speaker

Articles Tagged with: speaker

May 29, 2018

It’s a dream when there’s a team

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, ‘It takes a team to make a dream happen’. I’m going to take liberty with this phrase and turn it around to, ‘It’s a dream when there’s a team’.

Last week’s Woman in the Spotlight dinner featuring the inspirational and indomitable, Karina LeBlanc, two time Olympic Canadian soccer player, bronze medalist, motivational speaker, media host and humanitarian is the perfect example of this.

Carol Colley of Y5 Creative approached me a few months ago with an invitation to co-host a dinner with her. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity. I love working collaboratively with others! What I didn’t know at the time was that she would also bring Karina to the table as our keynote speaker. Wow.

In the months leading up to the event, Carol, Karina, and I had a number of planning calls and emails. What fun it was to identify our vision together and then work through details, each of us bringing our strengths, talent and community to the table.

attendees women in the spotlight

The dinner turned out to be everything we’d hoped for and then some.

Karina was incredible! She inspired us all to make a difference in this world when, and where we can.

Carol was a dream partner, always being available to work through details and being so patient and caring.

But here’s the bonus: we all brought our communities together! The guest list ended up being comprised of 3 incredible groups of people.

Now I have the joy of hearing how many of you met, and are now building relationships. Perhaps some of you will also form new teams.

With deep Gratitude to my fellow dream team members, Carol and Karina. It was a joy to work with you both!

Sincerely,
Pamela

Karina

Special thanks to our youth ticket sponsors. It was great to have so many young women in the room… and all because of you!

WBI Home Warranty Ltd.
Basements Plus Renovations
Inntimate Inns Ltd.
The Law Courts Inn

What a venue and what a view! The staff were so helpful, efficient and pleasant. The food was delicious!

Special thanks to other ‘Dream Team’ members

Maggie Langrick, Publisher and Founder, Lifetree Media, ‘Dream Q & A Host’
Sussan Toub, Perfect Impressions Printing
Janice Porter, SendOutCards and event champion
Linda McLeod, Health Habits for Life, event champion and exhibitor
Megan Stacey, Superpower Digital, social media and visual communications, ‘my back of house dream team’
Gail Spurgeon and Gail Barton, ‘the Door Dream Team’
Y5 Creative ‘Dream Tech Team’
Y5 Creative ‘Dream photo and videography team’

February 14, 2018

Writing a Book Helped Build the Success of My Business – An Author Success Story with Diane Rolston

You’ve probably heard that writing a book can help your business, but that can raise so many questions. How exactly does a book grow my business? Where would I fit in the time to write one? What is my best option for publishing?

In this blog series, we interview authors who have successfully written, published, and leveraged one (or more) books to strategically build their businesses. Many of these authors will be featured at our upcoming Book Publishing Boot Camp on March 6th, where you can find out exactly what it takes to plan, write, publish and market a nonfiction book that can boost your business, showcase your expertise, and build your personal or professional brand.

We begin with Diane Rolston, author of Dynamic You™: The secret code to being confident, wealthy & successful.

What is your book called? Do you have more than one?

The 1^st book I wrote came out in 2017. It’s based on my program called Dynamic You™. Like the program its purpose is to help women unleash their Dynamic Woman™ by learning and applying the 9 Pillars of successful, confident, and wealthy women.

Dynamic You Book by Diane Rolston

Then this year in 2018 I created the Dynamic Year™ Action Guide because it helps you create a Dynamic Year™ by focusing your mind on success & giving you more time & energy for your life & goals!

I’ll be launching a few books in the next 18 months:

The 1^st being my philosophy of the importance of ditching titles which is blended with a real behind the scenes story telling style of my personal journey.
The 2^nd will be curated stories of Dynamic Women™ who have unleashed their Dynamic You™ because I’m inspired by seeing others do great things and get over adversity.
Then I’m looking at a 3 book series that shares secrets of what I’ve learnt in leading, training and coaching thousands of women and how to apply them.

