When I reflect over the past year, it’s difficult to pull just a few highlights.

I was able to attend many wonderful In-Person events, to support and rekindle connections with Women Business Owners & Leaders worldwide. Hugs are great!

Whenever I attend an event or conference, I am reminded of why I started GroYourBiz and EXCELerate conferences, and it motivates me to continue. I believe when women come together, they make connections—incredible connections that can catapult their business to the next level. I’m always reminded of the quote by Maya Angelou. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I felt a deep connection and was uplifted by all those I had time to spend with in 2023.

Here is a highlight of a few of the incredible events.

As a business professional with a passion for global trade and women’s empowerment, I was eager to connect with other like-minded individuals in the industry at the OWIT International Spring Board in Washington DC in May, as well as the Vital Voices & Embassy Open House also in DC.

These events were nothing short of a fantastic opportunity for networking, knowledge sharing, and building valuable relationships with other professionals in the field.

The 2023 WPO Entrepreneurial Excellence Forum (EEF) held May 10-12 at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, brought back fond memories of the 3 WPO Boards I started in Vancouver and the exceptional Chairs I worked with. Over three days, we reunited relationships, fostered more connections, and learned innovative ways to grow and thrive as individuals and leaders.

The journey of events continued as I was keen to support Silvia Pencak in Vancouver and attend WBE Canada Supplier Diversity Day. When I think back to 2008, Canada was first introducing the process of how WBOs could build relationships with corporate and government buyers by becoming certified. I was involved in assisting the process and also did the training to do the certification. WBE Canada has come a long way since that time. It was also heart warming for me to see so many WBOs I know and corporations embracing supplier diversity.

Summer events continued with the unforgettable weekend at the first West Coast Leaders’ Retreat, hosted by IWF (International Women’s Forum) in beautiful British Columbia. Our fearless leader and President for IWF BC, Patra de Silva, was the first to organize this exceptional event which brought together members from the Six West Coast Regions, including Southern Cal, Northern Cal, Washington, Oregon, Utah, and BC. I was also delighted to have my own daughter, Brittany Manulak join me for this weekend as she too is a member of IWF, with her company, Concept Plumbing and Gas.

Onwards to New York City for Global Futures 2023. Our world needs an engaged and committed alliance of global citizens who want to accelerate transformations for a Just, Sustainable Future, outlining 10 transformational changes necessary to reach the unprecedented requisite to keep earth’s system in a safe operating zone, by implementing the 10 Must-Haves and Must-Dos. The most famous quote for me was when the wonderful Mary Robinson, First Women President of Ireland, and Chair of the Elders, who is a passionate advocate stated “I just don’t have HOPE, I have DETERMINATION.”

It was also a pleasure to honour the Five New Awardees winning the 2023 WE EMPOWER UN SDG Challenge.

  • Susan Blanchet, CEO and Founder of Origen Air
  • Karin Sempf, CEO and Founder of Innova Nation
  • Menna Farouk, Co-Founder of Dosy
  • Andy Blair, Co-Founder of Upflow
  • Diana Mbogo, Founder and managing director of Millennium Engineers

Then on to the DVF Awards in New York City, where Origen Air Co-Founder and CEO (and GroYourBiz alum) Susan Blanchet was deservedly honoured, along with the four other Awardee Winners mentioned above.

I was then able to join the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC), Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC) and Inclusive Workplace and Supply Council of Canada ( IWSCC) for a day of networking, learning, and creating business opportunities.

Supplier Diversity provides opportunities for corporations and public organizations to diversify their supply chain by incorporating suppliers that are owned by Indigenous, Black, racialized, LGBTQ, disabled, women, Veteran, and refugee people.

I was grateful to Amanda Ellis for inviting me to attend the ILA Global Conference Oct 12-15, also in Vancouver. It was amazing to be a part of a global community of leaders and leadership scholars, educators, and development professionals who share a vision of leadership for a just and thriving future. It was also great to see Susan Blanchet (Origen Air), as she had just won the WE Empower UN SDG Challenge for 2023 in NYC. And you know it is an excellent event when Kim Campbell, our FIRST Female PM and Beverley McLachlin, Former Chief Justice of Canada are also at the event. And back to the magic of relationship building I was introduced to Elizabeth Cordeau-Chatelain, who came with me to the Governor House Foundation Gala Ball in Victoria a few weeks later. Now added to the “Friend Tree”.

