October 2007

International Site Full of Benefits

OWIT International recently re-launched its website, www.owit.org, enhanced to provides gateways of collaboration for OWIT chapters and individual members around the world.

Some of the benefits for members include:

• Networking Forum: Share ideas with over 2,000 other professional women involved in international trade.Calendar of Events: View the events hosted by OWIT chapters around the world and fill your date book with educational and networking opportunities no matter where your travels take you.Speakers Bureau: Submit a profile with your expertise and contact information to join a pool of potential speakers that other chapters can contact when developing meeting agendas. A great way to promote yourself and your business!
• Job Bank: This bulletin board is a place to post and view available jobs in international trade.

Members can contact OWIT-Toronto Co-President Amanda de Vogel at amandad@owit-toronto.ca for your website login and password information to access these aspects of the site.

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October 2007

OWIT International News

• The Monterrey (California) Institute of International Studies is conducting research and analysis on OWIT regarding its objective to continue expansion worldwide in a sustainable fashion and will make recommendations to best achieve this objective.



• Canada had a high profile at the 16th Annual OWIT World Conference held in Miami this month. Sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency and the Trade Facilitation Office, a delegation of women entrepreneurs from Asia, Africa and Latin America participated in a pre-conference workshop as well as the conference itself - enhancing the international flavour and contacts. Canadian speakers at the event included Maureen Kempston Darkes, who headed up GM Canada prior to her current role overseeing GM Latin America, Africa and the Middle East, as well as Helena Guergis, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, International Trade & Sport. Canada's Consul General in Miami, Marcy Grossman, hosted a special evening for Canadian delegates. Another highlight of this year's event was the presentation of the OWIT Member of the Year Award to Canada's Leann Hackman-Carty, Past President of OWIT International and a founding member and Past President of the Calgary chapter.

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September 2007

4th Annual JoAnna Townsend Award Ceremony & Annual BBQ September 18, 2007

You won’t want to miss this year's truly amazing and dynamic keynote speaker, Kyle MacDonald, CEO of Phoenix Interactive Design Inc. and 2006 RBC Canadian
Woman Entrepreneur Award winner for exporting. In her presentation, From
Fledgling to Phoenix Rising: 5 Secrets to World Domination, Kyle will share her insights on key success factors for exporting – from developing solid relationships through to understanding cultural differences – that helped catapult her software company onto the global stage and revolutionize the retail banking industry.

The JoAnna Townsend Award
The Award recognizes an outstanding woman in Ontario who actively supports women entrepreneurs, helping them to achieve success in international business.
OWIT-Toronto launched the Award in memory of JoAnna Townsend, a trailblazing champion of women exporters.

The Award Ceremony is supported by Foreign Affairs & International Trade Canada . The Award sponsors include Export Development Canada, Hodgson Russ LLP, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade International Trade Branch, and Ann Wylie-Toal Designs.

Date: Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Time: Reception/networking: 5:30 - 6:30pm
Sit Down Dinner and Presentations: 6:30 - 9:30pm
Location: Radisson Admiral Hotel, Toronto Harbourfront, 249 Queen's Quay West

Members: $65
Non-members: $85
Table of 8, Member rate: $600
Table of 8, Non-member rate: $750

Space is limited! Register today! For more information, email Barbara Vink at Barbara.Vink@ontario.ca.

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July 2007

Newly Appointed Vice President for the CCA and BCCC

OWIT-Toronto is pleased to congratulate our own Alma Farias, who was recently selected as Vice President for the Canadian Council for the Americas (CCA) and the Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce (BCCC). Alma brings a wealth of experience to her new roles through her extensive work serving chambers and associations in Canada and Mexico. She was Co-Founder and Vice President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Monterrey Chapter, and in addition to serving as OWIT-Toronto's current VP Chapter Liaison, she is a Co-founder of the Monterrey chapter of the Organization of Women in International Trade. Alma is an independent consultant and has been successful in assisting organizations seeking strategic business alliances in Canada and Mexico.

