acorn online - Women In Business issue

Photo credit: Sandra Monaco

Take note: save BIG.

MEET

Shakiba Shayani

President & CEO

Amanda Henry Director of Operations

Jane Wielhorski

Executive Assistant to the President & CEO

Isobel Adams Program & Event Coordinator

Jason Kalbfleisch Research & Policy Coordinator

Markus McDaniel Finance & Database Manager

Ellyn Lusis

Marketing & Design Lead

Contributors

Michele Mactaggart, President, Bensol Consulting Inc.

Christy Pettit, CEO, Pollinate Networks Inc.

CONNECT

@guelph_chamber

@guelphchamber

www.guelphchamber.com

INVEST IN YOUR BUSINESS by investing in women

Welcome back to another issue of acorn online. Every March, we celebrate International Women’s Day and in this issue, we’re celebrating some incredible local women and calling on businesses to do the work to invest in women. In this issue, you’ll read some inspiring success stories of local businesswomen, some of their entrepreneurial struggles, and the supports and funding they’ve received along the way. Since some of these stories are the result of businesses and individuals investing in women, you may be wondering how your business could do the same.

UP AND COMING

March 21

Business After 5

Get your paws up for the Guelph Humane Society!

This might look like simply hiring more women, or increasing the number of female board members, managers, and decision makers. Perhaps it means investing with a gender lens to close organizational paygaps or creating dedicated funds to support women’s entrepreneurship. Perhaps it looks like supporting women-owned businesses and shopping local. It may look like providing mentorship and advice to women entrepreneurs to support and grow their business. Perhaps it means supporting women in sectors where there is a lack of representation, such as the skilled trades or STEM.

I hope you enjoy and learn from the pages that follow. We as the business community need to ensure that all women are treated equally. Give a woman a hammer for the glass ceiling.

- Shakiba Shayani President & CEO, Guelph Chamber of Commerce

Click to find out more or to register for any of these events.

April 25

Business After 5

Network with us while taking tour of 10C’s co-working & event space.

May 10

Business Expo

Book a booth and showcase your business at our regional Expo.

COMPANIES WITH MORE THAN 30% WOMEN ON THEIR EXECUTIVE TEAMS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO OUTPERFORM THOSE WITH BETWEEN 10 - 30 % WOMEN

In this issue

4

The Modern Bride

Meet Donna and Jess Hirst, the mother and daughter team that are lifting the veil on destination retail.

14

Community FEWD

Introducing Chef Yasi Zorlutana, the passionate circular chef that has been putting a lid on food equity.

8

Guelph-Wellington Local Immigration Partnership

Leen Al-Habash talks to us about GWLIP and why it’s so important to support our newcomer community.

16 ArtMed

Did someone say Glow up? Jane Watson and Dr. Mary Peirson give flawless business advice that never ages - just

10

The Dragon

Meet our heroine - Jenn Haines, an award-winning entrepreneur that has redefined an industry with very few women in it.

23

Pollinate Networks

We sit down with Christy Pettit to talk about the best kind of mentorship - Wo-mentorship and why we need more of it!

THE MODERN BRIDE, THE DRAGON, AND ARTMED

We say YES!

By: Ellyn Lusis & Adele Van Baren

We need to write a thank-you note to The Modern Bride, for turning Guelph into a destination hotspot for bridal shopping. Since moving to their current location, the third and fourth floor of the historic Petrie Building, The Modern Bride has paved the way for destination retailers to follow.

Located in downtown Guelph, the shop is characterized by its authentically restored windows showcasing beautiful wedding gowns. The high ceilings and large windows fill the space with natural light and a sense of luxury. The bridal appointment spaces filled with warm decor touches like velvet couches and gilded full-length mirrors create an atmosphere as relaxing as a spa, but with the warmth of someone’s home. But it’s the experience of The Modern Bride that attracts brides.

Owned by mother and daughter team Donna and Jess Hirst, The Modern Bride opened their doors almost ten years ago. Today the shop has 11 full-time employees and a slick social media game. The success and growth of the business can in part be attributed to the uniqueness of this mother-daughter pairing. Donna, a successful businesswoman at the top of her game and ready for a new challenge. Jess, a brilliant entrepreneur with a background in service and event management, and always challenging herself. Between the two of them they have the right mix of ingredients

Photo credit: Sandra Monaco

for success. One focuses primarily on the numbers and daily operations and the other is always looking for the next trend and future growth.

Another key aspect of The Modern Bride’s success is the thought and care put into client experience. Donna and Jess have designed the experience of shopping for a wedding dress. It makes sense, right? They have anticipated what brides and clients want from this day down to the last detail. From the private and semiprivate appointment spaces to curating the day for their brides-to-be. The expert advice from The Modern Bride stylists comes with no pressure. “Our priority is providing an elevated experience and ultimately finding the bride their dream dress, the one that makes them feel like the most confident, beautiful version of themselves. Our success is based on client experience.”

With approximately 60% of their customers traveling from outside of Guelph, Donna and Jess recognized an opportunity to curate the day for their brides. “A group might come for a noon appointment and then think about it over lunch, so we’ll send them to a local restaurant , to talk things over and celebrate.” The Modern Bride website offers a detailed list of places to dine, shop or relax which they know will deliver an equally professional and enjoyable experience.

