From left to right: speakers Rebecca Bollwitt, Jane Russell, and Jill Earthy; moderator, Rita Rogers

There was a consistent theme throughout the wonderful talks given at the 7th Annual Women in Leadership Speaker’s Series today at the Fairmont Pacific Rim in downtown Vancouver. Each speaker was asked to, in keeping with the catch phrase of the event, articulate the best advice they’d ever received.

Without exception the incredible women chosen to speak this year all advised present and future WIL members to “do what you love”. Though this advice is not original and many of us know it, it is wonderful to be reminded to take stock and realize that the work you do matters.

This year’s event was moderated by Rita Rogers, owner of Own the Stage Consulting and a member of the WIL Foundation since 2009. Rita’s energy and commitment for WIL set the tone for a wonderful 90 minutes of inspiration and advice from some of Canada’s most influential women.

Keynote speaker Wendy Lisogar-Cogghia and moderator Rita Rogers

Kicking off the event was Wendy Lisogar-Cogghia, Chair of the Vancouver Board of Trade and CEO of Century Plaza Hotel and Absolute Spa.

Wendy is the youngest Chair of the Vancouver Board of Trade and she shared with us some great, personal stories of how she got where she is today. Her main focus has always been consistency, passion and focus and to, cleverly, surround herself with the best people for the job.

Wendy told us a funny story about having to choose between a new client and retrieving some very important business papers from a dumpster. Not willing to allow her staff to do something that she wasn’t willing to do herself, Wendy dove into the dumpster to save the papers. In doing so, she was required to leave a potentially huge client hanging but it all turned out great when the client gained an enormous respect for Wendy’s willingness to put herself out there for her staff.

That passion extends throughout her entire life and she has always included philanthropy as a large part of that work. She works tirelessly to fund various children’s charities throughout BC with her Century Plaza Hotel and Spa Women’s Media Golf Classic and has raised over $2.6million! Her more recent endevours include raising enough money to fund the Pacific Autism Family Centre.

It was a truly inspirational talk and the sold-out audience of nearly 250 were all completely engaged and entertained.

Following Wendy, we were treated to live testimonials from Lana Gilbertson, Sr VP at MNP,  a WIL Mentor, and from Rentia Narayan who has seen the wonderful benefit of being a WIL Mentee. Both women iterated the importance of having shared experiences and opening up networking opportunities for each other. It was a great insight into how the WIL Mentorship program really works well. Both also thanked Lucille Wang and her uncanny ability to connect mentors and mentees who really work well together.

The afternoon continued with the panel members Jane Russell, Rebecca Bollwitt and Jill Earthy all of whom spoke about their own, personal journeys to success and offered great advice as to how others might follow.

I was particularly taken with the different routes they have each taken to get to the WIL stage today. Jane is a career TD Bank exec who’s great advice is to embrace opportunities even if they seem to be lateral moves. Every new role is a chance to learn something new and grow. Lateral movement within a corporate setting make you more promotable as they expand your abilities.

Rebecca, better known online as Miss 604 and one of the top 100 women of influence, reminded us that failure is not trying something unsuccessfully but not trying something at all. Don’t be afraid to fail because that’s where the learning happens. She also reminded us to remember to take a break occasionally. Rebecca’s preferred method of desk relaxation includes checking out  some non-thinking-required pics of crazy cats or cakewrecks.com. Remember to laugh, everyday.

Finally Jill, CEO of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, who is a self-described “non risk taker” or “calculated risk taker” suggested that rather than chase “balance” we should look for “harmony” in our lives. Some days things will be completely out of balance but things swing back and forth constantly so you need to be nimble and flexible and willing to roll with whatever is thrown at you. Her greatest piece of advice, however, was to remember to ask for advice. You’re not in this alone and WIL is a great place to find help.

All of our speakers today were really great, articulate and inspiring.

The WIL Spotlight Speaker Series is just one of the wonderful WIL events happening throughout the year. If you would like to attend an event, become a mentor or a mentee or volunteer you can find all the information required right here, on our newly launched WIL website.

Nina Jauernig Manager, Myers Norris Penny  Chair, National Sponsorship Committee

1. What led you to become a volunteer with WIL? What place does volunteering hold in your life?

Volunteering has been extremely important to me since moving to Vancouver from Germany in 2001. I have volunteered in various capacities including as a crisis line volunteer for over four years. Volunteering has allowed me to contribute in a meaningful way and to meet some amazing individuals and friends.