Why did you decide to write a book?

With Dynamic You™ I wanted the impactful work I do in the program to reach more people and be easily accessible. A $20 book does that and can be given as gifts. Also, with my background in training and education I wanted my clients to be able to read the content printed along with watching the videos I provide them in the program so it covers all learning styles.

The Dynamic Year™ Action Guide was created to support the work my clients do in the Dynamic Year™ Program. The program is a once a year occurrence and so not only were they having a hard time remembering what they had accomplished, the learning was also slipping through their fingers rather than capitalizing on it everyday. By having the Action Guide you will be on top of your achievements so your confidence will be boosted, you’ll apply what you’ve learnt so you’ll find it easier to have more success and feel motivated everyday.

You are a busy entrepreneur! How did you fit in the time for writing a book?

With Dynamic You™ I didn’t have time nor the patience and energy to sit behind a computer and type it out. I looked at my core competencies: training, leading, coaching and got into the magic of those activities and then I used the audio from the video trainings and the group coaching sessions when I taught my program. I had them transcribed into 170 pages and then added and edited to make the book what it is today.

Also, there was a sense of urgency to get the book done because as an International Speaker I was booked for Keynote in Washington and the organizers wanted to buy 350 copies of my book for their Women in Business Conference attendees and I didn’t want to miss out on that awesome opportunity.

What was your business model before the book? Has the book changed this? If so, how?

The model has always been speaking, coaching, and running Dynamic Women™ in Action and now I just added in the books to each of those areas. I didn’t write a book to be an author. I wrote these books to support my clients and get my messages out there. They are tools for growth and almost everyone can buy a $20-30 book.

In my business books are now another revenue stream. They also help people get to know me through a smaller investment of time and money, so they then can decide to work with me in one of my programs or privately. I also use then for back of room sales when I’m leading events with DWA, speaking on someone’s stage or running a coaching program. They also make great gifts for friends and family along with appreciation presents for companies to give their employees and clients.

How has the book leveraged you and/or your business to greater success and increased its reputation? If so, how?

Having a book adds another level to your expertise because if you know enough that you can write a book about it you must be an expert on that topic. I am an expert on being a Dynamic Woman™ and living a Dynamic life so it makes sense that my book is about being Dynamic and it fits with my branding.

I believe everyone is capable of writing a book, but not everyone has done it so it puts you in a class of your own. As I said earlier, books are another revenue stream, but not only that they are also another marketing stream, social impact stream, tool for my customers, PR magnet and many other benefits. They’re also an important philanthropic part of my business because it’s how I give back. I created the “More Than One Campaign” where women in shelters and transition houses receive my books. They can feel the love of those who donate the books and receive support and coaching from me in the words they read.

What advice would you give to a business owner or professional who is sitting on the fence about writing a book?

JUST DO IT! Here are three secrets to get you there:

Change your mindset! Writing a book is not as hard of a process as you think. What I’ve found is that what is unknown is scary and putting yourself out there can cut into your confidence, but when you are led by someone who has done it and you break it down into manageable parts you can get it done.
Get creative! Don’t think you have to sit behind a computer and write it. There are other options; such as, dictating a book, having a ghostwriter, compiling articles and blogs you have already written – it’s not that hard.
Get help! Hire people who have done it and also who know how to pull out of you a vision for what it is and hold you accountable to the process. Recently my client who wanted to write a book for years just handed her manuscript to her publisher. After she did she said to me, “Diane thank you for helping me do in a few months what I wasn’t able to do for years! The clarity, confidence and accountability you gave me really made the difference.”

BONUS TIP: Stand in what you know and understand you have a job to do in sharing your knowledge, information, story and gifts.

I’d love to know or help you figure out, “What’s the message the world needs to hear from you?”

October 24, 2017

Retro-Chic Enthusiast & Honorary Captain: Mandy Farmer

Where did the inspiration for retro chic Hotel Zed come from?