When it comes to the dresses themselves, this savvy mother and daughter team sought out exclusivity with some of the designers and lines they carry, but it’s the shop’s commitment to inclusivity that has also set them apart. The bridal fashion industry is one that has much room to improve when it comes to diversity and inclusivity. In an effort to do their part in helping redefine the industry, The Modern Bride prides itself on offering diverse sizing, styles and colour options. They partner with designers with similar ethos and use their own marketing to contribute to making this industry a more accurate representation of the world we live in. Although the industry is still catching up to inclusivity, it’s safe

to say that The Modern Bride leads by example.

Beyond the product, and perhaps not easily seen on social media or otherwise, is the emotional support The Modern Bride team offers their clients. This was especially apparent during COVID. “There were a lot of tears and emotions we worked through with our brides. With all the uncertainty and rule changes as it related to weddings during the pandemic, we stepped up to be a constant source of support for our clients ”. The TMB team get it. They provided their virtual shoulders, ears, and hearts for those couple’s who’s plans had been turned upside down.

JESS & DONNA HIRST - LIFTING THE VEIL ON DESTINATION RETAIL

“I would’ve never been able to bring this business to the level it’s at without my Mom.”

“We forwarded our business lines to our personal phone numbers to ensure we were there to talk our brides through the ever-changing situations. We needed them to know that we are a vendor who would be there for them from beginning to end”. The TMB staff is there for their clients - no matter what. “As a small business, receiving emails, photos and even Google Reviews from the brides we helped navigate through a pandemic is one of the most rewarding parts”.

When asked what it means to be a woman in business Jess tells us, “There is always room at the top, it really is community over competition.

I am always honoured when new businesses reach out to me to pick my brain about our journey. I’m always happy to give advice”. Women empowering women. It’s one of the most powerful aspects of being a woman in business.

It’s clear in their gratitude for each other that the partnership at the heart of The Modern Bride is a perfect match. “I would’ve never been able to bring this business to the level it’s at without my mom”, says Jess. “As an entrepreneur, my motto has always been, jump and the net will appear”. Following Jess’ motto has worked for TMB!

To hear more from Donna and Jess and the success story of The Modern Bride, join us for our Inspirational Women Luncheon, Tuesday May 16th at Cutten Fields.

JESS & DONNA HIRST AND THE MODERN BRIDE TEAM

“There is always room at the top, it really is community over competition. I am always honoured when new businesses reach out to me to pick my brain about our journey. I’m always happy to give advice”.

Brandy Douglas President, CulturedHR

• Minimize Risk - Understand and plan for legislation and regulatory changes while remaining compliant.

• Save Time – Reduce HR administration and simple personnel tasks from your to-do-list.

• Gain Expertise – Access experienced and specialized experts, without increasing your headcount

CulturedHR

Talking Diverse City

LEEN AL-HABASH, GUELPH-WELLINGTON LOCAL IMMIGRATION PARTNERSHIP

We sat down with Leen Al-Habash from Guelph-Wellington Local Immigration Partnership (GWLIP) to talk diversity, discrimination and newcomer business women.

Please give our readers a brief overview of how the GWLIP can support employers and the Guelph business community.

GWLIP works with communities and agencies for systemic change and solutions to immigrant issues throughout Guelph/Wellington. In terms of employers and the business community, GWLIP supports businesses in attracting immigrants and recognizing their contributions to the integration of immigrants in the workplace. This support comes through providing data and information about newcomers, the added value that newcomers and immigrants bring to the workplace. Additionally, GWLIP periodically holds webinars and info sessions in issues related to diversity in the workplace, recruitment of immigrants and international students, and many other topics.

Generally speaking, women are underrepresented in leadership positions in business. Do you know if there are similar trends amongst newcomer/immigrant communities? Indeed, under-representation of women in leadership positions is more prevalent among newcomers and immigrants. The intersectionality of being an immigrant and a women exacerbate the situation. Various research studies and Statistics Canada reports found that immigrant women are less represented than Canadian-born women in executive and leadership positions, who in turn are less represented than men. In the workforce, immigrant women counted for one in four women. However, only one in seven women in leadership positions are immigrants. Additionally, the pay gap for immigrant women in leadership positions is even larger than Canadian- born women. When examining employment income, Canadian-born men ranked first, followed by immigrant men, Canadian-born women came third, leaving the immigrant women with the largest pay gap for leadership and executive positions.

What role, if any, have you seen newcomer/ immigrant women play in business? What is their competitive advantage? Do you have any examples of diverse women in leadership positions?

Immigrants are more likely to have entrepreneurial traits. They chose to uproot themselves and start a new life in a new country. According to Statistics Canada, immigrants are 40% more likely than Canadian-born individuals to either start a business or be self-employed. More than third of business owners with paid staff

are immigrants. That means immigrants play an important role in creating local jobs.

Looking into women in particular, immigrant women tend to have a higher level of education than Canadian-born women and often in fields that are considered less common among women (for instance the STEM field). This should help address labour gaps in the market. However, unfortunately, many immigrant women remain underemployed, which is a huge missed opportunity.

Can you share any success stories of newcomer/ immigrant women who are entrepreneurs or business women?

We are lucky here in Guelph to have a number of immigrant women who managed to either start a successful business or to hold successful leadership roles.

