The Connected Woman Association's Summer Garden Party is being held Wednesday, July 31 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Park and Tilford Gardens in North Vancouver. Free for members/$20 for nonmembers. Registration and info: theconnectedwoman. com.
A professional mentor and business adviser to entrepreneurs, longtime North Shore resident Cathy Kuzel endeavours to help people stand up and stand out in their business.
For more than 25 years, the small business expert has been networking and working to build successful business relationships.
For her efforts, she was recently named one of the Top 10 Mentors in Canada and was nominated for the 2013 YWCA Women of Distinction Award.
Involved with the Women's Enterprise Centre, Canadian Youth Business Foundation and Junior Achievement, Kuzel is also the founder and chairwoman of The Connected Woman Association.
To raise awareness of the North Shore-based association, Kuzel is presenting a Summer Garden Party this week in North Vancouver. The networking soiree is open to entrepreneurial women and business professionals of all ages and stages from throughout the Lower Mainland.
The North Shore News recently caught up with Kuzel to find out more.
North Shore News: When did you found The Connected Woman? For what purpose?
Kuzel: Years of traditional business networking provided insight on the types of people that network and how they network and that led me to write my book, Are You a Collector or a Connector? I realized that other women in business were looking for the same thing I was: a business organization built on consistency, opportunity and mentorship that would make a difference to our personal growth, our confidence, our businesses and careers. The Connected Woman Association was created in 2008 for that purpose.
North Shore News: What is its mission? Kuzel: The Connected Woman Association provides an opportunity for women to exchange ideas and knowledge, experience and expertise; offer solutions and options; inspire women to grow; and encourage and equip themselves to achieve their goals. It is about community and relationships, rather than traditional business networking.
North Shore News: Who is it tailored towards? Kuzel: The association is for female entrepreneurs and business owners who are tired of conventional networking pitches, events filled with salespeople trying to sell other salespeople, and rooms filled with collectors
and no connectors. North Shore News: What sort of programming does it offer? Kuzel: We have monthly morning meetings called C3: Coffee, Conversations and Connections.
Rather than listen to a speaker or talking head at the front of the room, we enjoy a brief introduction from an expert and then gather in small groups to discuss the meeting's topic. Sharing with others about our experiences, challenges and successes creates connections. We also offer business training workshops, peer mentoring group programs as well as social events.
North Shore News: How can women get involved? Kuzel: If you are an initiator, a visionary, an entrepreneur, or just someone who has a passion for collaborating with other talented women, we would love for you to join us.
North Shore News: What is the goal of the Garden Party? Kuzel: Our annual Summer Garden Party is just one of our social events for the year that provides an opportunity for women to connect and check us out.
For more information on the Connected Woman Association and upcoming events, visit theconnectedwoman.com.
