16 minute read
Local Culture
Smart and trendy meets sustainable
When things get tough, Brianne Roblin keeps going
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BY LISA CRESS PHOTOS BY STUDIO 78
Every Plato’s Closet and Once Upon A Child location is individually owned and operated by local business owners. Brianne Roblin opened her own Once Upon A Child in September 2020 and Plato’s Closet in January of 2022 and hasn’t looked back.
“I am so grateful to be a business owner in the Westman community,” says Brianne Roblin, Owner. “At Once Upon A Child and Plato’s Closet, we really strive to create the best experience for our customers. We know shoppers are smart and trendy and want to find value without compromising style.”
Along with managing two businesses, Roblin is a wife and mother to 9-year-old Brynley.
“One of the reasons I started my own business was because I wanted to be a role model for my daughter,” says Roblin. “I wanted her to see how important it is to reach for her dreams and aspirations and not be afraid of hard work or pursuing something she could be proud of.” Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it also takes a village to run a business. Roblin’s family has supported her at home and at work every step of the way.
“When I first had Brynley, I really struggled to find fulfillment being at home taking care of the house and new baby. I felt shame and guilt for wanting to go back to work,” says Roblin. “My husband and family were very supportive when I re-entered the workforce. My husband and I are a team when it comes to balancing who does what at home and at work.”
Roblin’s husband Jason is familiar with the Westman business community. When Roblin opened her stores, he made sure that people knew who was in charge.
“When I first opened, people would often go to Jason if they had questions or concerns about the business. He was very quick to say, ‘Oh no, this is Brianne’s thing – you need to talk to her.’ After 15 years of being together, he knows how strong-willed I am and how much having my own business means to me. He knew I wanted the whole responsibility of being a business owner.”
- Jennifer Lee
When it comes to the next generation of female entrepreneurs, Roblin encourages you to push through and live authentically.
“As a woman in business, everyone is going to have an opinion about what you should be doing and how you should be doing it. You will never make everyone happy and that’s okay! Believe in yourself and surround yourself with people you aspire to be like.”
Plato’s Closet and Once Upon A Child offer a shopping experience that’s cool, fun and full of exciting and affordable finds. If you have dreams of trendy brand names in perfectly good condition are on the rack and up to 70% off. You can stop daydreaming and go visit Roblin and her team.
Brianne Roblin Once Upon A Child & Plato’s Closet platosclosetbrandon@gmail.com onceuponachildbrandon@gmail.com
Connecting women entrepreneurs in rural Manitoba
PHOTOS BY K. HLADY PHOTOGRAPHY
One of the key aspects to running a successful business is surrounding yourself with people that can guide and support you on your entrepreneurial journey.
As a woman entrepreneur, where do you turn to for ongoing support? How do you keep track of training or funding programs? Where can you connect with other women who may be facing similar opportunities or challenges? START YOUR SEARCH WITH THE HUBS. The Manitoba Entrepreneurial Hubs (aka The Hubs) is a network of entrepreneurship centres & coworking spaces that serve women entrepreneurs at all stages of business.
Over the past two years, The Hubs have connected hundreds of women across Manitoba through virtual programs, events and coworking. These personal connections have led to collaborations, mentorship and business growth during times when it was needed the most.
Based out of the main coworking space in Dauphin, the Hub’s staff team is available to assist women business owners from all over Manitoba. Currently, all events, programs, business advisory and coaching services are offered virtual but in-person events are being planned for the Westman region this spring.
Dive into Digital is their most popular online group coaching program, aimed at helping women to improve their online marketing presence. Applications for the spring cohort are now open with sessions starting in April.
Regardless of where you live, you have access to a wide network of women and support organizations who can help make your entrepreneurial journey easier. Reach out and ask for help. Be open to new connections and collaborations. And most importantly, celebrate your progress and success!