For example, Melku Gebrekristos, owner of Laza Food & Beverage, built a very successful local business that created a number of local jobs.

Another example is Veronica Negrin, who started the Pinetree Pet Resort just on the outskirts of the city.

What do you see as the future trends/potential for this demographic?

As I mentioned earlier, immigrant women are highly educated. Immigrant women are more likely than Canadian-born women to have completed a university degree. However, unfortunately, that does not often translate into suitable employment. There is a major unrealized potential here, as immigrants are generally underemployed. Employers are experiencing labour shortages, so there is a chance that

they can tap into these underutilized resources (i.e. immigrant women), to address this gap. The Federal government is increasing immigration targets for the coming few years, with a primary goal being to grow the labour force. We are seeing an interesting trend too, that more women are being admitted to Canada under the economic class, which means, more highly skilled women are joining the labour force.

Do you have any closing thoughts/anything you would like to share that we haven’t covered yet?

I want to emphasize that there are still many barriers that immigrant women face. Unfortunately, 7 out of 10 immigrants and visible minorities in Guelph still experience discrimination in different contexts. Applying for a job, and in the workplace are among the top contexts where discrimination happens. This means that work still needs to be done intentionally to ensure that workplaces and recruitment practices are more inclusive.

In a time when a shortage of labour is a major challenge for businesses, employers should take further consideration to tap into these underutilized resources. The hope is that one day we will finally see internationally trained engineers, doctors and nurses holding meaningful jobs in their field rather than wasting talent being underemployed. q

“More than a third of business owners with paid staff are immigrants. That means immigrants play an important role in creating local jobs.”

Mother of Dragons

By: Ellyn Lusis

Jenn Haines, founder and owner of The Dragon, is the heroine of this story. She came into an industry with few women, and then - she fought hard and conquered it.

Jenn fell in love with comics like most did a generation ago. She started with European comics passed down from family members and slowly got into superhero comics. And when Jenn read a book called Strangers in Paradise, she realized comics could be for anyone. It was the 90’s and the comic book world was finally starting to become more diverse in the stories being told and the audience being spoken to. But Jenn felt

Photo & illustration: Ellyn Lusis

comic bookstores themselves needed to change as well. Instead of being welcoming, friendly spaces receptive to all audiences, shops only focused on their traditional customer base. Realizing that she could not be the only one looking for a better experience, Jenn decided to open a comic bookstore for people who didn’t fit the mold of a conventional comic book reader. Freshly graduated from university, with a Bachelor of Education and a Masters in Classical Studies, Jenn put together a business plan, got a line of credit, and opened her first comic bookstore - The Dragon.

The story of the Dragon is one of a search for the perfect space and of business expansion. Jenn’s first retail space was too big, and she admits to “being too ambitious in my initial startup… and I went with the timeline instead of waiting to find the right space”. After a year, Jenn moved to a smaller space better suited to her needs but with more competition from the existing comic bookstore. She stayed in that location for 10 years and moved to Old Quebec Street Mall where she’s been for the last 13 years.

Like all conquerers who have established a base of operations, Jenn’s next thoughts turned to expansion. Six years ago, she decided to open another store in the south end of Guelph. “I knew that if I didn’t lock down the south end, somebody else was going to open up and serve that market”. However, Jenn made the same mistake of opening a space a bit too large, and when the industry hit a mini recession, it was time to reassess the south store. “What I really learned was that the south end customers, are not shopping where they live. They are shopping where they work…so it was not a situation where I was going to transition those customers into new shopping habits. So, I consolidated back into downtown (Old Quebec Street mall location) and then, four years ago I opened a shop in Milton.” Jenn had her eye on Milton for awhile and when the local comic bookstore closed, she jumped at the chance to expand again. “I really wanted to do something different then what had existed in Milton. I did a little search

for available space, and I found the perfect space in the perfect location at the perfect price.” She applied all the lessons learned from the south end store to the Milton location. “I had already been through all of the growing pains of expanding, what I needed to expand and what the extra work looked like. Opening Milton was just a breeze.”

As for the retail space Jenn has created in The Dragon, it is a comic book and games shop for everyone -especially families. “I actively created a space where parents could feel comfortable bringing their kids”. The stores are purposely designed with this goal in mind. Aisles are wide enough for wheelchairs and strollers. “Our demographics are different than most comic retailers. 15 -20% of the people attending our events are typically attended by women and children, which is in stark contrast to other stores that see 1-2% attended by women and children. Our customer base is made up of 40% families, whereas other stores it’s closer to 10%.” All family members have been thought of when curating the store, from the types of comics offered to the leagues and tournaments the Dragon hosts, so everyone can find something to connect with.

Jenn’s customer base is so loyal that during

the pandemic, a customer started a Go Fund Me for The Dragon so the store could reopen sooner. And although the money provided financial relief, it was customers saying how much The Dragon meant to them that really touched Jenn. “To have these people say how much it meant to them; just gave me new life and gave me the ability to find the energy that I needed to dig in and reopen and move forward.”

It should be noted that Jenn’s model of an inclusive comic bookstore has more than just local fans. The Dragon has drawn national and international attention as can be seen in the number of industry awards the store has won. These include the CanGift Retailer of Distinction Award, the Harry Kremer Award for Outstanding Canadian Comic Book Retailer, and numerous Readers Choice Awards. Jenn was also the first

“Stand your ground and just keep pushing forward. Don’t let anybody tell you that you don’t belong there- because you do”.

female sole proprietor to win the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailing Award which recognizes the best comic retailers in the world. That’s right, - the world.

