On Thursday, March 12, join us for a candid fireside chat with Trisha Miltimore, a dynamic leadership expert and WorkLife Wellness Activator who has spent 25 years helping professionals ignite their impact without burning out. Trisha will share practical insights and personal stories on how to speak with clarity, confidence, and authenticity when introducing yourself and your work.

In this interactive fireside chat, we’ll explore:

• How to shape your story so your elevator pitch feels natural—not forced
• The 3 Vultures: mindsets that sabotage confidence—and how to rise above them
• Simple, empowering ways to show up with greater visibility in conversations
• Tools to communicate your value and strengthen connections in networking moments
• How to step boldly into your own voice and own your impact

Whether you’re meeting new clients, networking, or pitching your ideas, this is your chance to learn real-world strategies that make your message resonate—plus ask your questions in an open, supportive environment.

Thursday, March 12 | 10am to 11am PT | Free Virtual Fireside Chat

Free and open to everyone! Closed captioning in French will be available.

Host: Cathy Burrell, Entrepreneur in Residence
Facilitator: Trisha Miltimore, WorkLife Wellness Activator & Leadership Expert

Register Here >>>

The post Elevate Your Pitch: A Fireside Chat on Authentic Communication for Growth appeared first on WeBC.

New to Canada? This in-person workshop will help you understand the fundamentals of starting, owning, and operating a small business, as well as the challenges and opportunities you may encounter on your entrepreneurial journey in Canada.

At the end of the workshop, you’ll have the chance to connect with other entrepreneurs and build valuable relationships.

Join the Futurpreneur British Columbia Team in Vancouver on Wednesday, March 26th, from 5:30-8:00 pm (PDT).

• 5:30-7:00pm – Workshop
• 7:00-8:00pm – Networking

Refreshment provided.

Reserve a Spot

The post Futurepreneur | My Canadian Start-Up appeared first on WeBC.

The B2B Expo is an incredible opportunity to network and promote your business among the entire business community in Prince George.

We’ve partnered with the City of Prince George and Community Futures Fraser Fort George to make this event incredibly impactful for you and your business.

More info

Register here

Please Note: WeBC will be an exhibitor at this event!

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Benefits of a Business Mentor: #1 The answers to your burning business questions

Your Mentor understands what it’s like to own and operate a business. If you’re entering a new stage in your business—like seeing your sales take off, or moving from a solopreneur to boss—you may have what seems like an endless list of questions. The two of you have been matched for 6 months, and you want to know everything…including what the future holds! 

With a Mentor, the two of you can start to prioritize which questions need to be answered NOW and which ones can wait. 

Chances are, she will explain how you should go about finding answers to your business questions. If you don’t know where to start, here are 5 questions to ask your Mentor. You may discover this research mindset serves you well long after your relationship has come to an end.

Inspiration and ideas can come from anywhere, and sometimes a fresh perspective can help you to expand your horizons. 

Benefits of a Business Mentor: #2 Experience on how-to-do

Your Mentor is not your Jedi Master. She is someone who has, through trial and error developed a few essential skills that may be applicable to your business. If you ask your Mentor to explain how she set up her business books, or created a marketing plan, you may be disappointed when she cannot transplant that knowledge directly into your head. 

Your Mentor will take some time to listen to your business story and may have some suggestions on what may help smooth the way. Your Mentor understands processes and business operations. She may be able to support you in developing the necessary skills you need to streamline your day-to-day operations. 

Her real-world experience of working ON your business, not IN your business, is a key to growing your business.

Benefits of a Business Mentor: #3 A different perspective

My background is in fashion design, clothing manufacturing, and retail. In design…clothing, interior, graphic, we are taught the benefit of expanding our creative horizons by looking at EVERYTHING outside our industry. Inspiration and ideas can come from anywhere, and sometimes a fresh perspective can help you to expand your horizons. 

Your Mentor might be able to offer you a long-view of your business and your product or service. Her perspective from outside your industry could enable you to think outside your box and come up with some ideas that expand your reach. 

Have you ever considered exporting? Did you know that we define exporting as into another province OR across the globe? Your Mentor’s experience is like a two-way mirror, where you can see yourself and your business future…just a little differently.

Practice makes perfect—daily practice with a little dash of Mentor experience will have you wearing your superhero cape with a deep sense of accomplishment.

Benefits of a Business Mentor: #4 Having a trusted advisor

It’s one thing to have started a business as I did, with my father and oldest brother running parts of our family business. If I got stuck on something or had a personal matter to discuss, they were only a phone call away. 

