Programs

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

SESSION TOPICS                         MENTORS' BIOGRAPHIES  

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Entrepreneurship is a viable option for women to consider as a means of self-support, an alternative to working for someone else. Statistics show that women are starting small businesses at the rate of 4:1, as compared to men and that after five years, women are more successful than men in ensuring the business is viable.

The Mentorship Program is intended to provide mentoring support and information sessions to potential and existing Manitoba women business owners who are involved in micro-businesses (less than five employees).

The role of the mentors is to advise women who want to start and/or grow a business, regarding the various components of entrepreneurship such as finance, sales and advertising.  Mentors draw on their own successful experience in business to advise women business owners regarding the development, growth and ultimately the success of their businesses.

To lend emphasis to the supportive environment that women have requested, attendance at the monthly meetings is limited to 25 women who   pre-register on a "first come-first served basis".

Consulting partners for the Mentorship Program include the BDC, Women Business Owners of Canada and the Department of Industry, Trade and Mines.

MENTORSHIP SESSIONS

A variety of topics have been covered at past meetings including:

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THE MENTORS

Please note: All links below will take to you to the mentors' business web sites, external to the Government of Manitoba site.

LAURIE BOWERING (Chair of the Mentorship Group)
THE BOWERING GROUP INC.

Since 1988, Laurie Bowering and The Bowering Group have been offering professional event management services for a wide variety of events such as trade shows, conventions and product launches. Laurie was the first person in Manitoba to become a CERTIFIED MEETING PROFESSIONAL (CMP), as a result of programming from the Convention Liaison Council in Washington, D.C.

RENATA BURSTEN
THE DRAGONFLY TOY COMPANY

Renata is president and co-founder of The Dragonfly Toy Company, a unique toy company offering over 2000 toys as well as technology for children and adults with physical and/or mental disabilities. Started 5 years ago, Dragonfly was one of the first companies in Manitoba to do business on-line, by offering their entire catalog in both Canada and the U.S.

DIANE CALEY
C.A.T. CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

For the past 7 years, Diane’s company has been providing drafting and design services, on a contract basis, to the construction industry. Her 30 years of experience in design and drafting have served Diane well in her recent development of a unique concept for modular housing. At the present time, she is away in Mexico, working with potential business partners who are interested in her design.

DARLENE DOLINSKI
COPALL EQUESTRIAN CENTRE

Darlene’s business of 16 years presently includes an equestrian school and boarding facility that is the only accredited educational school of its kind in Manitoba. Just this year, the business has expanded significantly, going from 5 horses and 2.5 acres, to over 50 horses and 70 acres .

PAULINE FIA
SUNGLOW EXECUTIVE TRAVEL

Pauline began her business 21 years ago, focusing on the travel needs of a small client base of businesses and groups. Today, Pauline has grown her company from that small specialized customer base to one that is far more diverse, offering travel services for both business and leisure.

SHERRY HOPPE
WE CARE HOME HEALTH SERVICES

Since 1988 and under Sherry’s direction , WE CARE has been providing a broad range of professional nursing services and paraprofessional support services to persons of all ages. Sherry has also collaborated with Manitoba Education & Training to found The College of Health and Family Support Studies, offering training and upgrading for health care workers.

PHYLLIS LAING
BUFFALO GAL PICTURES INC.
Since 1992, Buffalo Gal Pictures, under the direction of Phyllis, has completed numerous movies and documentaries as well as a number of TV series airing on WTN and CKY. The growth of this industry in Manitoba is proving an exciting time for this company.

LORRINDA MCMILLAN
MCM INSURANCE GROUP

MCM’s customer focus is quite specific- the insurance needs of family owned businesses that are privately and publicly held. Over the 10 years that she has been in business, Lorrinda and her staff have worked hard to stay abreast of the changes to health insurance and pension legislation, in order to continue to meet the needs of their clients.

HOLLY MCNALLY
MCNALLY ROBINSON BOOKSELLERS

For the past eighteen years, Holly has been involved in the retail industry, growing the family owned business from four employees to over 100 people McNally operates two bookstores in Winnipeg and one in Saskatoon, offering books and other written materials, as well as CDs and gift items.

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