I first became involved with WIL as a mentee in the 2010 mentorship program. I have great mentors at work (MNP LLP Consulting) but was looking for a new perspective from someone outside my field. I signed up for the program looking for inspiration, direction and connection. I found all three!

I decided to volunteer for WIL because I saw the difference that the organization and mentorship program makes for women in Canada especially by building lasting connections and personal confidence. I have been volunteering with WIL since mid-2010, first as Live Auction Committee Coordinator at the 2010 gala and then as the Strategic Partnership Specialist on the Vancouver Chapter and the National Sponsorship Committee.

2. What has been the most memorable moment in your work with WIL?

The most memorable moment for me was probably the 2010 gala, which was one of the longest most hectic days of my life. It was extremely rewarding to see everything come together, raise significant funds for the WIL mentorship program and hear the positive feedback from gala attendees.

3. Who are the important mentors in your life? What women inspire you?

Cindy Fediuk from SAP and former WIL Vancouver Chapter Chair was my mentor in the 2010 WIL program and has been my mentor and friend ever since. Cindy taught me to think outside of the box and not to be afraid to set exciting and ambitious goals. I learnt that you are more likely to achieve goals you write down and share!

I am also inspired by the women in my family. My mother is one of the strongest and kindest women that I know but does not give herself enough credit in my opinion. My aunt has overcome immense adversity in her life and is still one of the happiest and inspiring people I know.

4. Do you have any advice for women starting off their career?

I have found that women are often very uncomfortable taking credit and promoting themselves at work. My advice is to not be shy about promoting your own talents and contributions. I would also advise women starting off their careers to find a mentor and an advocate. It is even better if those are two different people. It is important to have an advocate at work who helps you grow and progress. A mentor can be someone in a different field who inspires you and makes you see things in a different light.

5. What other things do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I more than anything love to read. I also like to plan parties, gatherings and events for my friends. I love connecting people.

6. What is your favourite book and why?

This is a really difficult question to answer because I read so much. I just love books in general. I really enjoyed The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Trilogy because the book’s main takeaway in my opinion is that heroes and friendships come in all shapes and sizes.

7. What do you consider your “words to live by?”

“Success is 99% attitude and 1% aptitude.”

Azy Chobak Vice Chair, Toronto Chapter Communications Officer, Trees OntarioYou can follow Azy on twitter at @achobak.

1. What led you to become a volunteer with WIL? What place does volunteering hold in your life?

Volunteering is a fantastic way of acquiring new skills, making new discoveries, meeting like-minded individuals and giving back to the community. As a volunteer with WIL, I aspire to support women in developing and fine-tuning their leadership skills. I strongly believe that empowering women is a central strategy in economic growth, international development and social change.

2. What has been the most memorable moment in your work with WIL?

One of the most memorable moments is from my first WIL event. Leading up to the occasion, the team and I had worked hard to plan and execute the event. During the event, I recall feeling an exciting energy buzzing in the room as our guests networked and participated in the activities. It’s been moments like this that have motivated me to continue volunteering with WIL to create more opportunities for women to network and develop.

3. Who are the important mentors in your life? What women inspire you?

I have many mentors, male and female, who are open to sharing their experiences and insights with me and who have consistently guided me in the right direction as I steer along my (sometimes bumpy) path. I have always been inspired by women who have overcome adversity to lead successful lives and are open to supporting and educating those around them.

4. WIL has chapters in Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto. How would you describe the women of your Toronto chapter?

I would describe the women of the Toronto Chapter as committed, focused, ambitious, passionate, and tireless!

5. Do you have any advice for women starting off their career?

My advice is to work hard, take initiative and develop strong relationships. It’s also important to continually seek and accept more responsibility and to use every opportunity to learn and grow. Don’t let your fears get in the way, always articulate your personal brand and never hesitate to share your creative ideas and strategic input with the management team.

6. What other things do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

What spare time?! In my spare time, I like to get lost in a good read or explore the latest documentary film on the block – preferably in the company of friends and family.

7. What is your favourite book and why?

It’s difficult for me to land on just one favourite but I was truly moved by a recent read, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. For me, this was a compelling and eye-opening journey into the harsh realities of gender inequality in the developing world. This book also introduced me to women who seized the opportunity to initiate change and, in my opinion, became inspiring leaders in their communities.

8. What do you consider your “words to live by?”

“Don’t let your victories go to your head, or your failures go to your heart.”- Unknown

Thursday, March 1st marked the launch of the 2012 WIL Vancouver Mentorship Program. Now in its fourth year, the goal of the 6-month program echoes that of the WIL organization – to increase women’s participation in management and leadership positions across Canada through mentorship and skill development.

