Celebrating Small Businesses All Year Round

To celebrate Small Business Week, we asked Tanya Priske, Executive Director of the Centre for Women in Business to share some insight on how the centre celebrates small businesses

How will you be celebrating Small Business Week? – or is small business something the Centre for Women in Business celebrates every week?
Our team has been attending various events throughout the week in support of Small Business Week; entrepreneurship is something we celebrate year round through our own events, and by continually recognizing the accomplishments of women business owners in our community and across Atlantic Canada.

Any advice for women thinking about starting an entrepreneurial venture?
Don’t do it alone!  The Centre for Women in Business is here to help (along with other agencies that provide free start-up advice).   Everyone should begin with a thorough business plan; it can absolutely make or break the longevity of any start-up.

What’s the best thing about being a woman in business?
After listening to so many stories, I would say the opportunity to guide your destiny.  To be able to have the option where you want your business to be over your lifetime.  The sense of having the power to build something that is your own.

What or who inspires you in your role?
My inspiration comes from the opportunity to help women business owners succeed – by providing the support they need to build a successful business.  I am inspired by the hundreds of success stories I hear, how women continually innovate ways of doing business and how we at the Centre can play a pivotal role in that success.

Are there any events coming up that you’d like to get the word out about?
We’re hosting our Professional Development Day here at MSVU on November 13; we’re telling women that if they plan to invest in one conference this fall, this is the one, and that’s because we’re bringing in business experts from across the country to actually sit down and work with our entrepreneurs. There will be a lot of problem solving and strategizing, and the event will feature a keynote by Kelsey Ramsden of SparkPlay, a woman named Canada’s Top Entrepreneur by Profit Magazine. It’s going to be a full day of education and inspiring discussions.

This is just one of the many events held at the centre through the year, details for this event and other future events can be found at www.centreforwomeninbusiness.ca

How can women find out more about the Centre for Women in Business?
Visit our website, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, or contact us by phone (902-457-6449 | toll-free 1-888-776-9022) to schedule a free advisory with one of our business development officers.