Shift the model in which women work together, and we powHERfully shift our economy.
Many years ago – more than I’d like to admit – I worked for an independent brokerage firm, an investment firm in the financial services industry.
It was in the early 90’s, and one of my favourite memories is of walking into my old office and seeing Jimmy T with his feet up on his desk, smoking a cigar. Yes, in the office. Jimmy T was the coolest. He really was.
The firm provided many benefits for the various colourful brokers (Investment Advisors) who worked there. Each of the advisors worked independently, growing their own business, brand and clientele under the overall umbrella of support provided by a reputable and well-established firm, a leader in the industry, including:
- Overall brand and reputation;
- Proven track record;
- Solid infrastructure under which to operate;
- General firm marketing and regular client and new prospect events;
- Opportunities and tools for professional development and growth;
- A diverse culture of professionals – years of wisdom and expertise mixed with young energy, fresh ideas and innovation.
Each of the brokers was fiercely independent, each with unique styles of client engagement and care, but they all understood one thing with no apprehension:
Focus on what you’re good at.
Don’t waste time re-creating the wheel.
Plug into systems that work, an infrastructure created to support your success, surrounding yourself with like-minded peeps who want to see you GROW!
Results are a direct reflection of your daily efforts so ensure they are efficient.
In my 5+ years working for the firm I learned a lot. I worked my way up from a Broker’s Assistant to National Marketing Manager responsible (with my team) for the marketing and communication needs of 18 offices across Canada and over 100 Investment Advisors.
Here’s what else I learned from those many unique gentlemen – and a few very powerful women:
There is a very specific model in which top performers operate that is a breeding ground for growth. It consists of just the right amount of structure, a solid framework and reputation, wisdom, support and expertise all matched with youth and energy, yet allows independent folks to be independent. Not employees, but people who understand the value of a solid infrastructure that allows them to grow their business with ease, efficiency and effectiveness. Processes are streamlined, replication and duplication of tasks are seen as obsolete.
They do only what they need to do and focus where they need to focus.
I have watched many an Investment Advisor achieve outstanding success – for their clients, for themselves and their team. They knew how to work the system, and they did it well. Within this system, they grew a strong personal brand, built solid relationships and a valued reputation with their clients.
I was fortunate to be given an opportunity – which I ran with because I was ready for it – to learn from the Big Boys.
My next goal (which started in 2000) was to create a model that could work for women where my biggest motivator wasn’t dollars but IMPACT.
PowHERhouse is a media Platform built to help you amplify your impact – strengthen your brand, expand your reach and raise your profile at a national level as a powHERful Canadian woman who leads – in very good company.
Over the past five years, we have built our Platform to ensure YOUR success. All you need to do is choose to utilize it.
Women are poised to make an incredible shift in our economy. The only thing holding us back is a very outdated approach in how we work together. Over the past decade, think about how much technology has changed. Now think about how much the way we work together as women has changed. Interesting.
Back in 2011, then Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said that “women are key to 21st-century economic growth”. She also stated, “But that great, global dream cannot be realized by tinkering around the edges of reform. Nor, candidly, can it be secured through any singular commitment on the part of us here. It requires, rather, a fundamental transformation, a paradigm shift in how governments make and enforce laws and policies, how businesses invest and operate, how people make choices in the marketplace.”
Take it one step further: It also requires a paradigm shift in how women work together.
Sure, women collaborate, we refer, and we network ourselves to death, but I’m talking about the actual model or framework in which we work together: the systems, the processes, the daily actions, the framework built for success.
Are we avoiding replication and duplication of tasks or are we simply feeding into them? Are we practicing efficiency and effectiveness or just busyness?
Many years ago, yes more than I’d like to admit, my coach told me, “Do only what you are inspired to do!”
Little did I know at that time that she was talking about a fundamental principle of PowHERhouse.
We invite you to learn more about the House we have built – the Media House – the work we are up to in the world, and the shift we are looking to make. PowHERhouse provides an umbrella brand for Canadian women making an impact in sport, business, entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.
“Why isn’t the conversation in Canada about, hey, we’re going to own the podium on women in business and women entrepreneurs, and let’s just get on it and go for it …. And why wouldn’t we, as a group of leaders – men and women – right now say that by 2025 we’ve got this, we’ve grown the most businesses owned by women, we’ve got the most scaled-up businesses by women, and let’s just get on it.”
Dawn Farrell, CEO, TransAlta Corp.,
Council Member, Canada-United State Council for
Advancement of Women Entrepreneurs & Business Leaders
PowHERhouse functions as a national mobilizer of strong women who lead in Canada. We create opportunities for women leaders in Canada to access what they need to amplify their impact through our programming, partnerships, publications and live events.
Building a stronger nation one powHERful woman at a time.
