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CAN'T FIND SOMETHING? |
Business in Vancouver February 22-28, 2005; issue 800 Meet the 2005 Influential Women in Business finalists Four of these ten women will be named Influential Women in Business on February 23
Darlene Bailey Vice-President, WCG International Consultants Ltd. Darlene Bailey started as a WCG International Consultants Ltd. career coach in 1994, when the company had four staff. Now vice-president of human resources and field operations, Bailey oversees about 165 employees. She has also overseen dramatic growth at a company that facilitates placing job hunters. WCG's biggest client, the B.C. government, paid WCG to place 33 job applicants in 1994. In 2004, it paid to place about 5,000 applicants. Outside her day job, Bailey is chair of the Women of Distinction council, which runs the YWCA's Women of Distinction awards to recognize women's contributions to their communities. She is on the board of Victoria's Read Society and she mentors young women through the YWCA. Bailey is a past president of the Victoria Cancer Society and she has canvassed for the Canadian Diabetes Society. "All my work goes full circle," she said. "I work trying to place single moms, there are single mothers at the YWCA and literacy is also a big part of that."
What book are you reading? The Frog and the Prince: Secrets of Positive Networking by Darcy Rezac What is your favourite movie? Under the Tuscan Sun What has been your toughest decision? How to restructure WCG's staffing What career would you like to try other than the one you're in? Kindergarten teacher Who have been your mentors? My mother, Dee Swinarton, who believed nothing couldn't be solved with a bit of laughter and a cup of tea
Lynda Brown Executive Director, New Media BC Lynda Brown has grown New Media BC's membership 25 per cent, to 170 businesses since she became the non-profit association's executive director in February 2004. Her entrepreneurial bent is evident in the work she did last year founding the inaugural Vancouver International Digital Festival. She also co-founded and was CEO of GoBe Media, which made video games for kids. While director of programming at Arts Umbrella Vancouver, Brown created the first multimedia arts program for kids in Canada by bringing on board industry partners such as Apple Canada, Microsoft Corp., Adobe Systems Inc. and Electronic Arts Inc. Brown is active with many industry associations. She is the national president of the Wired Women Society, chair of Trade Team Canada's New Media Committee and was deemed volunteer of the year at the Canada New Media Awards. Her directorships have included stints on the St. Margaret's School board of governors, the Pacific Cinemateque board of directors, the AceTech Early Stage advisory board and vice-president of the Vancouver Sunrise Rotary Club. What book are you reading? I have a number of books on the go at any one time. One current one is Tao Te Ching What is your favourite movie? So Close Far Away, by Wim Wenders What has been your toughest decision? The hardest decisions have always involved people and the related transition from one path to the next. The human condition, whether professional or personal, inherently involves love and loss. What career would you like to try other than the one you're in? I'd like to produce a video game that uses the human body as the core narrative or research how video games could benefit senior citizens Who have been your mentors? My parents, sister and family, Sophia, Brent Burger, David Porter, Carol Henriquez, Ian Wilkinson, Bijan Sanii, Maggi Bailey, Dick Hardt
Maureen Enser Executive Director, Urban Development Institute Maureen Enser began her stint as the Urban Development Institute's executive director more than 22 years ago as the UDI's only B.C. employee, with a budget of $50,000 and in a cubby-hole office. Today the UDI promotes sustainable land use at hundreds of professional development programs for members, public seminars and programs for municipalities each year. Enser has grown the UDI's Pacific Region budget to about $2 million and she took over the role as CEO of UDI Canada last year. Outside her day job, Enser sits on the board of the Homeowner Protection Office, which ties into her overall career objective. "My goal is to enhance professionalism in the [development] industry, to open young people's eyes to the opportunities in our industry and to provide not only quality construction but consumer protection that is the best in North America," she said. Enser also sits on the British Columbia Institute of Technology's board of governors, is a founding director of the Builders without Borders and is the chair, managing director and past president of the International Centre for Sustainable Cities. She also works with the David Suzuki Foundation as a business adviser, "to ensure that there's a win-win for business and environmentalists. We have to be rational, logical and to break down the barriers," she said.