These awards have helped cement Jenn as a leader in her field. She is the first female president of Comics Pro, the retailer trade organization for comic shops. “I’ve worked to network and to position myself where I can talk to just about anybody in the industry very easily and get things done. But I do get some pushback from those who don’t believe that I can possibly know what I’m talking about when it comes to the product, because I am a woman. I’ve had pushback from advertisers who have asked me if they can speak to the person who makes the decisions.”

When asked what advice Jenn would give another woman in business, she replied, “I would say it’s to figure out what your personal brand is. What is your ethos? What is your thing that you want people to take away from experiencing your work or your product? Make it about that, and then stand by it and don’t budge. There are a lot of people who are going to try to knock you down and tell you that you don’t deserve your place there, but you have to stand your ground and just keep pushing forward. Don’t let anybody tell you that you don’t belong there- because you do.” q

You can check out The Dragon’s extensive collection of Graphic Novels, comic books, games and more. You can also take a look at a list of their events or shop online here

Food Samaritan

Almost 24% of households in GuelphWellington face food insecurity. As we confront that staggering metric, we look to food innovator Chef Yasi Zorlutuna and her community-changing initiative FEWD for some guidance, leadership, and insights from the kitchen.

Q: Please share with our members a bit about FEWD.

A: FEWD, which stands for Food Equity With Dignity (pronounced FOOD) is the brain child of Chef Yasi. FEWD is a local initiative that takes high-quality fresh produce and food items destined for landfill and transforms them into delicious offerings for the community. It stems from the belief that everyone should have access to healthy food, no matter their economic status. It is supported by our member The Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition as well as Our Food Future and other partners.

Q: What inspired you to come up with FEWD?

A: In 2019, while working at the University of

Guelph, I was part of the team sent to compete at the Tastes of the World Chef’s conference. I was inspired by a speaker there. He called on us - as Chefs - to put our expertise to work to come up with practical solutions to the logistical challenges of dealing with massive amounts of perishable food surpluses - especially as new laws get passed to prevent usable foods from ending up in landfill. He spoke of the truckloads of usable foods being donated and the logistical nightmare this creates for charities and food security groups on the receiving end. I took this as a call-to-action. I always knew that I wanted to transition to working in food security and this is how it all began.

Q: You’ve made a seat at the table for yourself in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

Photo credit: Jonathan Barrabell

CHEF YASI IN HER ELEMENT

What are the skillsets/mindsets you have that have helped you get there?

A: Good question! It takes a lot of confidence and commitment!! First of all, I was raised by a strong woman who instilled feminist values from an early age. I laugh and joke a lot and I don’t compare myself to others. I understand that others’ opinions/criticisms are often a reflection of them and not me and do not allow them to shake my confidence or methodology. I intentionally speak loudly and directly. I assume that my skills and knowledge will be underestimated - as they frequently are - and I try to see this as an advantage instead of a hindrance. Above all - while this industry may be male dominated, I know that cooking and feeding people is about care and love and this is the realm of grandmothers. If you ask any chef who their biggest inspiration is, 9 times out of 10 they will name a female relative or caregiver. I take my inspiration from this and see myself as a grandmother.

Q: Why is it so important to give back to your community in such a meaningful and sustainable way?

A: As someone with a lot of privilege, I feel it is my responsibility to work towards creating systemic change. The younger generations have been saddled with so much and I wish to ease this burden while setting the wheels in motion for new (or old) ways of doing things. I am no longer interested in doing work unless it is towards creating a better more sustainable world.

Q: How has the industry changed for women? Has the industry been changed by women for women?

A: The most prominent change has been

because of the #metoo movement. Woman and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities are less afraid to speak out against sexual harassment, bullying and assault in the industry. Perpetrators still get away with it all too often, and we still have a long way to go, but we’re definitely moving in the right direction. The younger generations don’t engage in sexist and homophobic behaviours and language in the same way older generations have and that is incredibly refreshing and inspiring. We have so much to learn from our youth today.

Q: What is a piece of advice that you would give a young women wanting to enter the sustainable culinary industry?

A: Just because it’s never been done before doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Let your vision for a better world guide you and don’t be derailed by cynicism from others or yourself. Also, don’t wait until you feel ready, chances are you will never feel ready.

Q: What was the best advice you got when you were starting this business?

A: Not to give up on my vision and to just go for it (Ingrid Von-Cube). I almost gave up, twice. q

For more information on FEWD and find out ways you or your organization can help, go to: fewd.ca

UPDATE: Congratulations to Yasi who recently won the Food Waste Innovator Award, from Second Harvest’s Food Rescue Awards.

The GlowGetters

By: Ellyn Lusis

There is a place that people whisper about in Guelph. You might have heard it mentioned after you’ve noticed someone looks great. They look freshly vacationed, relaxed. Themselves, but better. ‘ArtMed’, you might hear someone say as this is explanation enough. ArtMed has become known as a bit of a cosmetic time machine. Where you can turn back the clock a bit, focus on yourself and your selfcare.

