Inspiring Women Event

The annual Inspiring Women Event is a marquee event not only for the Chamber but for the entire Region of Waterloo. The Inspiring Women Event is for professional women, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who want to connect, learn and grow.

A full-day event designed to motivate, inspire, connect and celebrate professional women and entrepreneurs. Since its inception in 2006, over 7,000 women have participated in this unique day of learning, sharing experiences and information, acquiring new contacts, networking with peers, and education through professional development break-out sessions. This event is a truly motivational experience geared towards entrepreneurs and career women from all business sectors at all stages in their careers.

For more information, please visit the event website http://inspiringwomenevent.com/

As an extension of the Inspiring Women Event, we have also introduced our “Female Founders” series. On the first Tuesday of each month, we feature a new Female Founder, including a video interview of their business story and inspirational advice for other business professionals. Click here to learn more about our May Female Founder, Shelby Plaskett of Clean & Tidy.

Prior years have included prominent speakers such as:

  • 2021 – Lisa Raitt, Jam Gamble, Komal Minhas, Christa Couture, and Tracy Valko
  • 2020 – Diane Clemons, Sarah Nicole Landry, Mandy Bujold, Vanessa Craft, Komal Singh, and Lillian Umurungi-Jung
  • 2019 – Katrina Burch, Jessica Kuepfer, Binh Tam Le, Courtney Fonseca, Samantha Brookes, and Serena Ryder
  • 2018 – Sarah Richardson, Elizabeth Heald, Jody O’Malley & Kirstie Herbstreit, and Zahra Al-Harazi
  • 2017 – Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Amanda Lindhout, Arisa Cox, and Sherri Stevens
  • 2016 – Dini Petty, Tracy Moore, Sarah Davis, Tonia Jahshan, Bonnie Brooks
  • 2015 – Dr. Samantha Nutt, Lisa Lisson, Dr. Karyn Gordon, Kristine Barnett
  • 2014 – Erica Ehm, Kelsey Ramsden, Janet Podleski, Julie Cole, Dana Florence
  • 2013 – Jeanne Beker, Christine Magee, Linda Hazenfratz, Summer Mortimer, Jessica Jensen
  • 2012 – Debbie Travis, Design Superstar & Entrepreneur
  • 2011 – Arlene Dickinson of CBC’s Dragon’s Den & Silken Laumann, Olympian
  • 2010 – Naomi Judd, Celebrity Musician & Anna Olson, Food Network Chef
  • 2009 – Erin Brockovich, Environmental change agent, and advocate
  • 2008 – Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, author, health advocate, and philanthropist

Each year, we host a Dress for Success Drive and ask attendees to donate business-appropriate clothing, shoes, and accessories to help empower local women entering the workforce.  Donations are accepted by The Green Door. Over 500 items of clothing were collected last year including dozens of shoes, purses, and accessories! We filled a 121L container of shoes and 1 for purses alone! All donations are greatly appreciated – thank you!

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