What book are you reading? The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown What is your favourite movie? Lord of the Rings trilogy What has been your toughest decision? How to let good people go during an industry slowdown What career would you like to try other than the one you're in? Archeologist Who have been your mentors? I had the privilege to work with Jacques Cousteau in the early part of my career. He taught me the benefit of listening well to what people say and thinking things through. My mother is another big influence
Karen Flavelle President, Purdy's Chocolates Karen Flavelle has grown from playing hide and seek at her father Charles Flavelle's chocolate shop, while he worked on Saturdays, to owning and operating the 52-store Purdy's Chocolates. The company has grown from 631 employees in 40 stores when Flavelle started at Purdy's in 1994, to 869 staff in 50 stores today. Flavelle plans to further grow her chocolate retailer's Ontario presence from three locations and two seasonal kiosks to a total of 25 outlets by 2010. She's as proud of Purdy's growth as she is about the company placing twice on The Globe and Mail's Report on Business magazine- and Hewitt Associates-sponsored surveys of the best 50 Canadian employers to work for. "That's not a study with a bunch of executives talking to themselves; their survey is based 70 per cent on actual employee feedback," Flavelle noted. Before 1997, when Flavelle bought Purdy's from her father, she had a successful marketing career. She worked for 13 years for General Mills and Cara Foods in management and director roles. Her influence is also felt as a member of the Retail Merchants Association of B.C., the Retail Council of Canada, the Confectionery Manufacturing Association of Canada, Retail Confectioners International, the Canadian Association of Family Enterprises, the International Council of Shopping Centres, the Young Presidents Organization and the B.C. Business Council.
What book are you reading? Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done by Larry Bossidy, Ram Charan and Charles Burck What is your favourite movie? Life is Beautiful What has been your toughest decision? To expand Purdy's to Ontario What career would you like to try other than the one you're in? I can't imagine another career. The one I'm in fits me well Who have been your mentors? My father, Charles Flavelle, because of his generosity and wisdom. He also cares about people
Pat Jacobsen CEO, TransLink As TransLink's CEO, Pat Jacobsen is in charge of Greater Vancouver's transit and major roads infrastructure, overseeing 4,000 employees and $3.6 billion in capital. Since her 2001 appointment, Jacobsen has overseen rapid growth and stick-handled controversy as the Richmond/Airport/Vancouver rapid transit line wound its way through approvals. Jacobsen came to B.C. after a 23-year career with the Ontario government that included six years as deputy minister of transportation and executive resources. One major achievement during that time was privatizing Ontario's Highway 407. Jacobsen is a former president and CEO of Manitoba Workers Compensation Board and she held executive positions with Liberty Mutual and Manulife Financial in Toronto. A longtime supporter of private-public partnerships, Jacobsen is a former board member of the non-profit Canadian Council of Private Public Partnerships. Jacobsen was a director at the former Vancouver Whistler 2010 Bid Corp. She has joined UBC's civil engineering advisory council, is a member of UBC's faculty of commerce advisory council and is a member of the BC Climate Change Economic Impacts Panel. She is a board member at the BC Cancer Foundation, is chair of the Transportation Property and Casualty Co. Inc. board and she speaks at many community functions.
What book are you reading? Disgrace by J. M. Croetzee What is your favourite movie? Rabbit Proof Fence What has been your toughest decision? To come TransLink when the company was in the middle of a financial crisis, a long labour strike and low public approval. I also had no history of being in Vancouver or a business network here What career would you like to try other than the one you're in? Owning and operating a tour company that organizes walking tours through historic sites for people who like to walk and to eat well Who have been your mentors? Ontario deputy minister Alan Gordon, Diane Bean, who is a Manulife Financial senior vice-president and my mother, Charlotte Crozier
Colleen Kelly Executive Director, Volunteer Vancouver During Colleen Kelly's five years as executive director of Volunteer Vancouver, she has boosted the non-profit agency's budget from $500,000 to $1 million. She said she has attracted "way more skilled volunteers" compared to relatively unskilled volunteers who Volunteer Vancouver helped place before Kelly arrived. And Volunteer Vancouver's revenue from training has quadrupled, she said. In 2003, she launched BoardMatch, a program that connects skilled business people with volunteer board positions at non-profit organizations. But perhaps her proudest achievement was co-chairing a national initiative to create the Canada Volunteerism Initiative in 2001. She also helped encourage the federal government to support the program with $50 million per year for five years. Before Volunteer Vancouver, Kelly worked for companies such as TransAlta, Chevron Canada Ltd. and Canadian Airlines to create ways for their retirees to get involved in the community. She has also sat on the board of the Centre for Child Development for the past four years. "During my time at the Centre for Child Development, we've moved to being a functioning governing board from a very operational board," she said.
What book are you reading? The Other side of the Story by Marian Keyes What is your favourite movie? Good Will Hunting What has been your toughest decision? To fire someone What career would you like to try other than the one you're in? A Ladies Professional Golf Association golfer Who have been your mentors? My aunt, Rose McKenzie, who taught me about strength and generosity
Eva Lee Kwok Chair and CEO, Amara International Investment Corp. Amara International Investment Corp. CEO Eva Lee Kwok modestly refers to the company she founded in 1992 as a "minnow" among real estate developers. But Amara and its partners have developed Lower Mainland landmarks such as Burnaby's Crystal Mall. Her husband, Stanley Kwok joined Amara after he retired as a Concord Pacific Group Inc. executive, but Eva jokes that there's no question who is in charge: "I became his boss, the poor devil, both at home and at work." Kwok spends much of her time on corporate boards. She sits on three boards at companies controlled by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing: Hong Kong's Cheung Kong Life Sciences International (Holdings) Inc., Hong Kong's Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Ltd. and Calgary's Husky Energy Inc. She is also a director at Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. and the BMO Financial Group, where she is on the high-pressure audit committee. Her influence with the B.C. government stems from her role as a director on the B.C. Progress Board, which Premier Gordon Campbell created as his advisory panel. Her past directorships have included Coca-Cola Beverages Ltd., Scott Paper Ltd. and AT&T Canada Long Distance Services among others.