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• Bridges Across Borders Inbound Trade Mission: When 25 businesswomen and representatives of women’s business associations from Asia, Africa and South America visited Toronto in May, 2007 as part of the Bridges Across Borders trade mission, OWIT-Toronto was among several Canadian associations to participate. The trade mission, organized by the International Trade Centre in Geneva, included one-on-one meetings, informative seminars on conducting business across borders for service companies, and networking sessions. It was an excellent forum for developing international contacts and linkages with businesswomen’s groups around the world.
  

• OWIT International Board Meeting: A delegation from OWIT-Toronto travelled to Monterrey, Mexico in May, 2007 for the OWIT International board meeting hosted by the Monterrey Chapter. In addition, the Mexico chapter organized several excellent networking sessions, including a panel at the EGADE graduate school which attracted over 200 attendees. Guest speakers included OWIT International President Lilia Navarette, OWIT-Toronto Co-President Susan Baka and Rosalind Wilson, Director of Business Development for Canadian Pacific Rail in Mexico. Since our chapter helped mentor the start-up of this first Mexican chapter of OWIT through the work of our VP Alma Farias, it was exciting to see how the Mexican chapter has progressed. The chapter has also put in a bid to host the 2008 OWIT World Conference. If you are interested in joining an OWIT group to learn or brush up on basic Spanish before the 2008 conference, contact carlakearns@gmail.com.

• IE Canada 75 th Anniversary: A group of OWIT-Toronto members attended this event, with its Greening Your Business theme, to commemorate the special 75 th anniversary of IE (Importers & Exporters) Canada. Mary Anderson, a past president of OWIT-Toronto, is now the full-time President of IE Canada.

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June 2007

PROFIT seeking top 100 Canadian women entrepreneurs

Now in its 9th year, the PROFIT W100: Canada’s Top Women Entrepreneurs is the definitive list of Canada’s leading women-owned and women-run businesses, ranked by revenue. Past winners say this honour has garnered them valuable publicity, new clients and relationships with other dynamic companies. It’s also an excellent way to recognize the efforts of employees, so don’t hesitate to nominate yourself!

Winners will be recognized in the November 2007 issue of PROFIT magazine and year-round at www.PROFITguide.com. They will also receive a complimentary invitation to the PROFIT W100 Idea Exchange, a powerful business-building conference at which W100 leaders share ideas, learn from experts and enjoy unmatched networking opportunities.

Request a nomination package by calling 1-800-713-GROW or completing the online ballot at www.PROFITguide.com/W100ballot.

Deadline: June 30, 2007

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May 2007

Incoming Trade Mission Links Women Internationally
By Susan Baka

OWIT-Toronto participated in an International Business Services Forum in May 2007 as part of an incoming trade mission organized by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in Geneva. The two-day event showcased 25 women business owners from Asia, Africa and South America to Canada. Among the businesses represented were printers and publishers, call centres, lawyers, translators, trade development specialists.

One of the biggest takeaways? There are very accomplished women in developing countries who can hold their own as service providers, who are anxious to do business with the west and who dispelled many of the myths that North Americans hold. Here are a few of their messages:

• Africa is a very diverse continent of developed and developing countries and one on the move.
• Some countries (eg. Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa) are very stable and have many business people who were educated abroad.
• Pakistan is a growing country with a booming economy where many women have their own businesses or run large multinational companies.
• Latin America is very up-to-date with technology because of the internet.

The forum also included presentations by experts on how to market and operate service-based businesses globally. Some of the tips from Doreen Conrad, Chief, Trade in Services Section, International Trade Centre, Geneva, Andrina Lever, President, Lever Enterprises, and Diane Girard, President, Global Links Network, included:

• Three quarters of your export preparation should take place in your home country. Research your target markets online, invest in world-class promotional literature since it’s a reflection of you, and get letters of recommendation from clients in your home market.
• Ensure you have a good website with excellent content that is updated regularly
• Work through women’s business associations, industry associations, and service clubs to find ways to showcase your expertise abroad and build credibility since you’re not selling a tangible item.
• Look for export markets where you might have a personal link.
• Set up progress payments, especially for longer-term contracts, to ensure you get paid along the way and can avoid cash-flow problems.
• Use Skype as a cost-effective communication tool.
• Have tolerance and understanding when dealing with other cultures and, notwithstanding that there may still be gender challenges for women in some countries, always maintain the highest standards.
• Never give up…and have fun!