Your business Mentor is on your side. She can be trusted to keep conversations private. Discussions concerning staff, clients, and suppliers are all common ground. If you are a sole proprietor, she may be the ONLY person you can discuss sensitive issues with. It may be the first time a business matter of this kind has come up for you, but most likely, your business Mentor will have experience in similar matters that she is more than willing to share. 

Benefits of a Business Mentor: #5 Accelerating your growth

Every business is different; however, many business processes are transferable, no matter what type of business you’re running. Your Business Mentor can remember how difficult it was prior to honing key skills in her business. She can also remember how smoothly and efficiently her business ran when she mastered those skills!

Tapping into your Mentor’s insight on how to improve these business skills is like developing a superpower! One day you are dragging yourself into your brick and mortar location or down the hall to log onto your website, and then SHAZAM!!! You are transformed into a person who has mastered something that you never thought you would…all because your Mentor let you in on the secret. 

Practice makes perfect—daily practice with a little dash of Mentor experience will have you wearing your superhero cape with a deep sense of accomplishment.

Benefits of a Business Mentor: #6 Expanding your network

Busy business owners have to make time to expand their professional networks. Your business Mentor can open the door to her network. When I had my retail store, I was a member of our local Chamber of Commerce and a few other networking groups. But after working with clients all day—even though my clients were GREAT—it was too easy to postpone networking. 

When I am working with a Mentee, I often surprise myself with the number of resources I am able to suggest. Your Mentor is ahead of you in the years-of-experience department. She has worked with people in a variety of areas in her business and can often pass these names along to you. She has professional connections you can only dream of! Your Mentor’s experience makes it easy for her to recall a name or a business that may be exactly who you need.

Connecting people is one of the greatest compliments for both parties. And she’ll probably encourage you to get out there and enjoy those networking groups, too!

When you don’t know what you don’t know, a Mentor can save you some frustrations by sharing what they learned the hard way.

Benefits of a Business Mentor: #7 Getting constructive feedback

My husband and I were both in retail. I had one store for many years, and he was with a company with over eighty stores across Canada. We regularly talked about emerging trends, monthly sales, and marketing. 

On the flip side, many women don’t have an entrepreneur in their family or social circle, which can be isolating for a woman in business. There is only so much sharing about your business day you can do at the dinner table or at a social event before the ‘eye-rolling’ begins. 

Your Mentor understands and can relate to business. Business discussions with your Mentor can be productive and engaging. You may even be able to stop starting all your sentences with ‘just hear me out…’ 

Owning your own business is creative, exciting work, and it’s nice to be able to talk about business with someone who feels the same way.

Benefits of a Business Mentor: #8 Building the confidence to make informed decisions

When I first started my manufacturing business, shortly after completing my apparel design program, I remember calling my brother to ask, ‘what do I do now’? My brother was running a neighbourhood pub in Esquimalt, and he said, ‘don’t worry, you’ll get busy, and you know…it all just starts to happen.’ 

It did get busy, and I found my flow, but the confidence piece took a bit longer. The fun part of having your own business is that you get to set the direction. The scary part of having your own business is that you are never quite sure if the direction you have chosen is the ‘right’ one. 

Your Mentor understands that ‘what-if’ feeling. 

What if I did X instead of Y? What if I misjudged my target market? What if I didn’t get a large enough loan? 

Your Mentor can help you analyze your decisions and validate or question your reasons for moving forward with a business decision. The two of you can work through a process to help you move forward with confidence. Your decisions, no matter what the outcome, are building your confidence-muscles. You can consider your business Mentor as your personal trainer—no ice-pack required!

Benefits of a Business Mentor: #9 Save time and money

I always tell my mentees that business start-up is the most costly part of the process. When you are excited to start your entrepreneurial journey and start to pay for everything up-front, you can easily overspend and find yourself short of operating capital in the first few years. 

Your business Mentor understands the start-up phase of business and may be able to support you to cut those unnecessary expenses or avoid some rookie mistakes. When you don’t know what you don’t know, a Mentor can save you some frustrations by sharing what they learned the hard way. 

Having someone go through the seemingly endless list of start-up expenses and brainstorm how to prioritize will save you time and money. Your Mentor’s experience with cash flow is invaluable when you are new to entrepreneurship. I always encourage my mentees to be as honest as they can when discussing a budget. You can trust your Mentor to provide support without judgment and keep you accountable through the process. 