ArtMed is a cosmetic medicine clinic located just north of downtown Guelph on Woolwich Street. The clinic is a boutique practice that offers a comprehensive range of services and products to treat the concerns of their clientele and help them achieve their aesthetic goals. Walking into ArtMed, it’s easy to think you’re in a spa, but it is a medical clinic. “We are not

Photography credit: Lydia Ivy Photography

DR. MARY PEIRSON & JANE

a surgical clinic but we are a medical clinic”, the owners of ArtMed, Jane and Mary clarify.

Their business journey began when Dr. Mary Peirson was a physician 30 years ago. “I worked in everything from public health to private care.” She had rosacea at the time and was being treated at a nearby clinic. After years of treatment, Dr. Mary was approached to buy the clinic. She immediately asked her sister, Jane Watson to partner with her due to her business experience. Now, Dr. Mary is ArtMed’s Medical Director and Jane serves as ArtMed’s Business Director. Since both ladies possess an extraordinary amount of entrepreneurial hutzpah, they jumped in.

After making the leap, Jane quickly realized she had a lot to learn about this particular industry. “I started taking business courses, reading everything I could about the industry, taking seminars and workshops and getting help and advice from Innovation Guelph and the Guelph Chamber of Commerce. I signed up for all of the classes that I could take.”

Their efforts paid off and they have recently expanded their space on Woolwich Street where they have been for the last six years. Designed entirely themselves, the aesthetics reflect their keen eye for beauty and design. The entire clinic is bright and filled with light, with an atmosphere emulating a spa. It feels luxurious, warm, and inviting all at the same time. You know you are going to be well taken care of here.

“We use a few terms to try and describe ourselves: We are a centre of excellence, we are a home for aesthetics, we are a community of care.” Caring about their patients’ well-being means sharing knowledge with them. “We love

to educate our clients. We spend a lot of time and money educating our team, and we like our clients to be invested in their comprehensive care. It’s not about spending a lot, it’s about slow, continuous improvement and being consistent.”

ArtMed ensures their staff are highly trained and keep up with changes and developments in this ever-changing industry. They want their clients to know that they are in good hands and to feel safe and comfortable in their clinic. Safety is always a priority for their team.

Whether you are in need of Botox or Dermal filler, ArtMed offers a one-stop solution to all of your aesthetic needs. Laser or photo facials with broadband light (BBL) are also quite popular and “are a bit like taking an eraser to your brown spots on your face.” BBL can have an anti-aging effect as well. “If you start early you can slow down the aging process of your skin” Dr. Mary advises. Soft Wave is another poplar treatment at ArtMed which allows clients to tighten the skin without surgery. It all amounts to short treatment time, with little to no downtime for the client and long-term gains. You, but better. “The word Art in our company name is perfect. We really do think of a face as your canvas.”

The team at ArtMed wants you to look like the best version of you. Although their focus is on you looking your best, the ArtMed team always respects your budget. They don’t do the hard sale commonly found in this industry. They want their patients to feel confident, by enhancing their natural beauty. They will tell you if they feel that a treatment might not enhance your beauty or compliment your face. “We err on the side of the medical”, Dr. Mary says, “in our approach and ethically by how we treat our clients.” They

understand that some clients may arrive in a vulnerable state. “We listen first, and we are always very respectful of their concerns and wishes.”

During the pandemic, ArtMed had to understandably shut down several times. Once they reopened, they saw a significant increase in the number of patients of all ages and genders. “People were looking at themselves on Zoom for two years” Jane joked. They also used it as an opportunity to open their online store to better service their clients. “We found government support for women entrepreneurs”, Jane said. “We regularly seek out those opportunities so that we may benefit from them. Women should not be afraid to seek out help. You’ve got to go look for it, they’re not going to come to your door.”

When asked what advice they would have for young female entrepreneurs, Dr. Mary had this to say: “Seek out help regularly and consistently. There are a ton of resources out there for women. Look for those opportunities and use them all. Always be ready to fail and pick yourself up and fail again and pick yourself up again. Women should know that every time that you make a mistake, it’s because you are an entrepreneur, not because you are a woman.”

Jane reminds women to ‘put yourself first’. Since a woman’s career path can be waylaid or paused for family reasons, “don’t be afraid to put yourself back in the game and don’t worry if you aren’t credentialed or accredited in some way. As an entrepreneur you’ll never stop learning, you just need to start.”

Knowing your worth comes up in our conversation as well. Sound advice for business women, by business women. “Value your time, your knowledge base and what you’re bringing to the table. If you’re choosing to be in business, it’s got to be something that you are absolutely invested in and passionate about. Make sure your motivation is clear, because you are going to need to come back to that again and again.”

Women should not be afraid to seek out help. You’ve got to go look for it, they’re not going to come to your door.”

Jane also has advice when it comes to a business partnership. “Take advantage of the differences and different perspectives you can offer each other. It’s been a strength for us to hear and use each other’s perspectives.”

Both Jane and Dr. Mary stress the importance of being invested in your community. “Take care of others and be giving.” ArtMed invests back into their local community by supporting several non-profits and charities including Hospice Wellington, the Foundation of Guelph General Hospital, St. Joseph’s, GuelphWellington Women in Crisis, the Guelph Humane

Society, and Big Brothers Big Sisters, just to name but a few. “It’s a privilege as entrepreneurs to be able to support charitable organizations in our city. One of the things I like best about being an entrepreneur is to be able to support our own community. We believe it’s important to pay it forward.”