As a business traveler on the road I was always amazed at how boring hotels could be… where was the fun?! On those trips I started dreaming up ideas as to how to transform a hotel into a completely unordinary experience. I coupled this with a love of mid century modernism and Hotel Zed was born.

Accent Inns is a family business. What #1 piece of advice do you have for others working in a family business?

The success my father and I have had in our family business is due to mutual respect and lots of love. We got creative as to how to make it work for both of us and made sure that we always had each other’s best interests at heart. We still do and it has been such a wonderful experience to have your dad as your not only your business partner but your friend.

Have you had a mentor or been a mentor? Should everyone have one? Why or why not?

Everyone should be a mentor and have a mentor. I find that the young people I mentor always end up teaching me way more than I’ve ever taught them; I’m really just there to give them encouragement when their doubts start taking over their heads.

What sparked your love of bikes?

I adore being out in the woods on my mountain bike. It’s a great place to think and spend time with loved ones.

What book(s) are you reading right now and what have you learned from them?

I’m the type of person that has a few books on the go, depending on what mood I’m in. Tim Ferris‘ Tools of Titans is pretty killer. It has so many little gems in it that either spark ideas or inspire me to do things differently. And The Awakened Family is a book on Conscious Parenting that is useful for being more mindful in all aspects of my life, not just parenting.

If you were to give a piece of advice to someone opening a business, what would you say?

The most important marketing is the actual product.

If you had to pick two of your top business focuses everyday, what would they be?

I love innovating and coming up with a crazy idea, noodling it around, bouncing it off other people and then building a plan of implementation. Second business focus is thanking my amazing team for the stellar job they do. They run an awesome company, I just cheer them on.

On social media, who do you follow and what influences do they have?

I am not really on social media as I find it distracts me from my goals. I do however seek out podcasts from Tara Brach on Mindfullness (perfect for folding the laundry). She inspires me to stop narrating a bizarre story in my head and open to the beauty of right here right now.

Have you had any major setbacks? If so, what were they and how did you overcome them?

I believe that out of any misfortune can come an opportunity for awesomeness. I applied this to my life in many instances that were without a doubt positive game changers for me yet at the time they were catastrophes: flunking out of a 4th year university class in my last semester, giving birth to a stillborn, overcoming an eating disorder. These “disasters” are some of the best things that ever happened to me. They instilled a resilience and strength in me that is fierce yet still soft.

As an Honorary Captain in the Canadian Navy, tell us a bit about your military experience and how it ties into your business.

What a crazy ride I am on! I have no previous military experience and honestly, this does not tie into my business at all. What I love about the position of Honorary Captain is that I am serving the men and women who serve all of us Canadians. It is my chance to say thank you and let them know how grateful we are as Canadians for the amazing job they do keeping our commerce waterways safe, our waters free of drug dealers, first responders for any natural disaster, and so much more. It’s an honor to serve them.

October 17, 2017

Spotlight on Charmaine: Bestselling Author and Sponsorship Leader

What inspired you to transition from being a correctional officer to a business woman?

It’s quite an unusual inspiration. We moved from Ontario to Fort McMurray and at the time the jail was not open for business, so there was no job for me to transfer to. So I took a job as an Executive director of a women’s crisis facility/shelter and went back to school part time (then took a job with the government). Then I became a mediator and opened a mediation and consulting business.

When writing a book, what tools or exercises do you use to keep focused?

Dedicated time to actually write, otherwise life takes over and writing makes it’s way to the bottom of the pile of to do items. I also learned I am a way better talker than writer… so I talked my book. I recorded my whole book (me talking) then had it transcribed, and also used Dragon Speak.

What is your favorite part of speaking and going on tour?

Hands down… the people I meet, the relationships I build, and the opportunity to be so moved by the stories of the people I meet.

Is there a piece of advice or a quote that has inspired you?