The time savings involved in working with your Mentor to put a plan in place and then working through action steps on your own time prior to your next meeting can’t be overstated. Your Mentor has experience with business operations, cash flow, and financing. She is someone with experience you can trust.

Benefits of a Business Mentor: #10 Learn new skills

You became an entrepreneur for many reasons. Perhaps you wanted to use your skills to work for yourself instead of making money for a company you did not own. Or perhaps you are a creative person, and your skills are not in the business field. Or, you are a wonderfully resourceful person who learns-as-she-goes-along. 

In all three of these examples, business skills were not number one on your list. Your business Mentor can teach you how to learn what you need to know in order to move forward with your business. I am not saying that the role of your business Mentor is to teach you everything you need to know about business (we have Business Advisors for that). I said that she can teach you how to learn or research what you need to know. Here are some things to consider if you’re evaluating if your business mentor is right for you.

Let’s say you need a bookkeeper. Your Mentor won’t teach you how to use the latest accounting program; however, she may teach you where to look for a bookkeeper, and help you create a list of questions to ask when you meet them for an interview. Your Mentor may have a specialty in marketing; however, she would not teach you how to design your own website. She may suggest someone who you could meet with to discuss costs to add a shopping cart to your existing website. 

Most entrepreneurs work alone or with 1 to 5 employees. Your Mentor can help you develop the skills to find out what you need to know to run your business successfully.

The benefits to having a business Mentor are boundless when you find a business mentorship program that works for you! Your Mentor does not have a magic wand or a superpower, but her wealth of experience may make it feel that way.  

You and your Mentor have entered into a relationship as equals. You both have a business, and you both want to be successful. Like all relationships, the Mentor-Mentee pairing requires work, respect, and communication. In my time as a Mentor, I always say that I benefited from the enthusiasm and energy of my Mentee as much as or more than she benefited from my experience. Enjoy your time together!

The post Top 10 Benefits of a Business Mentor appeared first on WeBC.

Ninety-five percent of our Mentees say they feel confident with their business skills, compared to 35% prior to participating in our mentorship program. And 81% say having a Mentor has improved their decision-making skills. 

There are many different types of mentorship programs. How do you know which one is a good fit for you?

If you search mentorship, women, BC, you will see a couple of programs that may pique your interest (of course I hope you choose to apply with WeBC!) 

If you’re wondering how to find a business mentorship program, here are a few factors to consider:

How much time do you have for the business mentorship program?

How many hours, realistically, can you spend in a business mentoring program each week or each month? 

Many programs require you to attend a monthly meeting; however, you’ll need to commit to some preparation pre-meeting, and follow-up after your meeting. 

In my experience as a Mentor, I can’t emphasize enough how preparation and follow up can benefit your mentoring relationship. Taking some time during your week to note any pain points in your operations or business planning. Taking those notes and formulating a few specific questions to ask your Mentor can make all the difference in the world. 

Solving a small problem before it becomes unmanageable is the type of proactive approach that leads to business success! Does the mentorship program you are considering have time built in for this kind of pre- and post-meeting discussion? 

How do you like to communicate with your mentor?

Many entrepreneurs don’t realize that mentors usually volunteer their time as Mentors. Does the mentorship program you are considering have a policy around when and how you can communicate with your Mentor? Do you communicate with the program head, rather than directly with your Mentor? 

Depending on the complexity of the issues you intend to work on with your mentor-as-guide, this may be a deciding factor for you. In my role as Mentor with WeBC we’re encouraged to establish guidelines around communication that respects both our time and the Mentee’s time in our first meeting together.  

Once those agreements were set, most of the communication outside the actual meeting time was handled by myself, as I made it clear to my mentees that I was available to talk, text or email should something come up. 

Communication style is a personal preference, so be sure you’re comfortable with the communication parameters prior to applying to the program.

Is the business mentorship program flexible?

If you’re running a business, managing a family, and trying to have a life, you understand what I mean! Being accepted into a mentoring program a month or two in the future can require a bit of juggling should a staff or family member become sick, or your business experience an unexpected shock. 

Be sure to choose a mentoring program that allows you the flexibility to change your plans. Does the program allow you to miss a session, or change groups? What happens if you and your Mentorjust don’t quite ‘click’? Choose a program that allows you to speak to someone throughout the process in confidence. 

You’ve probably been waiting for a program to open for applications, or for a Mentor In your specific industry to become available. Once you have been accepted into a program, take some time to understand who your contact people are, and if need be, to clarify your commitment to your Mentor, and/or the other members of your group. 