Manitoba Entrepreneurial Hubs (aka The Hubs) Dauphin, Manitoba 204-701-0440 www.thehubs.ca @thehubsmb
Empowered women empower women
As a successful lawyer, Andrea Epp knows just how important it is to support other female professionals
BY LISA CRESS PHOTOS BY STUDIO 78
Andrea Epp has been practicing law in Brandon for over 12 years. She started her own firm and opened Epp Law Office in November of 2020 with the goal to do business a little differently. “Purchasing a home or starting a business can be stressful – and people are often a little nervous to be working with a lawyer,” says Andrea Epp, Epp Law Office. “We’ve made the effort to make our offices feel like a welcoming environment and really take the time to make sure clients are comfortable and understand every step of the process.” The Epp Law Office mainly focuses on legal matters concerning commercial and residential real estate, corporate law, estate planning and administration. The office is warm and inviting, with Epp taking care of details to help her clients feel welcome and at ease. “We really about creating professional, long-term relationships. We want our clients to know they can turn to our team time and again for trusted advice,” says Epp. “We are committed to the highest standard of the practice of law and serving clients.” Epp’s office is busy. Her caring and warm approach to law in such a demanding industry is likely why her services have been so in demand. Her office has been open for just over a year and in that short time, she’s brought on another lawyer and moved to a larger space to support the needs of her team and clients. “It’s nice to see significant strides in this community with the acceptance of female professionals. When I started my professional career in banking in my 20’s and then moved on to work in law in my early 30’s, it was difficult to be taken seriously,” says Epp. “I had to constantly prove my worth in order to gain respect. Over the past few years, the shift in how people treat professional women has been incredible. I’ve heard a good number of people say they would actually rather work with a female professional, whether it is their accountant, realtor, lawyer or doctor.” Supporting other women and advocating for gender equality is something Epp does in both life and work. “I think female entrepreneurs tend to take a more nurturing and holistic approach to their family, community and their business. Empowering women in business or leadership roles tends to result in improvements to quality of life, work-life balance and inclusion for everyone.” It takes a village to help the female entrepreneur thrive. Epp notes every female professional can only grow if we’re willing to build each other up. “On International Women’s Day, I hope we can go the extra mile to be kind to one another and support women in business. Whether it’s a compliment or encouraging word – we need to stand together and continue to push for change in gender equality to better our communities.”
Epp Law Office 642 18th Street, Unit A 204-717-3775 reception@epplawoffice.ca www.epplawoffice.ca
- Bethany Hamilton
ANDREA EPP
Strong. Fierce. Talented. YOU!
Discovering your natural talents is the first step to your best self
BY WENDY HOFFORD, WH STRATEGIC DRIVE
Are you living to your full potential? Are you lost and confused about who you are and what your purpose is? To understand who you want to be or what potential you have, you must first understand who you are and how you are wired and what comes to you, naturally.
CliftonStrengths is an online assessment tool that identifies the talents and strengths within. Once you understand your unique and powerful talents, you can begin the journey of learning more about who you are and cultivating your best self.
Results from the ClifftonStrengths assessment tool are measured against 34 different talents. These talents help you understand why you see the world the way you do and what sets you apart from others. When we understand where we shine, we can leverage our natural abilities to grow and reach our goals.
LEARNING ABOUT YOUR NATURAL TALENTS CAN BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE AND SQUASH IMPOSTER SYNDROME.
Research shows that 79% of women struggle with their confi dence and self-esteem, while 75% of us experience imposter syndrome. What that means is most women struggle to see themselves as capable, talented and worthy of their accomplishments.
With the CliftonStrengths assessment, you will learn about the talents you are naturally gifted with and what makes you unique. Women I have worked with have discovered their natural talents and strengths are exactly what they need to guide them to be the best version of themselves. When we focus on maximizing what we’re good at and where we thrive, our confi dence skyrockets. When we are confi dent in who we are and know our value, we are empowered. When we are empowered, we can believe that our success is deserved and legitimately achieved.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR TALENTS AND STRENGTHS CAN HELP YOU FLOURISH IN YOUR CAREER.
We all have talents and strengths that can help us reach our potential in both our personal and professional lives. It isn’t about what specifi c talent you need, but rather, what specifi c talent you have that you can leverage to reach your potential in your life and career. Learning how to build on what comes natural to you is much easier than trying to become someone you aren’t. So where do you start? The fi rst step is: do the CliftonStrengths assessment. When you get your results, you can study the areas where you shine and gain a bett er understanding of the talents you can nature to become your best self. A strength can also be a weakness – so we need to learn how to use our talents in a positive way. Once you begin to understand how you’re wired and what you’re good at, the work begins. It takes the investment of intention, focus and practice to turn a talent into a strength and become the person you are meant to be.
Have courage to chase your dreams and be confident in your skills
Nicole Rice is your local choice for equipment financing
BY LISA CRESS PHOTOS BY STUDIO 78
To get the job done, one needs the right tools. If the tools you need come in the form of combines, tractors, specialized trailers and long-haul trucks, you may want to speak to Nicole Rice, Westman’s local equipment leasing broker.
“I started my business to help small and medium sized companies buy and sell new and used equipment with lease financing,” explains Rice. “I provide local financing services for agriculture, construction, transportation, medical, office and technology. My goal is to help people grow their business by connecting them with alternative lending options.” There are many benefits to leasing equipment. For new businesses, equipment leasing provides you with the accessibility not typically offered through traditional lenders. For the established business, the speed of approvals and flexibility of term structures allow you to quickly acquire equipment and start generating income as soon as possible.
What you do makes a difference - and you get to decide what kind of difference you want to make.
- Jane Goodall
“It can be difficult for business owners to get the financing they need, especially when they’re just starting out,” Rice says. “Broker services allow for tailored financing solutions, matching your specific needs with the best lender for your growth. As an independent equipment leasing specialist, I help our local business community by offering competitive finance options, quality customer service and honest advice.” Rice is proud to offer a local service the Westman area can rely on.
