TEC Canada Champions Canadian Businesswomen
Calgary, AB (November 16, 2010) – TEC Canada’s vision is to accelerate the growth and global advancement of Canadian business through professional development and executive mentoring. Canadian businesswomen are integral to TEC’s vision.
A recent online discussion, moderated by the Globe and Mail, focused on advancing women in management. During the discussion, a poll showed 16 percent of participants ranked the biggest obstacle to women reaching the top ranks of Canadian corporations as “insufficient mentoring programs.”
“Mentorship is the core of TEC,” explains TEC Canada President Catherine Osler. “TEC members draw on the first-hand experience and wisdom of their peers and group mentors to focus on their personal and professional leadership goals.
“The goal of TEC mentorship is clear – to develop twenty-first century Canadian leaders, who can achieve personal and professional success through collaboration, continued learning and balanced living. I believe women are uniquely able to demonstrate these leadership qualities, both as senior level executives and entrepreneurs.”
Although the number of women occupying senior management positions in Canada is below 20 percent, women are achieving business success, particularly as entrepreneurs. In a recent article from the Globe and Mail, Dave McGinn focused on the trend of women increasingly surpassing men as small business owners. “Who's the boss?” asks McGinn. “If we're talking about small and medium-sized companies, those with 500 employees or less, chances are it's a woman.”
“Supporting female Canadian entrepreneurs is important to TEC and is one of my passions,” says Osler. TEC congratulates Monica Rok, Ruth Douglas, Dunya Marijan-Winterson and Jill White for appearing on Profit magazine’s W100 – a ranking of the 100 most successful business firms owned and operated by women. As Osler says, “Their success is what TEC is focused on helping women achieve.”
Rok, President and Founder of Advanced Knowledge Networks Inc. (AKN), embodies perseverance and a commitment to excellence. The W100 placement is a result of Rok’s successful direction in building one of Canada’s premier providers of Private Wide Area networks, a company that has been realizing exponential growth.
Much the same as Rok, News Canada Publisher Ruth Douglas has firmly established a strong leadership presence in her own company.
Providing the media with ready-to-use, timely, credible and copyright-free news content, News Canada has been in business for almost 30 years. This ongoing success can be attributed to Douglas and her steadfast belief that “women have a fresh and different approach to leadership.” A true advocate of camaraderie and support, Douglas agrees it is also the business skills developed from peer organizations like TEC that add even more facets to a woman’s leadership approach.
Marijan-Winterson is President and CEO of WM+A, providing short and long-term support for children, youth or adults with autism and developmental exceptionalities. “The mentorship and peer support available through TEC enables me to keep focused on my leadership and strategic goals whilst enhancing my personal development,” explains Marijan-Winterson. “As a leader in the field of direct services, WM+A continues to make a difference by delivering transparent and accountable evidence based services. Real-time access to critical decision making information drives our customers and being part of organizations like TEC helps me advance the business timely, successfully and with integrity.”
White echoes Marijan-Winterson’s sentiments. “As a TEC member, connecting with a group of diverse peers can be collaborative, empowering and a great growth experience.” As the President of Waterplay Solutions Corp. which designs and manufactures safe and fun aquatic play equipment for use in water and spray parks, White is thrilled with the company’s placement on Profit’s W100. The recognition is a testament to each woman on the list’s leadership.
TEC Chair Joyce Groote, who appeared on the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Profit W100 as President and CEO at Holeys, joins Osler in celebrating the success of TEC members Rok, Douglas, Marijan-Winterson and White. “I celebrate and applaud the women who are really putting Canadian businesses on the map.” A proponent of mentorship herself, Groote adds, “My experience of being successfully mentored as a TEC member was a key factor in my decision to become a TEC Chair.”
Groote was recently this year’s Keynote Speaker at the Women in Leadership (WIL) Foundation’s 3rd Annual Superwomen and Friends Gala which raised funds for WIL’s mentorship program.
Osler readily supports Groote’s community engagement. “Women are increasingly defining the mentorship of other Canadian businesswomen which is part of the answer to advancing women in management and as business owners,” notes Osler.
TEC is committed to helping Canadian businesswomen forge success and face the challenges of the current economic climate. Creating an environment that promotes learning while enhancing a businesswoman’s ability to influence and lead is paramount. TEC helps twenty-first century business leaders to reflect strength, confidence and veracity.
About TEC Canada:
To join TEC is to connect with professionals who have a passion for business, leadership and enterprise creation. TEC Canada is the preeminent peer-to-peer mentoring program for Canadian business leaders. For more information on TEC Canada and how our CEO association can advance the growth and development of your business visit www.tec-canada.com.
For more information please contact:
Sarah Ursulan, Manager of Communications
TEC Canada
403-262-1010
sursulan@tec-canada.com
www.tec-canada.com