If something happens and you are unable to participate be sure to understand the refund and exchange policy. 

Ask around

Many times a personal referral is what helps you to decide on a mentorship program. 

Did a fellow member of a networking group rave over a program? Did your accountant or bookkeeper mention a client who had a 5-star mentorship experience? Have you had a good or GREAT experience with an organization’s other programs such as Business Advising or Financing? (We hope so!) Have you read a few glowing testimonials on the organization’s website, or on Social Media? If so, your search for the perfect mentoring program may be over!

Finally, if you’re searching for a business mentoring program and can’t find a perfect fit, consider this: perhaps you don’t need a mentoring program at this stage of your business. 

Perhaps you would benefit by speaking with a Business Advisor instead. Consider registering for a session on marketing. Or business planning. If you aren’t sure what you need to move your business forward, perhaps we can help. And if you’re an experienced entrepreneur, maybe you’re ready to give back as a Mentor, like me!

The post How to Find a Business Mentorship Program that Works for You appeared first on WeBC.

Peer support encourages, strengthens and builds confidence when developing ideas or making decisions. A women’s peer support network is a treasure chest full of knowledge, wisdom, resources and practical help for entrepreneurs.

PARO is here to support you in finding your own peer circle – join us!

Reserve your spot at parocanada.ticketleap.com/circle-up-networking-event—bc/

The post PARO Prosper Circle Up! | Free Networking Event appeared first on WeBC.

Virtual networking can be an effective way to save time and reach new markets. So how do you ensure you make valuable connections without feeling like a salesperson?

On December 13, join us for a WeCafé with networking expert and life coach Sue Maitland PCC who will share the secrets to successful virtual networking. She’ll share how to:

• Reframe your limiting beliefs about networking
• Learn the basics of virtual networking
• Approach networking with a plan
• Hold meaningful conversations that find mutual benefits and go beyond small talk
• Follow up in a way that adds value

Join us to ask your networking questions of Sue, and connect with other women entrepreneurs!

Facilitator: Cathy Burrell

Panelist: Sue Maitland, ICF Accredited Life Coach and Networking Expert

Register Here >>>

The post Overcome Your Resistance and Embrace Virtual Networking appeared first on WeBC.

As an entrepreneur, work can often feel isolating and even unproductive. On the other hand, coworking spaces are much more conducive to productivity as they provide a positive work environment that encourages networking while workers share tools, services, and facilities.

We have compiled a list of five coworking spaces throughout BC that we think would be a perfect match for any entrepreneur living in these areas. 

Nestworks, Vancouver

Nestworks is a family-friendly co-working and child-minding community. Hosted in This World’s Ours Centre, the 3,500 sq. ft. space features a mini gym and sensory playhouse in a renovated, light-filled heritage space in the heart of Mount Pleasant. Founded by social entrepreneur Madeleine Shaw, who also founded Aisle (formerly Lunapads), Nestworks offers adult co-working with optional childminding for kids ages 12 months to 5 years.

While parents work in various hot desks and semi-private areas, children enjoy supervised play in three adjacent children’s spaces: a mini gym, an indoor playhouse and open reading/free play area. Open from 9 am to 12 noon Monday to Friday, exclusive of holidays until the end of June 2023; re-opening in September.

“When I had my daughter, there were very few options for the flexible care that I needed as an entrepreneur, so I brought her to work with me. This was the inspiration for Nestworks, where we are exploring the idea that work and family life don’t need to be as siloed as they have been in the past.” – Madeleine Shaw, Founder and Chief Community Officer, Nestworks.

Location: 191 E 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC

Contact info:

hello@nestworks.space

nestworks.space

Photo credit: Nestworks Website

Hubspace, Prince George

Hubspace is the Innovation Accelerator for Northern British Columbia, helping the technology community to grow and the business community to adopt the technology. They are in downtown Prince George, creating collaboration opportunities and a vibrant working environment for innovators. They offer curated coworking memberships ranging from drop-in to more permanent spots and hot desks for daily rentals. 

Co-working space is beneficial in so many ways; sharing space keeps costs down for founders who are just starting and haven’t had a chance to generate revenue. Hot desks are the “hot ticket item” right now as people working from home get tired of working alone. When needing to get out of their sweatpants, they can pop into some business clothing and onto a hot desk for a few days or weeks – Mary Mytting, Executive Director

Location: 101-1584 7th Avenue, Prince George

Contact info:

office@hubspace.ca

hubspace.ca

BBB Engagement Centre, Vancouver

Located in the heart of Vancouver, this space provides collaborative, inclusive and multi-use co-working spaces to host events or act as a temporary workstation for BBB-Accredited Businesses.

