Message from the President

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY!

This year is a very special year for me as I celebrate my fifth anniversary with WBE Canada. I’ve spent lots of time reviewing actions, accomplishments and disappointments we’ve experienced as an organization.

As a leader I understand the challenges this year brings to growth focused businesses and organizations. We want to move forward with boldness while protecting our teams and preventing painful mistakes. In order to win, we need clear vision, solid strategy, a pinch of intentionality and a large dose of perseverance.

This year’s Women’s Day theme is Embrace Equity. While this seems powerful, I had to google the term to understand what it means (English is not my native language and dictionaries are great tools). Among other things I’ve learned that improving equity requires acknowledgement of the inequities women face and actively working to redress that imbalance.

WBE Canada embraced this approach some time ago as we decided to support smaller womenowned businesses with newly developed resources and opportunities and provide additional support for new supplier diversity initiatives to speed up the implementation in Canada. We continue learning more about our communities and their needs and developing new tools and programs to help address these challenges.

The Spring 2023 issue of the WBE Canada Magazine aims to educate, inspire and motivate our community to keep moving forward challenging the status quo. I strongly believe that each of us CAN make a difference. If you can help, teach, sell, buy, give or encourage, you can be a difference maker.

Winston Churchill said: “You must put your head in the lion’s mouth if the performance is to be a success.” In other words, to make a difference for women-owned businesses in Canada, we all need to do our part. My hope is that our efforts will not disappear with Women’s Day but will continue throughout the year.

As you read through and get inspired, remember to reach out to our team with partnership ideas, feedback or tips. We love hearing from you and look forward to partnering with you this year.

SILVIA PENCAK President & CEO, WBE Canada concierge@wbecanada.ca