The program launch, held at the Cossette offices in Yaletown, was a fantastic evening of mentor-mentee introductions and widespread networking for all. The 70 women partaking in this year’s program hail from the corporate, financial, nonprofit and entrepreneurial sectors and all share one common thread – other than ambition, of course – the desire to build bridges.

 Within moments, the room was abuzz with animated chatter; eager introductions, the sharing of conversation, and excitement for the partnerships that lay ahead. Although I am not a part of the mentorship program, myself and the other WIL volunteers had the opportunity to mingle and meet participants. Just being in the presence of this incredible group of women was an inspiration itself.

 Having spoken with mentors and mentees alike, it was interesting to hear what led them to the WIL organization and specifically the mentorship program. Mentor and IBM Learning Consultant Karen Bowes describes the program as, “a great way to stay connected, give back and be involved with the local community”. When asked what she hoped to gain from the mentorship experience, mentee and Kraft Food Service Sales Representative Jacquelyn Wing responded, “I am looking to have a neutral sounding board outside of my network of co-workers and friends who can help me to think outside of the box; someone who can push me to be better and do more with my time.”

 Following the period of networking, we were led through an ice breaking exercise of speed intros. This was a great opportunity to recognize the immense level of talent, creativity and success in the room. By the time the evening wrapped with a group photo, the general sentiment of the crowd was that of comfort, anticipation and inclusivity.

 A total of 166 women across Canada will be participating in the WIL Mentorship Program this year. Adding these women to the 18,000 who have been touched by the foundation to date, it’s safe to say we are well on our way to realizing the goal of increased participation of women in management and leadership positions nationwide.

 Terrene Conway is the Communications Lead with the WIL Vancouver Chapter, a marketing communications professional and social media enthusiast. Follow Terrene on Twitter {@TerreneConway}.

 Nirveen Basra is the Communications Intern with the WIL Vancouver Chapter. Find her on Twitter at @Nirveen.

WIL is pleased to announce the promotion of Lucille Wang to role of Program Director – National Chapters, Mentorship & Volunteers. Lucille first joined WIL in 2008 as a volunteer. Then in 2009, she joined WIL full-time, playing a major role in expanding the Foundation’s successful programs and engaging countless volunteers. She has been instrumental in the growth of the WIL Mentorship Program to a national level.

Lucille has also dedicated her time to building WIL’s national volunteer framework to further assist in WIL’s expansion. She has successfully built and directed National Human Resources, marketing, and local advisory boards and chapters in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. Last but not least, she established WIL’s Annual SuperWomen & Friends Charity Gala in 2008 and SweetTalk national networking series in 2009, both of which have become premiere social events in Vancouver.

Now as our full-time Program Director, she is a blessing, bringing warmth and passion to WIL. Congratulations Lucille!

After attending Sweet Talk on Wednesday, I wanted to share some of the themes and styling tips that have stayed with me post-event. Not only was this WIL event a fun and light evening, the proceeds went towards supporting the WIL mentorship program which helps over 140 women in 6 months in Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto!

Here are some tidbits that I took away from the event that I’d like to share.

Look at angles and lines of your face when dressing

There are two main face types: round/oval faces and angular faces.

If you have a round or oval face, you should:

• Wear round jewellery or jewellery that is drastically opposite of round
• Wear round or oval necklines
• Wear round toe shoes

If you have an angular face, you should:

• Mimic the angles on your face
• Try wearing wrap dresses (they look great on women with angular faces or people who want help with their body shape; if you want to wear a wrap dress but don’t have an angular face, make sure the print or jewellery is round)
• Wear angular prints

The key here is to mimic your face shape to look your best. Not to worry though, if the necklines of your current clothes don’t fit with these guidelines, you can always fix them by adding appropriately shaped jewellery.

Pay attention to your body shape

There were several useful tips such as:

• Small accessories on busty women causes discord
• Pleats don’t actually hide your stomach
• Wear softer fabric around your middle if you feel you have a full mid-section

Fashion tips aside, I think the broader theme of the night was that women of all shapes and sizes can empower themselves to feel and look sexier regardless of their shape or size, by making slight adjustments to their wardrobes. Which, incidentally, fits well with WIL’s mission of providing inspiration to women in Canada!

Christina Ing is a BBA grad with majors in marketing and social/environmental geography. She is currently working as the Marketing Specialist at RewardStream and has been on the WIL volunteer communications team for two years. Other than volunteering with WIL, her interests include ethical marketing, animal welfare, outdoor activities, holistic health, and vegan cooking.