“Our community is full of hard-working, progressive entrepreneurs,” Rice says. “The best part about my job is meeting new people and learning about their business and what I can do to help them grow.” Equipment purchases and upgrades are an investment in your business. As your local broker, Rice is an advocate for investing in yourself and believing in your abilities.
“When I knew I wanted to start my own business, my biggest challenge was having the confidence to go out on my own,” Rice says. “But I knew that Westman needed a service I could provide that didn’t yet exist locally.” Along with owning her own business, Rice is also a wife and a mother to four girls. She wants to show her daughters that when it comes to their futures and what they are capable of, the sky is the limit.
“Women need to support each other. When they do, incredible things happen,” Rice says. “Gender does not dictate your career options. Everyone should have equal opportunity to do what they love and chase their dreams. I make it a priority to instill confidence and independence in my girls because I want them and young women everywhere to believe in themselves and find their own voice. That voice doesn’t have to be loud, but it does need to be direct and confident.” Learn more about equipment leasing options by contacting your local broker, Nicole Rice, at nicole@groupesfa.com.
Nicole Rice, Finance Broker Affiliated Financial Services 204-721-2501 nicole@groupesfa.com www.nicolericeleasing.com
WOMEN IN WEALTH IN CANADA
BY MICHAEL VAN LIEROP, PRESIDENT NEW OUTLOOK WEALTH MANAGEMENT
f you include retail or branch level banking in Canada, women make up just shy of one-quarter (23%) of financial advisors in Canada. If we exclude these typically salaried positions, the percentage drops precipitously. In other words, the major wealth managers whose compensation models are commissioned or meritbased seem least likely to attract – and especially retain – women advisors. As a consequence, an increasingly large segment of clients with wealth in Canada – female clients with money – are not getting advice from advisors who resemble them. The wealth management industry needs to expand its engagement of women – in terms of client service and especially advice. The financial planning field has more women than ever, but this remains a “man’s world” which puts women advisors, and by extension their clients, at a huge disadvantage. That said, the business case is enormous for greater gender equity: women increasingly make critical financial decisions in households, and in ways that were not even possible a few decades ago. Accessibility to information and technology have provided power to those who want it – information is power and women have equal access to this. Increasingly, mortality rates continue to show a major gap between men and women in Canada, with women living often several years after their partners have died. In many cases, they find themselves solely responsible for their financial well-being and that of their estate (children, grandchildren) without the financial literacy or support they need at a vulnerable time.
Indeed, massive amounts of wealth (hundreds of billions of dollars) will transition in Canada in the next decade that will be largely managed by widowed (or divorced) women in their 60s, 70s and 80s. Over 70% of estates are inherited by women. Who will be best able to provide the support, empathy, and understanding they need to make the best decisions possible? Research has demonstrated that female investors are 2.5x more likely to take investment risk if they are being coached and advised by a female advisor. Arguably, despite awareness, not enough is being done to support women. In an industry which likes to present itself as purely meritocratic, sales organizations (of which every large wealth management firm is, whether they acknowledge this or not) are loathe to do anything that may favour someone over another. In theory this is all fine and dandy, but in practice it’s another story. While other businesses have gone to great lengths to encourage and support (ie: with dollars) those who may be disadvantaged for racial, ethnic, cultural or gender reasons, the business of wealth management in Canada seems unable – or unwilling – to do more than pay lip service to the issue. And while the “old boy’s club” mentality of the industry has largely dissipated in the last decade, the make-up of the industry is so heavily skewed towards older men (the average age of advisors in Canada is nearing 60) it’s difficult to imagine this male dominance is a legacy of an industry desperate for modernization. Even the metrics for success in the industry remain male-centric. It’s not as though the industry isn’t acutely aware of the challenges – the fact is, there are many extremely successful women advisors in Canada, but they are a tiny minority of the total number of advice professionals in the industry.
Virtue signalling corporate behemoths
Lots of big companies in the wealth management space in Canada make grandiose pronouncements on social media and in their marketing of how progressive and inclusive they are. The “token” successful women – who often fit a very narrow definition of beauty and success – are aggressively showcased. They exude success and prosperity. Meanwhile, the reality – an aging, predominantly male workforce – continues to run the show. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t powerful women on boards and inside the C suite as senior executives, it just means there remains a certain degree of showmanship relating to women’s inclusion that just fails to match up with the day-to-day reality. The bottom line is this: the financial industry in Canada needs to address this issue with urgency – and the business case for doing so is compelling. The decisionmakers increasingly are women. High net worth clients – the ideal target for most wealth firms – are increasingly women. If the industry is truly working in the best interests of clients, having a comparable and suitable advice capacity (in terms of women advisors) will help ensure that women with wealth – and those without it – can still get proper financial planning advice.
Statistics Source: “Why there are so few female financial advisors: and what needs to happen to grow the numbers” by Judy Paradi, Paulette Filion (https:// www.strategymarketing.ca/wp-content/uploads/Femalefinancial-advisors-why-so-few-2020.pdf)
