Innovation Guelph is gearing up to host Guelph’s first women’s leadership conference on March 8 and 9 at the Delta Guelph Hotel and Conference Centre. Ignite. Empower. Innovate. Women Leading in the New Economy is the organization’s fourth annual celebration of International Women’s Day in collaboration with other Guelph-based business and women’s organizations.
The conference is comprised of a dinner event, followed by a full day conference schedule with keynote speakers, and local business leaders facilitating leadership and creative skills development sessions.
“All of our previous International Women’s Day events have created a ripple effect in the community – people come away inspired, motivated, and excited to contribute to positive social change in our region,” said Kristel Manes, director of Innovation Guelph and The Rhyze Project, and chair of the Partners for International Women’s Day collective in a press release. “This conference provides a forum for Guelph’s female business leaders, entrepreneurs and the community at large to spend the day connecting so new ideas and new partnerships can form. I can’t wait to see what happens in Guelph as a result of this conference.”
The conference begins on March 8 with an evening dinner and networking event featuring Dr. Ginger Grant, a professor of creativity at Sheridan College, innovation strategist and organizational designer who helps people identify their passions and unique purpose.
On March 9, keynote speaker Linda Lundström will teach attendees to look at their lives with a new perspective as she shares her journey to become a Canadian fashion icon, designer, and member of the Order of Ontario.
Additional sessions and speakers include:
– Writing from the Inside Out , with Anne Day, founder, Company of Women;
– Doing Good and Making Money, with Erin Doherty, business sustainability strategist and Innovation Guelph mentor;
– The Art of Negotiation, with Cherolyn Knapp, partner, NelsonWatson LLP;
– Design for Business Dashboard, with Melanie Lang, director, Centre for Business and Social Entrepreneurship (CBaSE), College of Business and Economics, University of Guelph; and
– Thinking on Your Feet, with Jay Reid, founder, The Making Box.
Following the sessions, attendees will come together to assemble “kits for confidence” for young girls in Guelph and Wellington County as an end of day activity.
Conference tickets are $175 for the full two day conference, or $75 for the evening dinner event. Complete conference details, including tickets, session descriptions and a schedule are available at InnovationGuelph.ca.