What book are you reading? The New Commandments by Steve Brody What is your favourite movie? I never go to movies What has been your toughest decision? Resigning from the Air Canada board because of a perceived conflict of interest when Victor Li was attempting to buy the company. I want to emphasize that it was tough because of the timing, the company was in receivership and it didn't look good to have directors resign What career would you like to try other than the one you're in? Either a surgeon or a fashion designer Who have been your mentors? In business, I've had many male mentors. Personally, my guardian when I was young in Australia, Vi Hawkins
Debra Lykkemark President, Culinary Capers Debra Lykkemark founded the Culinary Capers business with Sue Adams and Linda Salazar in 1986, before buying their stakes in the business in the early 1990s. Lykkemark's business generated $3.8 million in sales from its 50 full-time and 100 part-time employees last year. Despite a hectic catering schedule, Lykkemark makes time for community organizations. She is past president at the International Caterers Association, a former board member at the International Special Events Society and past chair of the scholarship committee of Les Dames d'Escoffier. She speaks at community events about standards and ethics in the catering business. She also mentors three younger female employees who aspire to start their own catering companies so they can follow in Lykkemark's footsteps. "The toughest time for us was after 9/11 and a lot of conference business dried up," she said. "But we survived and are growing. Next year we plan to break $4 million in revenue."
What book are you reading? E-Myth Mastery: The Seven Essential Disciplines for Building a World Class Company by Michael Gerber What is your favourite movie? The Party with Peter Sellers because it was about catering and parties What has been your toughest decision? Having to let staff go after a downturn in business after the September 11 terrorist attacks. What career would you like to try other than the one you're in? Catering business consultant Who have been your mentors? My early business partner Sue Adams
Andrea Slingsby President, Flight Centre North America Andrea Slingsby has grown Flight Centre Ltd.'s Vancouver-based North American subsidiary from 114 retail locations to 133 retail locations since she became president of Flight Centre North America in August 2003. She has grown North American staff from 535 to 749. And although her Australian Stock Exchange-listed company does not release revenues for its North American operations, Slingsby said sales have almost doubled under her leadership. As Flight Centre's global human resource manager, Slingsby helped the Brisbane, Australia-based company grow from 2,500 staff in 1999 to 6,000 when she left to take her current job. "We're a high-growth company that has grown between 10 and 20 per cent each year for the past 24 years," Slingsby said. She is proud that Flight Centre has ranked in the top four employers to work for in Canada, according to The Globe and Mail's Report on Business Magazine- and Hewitt Associates-sponsored surveys in each of the past four years. Outside work, the 38-year-old is active with the Young Presidents Organization and attends Canada Australia New Zealand Business Association lunches, wine tastings and other social events.
What book are you reading? Gung Ho by Ken Blanchard What is your favourite movie? Erin Brockovich What has been your toughest decision? To come to Vancouver instead of semi-retiring to sit on corporate boards What career would you like to try other than the one you're in? Professional board director Who have been your mentors? Flight Centre Ltd. founder Graham Turner
Sandra Stevenson President and CEO, Sport BC Sport BC CEO Sandra Stevenson has managed her organization through turbulence while sustaining a $3-million budget and emerging as strong as ever. Sport BC relies on $190,000 in B.C. government funding - far less than the $500,000 that Victoria chipped in when Stevenson took the helm in 1997. "The big story is what we've done in the business ventures in insurance. In 1997, insurance brought in approximately $30,000 a year to the bottom line. This year net profit from insurance will be in the $600,000 neighbourhood," she said. Stevenson was a founding member of the Vancouver Whistler 2010 Olympic Bid Committee. She is on Tourism Vancouver's sport tourism task force, the national sport leadership conference committee. She is a former board member at Leadership Vancouver and she mentors three young women. In addition, she takes part in Minerva Foundation events to help mentor other young women. "I really believe in community leadership, so anything that allows me to provide some level of community leadership I'm proud of," she said.
What book are you reading? Dreams Have No Expiry Date by Laurie Gottlieb and Deanna Rosenswig What is your favourite movie? Recently, it's Sideways What has been your toughest decision? To stay with Sport BC six years ago instead of going into something more entrepreneurial What career would you like to try other than the one you're in? Personal coach Who have been your mentors? May Brown
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