and how do we fix it?’” - Devonne Kendrick, Marketing Coordinator
Radical Candor by Kim Scott
“I read this book on the advice of women entrepreneurs I greatly admire. Kim Scott offers a practical, honest approach to communicating and creating relationships built on trust by caring personally and challenging directly. I love the focus on guidance: giving it, receiving it, and encouraging it. “ - Marcela Mandeville, CEO
Without a doubt, these circumstances have been challenging, and all of us are eagerly awaiting a return to normalcy. Nevertheless, we persist, and hold tightly the activities and habits that fill our cups and connect us to the world and each other. Perhaps one positive takeaway from this crisis is the importance of interests outside of work - the little things we do to fuel our souls that so often get pushed aside. And maybe, once this storm blows over, we can continue to make them a priority when our busy lifestyles and hectic schedules recommence.