I love Oscar Wilde who said “be yourself because everyone else is already taken” (although I recently heard he did not coin that quote). Whoever created this brilliance, I love it! As a formerly shy kid who never fit in… this quote reminds me every day that I don’t have to be someone else. I just have to be me.

What is your biggest business goal?

Right now it is to scale the business in even a bigger way. My overall guiding mission is to help one million people raise their dreams!

Have you had any setbacks that have made your business stronger or wiser?

Sooooooo many learning experiences and mistakes that turned into blessings. The things that have created setbacks are: jumping ahead without a plan, working alone instead of with other people (it takes a team to raise a dream) and trying to push the wrong goal uphill. When I am off purpose this is how it feels.

When you started your business, is there anything you know now that you wish you knew then?

Yes, I could write ten books on this. I would have asked for help sooner and built my team earlier on.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement to date?

Being able to design a life I love, working with people I adore and who we bring out the best in each other, and being married to my best friend for 23 years.

What is your favorite business quote?

It takes a team to raise a dream! (By Rebecca and Charmaine)

August 29, 2017

Keller Williams Realty & Queer as Funk: An Interview with Connie Buna, Featured Speaker

Connie Buna will be one of the featured speakers at the upcoming Women in the Spotlight Dinner presented by Pink Velvet Couch Productions and Pamela Chatry at the Best Western Plus Chateau Granville in Vancouver, BC on September 27th.

How did you know you wanted to become a realtor and a lead singer?

Music has always been a part of my life. I come from a musical family where singing and playing music together was an almost daily occurrence. To be honest, prior to singing in Queer As Funk, I’d never been in a band. This experience has come about out of a series of serendipitous events paving the way to a really incredible opportunity.

When I purchased by first home I was 25 years old and had recently graduated university with an ever-so-marketable Political Science degree. I was working at Bell Canada in a sales capacity and was really impressed by the care and diligence of our Realtor. What occurred to me at the time was that he was doing a job that clearly required a high degree of skill and care, however I too could do this work. Being a Realtor has allowed me to take complete control of my career and my opportunities as an entrepreneur.

How do you juggle the two passions while maintaining a family?

Juggling is the perfect analogy to describe the balance between owning a brokerage, running a real estate team, singing in a band and being a mother and wife. One word: leverage, makes this possible. I have surrounded myself with people who believe in a shared vision and together we can handle all of the work that is required to keep these areas healthy, successful and thriving. Very truly none of this would be possible without the unwavering support of my wife Taryn who is my closest confidant. She genuinely keeps our keeps our ship sailing on an even keel. This stability allows everything else to be possible.

What’s your biggest achievement in your business?

Keller Williams Realty is the largest Real Estate Company in the world. My biggest business achievement thus far has been opening the first Keller Williams brokerage in Vancouver, BC.

What are the most important skills to have in leading and motivating people?

Talk less, listen more and lead by example.

What is your goal for your real estate dreams?

I have a number of different goals with respect to real estate. For our brokerage, we will be the agency of choice for Realtors that want to build a stable and reliable real estate business build on a foundation of cutting-edge technology and continual education. For our real estate practice, to continue to service our clients with the utmost still and care, while pushing the industry in a direction where we can all be proud of the professionalism and expertise we offer to the marketplace.

What inspires you to keep going in your day-to-day business life?

My inspiration is in the people around me who share my vision. We are working hard together to make an impact on our families, our community and our industry.

Are you currently reading any books that inspire you?

I’m reading an excellent book right now called “Never Split the Difference” by Chris Voss. It’s a fantastic book by a former hostage negotiator and FBI agent that shares practical negotiation tools that you can use from the boardroom table to the kitchen table.

On social media, who do you follow?

I’m all over the map with who I follow on Social Media. I love Frances Bula, Imani Gandy, Lanefab, Roxane Gay, Anna Kendrick, VancouverIsAwesome, and Scout Magazine to name a few.

If you could go back in time, what piece of advice would you give yourself before entering the world of business?