I entered to win 2 tickets to #sweettalk hosted by @WIL_Fdn http://bit.ly/dzbt77  RT to enter.

A total of six tickets will be given away, with 2 tickets drawn September 15th, 2 September 16th and a final 2 on Monday September 19th.  Winners will be drawn randomly at 7pm PST time on those dates.  The draw will be cumulative, so enter early for more chance to win.  The winner will need to be in Vancouver to attend the event on September 21, 2011.  Also be sure to follow WIL_fdn so they can DM you if you win. 

Thank you to everyone who entered. Our winners were @SBeats, @sanazj and @ChelleLan.

GOOD LUCK- and hope to see you all at Sweet Talk for an evening of fashion, dessert, wine and fun.

Sweet Talk – Sweet and Stylish Networking Event

Sep 21, 2011  |  6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.  |  CBC Studio, Audience Lounge  |  700 Hamilton Street

Ever wonder about the abundance of dress styles available,(A-line, strapless, halter empire, princess…. Etc.) and which one you should be wearing to look and feel your best!  Speculate no further! 

Join the Women in Leadership Foundation and Celebrity Fashion Stylist Tracy Richardson for Sweet Talk 2011 and discover the dos and don’ts of dressing for your body type.  Tracy is always a popular speaker using audience participation to demonstrate how to dress for YOUR body. That’s not all, Tracy has a top-secret surprise for all participants, get your ticket now!  They are on sale for 1 – $35 and 2 – $50.

How Remarkable Women Lead focuses on what drives and sustains successful female leaders – something we all want to know, right? I first heard about this book on a website and was instantly intrigued by the title. Having just returned from a one-year maternity leave, I felt the trajectory of my career path dip while I was off and was eager to get the engines working again. 

The book is organized in short chapters (key for the tired women!) focusing on one lesson at a time. Some of those lessons include: meaning in your career, the “happiness equation”, starting with your strengths and “stand up, speak up!” A big revelation that hit me smack in the face in the introduction chapter was that the hundreds of women that were approached to share their stories in the book saw “work-life balance for what it was –an unattainable goal. Instead, they have adapted to a life of managed disequilibrium – a fluid and dynamic approach”. AMEN SISTER! I’ve been thinking that for years, even before the little munchkin came into my life.

The writing style and content of the book resonated with me throughout, especially the section about the “comfort zone”. Are you comfortable in your job? You really shouldn’t be…at least not TOO comfortable. If you’re TOO comfortable then you aren’t challenging yourself enough, you aren’t being stretched, you aren’t developing…or so says the book. “Taking a narrow view and staying in your comfort zone usually leads to small goals and small achievements. Doing what you once thought was undoable is incredibly energizing”. That really hit home with me. There is nothing like feeling  in over your head to push you to new heights, it’s how I have always progressed the quickest in my career. 

I have so many “post it” notes arrow sticky’s in this book it’s comical – that doesn’t happen often. How Remarkable Women Lead provides the reader with tools you can start using immediately! Like how to expand your network and be the best “connector” you can be, how to stay focused on your personal development, how to find a mentor and a sponsor (they are different you know!), what you may be doing in your career to your detriment and how to be a truly great listener.

The book is 25 chapters – 25 life and career lessons. I encourage you to pick it up today! I’ll leave you with a lesson I learned, one which I know I am guilty of, and likely you are too. Never begin a sentence with something like “This may be a bad idea” or “Not like my opinion matters” – remember your opinion does matter, your ideas are good and there is no need to  discount yourself. Apparently women do this a LOT more than men.

 Jen Schaeffers is the Director of Marketing & Communications for Sport BC and has spent 10 years working in sports marketing including positions with the Vancouver Canucks and Intrawest. Recently back from maternity leave, Jen is enjoying the new challenges of being a full-time working mom while continuing to grow and expand her network. She is currently obsessed with boggle, grooveshark, and pretzel M&M’s. She can be found on www.twitter.com/jenu2

I click-clacked into the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel on Saturday, November 6, feeling how I always do when my feet are raised a couple inches off the ground: awkward. I don’t do heels like a lot of women my age do heels, ie. wear them on the regular, sometimes on the daily. It’s a circular argument I’ve had with myself and my mother too many times to count: “You have to learn how to walk in heels!” “But I hate wearing heels!” “Then how will you ever learn to walk in them?” In any case, I wore a pair of pretty little silver things to the Women in Leadership Foundation’s 3rd Annual SuperWomen & Friends Gala:  A Sea or Possibilities and just prayed that no one would notice how clumsy I looked or how heavy I seemed to be stepping.