Dr. Mary and Jane are laser-focused on what it takes to make a practice thrive. By putting patients first and educating themselves and their team, ArtMed has proven that success can be built by lifting women up, and that it’s never looked this good. q

To find out more information about ArtMed, their services and treatments, go to artmed.ca

Alicia Robertson Chair (2021–2023) Board Member (since 2016), The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital Founder and CEO, Lemonade Life

“Value your time, your knowledge base and what you’re bringing to the table”.

Nearly 20 years ago while working in the corporate insurance world, I envisioned a different kind of benefits insurance company: while most advisors were chasing big firms with large head counts, I wanted to take care of small businesses that were feeling brushed aside when it came to finding affordable, effective benefits. The entrepreneur in me was born, and so was Bensol

I’ve been privileged to work closely with hundreds of small business owners and their employees to build extended health benefits programs. I’ve been able to guide them, and without any doubt, I’ve learned a great deal from them about how to be a successful employer.

While the rules of employment seem to be transforming at a fast pace these days, four fundamentals that small businesses hold dear are emerging to be more important than ever for companies that want to attract and keep top quality talent.

Focus on wellbeing: benefits like dental, drugs and eyeglasses are the starting point. Great employers are also emphasizing mental health care, financial support like budget counselling and RRSP matching, and wellbeing spending accounts –for some, it could be yoga classes or guitar lessons, others might be better off with a new mountain bike. A wellness account lets them decide.

Flexibility rules: sure, it’s been the buzzword lately, but the best employers I’ve known have been buzzing about it for years. This ranges from hybrid work policies and flex hours to allowing time off for volunteering or when a little one has pink eye. Health spending accounts are becoming more popular as they give employees the power to direct their benefits where it serves them best.

Communicate effectively: put the time into providing a detailed overview of employee benefits – not just once, but often. Be open about the business’s goals, have regular town hall dialogues, and be sure to invite employees into the benefits renewal process so they have a voice – and listen to what they have to say.

Create a culture people talk about: it all comes together in an enviable culture that people want to tell their friends about. It’s not all stocked bar fridges and casual dress. Effective company cultures are grounded in trust, kindness and empathy. One client brings a massage therapist to the office (ok, that was pre-pandemic), some plan elaborate fun days for people to unwind, while others are sure to spend one-on-one time to let their people know that they matter to them.

Keeping great people means putting the work in – starting with a great benefits program that suits the needs of a specific business. The Chambers Plan is uniquely designed for small businesses, with stable rates and lots of flexibility.

Four things I’ve learned from great employers about being a great employer

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

MICHELE MACTAGGART PRESIDENT, BENSOL CONSULTING INC.

Chambers Plan Employee Benefits ease the pain.

Rates are stable with thousands of members nationwide. Quick set-up and easy-to-use forms. Benefits are a deductible business expense and tax free for employees. Let’s talk.

DARE TO LEAD™ WITH JENNIFER PORRITT

April 14 - May 19

6 sessions | Fridays | 9 - 12pm | Delivered via. Zoom

Based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown, Dare to Lead™ is an empirically based courage building program designed to be facilitated by organizational development professionals.

The Dare to Lead™ program focuses on developing these courage building skills through workshops, trainings, and coaching to help individuals, teams, and organizations move from armored leadership to daring leadership.

To register: jp-consulting.ca/events

Jennifer Porritt, CHRL, CTDP Organizational Development Consultant www.jp-consulting.ca

Reach out to jennifer@jp-consulting.ca for Guelph Chamber

By: Amanda

Suzanna Geerlinks is no stranger to the construction and skilled trades industry. With her parents running a general contracting company in the Royal City, construction is what was talked about around the dinner table.

In 2005, Suzanna wanted to start a new chapter. Having young children at home, she had a desire to get back into the workforce, but to balance family and work, she didn’t want a fulltime job. Instead, she was looking for something she could enjoy doing on her own schedule.

With low input costs and low barriers to entry, Suzanna took up her own painting gig. In her first year, she took on one job a month, in her second year, she took on two jobs a month, and by year three, she was ready to hire employees for her ever-growing business. She hasn’t looked back since and has built her business, Refined Painting Service, into one of the most trusted and experienced painting contracting companies in the region.

As we see more women entering the skilled trades, I asked Suzanna what advice she has for them. “In my experience, it’s not as daunting as

one may think. The men who work in the construction and skilled trades industry are more accepting of women than the stereotype we often hear about. It’s also a good, steady job with good money. The opportunity for self-employment is very high, and this can offer great flexibility and work-life balance.”

There’s no doubt that Suzanna is a leader in what she does. As her business continues to grow, I asked Suzanna about the secrets to her success. She replied, “Know what you know. Understand your wheelhouse and know what your talents are. Also, know when to say no.” Simple, but sage business advice from a successful entrepreneur, and recipient of our 2018 Excellence in Business Award. We can’t do it all, and Guelph has a robust network of small businesses and entrepreneurs to help business owners execute the parts of their business that they’re not the experts in.

If you are, however, looking for an expert in residential or commercial painting, give Suzanna at Refined Painting a call for a refined experience from a hardworking team of painters with decades of experience in the industry. q

“Know what you know. Understand your wheelhouse and know what your talents are. Also, know when to say no.”