“This was one of the best trade missions in which I ever participated,” said Dudu Thabede, Managing Director of Brand Smart in Johannesburg, South Africa.

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May 2007

Call for nominations underway:
seeking outstanding Ontario woman for 2007 trade award

TORONTO , ON – The Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) – Toronto, which is part of a worldwide organization dedicated to advancing global trade opportunities for women, is on the hunt for nominations for the 2007 JoAnna Townsend Award. The Award recognizes an outstanding woman in Ontario who, through her business and personal networks, acts as a trade advocate for women, fostering opportunities that actively support women entrepreneurs to achieve success in international business. This role model and mentor for women entrepreneurs may be in companies, government departments/agencies, organizations, boards or associations, or may be an entrepreneur herself who sits on boards or committees to champion the interests of women in business.

The 2006 winner was the Hon. Sarmite (Sam) Bulte, former MP for Parkdale-High Park (1997-2006). Sam has been instrumental in fostering growth and opportunities for business women and entrepreneurs for over 25 years as part of many women’s business organizations and as Chair of the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Women Entrepreneurs in 2002, resulting in the seminal Task Force Recommendations to the government of Canada in 2003.

BACKGROUND

The award is named in honour of the late JoAnna Townsend, formerly with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. JoAnna served as a strong trade advocate for women and introduced initiatives to encourage more Canadian women to export. In particular, as Chair of the Trade Research Coalition, she spearheaded the groundbreaking Beyond Borders Report – the first research of its kind globally focusing on women’s role in international trade. OWIT-Toronto is proud to keep the spirit of JoAnna Townsend’s contributions to women exporters alive.

Nomination procedures and more information can be found at OWIT-Toronto’s website at www.owit-toronto.ca. The deadline for nominations is July 31, 2007.

The award will be presented at OWIT-Toronto’s annual BBQ on September 18 at the Radisson Admiral Hotel, Queen’s Quay. This year's keynote speaker will be Kyle MacDonald, CEO of Phoenix Interactive Design Inc. and winner of the 2006 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award for exporting.

The Organization of Women in International Trade – Toronto (www.owit-toronto.ca) is part of a worldwide organization dedicated to advancing global trade opportunities for women. It provides networking and professional development opportunities, with particular emphasis on women working in all facets of international trade. OWIT has 30 chapters around the world and over 2,000 members .

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Click here to learn about sponsorship opportunities.

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April 2007

13th Annual Canadian American Business Achievement Awards

NOMINATE A PARTNERSHIP TODAY
The Canadian American Business Council is delighted to announce the 2007 Canadian American Business Achievement Awards Luncheon and Cross-Border Policy Forum. This event, now in its 13th year, recognizes successful cross-border business alliances that demonstrate strong business growth, remarkable innovation, and the capacity to provide the partners with a global advantage.
We invite you to become an important part of this celebration by nominating a business partnership between a US and Canadian company that enhances North American competitiveness, helps define the unique relationship between our two countries, and contributes to the development of sustainable and secure economic ties.

WHY NOMINATE A PARTNERSHIP?(102KB)
The winning partnership will be celebrated at the CABC's Annual Business Achievement Awards Luncheon and Policy Forum. The annual awards luncheon has become a signature event for the CABC - generating a crowd of more than 500 cross-border business leaders and government officials along with significant media coverage. The Award winners are recognized as industry leaders making a significant contribution to the strength and prosperity of the Canada/US relationship.

