Introducing a tribe of successful women
“Behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back.”
The origin of this popular saying may be uncertain, but it is popular because it resonates with so many women in business.
Business organizations and networking groups have been around for a long time, each focusing on their purpose and working towards a common goal. Chambers of Commerce, the Centre for Women in Business, Rotary, and various industry groups, such as those in agriculture or tourism, work to support their members and build a successful economy in their community.
Valley Women’s Business Network (VWBN) is a notfor-profit networking group run by volunteers. Our mission is to promote, educate and support women in business in the Annapolis Valley and we have been active for more than 20 years. We host monthly meetings, mostly online at present, where members can network and take advantage of the experience and knowledge of guest speakers.
We provide the opportunity to build relationships with other women who have encountered or overcome obstacles associated with starting and growing a business. Being part of a safe and encouraging environment of support makes it easier to solve problems and inspire new thoughts.
VWBN also supports women in business internationally through Kiva microlending. Kiva is an international non-profit whose mission is to expand financial access to help underserved communities thrive. We participate in Kiva business loans to enterprising women in developing countries. We help them purchase what they need for their business, such as a sewing machine, animals for their farm, or a freezer to sell cold products in their store.
Every fall, as part of Small Business Week, we hold a fundraiser to raise bursary funds for women attending the business programs at the Nova Scotia Community College. Last fall, our in-person event’s keynote speaker was Tareq Hadhad of Peace by Chocolate. This fall, we’re holding an online auction featuring donations from various local businesses.
We offer 10-week online business courses through Nova Scotia’s Department of Labour, Skills, and Immigration. These are free to participants and cover topics such as basic accounting, communication, marketing, social media and computer skills. Participants must be employed or self-employed and looking to boost their work skills.
Our website gives members an opportunity to promote their business in various ways and the monthly e-newsletter shares news from members as well as other business news and opportunities.
Supporting each other through building relationships, not just business contacts, leads us to the guest speaker for Sept. 14, at 6:30 p.m. (via Zoom). Corrie Melanson of SeaChange CoLab will present a workshop on Allyship in the Workplace, helping us develop awareness of biases, finely tune our words and strategies, and be ready for opportunities to create conversations that matter.
The evening will also be an opportunity to network with others interested in equity and inclusion. To register for this free event, email programs@vwbn.ca with the subject line Allyship Workshop.
For more than 20 years, the Valley Women’s Business Network has worked together to support, educate and promote women in business in the Annapolis Valley. In this monthly column, we share news, interviews, business tips and more. For information about VWBN, visit http://vwbn.ca/.