They are open from 9 am to 4 pm every weekday; you can rent the entire facility, a large boardroom, huddle rooms or individual workstations. Until August 31, 2023, this space is offered at no cost if events are within regular office hours; any event outside of that time will attract a charge.

Location: 500 – 1190 Melville Street, Vancouver. 

Contact info:

booking@mbc.bbb.org

bbb.org

Photo credit: Better Business Bureau

Mountain Colab, Revelstoke

Conveniently located in the heart of downtown Revelstoke, the Mountain CoLab provides valuable resources to support the personal and professional growth of motivated individuals within the community. As a registered not-for-profit society, they aim to provide affordable, collaborative, friendly, inclusive and safe coworking spaces to the community.

“We’re really keen that the CoLab is a welcoming space for everyone, from long-time Revelstoke locals to digital nomads just passing through town for a few days,” said vice president Nia Williams.

Location: 101-A 2 St E, Revelstoke

Contact info:

hello@mountaincolab.com

mountaincolab.com

Photo credit : Mountain CoLab

ProducKIDvity, Kelowna

ProductKIDvity is a one-stop shop for childcare, office space and community in Kelowna founded by woman entrepreneur, Alex Carnio. She started her business with a mission to create a better life for working parents through child-friendly workspaces.

Drop-in desks, dedicated desks and private offices are some of the options provided by ProducKIDvity. They aim to provide a prestige co-working centre that offers the best services whether you are a drop-in or premium client. The centre is pet friendly, and clients can access the building 24/7. 

“Starting something from an idea and actually seeing it come to life is amazing. It’s been a really positive response from the community [and] it just seems like we’ve been able to check off a lot of boxes for families.” – Alex Carnio, Founder of ProducKIDvity

Location: 540 Leon Avenue, Kelowna

Contact info:

coworking@produckidvity.com

produckidvity.com

Photo Credit: ProducKIDvity

Coworking is the antidote to the isolation and distractions many entrepreneurs face when working from home. They are a place for productivity, networking and community.

Do you have an awesome coworking space in your community? Let us know in the comments!

The post Coworking: An Entrepreneur’s Solution to Isolation appeared first on WeBC.

Shannan Schimmelmann and Shauna Harper will guide a panel discussion to explore different perspectives and gain valuable insights on what it means to be more inclusive in our lives. You will hear personal stories, expert insights, and practical strategies to apply in your own life and community. This intimate gathering will provide a safe space for open conversations that challenge biases, broaden perspectives, and create understanding. There will be opportunities for everyone to participate and contribute their unique perspective.

✨ Learn about the power of allyship and how to be an effective advocate for inclusion.

✨ Discover actionable steps to create equitable opportunities for all.

✨ Engage in meaningful dialogue with panelists and fellow attendees.

✨ Be inspired to make a positive impact in your own spheres of influence.

We believe that change starts with conversations, and this intimate fireside chat is the perfect platform to initiate those conversations. Join us as we celebrate our differences, break down barriers, and foster an environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.

Register Now>>>

The post Diversity & Inclusion Fireside Chat appeared first on WeBC.

Greatness comes from the courage to push through fear and doubt, and grow in confidence and assurance. It is in pushing through the uncomfortable and scary spaces that we hit our stride. Our 2023 conference theme, “Rockstar Moves – Step Into your Greatness’ will encourage attendees to tap into their inner Rockstar by giving them the professional tools they need to seize opportunities for advancement and promotion, to reach their full potential! Let’s step into our greatness together in 2023!

Register Here >>>

The post Spark Women’s Leadership Conference appeared first on WeBC.

The Art of Leadership Women is returning to Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto! This unique one-day conference features an incredible collection of speakers and topics curated to share strategies and insights on the most critical issues facing leaders in our world today. Don’t miss this invaluable opportunity to develop your leaders, engage your talent and build high-performing teams. Join us for a full day of exceptional learning, networking, and championing change for women.

Register now>>>

The post The Art of Leadership Women Conference appeared first on WeBC.

Calling all women, femme, and non-binary entrepreneurs! Are you ready for an uplift? This June 14-16, 2023 get ready to feel replenished and energized; supported and seen; and above all, connected to yourself and other business leaders that know we need global transformation.

As women and non-binary entrepreneurs, we will gather for ourselves, for our businesses, for each other, and for the change we wish to see in the world.

Learn more or apply now>>>

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