The 2007 CABC Business Achievement Awards Luncheon and Policy Forum is scheduled to take place on November 9, 2007 in Toronto, Ontario.
An international panel of judges will select the winning partnership based on:

• Demonstrated sustained profitability;
• Job creation;
• Financial strength;
• Environmental responsibility;
• Corporate synergy;
• And the extent to which the partners' joint enterprise reflects an exceptionally imaginative vision and achieves it in an extraordinarily innovative way.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS/PREVIOUS WINNERS
Last year in Toronto, Gord Nixon, President and CEO of RBC, served as co-chair of the 12th Annual Business Achievement Awards. Ambassador David H. Wilkins served as the keynote speaker. In 2005, the CABC held the Award event in Calgary where Rex Tillerson, Chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil Corporation, served as our keynote speaker. In previous years in Toronto, Lowry Kline, Chairman of Coca-Cola Enterprises served as co-chair and Peter Mansbridge served as master of ceremonies.

The 2006 winning partnership, Virox Technologies of Oakville, ON and JohnsonDiversey of Racine, WI, came together to engineer revolutionary disinfectants in the ongoing fight against pandemic outbreaks. Previous award winners, include: CMC Electronics, Honeywell Aerospace, Research In Motion (RIM), Intel Corporation, Wrebbit Inc, and Milton-Bradley, to name a few.
It only takes a few minutes to nominate a partnership. Click here to complete the nomination form (484KB).

Deadline for Submissions: June 1, 2007
Submissions may be received via email, fax or mail to:

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March 2007

OWIT-Toronto Provides Input at Trade Roundtable

Helena Guergis, recently-appointed Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, International Trade & Sport, held a series of regional roundtables in March 2007 to hear the needs and challenges of women exporters in conducting business internationally. The purpose of the discussions included identifying gaps in the services and programs currently provided by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) and connecting with business leaders in positioning Canadian businesses for success in a rapidly changing global economy.

Among the recommendations presented by OWIT-Toronto President Susan Baka were:

• Reinstate PEMD (Program for Export Market Development) which many women-owned businesses utilized in the past to break into new markets by assisting them with international marketing (eg: trade show exhibiting).

• Allow non-sectoral and regional associations access to PEMD.

• Increase support for trade missions for women since these missions are valuable for building much-needed networks in new markets and since a great deal of the work for such missions is currently shouldered by volunteers in businesswomen’s organizations.

• Provide consistent regional assistance programs across the country that match the breadth and depth of service currently provided by groups like Western Economic Diversification (WD) and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

• Continue to profile successful women exporters in communication vehicles since they serve as powerful role models to aspiring and growing women entrepreneurs and to young women.

• Enhance level of Trade Commissioner Service expertise to better assist SMEs and service-based companies.

A report on the cross-country roundtables is expected from DFAIT this spring.

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March 2007

Seeking Successful Women Trade Advocates for OWIT-Toronto's Annual JoAnna Townsend Award

Nominations for qualified candidates are now open for OWIT-Toronto’s annual JoAnna Townsend Award. The award recognizes an outstanding woman in Ontario who through her business and personal networks creates opportunities to actively support women entrepreneurs to achieve success in international business. This outstanding woman may participate on for-profit and non-profit boards, government committees and/or industry associations and acts as a role model and mentor for women entrepreneurs.

OWIT-Toronto launched the award in 2004 to recognize an outstanding women's exporting champion in Ontario and to honour the memory of JoAnna Townsend, a committed women's trade advocate who passed away in January 2004 after a courageous battle with cancer.

We encourage women involved in all industry areas to come forward. You can nominate a worthy candidate or even nominate yourself. The JoAnna Townsend Award is a way to recognize extraordinary individuals who assist women in international business. The winner and two runners up will be announced at our annual BBQ to be held on September 18, 2007.

For more information about the JoAnna Townsend Award, including a nomination form, please click here.

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February 2007

Woman named to new federal trade post

Helena Guergis, MP, Simcoe-Grey, Ontario, was appointed Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Sport, during a recent cabinet expansion. Her mandate includes outreach work around women in international trade. In announcing this new junior cabinet position in trade, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Ms. Guergis "will work with Minister Peter MacKay and Minister David Emerson on protecting and advancing Canada's interest and values on the world stage."

Most recently Parliamentary Secretary to David Emerson, Minister of International Trade, Ms. Guergis was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004 and was re-elected in 2006. She has served on the standing committees on International Trade and on the Status of Women.

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