Henry

Photography credit: Refined Painting

The importance of WoMen-toring

By Christy Pettit, CEO, Pollinate Networks Inc.

It’s never been more important for Canadians to get good at running businesses. Our economy runs on small enterprises, with 98% of businesses in Canada having 99 or fewer employees. Being an entrepreneur of any description is a challenging and involved experience. Especially “these days”.

Women business owners have an interesting set of variables to negotiate. We are still the minority - although numbers continue to inch up. (Check out the latest statistics here.) We are more often running a business and holding down a job. Many women also have key responsibilities at home. Our time to really percolate and think through business challenges is often limited. That’s where a well-matched mentorship can assist.

As a woman in business, my mentorships over the years have helped me in so many ways: One of my mentors offers herself as a “human whiteboard”. This thought partnership and an opportunity to think long term for a short concentrated time is important for the business. The conversations also continue to fuel my personal growth, to help me see my patterns objectively and make moves to change the ones I don’t like. Mentors often have experiences and observations that are invaluable and have helped me not to make mistakes or choose pathways

that would have given me extra steps. Network! Once they got to know me, mentors have provided valuable connections, introductions, and advice to help expand my network. (It is important to have excellent follow up on these!)

I have also had mentors who helped me overcome gender bias. Women in business still face challenges in terms of gender bias and unequal opportunities. A mentor helped me understand and address these challenges in a way I felt good about.

In Guelph and Wellington County, we are fortunate that dedicated organizations make an effort to cross-pollinate women entrepreneurs and make opportunities for us to meet each other. For example, organizations like the Guelph Chamber of Commerce with networking events and introductions, Business Centre GuelphWellington with several mentoring and advisory programs including partnership in the Rhyze Ventures Program for women entrepreneurs. Rhyze is hosted and managed by Innovation Guelph, which is another source of excellent mentors for businesses looking to scale up.

Being a mentor is also pretty great. It’s interesting learning about other people’s businesses, getting a fresh perspective on challenges, pulling forward your own knowledge, and helping to solve problems and see opportunities. It keeps my brain working and paying it forward seems like an important value to hold in “these days”. q

Citation: Cukier, W., Mo, G. Y., Chavoushi, Z. H., Borova, B., Osten, V. (2022). The State of Women’s Entrepreneurship in Canada 2022. Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub. https://wekh.ca/wpcontent/uploads/2022/03/WEKH_State_of_Womens_ Entrepreneurship_in_Canada_2022-1.pdf

Big Sisterly Business Advice

We asked our big sisters of business to give their best advice they’ve recieved in business and advice they would give to another women in business.

Business advice you’ve received Advice you would give women

As important as it is to be working ‘in the business’, make sure you’re spending equal time working ‘on the business’ because a plan is not a strategy.

HAKIBA SHAYA

Check in with a mentor or coach regularly, and make time to be a mentor or coach to someone else. Unsure how? Connect with a member of the Guelph Chamber team. It’s a mutually beneficial opportunity to build a trusted network!

President & CEO , Guelph Chamber of Commerce @guelph_chamber

It’s easy to equate success to results such as sales or fundraising. But how are you doing outside of work? Is your team thriving? Are you building reciprocal relationships? Are you having a positive impact on the world? For personal and business success, we need to be more holistic in our thinking and focus on the long game.

GLENNA BANDA

Have more confidence in what you bring to the table. Know that understanding where you need to continue to learn, reaching out for help or accessing the strengths of others is part of what makes you a great leader, it’s not ‘faking it till you make it’.

Executive Director, United Way Guelph-Wellington Dufferin @unitedwaygwd

RANDY DOUGL

Always work hard, be strong, and never give up.

President, Cultured HR @culturedhr

When you start to build and hire a team, there’s actually a bit of a letting go process to go through. You can no longer be in control of everything. You have to extend trust to people and empower them to be successful.

CARLY KLASSEN

It is easy to have feelings of self-doubt. Believe in yourself and your abilities, in the end the only opinion you can control is your own.

Be intentional about making space for what you want in your life.

City Councillor for Ward 2, Guelph, Owner of The Sage Soap Company @thesagesoapcompany

The Rhyze of Women-Led Businesses

As Canadian women-owned businesses have increased by 30% in the last decade, it is imperative that these entrepreneurs are provided with the support and resources they need to succeed. Since 2012, Innovation Guelph (IG)’s award-winning Rhyze® programming has assisted over 453 women-led businesses by providing networking opportunities, mentorship, and hands-on project work.

Initially, the Rhyze® Project identi ed the unique needs of women-identifying entrepreneurs. Through various interviews, it was evident that most of these entrepreneurs faced challenges with funding, nance, networking, and work-life balance. Armed with this fulsome data, IG’s team created dedicated programming to teach, coach and mentor women in business. Programs designed for women by women, an asset for many entrepreneurs in our region.

Over the years, IG’s Rhyze® programming, and the need for like programming has grown. Today, Rhyze® consists of two highly acclaimed programs; both with the objective of assisting women-identifying entrepreneurs. Rhyze® Ventures is a cohort-based program for small businesses, social enterprises, and scalable businesses, and has supported over 240 women-identifying businesses since 2020. Rhyze® Ventures clients are matched with mentors, coaches, and specialists to help grow their business. Participants can pitch for cash awards at the culmination of their cohort. In 2019, Rhyze®Up! National Accelerator was launched and has since supported 110 companies in seven provinces. This acceleration program was IG’s rst national program and was designed to help businesses with over $200,000 in annual revenue scale up. The program focuses on mentoring, project work, leadership coaching, and education.