Set BIG GOALS! Focus on abundance, not scarcity.

What’s your favorite business quote?

“Work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls– family, health, friends, integrity– are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered.” Gary Keller

How has failure helped you?

Failure is an amazing teacher. It keeps me humble, focused and determined. We are failing forward every day.

Tell us a little about how your band came to be.

Our band came together as a few good friends getting together for drinks and laughing about an audacious idea. At my wedding, around that same time, I sang a song to my wife. It was a song and a style of singing totally out of my comfort zone and to the surprise of all of my friends and family (and me too frankly) I can really belt out a tune. And the rest, as they say, is history.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Connie is an entrepreneur with a passion for housing stability, LGBTQ/2S rights and social justice. As a brokerage owner she is changing the business of Real Estate in Vancouver one agent at a time. Keller Williams Realty is built upon a foundation of education, ethical business practice and collaboration.

As a Realtor, Connie is best known for her integrity, strategic insight and commitment to the best interest of her clients above all else. Connie is also an entertainer in the popular Vancouver-based cover band Queer as Funk and delights in getting a room off their feet, dancing and singing to soulful tunes both old and new. Connie lives in Vancouver with her wife Taryn and their daughter Maelle.

Join us September 27th at the Women in the Spotlight Dinner at the Best Western Plus Chateau Granville and hear more from Lori Joyce and Connie Buna!

August 23, 2017

Betterwith Ice Cream: An interview with Lori Joyce, featured speaker

Lori Joyce will be one of the featured speakers at the upcoming Women in the Spotlight Dinner presented by Pink Velvet Couch Productions and Pamela Chatry at the Best Western Plus Chateau Granville in Vancouver, BC on September 27th.

What was your inspiration for your new ice cream brand, Betterwith Ice Cream?

Initially it was the discovery that real, premium ice cream didn’t exist in the grocery marketplace. I was surprised and disappointed when I realized that it wasn’t ice cream I was buying, but actually frozen dessert, and that got me thinking…

What do you consider your greatest achievement to date?

Launching with traceable dairy and being the first to have it listed it as an ingredient.

What is some advice you’d give for people considering a business in the industry?

Be patient and be prepared to work like never before.

What is the most important skills to have in leading and motivating people?

Understanding that I am not the expert and therefore trusting people from the beginning and then watching them grow.

Tell us how amazing Betterwith Ice cream is?

Well, that’s easy. It is unlike no other. It is high fat, which gives a dense and smooth texture with real simple flavour.

What was it like being on tv?

It was a tremendous and exciting experience. I would do it again.

How do you manage your career and kids?

Setting the expectations low…haha. I focus on getting as much as I can do in one day and not being too hard on myself. Building a company is like parenting. It is a life long commitment and relationship, so take it slow and with purpose.

What are your main focuses when it comes to business?

Staying honest to the brand, the purpose and people. There is no compromising.

Are there any words of wisdom that have inspired you through your journey?

Many. When I am in one of those moments, I always remember “if it were easy, everybody would be doing it.” and currently my screen saver reads ‘Living a few years of my life like most people won’t, so that I can spend the rest of my life like most people can’t.’

What does your social media news feed look like? Who do you follow?

My personal feed is real, honest and not perfect. I am not perfect, and therefore I don’t expect Betterwith to be. I am influenced by authentic, strong and confident people/brands. I follow people like Jessica Iclisoy, the founder of California Baby, and Hamdi Ulukaya, the founder of Chobani.

Have you had any failures that made your business better?

Failure hasn’t made my business better, but it definitely has made it wiser. Mistakes and failure come with start ups and building businesses. It is required to test your self, your competencies and your patience.

What is the dream result for Betterwith Ice Cream?

Betterwith will be a global billion-dollar brand and I’m excited for the journey.

