Do you know a woman entrepreneur of a high-growth business that wants to experience amazing growth? Please let her know about this program:

FWE e-series Program

The Forum for Women Entrepreneurs e-series is a program of entrepreneurial training sessions that runs each year from January until June for women entrepreneurs of high growth, leveragable businesses wanting to take their company to the next level.

Applicants for the e-series program should be:

1. a woman entrepreneur;

2. of a high growth business, in any sector, that can be leveraged;

3. the business must be the sole focus of the entrepreneur, who is not maintaining another job or business on the side;

4. the candidate should be either:

     a. the controlling shareholder;

     b. or an equal partner with up to 4 other partners;

     c. entrepreneurs in other situations (e.g. operating partner but not major shareholder) are encouraged to apply and will be considered on a case by case basis;

5. fully committed to attend all of the sessions subject to the regular day of the week that the group collectively chooses (typically Monday evenings 3:45 pm to 6pm)

6. entrepreneurs in other situations (e.g. operating partner but not major shareholder) are encouraged to apply and will be considered on a case by case basis;

Investment

The cost of the program is approximately $1,800. This includes weekly sessions taught by business leaders and industry experts, access to FWE’s resources and materials and a complimentary ticket to the e-series graduation gala. Full payment can be made up front or via a payment plan (6 payments from January until June ).

Application Process & Deadline

To apply for e-series, fill out this application form
Application deadline is October 18th, 2010. Interviews will take place in November.

Contact FWE

Cybele Negris is Co-Founder of Webnames.ca, Canada’s Original Domain Registrar. She was formerly the President of Wired Woman Vancouver. She is on the Boards of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, Small Business BC, Government of BC Small Business Roundtable and the Vancouver Economic Development Commission. More information is available at cybele.tel or webnames.tel. Follow on Twitter @cybelenegris and @webnames

By Cybele Negris

This is part II of my series on the Vancouver Small Business community and how companies and their owners are taking advantage of the Olympics as billions around the world cast their eyes onto Vancouver.

I spoke to Jill Earthy, Executive Director of the Forum for Women Entpreneurs to find out what members of the organization were doing to leverage off the Olympics in their businesses.  Jill provided some great examples ranging from official licensed suppliers for the Olympics to innovative products and promotions:

Kathryn Adrian of Please Mum who has the officially licensed merchandise for children's wear.

Debra Lykkmark of Culinary Capers which also caters many of the FWE events is catering a number of events during the 2010 Olympics. She had planned many years ago first by pursuing the catering contract for the BC-Canada Place pavilion at the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino, Italy. Her company then catered the BC-Canada Pavilion in Beijing from May to September 2008. She went after these contracts to gain the experience and learn the expectations from these clients who would then be in Vancouver. Her strategy has led to great success.

Stacey Hall of Justin Stitches is offering a wide selection of Olympic merchandise, iconic Canadian mitts, hats and sweaters at her location near Granville Island including Toque Town where they make custom toques on the spot.

Andrea Scott of Skoah is offering the "fan-friendly facial" until the end of the Olympics where for only $55, they will make your skin medal worthy.

It was great to hear how some members were finding success through the Olympics and being creative. I wanted to hear more about the general state of women owned businesses in BC. Jill feels it is a very positive time for women in business. There are over 35 women business networks in BC and they are becoming more collaborative. Many of these women's groups have started to engage with each other and support the promotion of each other's events and activities. And some of the groups, like the FWE for example, has an integrated approach where it is not just about women helping women but both men and women as supporters. Membership is also open to both men and women although programs are geared towards female entrepreneurs.

In terms of how women entrepreneurs are fairing economically, while many businesses including FWE members had a tough year in 2009, many spent the last year re-evaluating their strategic goals, developing stronger core values and trimmed the fat.  Jill says that while it is still early in the year, there is positive and cautious optimisim all around. People are bracing themselves to see what happens after the Olympics. She is also seeing many more partnerships and a lot of collaboration happening on the business front.

Symbolic of such partnership was the event we both attended the same morning hosted by FWE and Price Waterhouse Coopers Being The Torchbearer In Your Business And Community which fellow blogger Natalie Sisson wrote about. The collaboration goes beyond a sponsor just writing a cheque and providing space but a much deeper relationship of support in so many ways. Jill thinks that after the Olympics, people will continue to recognize the importance of strategic partnerships and be innovative to create opportunities rather than wait for them to come along.

Jill Earthy, Executive Director of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs

Jill Earthy, Executive Director of FWE and Tracey McVicar, FWE Board & Olympic Torch Bearer

More about the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs:

Don't miss the upcoming FWE Roundtable event in May "Capitalizing on Change". More information will be posted on the FWE Website.
Join the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs for only $150 per year (open to men and women)
Digital business card: fwe.tel
Website: fwe.ca
Twitter: @fwebc

Related Posts:

Vancouver Small Business & the Olympics- Part I of Series – Eclipse Awards by Cybele Negris
Being The Torchbearer In Your Business And Community by Natalie Sisson
The Olympic Torch Relay – Great Way to Get the Community Engaged by Cybele Negris

Add your comments below if you have a story about how your business is being impacted by the Olympics whether positively or negatively.

Cybele Negris is Co-Founder of Webnames.ca, Canada’s Original Domain Registrar. She is on the Boards of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, Small Business BC, Government of BC Small Business Roundtable and the Vancouver Economic Development Commission. More information is available at cybele.tel or webnames.tel. Follow on Twitter @cybelenegris and @webnames

By Cybele Negris

I was thrilled to watch my friend Christina Anthony carry the Olympic torch today. Christina was chosen as a torch bearer for her community leadership; and well deserved. She is the founder of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs BC of which I and many of her fans today are board members. 

Her entire family was there including her three young children (and one more on the way), husband, parents and lots of friends and co-workers.  We all gathered, cheered, took photos and everyone got into the spirit of things. As Christina approached in the procession of vehicles and was dropped off, the excitement grew even more. There were screams, hollers, chants, cameras and videos all happening at once. I managed to get some really great shots and thought I'd share it with everyone. You can see the emotion and joy in everyone's faces.

If you haven't been to see the torch relay yet, I highly recommend it. Everyone should experience it at least once.

Here is the Interactive Map for the Torch Relay for the next 2 days. There will be Metro-Blenz News Squad members at various Blenz locations along the Relay Route so be sure to say hello.

For those of you who are members of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, don't miss the upcoming event "Being a Torch Bearer in your Business and Community." Christina Anthony and another FWE Board Member, Tracey McVicar (Torch Bearer February 11th) among other leaders will discuss leadership and how to become one of the driving forces in your business and community.