 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
The WLC celebrated its one-year anniversary at the Power of Women event on November 6.
So, what’s happened in a year? Well, 1,800 women and men are now part of our amazing network within The Vancouver Board of Trade. We’ve heard from speakers such as Diane Francis, Carole Taylor and Jaime Rupert. We’ve had events, everything from Developing Your Leadership Brand with Tara Cree to the very popular All Access Event at the new WLC clubhouse, the Terminal City Club. The WLC also has its own website and newsletter.
But what’s the best thing about the WLC? It’s that women understand the power of building relationships. WLC is not about ‘closing a sale’ but ‘opening a relationship.’ And in these difficult times you never needed a network more. As business guru Ram Charan says in Leading in a Downturn (Fortune magazine, February 2008) “When you’re down, don’t just sit there, talk to people, inside and outside.”
This year we heard a lot of thought provoking ideas from our speakers. Here are four easy rules some suggested we follow:
- The Importance of Women on Boards
Deborah Gillis, vice president, North America, Catalyst told WLC that research shows if you have women on your board your company will do better. She encouraged us to expand our networks and inform others of our desire to sit on a board – “Get on their radar…because business needs you.”
- If Women Ran the World
Carol Borghesi, a leading global telecommunications consultant, discussed the current economic downturn and asked: “If it had been called Lehman Sisters, would the same thing have happened?”
- Develop Your Leadership Brand
Dr. Tara Cree, a senior consultant with Knightsbridge, says: “If you don’t brand yourself, someone else will.”
- Strive to be Better
“Good enough is not good enough among so many choices,” says Nortel’s chief marketing officer, Lauren Flaherty.
 WLC GUIDELINES
If you come to a WLC event remember these simple guidelines:
- You can talk to anyone. Just walk up and say hi.
- Give out your business card and get one in return. Why? Because who can remember names?
- Rescue wallflowers. Motto: At WLC events there will be no wallflowers!
- Open the circle. If you see someone near you, make sure you let them into the circle.
What’s the result? Networking and connecting is so much more fun!
THE WLC’S SECRET WEAPON
The WLC is very lucky to have Sue Paish, QC, CEO of Pharmasave Drugs (National) Ltd. as the founding chair of the WLC. (We won’t be running this newsletter past Sue because she’d say "take this section out.") But the truth is Sue is one of the clearest thinkers and most compelling speakers on the role of women in business in Canada. If you saw her at the Power of Women, you know what we mean. Sue is bold, irreverent, spectacularly accomplished and totally real. The WLC is very fortunate to have her as our spokesperson.
 WHAT’S ON OUR WISH LIST?
It’s been a very successful launch year, but how would we like to see the WLC grow? Top of our list—let’s start inviting more MEN to our events. As Sue Paish mentioned at both the Catalyst event and Lisa Martin’s Should She Stay or Should She Go session, “We are talking to the converted.” Women "get this stuff!" One of the values that WLC can add to the business community is we can be a place where men and women can talk together about these issues. Our hope for Year Two is that you will bring the men in your organization to our WLC events. That’s when change will happen.
 A PERFECT FIT
When Coast Capital Savings became a WLC founding gold sponsor it was a perfect match. Their women leaders are smart and funny. They’ve helped set the tone for WLC. When you see Lynn Roberts, vice president, human resources, take the podium and put on her tiara, wave her wand and do her Loretta LaRoche impression, you know you’ve got sponsors who understand that the WLC is a place to have fun. Or when Jay-Ann Fordy, senior vice president, human resources, does her Top Five Dave Letterman list at the Power of Women special WLC lunch, you know this is a company that gets it. Hey, their commercials are even on YouTube.
 IS THE LIST STOPPING YOU?
Cassie Campbell, captain of Canada's Gold Medal winning women's hockey team, says women don’t make time for fun! We have a long list of things that we HAVE to do and only once THE LIST is all checked off, do we make time for fun. Ring a bell? At our Power of Women WLC hosted luncheon we asked our guests what they did for fun. And, here were some of the answers. Pole dancing. Yes, and there were five women in the room who did this! One woman was doing her own Eat, Pray, Love hiatus from work. Another takes mystery tours with her kids. She gets in the car and her kids tell her which direction to go. Turn left here, now turn right and you just end up somewhere. Of course there is always ice cream involved.
 OUR AMAZING BRAINS
Jill Bolte Taylor, a Harvard brain scientist, was one of the most fascinating speakers at the Power of Women. Thirteen years ago, at the age of 37, Jill had a front row seat to her own stroke. What happened and how she came back is her story, My Stroke of Insight, Viking Press 2008. It’s an inspiring journey. Jill also talks about our circuitry, how amazing we humans are. She told us that anger runs on a 90 second circuit and then it is gone. But, we continue to STAY angry because we are just choosing to remain in that emotional loop. As Jill says, “Do you really want to run that circuitry again?” If you missed Jill Bolte Taylor, check out her presentation on TED and find out why “we are the life force power of the universe.”
CELEBRATING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
 The number of woman-owned businesses in Canada, has doubled over the last 15 years and is growing at a rate 60 per cent faster than those run by men. Yet, many people have difficulty naming successful woman entrepreneurs. To help spread the word, the Women’s Enterprise Centre has just released: New Pioneers: Stories of 100 B.C. Women Entrepreneurs. This full colour, coffee table-size, soft-cover book celebrates the pioneering spirit shown by 100 contemporary women from 42 communities across our province. It is intended to “encourage, influence, inspire, provide role models and motivate women and girls to consider entrepreneurship.” For your free copy go to: http://www.womensenterprise.ca/newpioneers/
 TIMELY ADVICE IN TRYING TIMES
On April 14, 2008 the Globe and Mail published an article by Board of Trade managing director Darcy Rezac and Daniel Muzyka, Dean of the Sauder School of Business, entitled “Aviate, navigate, communicate to keep your business flying.” Using a flying analogy (Darcy is a pilot), they offer advice on ‘flying the plane’, which in this case is your business. A very timely article.
YOUR FEEDBACK
We would love to hear from you. Send your comments, ideas for this newsletter, for speakers, for content to: info@wlcircle.com
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Nov 24, 2008 