Lori Joyce is an innovative marketer and has over twenty years experience creating, managing and growing brands. In 2002, Lori co-founded Cupcakes with her best friend Heather White. Lori was responsible for developing the Cupcakes Franchise and growing it into a national 10-location chain. In 2010, Lori also became the co-executive producer and co-star in the Gemini-award winning reality TV show, The Cupcake Girls. The television show aired for three seasons and was broadcast in 95 countries.

Today, Lori Joyce is focused on building her latest product venture, Betterwith Ice Cream. No compromise and all purpose, Betterwith Ice Cream stands for honest, transparent and better ice cream. The brand vision for Betterwith is to become tomorrow’s food company, and one day, Betterwith will diversify beyond ice cream into a variety of food product categories where there is opportunity to do better.

For Lori, it really comes down to enjoying Betterwith Ice Cream with her 2 young boys, Maxi (7) and Lex (5). And it’s more than dessert for Lori. It’s about sitting around a table and listening and sharing and appreciating. As Lori always simply says ‘It all comes down to this.’

Join us September 27th at the Women in the Spotlight Dinner at the Best Western Plus Chateau Granville and hear more from Lori Joyce and our other wonderful keynote speaker, Connie Buna!

May 25, 2017

Diving Deeper into Easy Daysies: an interview with Elaine Tan Comeau

Elaine Tan Comeau will be the feature speaker at the upcoming June 13th Woman of Insight Dinner at the Best Western Plus Chateau Granville in Vancouver, BC.

What made you decide to start Easy Daysies Ltd?

The goal and purpose of Easy Daysies is to make and provide products that help children and families have easier days, that is how it got its name, Easy Daysies! As a school teacher, I created visual schedules out of parent requests when they asked me to make something for them to use at home that would help their child get out the door faster in the morning. I had made visual routines to help not only my class feel safe and be at ease in event transitions, but I knew that it was a vital tool in helping my students with learning challenges and special needs. I had first made the visual routines out of laminated paper and velcro or magnets glued to the back. I had so many families request these visual routines over my years of teaching that this was the only way I could make them and give them away for free.

After making the visual schedules for parent demand for so many years, I decided that there must be a market here for such a product. I Google searched and discovered that there was no other daily visual routine out there that was a product. I talked to my husband and decided that I would make this into a product. I did extra tutoring and made crafts to sell and saved up the first $1400 I knew it would cost to make my first batch of product. I launched my first product 2 days after our third child was born. The product sold out in one month and I had funds to make the next batch. Soon, word of mouth and the blessed internet shared the positive effects of Easy Daysies, and social media and print media found out about Easy Daysies too, making Easy Daysies now readily available in locations across North America.

When you started your business, what is the one thing you now know that you wish you’d known then?

One thing I wish I knew back when I started is the importance of seeking and hiring professionals to do the jobs they do best rather than me trying to do it all. Instead of spreading myself so thinly and doing all the jobs poorly, I could have hired people who are experts at what they do so that I could focus on what I am good at for the business.

How has failure made a positive difference in your business (or life)?

To some, failure can mean a dead end, but to me failure is a stepping stone. Failure means that I have gone outside my “safe zone” to grow my business. I must learn from that failure and make it into a stepping stone to move to higher and brighter stages in my business. Anything you can learn from is a gift.

What would you say is your greatest achievement to date?

My children always get excited when they see Easy Daysies products in stores across North America, but I would have to say what makes my heart full are the e-mails that I receive from families that write to share with me how Easy Daysies has affected their lives. My heart is overwhelmed reading the message from a mom with three children under seven who all have autism, who shares her appreciation that because of Easy Daysies she no longer has to talk talk talk all day long anymore since her children can now see what is happening next. My heart is full when a foster mom writes to share that once there was so much anxiety in her home but because of Easy Daysies, her foster children feel safe and calm just because they can see and predict their day. Or the mom writing to share that her non-verbal, highly autistic daughter uses Easy Daysies as her words, and that Easy Daysies has improved the quality of life for her daughter. My heart is humbled and overwhelmed. Over the years many families have also shared that they use Easy Daysies not just for their children, but for adults with brain injury and memory loss due to early Alzhiemer’s or Dementia. I am honoured to share that we will be launching a product for adults with early memory loss called “My Day” coming out this June!