A BIG Highlight was being honoured by The International Alliance for Women (TIAW) with a Lifetime Achievement Award in Toronto. Each year, TIAW bestows the TIAW World of Difference Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual TIAW Global Forum to recognize woman who has truly made a difference in the lives of women. I was exceptionally delighted when I saw that Mary Robinson, whom I had just met at Global Futures 2023, was bestowed with this Award in 2004, read more here. I am truly humbled and touched to have received such a highly respected award.

My philosophy revolves around the power of relationship marketing, a concept I have championed for decades. I understand that the heart of business growth lies in genuine connections and mutual trust. This approach is more than just a strategy; it’s about creating a network of authentic relationships. One of my favourite sayings is “The person you meet today might be someone you do business with tomorrow.”

Attending the Governor House Foundation Gala Ball in Victoria reminded me once again how my life changed due to the “Power of Relationships”. It was the first time I wore my “medal”, since 2010 for receiving the “Governor General’s Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case recognizing outstanding individuals who have helped to advance equality for women and girls in Canada.” Not knowing who nominated me until much later and found out it was one of my Advisory Board Members…the beautiful Michelle Pockey (lawyer with Fasken Martineau}, who passed away far too young. So to join me at the ceremony I wanted to make sure I invited those women who had made a significant difference to my life by guiding and supporting my work, both Nationally and Internationally (Adair Heuchan, Betty Wood, Joanne Gassman and of course my daughters, Paula and Brittany, my son Brent, and my nephew Randy Mowat). Now advance 13 years to “give back” to the Lieutenant Governor of BC (Janet Austin) who always had my support from her days as CEO of YWCA Metro Vancouver. I continue to be grateful for her support and welcome remarks always attending our past EXCELerate conferences, as well as Ratana Stephens, CEO & Co-Founder, Nature’s Path Food, who has also been a supporter of our conferences and former speaker. If you have a mutual respect for each other, miracles can happen.

It was such a treat to reconnect in Toronto with GroYourBiz Entrepreneurs at the Fireside Chat 2023 with speakers: Jennifer Lee, BMO Capital Markets Economics, Dr. Elizabeth Goldspink, Sue Bennett and Laura Williams. It was a full house, along with key leaders and support team from BMO. It was truly meaningful.

Also attended “Women and Brain Health” sponsored by BMO for Women to make the journey even more delightful.

Finally, ending the year in Vancouver for our very own GYB Christmas Event “Peace, Light and Laughter” with the delightful cartoonist Lynn Johnston, Afghanistan Friba Rezayee, champion for women and girl’s rights, with a finale from The Langley Ukulele Association, Enriching Lives Through Music since 1981. It was a beautiful way to socialize and connect with GYB members and key alliances.

My philosophy revolves around the power of relationship marketing, a concept I have championed for decades. I understand that the heart of business growth lies in genuine connections and mutual trust. This approach is more than just a strategy; it’s about creating a network of authentic relationships. One of my favourite sayings is “The person you meet today might be someone you do business with tomorrow.”

My approach to business is deeply human-centric. I believe that at the core of every successful business interaction, there’s a personal connection. When you prioritize people and relationships, success follows, with the power of building bridges, nurturing relationships, and fostering a community that thrives on mutual respect and collaboration.

We are now gearing up for EXCELerate2024: GroYourBiz with the Speed of Collaboration. We continue to INNOVATE, INSPIRE and INFLUENCE thought leaders to focus on new ways of thinking beyond the norm—growing your business with compassion, courage, confidence, and collaboration.

Connected through values and vision, delegates will:

  • Be Inspired by innovators, disruptors, world leaders, visionaries, activists and creative entrepreneurs from across Canada and Internationally.
  • Learn and share strategies and solutions that tackle key issues leading change to a sustainable and profitable business.
  • Build business contacts with like-minded entrepreneurs from across Canada and Internationally.

See the outstanding International speakers, plenaries, and Meet the Expert sessions specially planning for this event April 24-26 on our website.

Delegates will include: women and male business owners, corporate representatives, government attendees, trade practitioners from academia, finance, customer brokerage and legal expertise, students in business and international trade, as well as media.

This is a MUST ATTEND EVENT! Early Bird tickets are only available until February 29. Get your tickets while quantities last. Or if you are a GYB Member, email accounting@groyoubiz.com for your special discount code.