In a world where entrepreneurs receive the same vague cookie-cutter advice, Shelly Pavlic states that, “Rhyze® helped us ask the hard questions, o ered guidance via quality local experts, and welcomed us into a supportive context of fellow new and newer entrepreneurs.” Shelly was a recent Rhyze® Ventures participant in FY 2022-2023 who has signi cantly grown her business, Midtown Counselling.

Rhyze® provides a space for entrepreneurs to build community and grow. Jennifer Pratt from Seeding Square was a participant in the Rhyze Up! program in FY 2021-2022. She sums up the bene ts of the program, saying it “has been an absolute gamechanger for business leadership skills, business acumen, and growth overall”. By way of Innovation Guelph’s Rhyze® programs, female entrepreneurs are equipped with scaling support, valuable connections, and of course, the ability to “Rhyze” above any challenges that come their way.

March Celebrations

MARCH 8, 2023: The 2023 IWD Guelph-Wellington International Women's Day Celebration.

MARCH 16, 2023: Innovation Guelph’s Rhyze & Shine Event

453 453 1954 1954 women led Statistics Statistics Full time businesses

WE FOCUS ON SERVING INNOVATIVE, SCALABLE BUSINESSES FROM FOUR MAIN SECTORS:

61% 61% Active IG Clients identify as women-founded, co-founded or led.

Drink in her Success!

By: Amanda Henry Photo credit: Laza Food & Beverage

Guelph is known for a lot of unique, small businesses, and Laza Food & Beverages Inc. is no different. Located in the heart of the Ward, founder and CEO Melku Gebrekristos is making delicious hibiscus teas and frozen treats. These 100% natural products are caffeine free, sweetened with organic cane sugar and honey, are high in antioxidants, and are guaranteed to be enjoyable for all ages.

After noticing that there was a lack of ethnic food being sold in Guelph, Melku started planning her business and in 2009, opened up Laza Food & Beverages. When she was ready to launch, she became a vendor at the Guelph Farmers Market (where she’s still a vendor today) to sell her products. Serving a hibiscus drink, she noticed the popularity and trendiness of the product and decided to develop her beverage line further.

Now with multiple flavours including hibiscus ginger, hibiscus mint, hibiscus honey, and the new hibiscus lemonana (lemon and mint combined), Melku is ready to take her business to the next level. Due to high customer demand, Melku is currently transitioning her beverages from glass bottles to cans and is also introducing carbonated beverages in the same well-loved flavours.

The hibiscus drinks aren’t the only specialty of Laza Food & Beverage. In 2017, Melku launched a new product, ice pops. Wanting a different product that is equally healthy and delicious, Laza ice pops come in 6 delicious flavours. Laza ice pops are gluten and dairy free, and are sweetened with maple syrup and honey. If you’ve been to Guelph Lake in the summer, any local music festivals, or local fundraising events, you’ve likely seen (and hopefully tasted) the refreshing Laza ice pops. Laza’s frozen treats are not limited for human only, many dogs from Guelph have also enjoyed Arki frozen dog treats which are made from human-grade ingredients.

There’s no doubt that Melku’s success is attributed to her hard work, but her ability to listen to her customers and adapt is truly what sets her apart. When asked what inspires her in her business, Melku noted that she likes a challenge, but more importantly, she firmly believes in her products. She appreciates Innovation Guelph for helping her address any business challenges and praises her mentors for helping her with business decisions when needed.

Moving into the spring, Melku is looking forward to re-launching her hibiscus tea products in cans and providing the option of carbonated drinks. “I want people to try the product, promote it, and give feedback. The Guelph community has been incredibly supportive, and I encourage residents to shop local and support local businesses” says Melku.

To order your hibiscus tea or ice pops, click here. q

www.SeeitBeitSTEMit.com

NOMINATE A ROLE MODEL TO INSPIRE MORE YOUNG WOMEN TO STUDY SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, TRADES, ENGINEERING OR MATH!

In today’s world of rapidly evolving technology there is huge demand for STEM grads to create, implement and drive all that technology evolution and the innovation so critical to competitiveness. Science and technology are also a big part of solving some of our planets biggest issues whether it is climate change, feeding a growing global population or ensuring we all have access to clean, fresh water.

Our economy needs more entrepreneurs and more leaders to create businesses based on exciting advances in technology. To achieve this economic imperative, we need to encourage more young people to pursue a STEM education, particularly women. We need to tap into 100% of the population and that means bringing more women into STEM to create exciting, fulfilling careers, start businesses and support economic growth!

Our goal with See it • Be it • STEM it is to inspire young women into a STEM career by showcasing incredible women who happen to be scientists, technologists, tradespeople, engineers and mathematicians doing some fantastic things. Please nominate today!

Linda Hasenfratz, CEO, Linamar Corporation

Visit SeeitBeitSTEMit.com to order FREE calendars. Follow us at @seeitbeitstemit on Instagram and Facebook to learn more throughout the year!

Make your Nomination!