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 Natalie Sisson

Today I was lucky to attend a fantastic lunch seminar put on by the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE) at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

The theme was `Being the Torchbearer in your business and community’ and was perfectly aligned with the Olympics.

• Tina Osen, CEO, Hub International Insurance Brokers
• Tracey McVicar, Olympic torch bearer, CAI Capital Management, FWE Board of Directors
• Christina Anthony, Olympic torch bearer, Odlum Brown Limited & Founder/President of FWE
• Chris Clark, CEO & Canadian Senior Partner of PwC

Christine and Natalie with Olympic torch

As true leaders I found their insights heartening, honest and humbling. Each of them had come into their role as a leader from different paths.

A common thread that weaved between all four speakers was that leadership comes from a place of serving. Taking ego out of it and putting everyone else first.

How can I best serve?, how can I empower you in your role?, how can I make you an enamored customer?

According to Michigan Ross School of Business, three critical characteristics necessary for business leadershipsuccess are mindfulness, sense making and resilience. It was apparent from today that heart is also a big factor.

I refer to heart as passion, a desire to make a difference, to be the change and to ensure that those you impact have the ability to become leaders too.

All the athletes at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games are showing true leadership qualities in their chosen field by exhibiting leadership characteristics each time they step up to compete. This is what makes them so inspiring to watch and learn from.It’s truly energizing.

It takes true leadership to remain devoted and committed to your cause, your individual or team pursuit and your business. Let’s look to ourselves to become Torchbearers in our lives. Go light that flame to burn eternally in the hearts and minds of others.

Natalie Sisson is a Kiwi entrepreneur, adventurer and lover of Ultimate Frisbee. You can find her blog at WomanzWorld.com and tweet with her on @nataliesisson