Innovative approaches to success

Alberta Women Entrepreneurs—AWE—is dedicated helping women achieve long-term business success. Since 1995, the not-for-profit organization has supported women in business through business advising, business skills development, financing, and providing networking opportunities.

AWE is funded by Western Economic Diversification and provides free business advising services to women entrepreneurs throughout Alberta. It offers advice, information, references and resources for all areas of business management and development to women who are starting a company or are expanding a current business. Repayable loans of up to $100,000 are available based on approval of business plans and viable futures.

The Alberta Women Entrepreneurs annual professional development conference. Innovative Approaches to Success will be held at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald from April 21st to 23rd. It boasts an impressive line-up of speakers from start to finish.

The conference features two entrepreneurial success stories. It kicks of with an opening presentation from Manjit Minhas, founder of Mountain Crest Spirits and Minhas Creek Brewing Company, which had revenues in excess of $11 million last year. She will share her insights on strategic pricing and effective marketing. It closes with the insights of W. Brett Wilson, the nice-guy panelist and philanthropist on the hit CBC show, Dragon’s Den. He is one of the founding partners of FirstEnergy Capital Corp., an investment bank that has brokered deals worth more that $150 billion. Through his own Prairie Merchant investment bank, he has amassed holdings in the energy, agriculture, real estate, sports and entertainment industries.

Between these two headliners are two days filled with marketing and branding strategy sessions conducted by Dr. Fang Wan, Asper School of Business instructor and author; and Ken Jurina, founder of Top Draw and Epiar, both online service firms. Profit panelists and roundtable experts include: Eveline Charles and Lina Heath of EvelineCharles Salons/Spas; and Jessie Radies of Blue Pear restaurant and Original Fare. Other roundtable experts are Doug Critchely of Displayco Canada; Ushi Joshi of Government Services Canada; and 2009 Edmontonians Sizzler Elisse Heine of Redman Technologies and Divertado.ca.

For further information on AWE services and to register for the conference, visit awebusiness.com.