Where did you go for advice on how to grow your business?

To anyone I was brave enough to ask. I was not good at asking for help because I did not want to bother anyone. I am still working on this one!

What was the wisest business advice anyone ever gave you?

One piece of advice that I cling to, now having gone through my own experiences and I can verify its validity, is from Jim Treliving. He says, when it comes to business, go with your gut. Trust your gut feeling on whether you should do business with someone or not. I have learned that your heart is not meant to make business decisions, but your gut will instinctively tell you whether you should stay or get out.

How do you manage raising children and running a business successfully?

To me, balancing is about the choices we make, and the choices we make stem from our priorities. My children and my family are my priorities and I am aware that I could have grown my business much faster if I did not make my schedule based on being present for my children. Success, to me, is measured by my children’s happiness. As difficult as it has been, if I can choose between attending a business meeting or attending my child’s school concert, I would have to choose my child’s concert. Being a former school teacher, I know that for a child, the most important thing to them in a concert is not performing, but rather, being able to find the face of a mom or dad so that they can wave to them. That is worth more than any memory of mommy missing the concert so she could meet with a national retailer.

What book(s) are you currently reading? What do you love about them?

Purple Cow by Seth Godin, How Successful People Think by John C. Maxwell, and Thea Stilton and the Journey to Atlantis (reading with my 8-year-old).

Who do you follow faithfully on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? Why?

On Instagram (because it is quick), I follow some of my favourite people who inspire me (like Arlene Dickinson, Brianna Wettlaufer, and Jody Vance) and some of my retailers, to show support and love!

What’s your favorite business quote?

I have three!

“Don’t be afraid to fail. Be afraid not to try.”

“It is not about ideas, it is about making ideas happen.”

“We cannot hold a torch to light another’s path without brightening our own.”

Elaine Tan Comeau is the Founder and CEO of Easy Daysies, a magnetic scheduling system that helps children learn good habits, routines, responsibility, and self-discipline. She has been named Canadian Mompreneur of the Year (2014) and received the Chamber of Commerce Award for Excellence in Business. Elaine is passionate about supporting women in business, and puts this passion into action through speaking engagements, podcasts and writing.

Join us June 13th at the Woman of Insight Dinner at the Best Western Plus Chateau Granville and hear more from Elaine!

August 23, 2016

Speaker Spotlight: Meet the Legendary Diane Thomson

The upcoming Sept 21st Women of Insight ‘Retreat in the City’ will feature five incredible speakers, all of them strong and successful women who will share their experiences as they worked their way to success. I’ve dedicated the last few blog posts to introducing you to these inspiring women.

This last (but certainly not least) profile features lingerie legend and community crusader Diane Thomson.

Providing compassionate care, serving others with a personal and professional commitment, that is what Diane Thomson has honored throughout the course of her career. During which she became known as one of Vancouver’s most successful retailers, a business leader and community champion.

Diane’s Lingerie, widely respected as one of Vancouver’s leading intimate apparel retailers, flourished amid thirty years of change and growth. This growth occurred specifically because of this entrepreneur’s steadfast commitment to the vision and mission statement she set for her business.

In addition to her many business accomplishments over her working career, Diane also devoted herself to serving her community in a variety of key roles. Ms. Thomson, a crusader for breast cancer, focused much of her time on assisting breast cancer survivors, while raising awareness and funds to fight breast and other forms of cancer. Her strong commitment to BC/Yukon Region of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation was a natural for her. Her generous involvement here earned her the designation ‘Best Friend of the Foundation,’ but Thomson might say it’s another means of promoting the well-being of the community she knows best.

Not only was Ms. Thomson an industry leader, she was also a Director of other major Associations who services not only included the retail sector but also included supporting women with their career aspirations. However, her most passionate commitment remains in the quest to help in the fight against breast cancer.

