Wow what a week in Denver CO.
It has been a long time since I have had a week I could barely put into words. Partially because I am talked out, (if you know me, you will be in shock) and partially because it was amazing.
In November 2023 I was certified as a Women Owned Business by WeConnect International weconnectinternational.org . I was first introduced to WEConnect by the BDC BDC – The Bank for Canadian Entrepreneurs | BDC.ca .
I have worked with the BDC and have been a client of them for many years. When they suggested I look into it, I jumped.
Am I ever glad I did.
I have met so many wonderful, talented, and inspiring women business owners and entrepreneurs, from many industries and locations. However nothing prepared me for the WBENC 2024 Conference in Denver Colorado, (pronounced We Bank) WBENC Women’s Business Enterprise National Council – WBENC.org : WBENC that I was encouraged to attend. I could go on and on and on about the connections I have made since November, however, that is not what I want to tell you about, I want to tell you about the WBENC 2024 Conference in Denver that my team and I attended the week of March 18th.
The week started off with a day of WeConnect International informative meetings and networking with several hundred women business owners from around the world.
All I can say is WOW.
The women we met were from every industry you could imagine and every size of business. For the next two and ½ days we joined an additional 3500 US women-owned Business Owners and some of their teams at the WBENC Conference. Yes, there were some men there, but they didn’t own the business they worked for a women-owned business.
To be a women-owned business the company must be at least 51% owned by a female.
It is not only that there were 4000 people in attendance, it was the fact that they were there to support each other and find ways to work together. I have never been to conference where you were talking nonstop about what you do and finding ways to collaborate with other attendees.
Women supporting Women…
…again wow.
Generally, you go to conferences to learn the newest trend, products in your industry, get motivated, not this one. Yes, we did learn, but things like how to finance a women owned business, how to keep going when we have many balls in the air, how to pitch to businesses we would like to do business with, how to navigate the difference government agencies. The motivation was learning about these amazing successful women, their products and services I couldn’t have even imagined. If you were looking for something or someone to do business with in any location in the world, this was the place to be. I was in awe of these women and best of all they were there to support each other.
They were looking for ways to work together.
There was no competition, we shared stories of success and failure, learning from each other.
We had a booth at the expo that went on for one afternoon and one morning, we thought we better jump in with both feet if we were going to attend and make the most of it. What was amazing was that people came to your booth to ask questions about you and what you do. None of that, ‘do not make eye contact and slink by a booth incase someone wants to sell you something’. We have all been there done that…lol- It was a true networking event.
Needless to say, my team had sore throats and were walked and talked out by the end of the conference (Hilary kept track of the walking she did, she logged in 42 km’s ). However, we can’t wait to go back! Next year it is in New Orleans, we will be there for sure, but better prepared with throat lozenges and we will take pictures with the women we meet and have them hold their badge up so we can see and read their name, so that when we get home, we can put a name with a face and company. Oh, and we will ship our booth and all the materials…you guessed it we carried them ourselves, 6 suitcases all near the 50 lbs mark and oversized 😊.
Thanks to the BDC, for the recommendation to WeConnect International, thanks to WeConnect International for the introduction to WBENC, and on and on it goes.
Until next time,
Cheers!
Tammy