I didn’t have to worry for long, because as soon as I entered the venue, I completely forgot about my high heel complex and instead found myself floating amongst hundreds of other women and men against a backdrop of aquatic blues, greens and turquoises – there were people, there were fancy finger foods, there were silent auction items galore (too many of which had my name written all over them). I had my photo taken on the red carpet. (Me? On a red carpet? Where was I? What year was this?) I got glossed, powdered and touched up at the mini makeover bar. I mixed and mingled. I watched and marvelled. The dresses! The hair! The makeup! And the heels! Everything and everyone looked so beautiful, just like gala guests should, but there was also a feeling of…promise in the air. Like anything was possible. Like the dreams of those in the room could come true, and would. I guess that’s why the evening was themed “Sea of Possibilities,” because every person in attendance had one standing before her, regardless of age or where she was in life. If ever there was a night to realize that we owe it to ourselves to think big, dream big and act big – this was it

As I made my way around the auction tables and into the gorgeously decorated ballroom, I caught up with other mentees and mentors I’ve met since beginning WIL’s Mentorship Program back in May. I chatted with a few of the 80 some-odd volunteers and sent a silent plea out into the universe to either let me win the fabulous raffle prize (it was a TREASURE CHEST of goodies…filled to the brim) or be the top bidder of that one-year membership to Semperviva Yoga.

Emcee Rita Rogers opened the program as we sat down to the first of three delicious courses and I could tell right away that she would make for a fun and entertaining evening with her firecracker energy and a catwalk totally Top Model-worthy. She introduced WIL President and Founder Maya Kanigan, whose presence really reminded me of the ocean itself – calming yet powerful. This mom-to-be is a living, breathing SuperWoman, and her commitment to the advancement of young women across Canada is truly admirable. Joyce Groote, the event’s keynote speaker, recounted her success story as President and CEO of Holeys, and left me feeling inspired with some words of wisdom. “Act like it’s impossible to fail,” she told us. The live auction came next, followed by a fashion show featuring sparkly dresses and functional work wear. All the elements of the jam-packed program flowed into each other like rolling waves and I was captivated from beginning to end.

I felt honoured to have been a part of this inspirational evening, stirred by hearing the stories of women who dismissed doubt and forgot fear in order to realize their dreams. I click-clacked out of the ballroom when the night drew to a close, no longer consumed by my teetering around in silver sandals. After all, there was a sea of possibilities waiting for me to dive into. SuperWomen wear all kinds of fancy footwear, or sometimes none at all – the SuperWomen & Friends Gala taught me to be okay with swimming barefoot.

Christina Low is a Mentee in the 2010 Women in Leadership Mentorship Program. By day she passes the time as a Marketing & Communications Coordinator for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. By night you can find her reading, pretending to be “really into” yoga, or shopping in high-end organic supermarkets that she cannot afford. Tweet her at http://twitter.com/christinal159.

Sarah Elton is a writer and journalist who lives in Toronto, balancing both a career and a family. Her book, Locavore, is literally about how we should source our food “from farmers’ fields to rooftop gardens” and “how Canadians are changing the way [they] eat” by moving towards local and organic foods. Locavore contains easy-to-understand information on why a sustainable food system needs to be put in place, how it can be enacted, and gives numerous examples of Canadian-based individuals, groups, and businesses that are doing their part to make this happen.

Elton writes in a narrative manner while discussing the environmental and societal impacts of eating in an unsustainable manner. She also provides interesting and informative details on the origin of food we consume on a day-to-day basis. A lot of foods one would assume are produced locally, such as apples actually originate from places as far as China. She explains about the importance of eating organic and how pesticides originated from the “war machine when weapons researchers were redirected to agriculture”.

The book, with its Canadian-grown stories of new and long-term farmers of all ages going organic and/or selling straight to consumers is very inspiring in that it motivates the reader to want to eat more local and organic foods and to possibly even want to take up farming. Elton does a good job of highlighting the ability for positive change to happen on an individual, local, and national scale.

Ultimately, the main take-away from Locavore is that sustainable local and organic food is not only good for the environment, but good for the community and for your body as well. That being said, a local, organic and plant-based diet is even healthier. The parts on local wild edibles such as flowers was particularly interesting and will likely inspire you to visit both the great outdoors and farmers markets more often.

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 Christina Ing is in her last semester at university, graduating with a BBA and majors in marketing and social/environmental geography. Other than volunteering with WIL, her interests include ethical marketing, animal welfare, outdoor activities, holistic health, and vegan cooking.