Diane has remained dedicated to empowering women of all walks of life with her gift of knowledge, hope, encouragement and support.

At Retreat in the City, Diane will talk about her career from the beginning, from opening the doors of Diane’s Lingerie in 1983 to the subsequent sale in 2012. Be inspired by Diane’s journey, and the stories of our other speakers, Mary Cantando, Bobs & Lolo, and Natacha Beim. See you there!

August 16, 2016

Speaker Spotlight: Have You Met Natacha Beim?

The upcoming Sept 21st Women of Insight ‘Retreat in the City’ will feature five incredible speakers, all of them hard-working and successful women who will tell us about the challenges and victories they met on their roads to success. Over the next few weeks I’ll be letting you get to know more about each of these amazing women.

This week I’d like to highlight Natacha Beim. Natacha is an internationally recognized educational leader, author, speaker, and parenting expert who founded the highly acclaimed CEFA Early Learning Schools in 1996.

She designed the curriculum as an open learning source where leading educators can continually contribute, allowing the most creative, up-to-date, and advanced philosophies to be incorporated. CEFA won the 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 awards for Biggest BC Business owned by women; top Franchise in BC in 2013 and 2014; and ranked 4th in BC’s Fastest Growing Companies for five consecutive years.

A pioneer in the field of modern education, Natacha is passionate about developmental psychology, particularly the early years. She earned her Doctorate in Education from the Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay, obtained a Masters in Entrepreneurial Studies at MIT, and completed business studies at Harvard University.

Natacha is President Elect on the Board of the Entrepreneurs Organization, and a member of the Young Presidents Organization for businesses grossing over $15 million. She has won the Women of Worth Empowered Educator Award, is a four-time YWCA Woman of Distinction finalist, and received the Women of Distinction Award in 2015 for Education and Training. Natacha was a finalist for EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2014 Pacific, and in 2011 was named one of Business in Vancouver’s Top Forty Under 40 Entrepreneurs. She was appointed to British Columbia’s Provincial Child Care Council by the Minister of Children and Family Development.

Natacha was a published poet by the age of 16, speaks three languages, and includes teacher, ballerina, model, painter, journalist, writer, theatre actress, and marathon runner on her resumé. She still devotes time to these interests, but her passion now lies in helping the next generation of young learners through her CEFA schools. Natacha met the love of her life at 15, married him at 26, is mother to two amazing teenage boys, and loves life.

Join us Sept 21st at Vancouver’s Granville Island Hotel for Retreat in the City and hear more from this incredible woman (and four others!).

August 9, 2016

Speaker Spotlight: May I Present… Mary Cantando

The upcoming Sept 21st Women of Insight ‘Retreat in the City’ will feature five notable speakers, all of them driven and successful women who will share with us the stories of their journeys to success. Over the next few weeks I’d like to tell you more about these inspiring women.

Today I’d like to tell you about a woman who really needs no introduction. If you’re familiar with the Woman’s Advantage®, then you’ll be familiar with trailblazer Mary Cantando. But in case you’re not aware of all of Mary’s successes, here’s a backgrounder for you.

Mary Cantando’s mission in life is to help women grow multimillion-dollar businesses. To do this, she’s developed The Woman’s Advantage® Forum and The Woman’s Advantage® series of products and she speaks at regional, national and international women’s events. She writes for several national publications and works with women who want to build multimillion-dollar businesses.

Here is a list of Mary’s notable achievements:

Nationally-recognized expert on the growth of women-owned business
Founder, The Woman’s Advantage® Forums
Regional, National and International Speaker
Author of five books focused on women business owners
Developer of The Woman’s Advantage® Shared Wisdom Calendar
National magazine columnist

We’re very proud to have Mary as a keynote speaker at Retreat in the City. The levels of expertise and inspiration that will be present at this event makes it a “do-not-miss” — I hope you will join us!