Join the ranks of successful women entrepreneurs

SAVE $300
a 20% savings off the regular price $1,495 if you SIGN-UP before August 27, 2010

Step Ahead's 2010 - 2011 One-on-One Mentoring Program kicks off this September. One-on-one mentoring with your own mentor 10 group workshops with lectures, panel presentations, guest speakers, participatory roundtables & networking.

If you are interested in growing your business, please contact us for more information about this dynamic mentoring program for women entrepreneurs. 2010 - 2011's NEW Program starts Wednesday, September 15, 2010. A structured One-on-One mentoring program, Step Ahead pairs women who want to expand their businesses with seasoned women entrepreneurs for a year-long mentoring relationship.


Uniquely focused on business coaching and development for women by women Step Ahead allows the opportunity to learn from one another in an intimate and supportive environment.

In addition to One-on-One Mentoring, the program provides women with advanced business training through monthly educational workshops - with session topics covering the pillars of growing a business, from financial management, marketing and HR through to work-life balance and even ethics.


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CALLING ALL WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS!

Canada’s largest celebration of entrepreneurial achievement by women is back!

The 12th annual ranking of the PROFIT W100: Canada’s Top Women Entrepreneurs is the definitive list
of Canada’s leading women-owned and women-run businesses. The list ranks applicants by a combination of company size, growth rate and profitability.

W100 winners enjoy many benefits, including coverage in the November issue of PROFIT, which can attract new staff, customers, business partners and the interest of other local and national media.
You can also count on business-building marketing and PR support from PROFIT. Perhaps best of all,
you’ll be invited to the PROFIT W100 Idea Exchange, an exclusive conference geared to helping you strengthen your company and management skills in collaboration with other female entrepreneurs.

Request a nomination package by calling 1-800-713-GROW or completing the
online ballot at PROFITguide.com/w100ballot.



Journey to Success Conference presented by Company of Women
An all day conference for women in business, to be inspired, be motivated and gain new ideas.

June 15, 2010 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Oakville Conference & Banquet Centre.
Check it out


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Step Ahead Board Member Wins
Prestigious Award.
NEWS RELEASE - October 21, 2009

CANADIAN WOMEN’S MARKET EXPERT AND ENTREPRENEUR WINS PRESTIGIOUS INTERNATIONAL AWARD


Toronto, ON—Susan Baka, President, Bay Communications & Marketing Inc., a leading women’s market expert and champion of women entrepreneurs and exporters, was honoured this week at The International Alliance for Women (TIAW) World of Difference 100 Awards Luncheon with an award in the Entrepreneurship category. These awards recognize up to 100 women from around the world who have significantly contributed to the economic empowerment of women.

“I am truly honoured to receive this award and be in the company of such amazing and inspiring women,” says Baka. “Advocating on behalf of women entrepreneurs and exporters is my passion, and I believe that it is organizations like TIAW that help unite and support professional women and their networks, making positive change in the world possible.”

“We received tremendous nominations from six continents and more than 20 countries around the world,” says Stephanie MacKendrick, Past President of the TIAW Board and President of Canadian Women in Communications. “We have been inspired and humbled by the stories of women leaders who, often without fanfare, have taken action to support women’s advancement in society.”

Baka has been an enthusiastic champion of women business owners for over a decade. This includes showcasing them as role models in the many publications and websites for which she writes, actively volunteering with women’s business associations to provide communication expertise and spearhead initiatives like trade missions, and speaking internationally to share best practices. She is a founder, board member and Vice President, Communications, for the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) and sits on the board of the Step Ahead Women’s Mentoring Program. She was appointed to the Minister of International Trade’s Small and Medium Enterprise Advisory Board in 2008 where she represents the interests of women exporters. This spring, she was named an honoree at the Global EXEC Women’s International Women of Influence Awards in San Francisco.

2010 Step Ahead One-on-One Mentoring Program Schedule

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Certification of Women-Owned Businesses Coming Soon
WEConnect Canada, an independent non-profit corporate membership organization, has been launched to deliver the leading international certification standard for women-owned businesses in Canada to facilitate entry in the global supply chain. It is affiliated with WEConnect International, which is leading
the global expansion of certification so that multinational corporations and governments looking to diversify their supplier base will be connected to businesses that are woman owned, managed and controlled.  WEConnect Canada will be able to provide a database of certified women-owned
enterprises to be considered for global sourcing initiatives.

It is estimated that Canadian women-owned businesses comprise less than 5% of suppliers to the corporate and public sector. The result is that women’s businesses don’t grow, big business misses out
on value and innovation and national productivity suffers.  WEConnect Canada seeks to level the
playing field and enable women to have a fair chance to compete for contracts. After that, it is
business as usual

Certification programs already exist in the U.S. and U.K.  The Canadian program is being incubated by Quantum Leaps, a global non-profit dedicated to promoting women’s enterprise development. Interim Executive Director is Astrid Pregel. As part of the certification process, training will also be provided on how to help women-owned businesses increase their capacity to scale up operations. For more information on WEConnect Canada, visit www.weconnectcanada.org.

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Awards Recognize Outstanding Women Entrepreneurs
Over 500 people gathered to celebrate and support the winners of this year's prestigious RBC Canadian Woman Entrepreneur Awards (CWEA) at an inspiring ceremony in Toronto on December 9. The preeminent awards provide national recognition to Canada's women entrepreneurs, whose successful businesses and achievements contribute so much to Canadian and global economies as well as to their communities. Here are the winners:

• HKMB HUB International Impact Award – to Baljit Gill, Kitwanga Lumber Company, an independent lumber manufacturing and marketing business and one of the largest exporters of B.C. Wood Products. Markets include North America, Central America and South East Asia and the company employees over 200, 70% of whom are First Nations people.

• Deloitte Start-up Award – to Miriam and Natalie Gee, Gee Beauty, a makeup and skincare studio that has doubled revenue each year since inception in August 2005.

• RBC Momentum Award - to Tarana Nina Gupta, Greenlite Lighting Corporation, a manufacturer and distributor of energy-efficient lighting from compact florescent lights to solar panels. Launched in 1993, Greenlite is now a $30 million company that exports its products to the U.S., China and India.

• Bell Trailblazer Award - to Teresa Coady, Bunting Coady Architects, known for the development of the Integrated Design Process (IDP) which successfully involves the client in all aspects of design and construction.

• PROFIT Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship - to Christina Jennings, Shaftesbury Films, creator of over 500 hours of series television programs and feature films. Production and development spending topped $65 million in 2008.

For information about the Awards, visit www.theawards.ca