Company of Women and Women in Biz Network have joined forces to provide events to our community. Anne is our Toronto leader.

Anne Day has had an eclectic career from leadership roles in the non-profit sector, to working in government on women’s issues, to being the editor of a national parenting magazine and owning her own consulting practice.

In 2003 she started Company of Women as a way to meet up and connect with other women entrepreneurs. When she is not planning programs for Company of Women, you will find her writing.

Anne is the author of six books. In June 2016, I launched Full Circle Publishing to help women get their words out into the world.   On the home front, Anne is married, with two adult daughters, a dog, and she lives on a farm near Guelph.

Awards
•    ATHENA Leadership Award
•    Rotary Centennial Award for Professional Excellence
•    Entrepreneur of the Year, Oakville
•    TIAW World of Difference Award

2015 – Named one of the top ten most influential women in diversity in Canada

• Follow @anneday

Manpreet Dhillon is the founder of the Veza Community. She is focussed on growing diversity in organizations through empowering women of cultural backgrounds by enhancing their leadership skills

Helen is an amazing team member of WIBN, responsible for mentor matching.

Debra Christmas is a seasoned leader in the high tech field with over 35 years of experience managing all aspects of information technology.    Prior to joining Gartner Canada, Debra was Vice President of Hewlett-Packard Software Technical Sales leading a team of over 300 technical software sales professionals across North and South America, contributing to $500M in sales for HP Software.  She has led IT organizations in both the public and private sectors driving change and transformation through engaged, diverse and high performance teams around the world. Her previous roles include Vice President for Strategic Services and Global Accounts, Chief of Staff, and Director of Strategy and Operations for Presales for the IT Management Software Business Unit across Canada, the United States and Latin America and National Manager for Channels, Alliances and Partners in Canada.  Her team of enterprise software consultants and solution architects covered the entire portfolio (applications, security, operations, big data and information management) in companies like Disney, Walmart, Verizon, Bank of America, JPMC, and State Farm.  Between her two tours of duty for Hewlett-Packard she was Chief Information Officer of the City of Kingston and Kanata where she leads major technology and business transformations to optimize costs and deliver progressive and innovative constituent services. Her role as an Executive Partner provides her the honour and privilege of working with senior leaders – both technology and business focused - on their strategy, execution of their initiatives, organizational challenges and their own professional development. She is a sounding board and a conduit to the Gartner organization to help them drive results and achieve the targeted business outcomes.

She has championed diversity and women in IT issues throughout her career sitting on Diversity and Inclusion committees within HP and was executive sponsor of the first ever Black Employee Network for HP Canada. She was one of five employees around the globe profiled in HP Software for their career journey and contributions.  She has contributed to her profession through years of service to the Canadian Information Processing Society chairing local chapters in Kingston and Ottawa and was Vice President of the Municipal Information Systems Association during her tenure in the public sector.  She was nominated as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women in the Scotia Bank Corporate Award category. She speaks regularly at industry events and conferences on leadership and transformation in IT including International Women’s Day in Canada and abroad.  She has travelled the world as a facilitator for Manager Milestones, an innovative leadership development program for HP and recipient of the Brandon Hall Gold Excellence Award for Learning in 2012. She has engaged with hundreds of leaders across continents and cultures to help them develop leadership skills to drive business results and enhance employee engagement.  She is the Founder and Co-Creator of PACE (Pathway to Communication Excellence), a Brandon Hall Gold Excellence Award winner for Best in Competencies and Skill Development in 2014. She is founder of Stiletto Gladiators, a not for profit organization delivering mentorship services, leadership assessment, development and diversity coaching. She is a member of the Women in Business Network, WxN, and Women of Influence. She is a motivating and inspirational leader and is particularly passionate about the development of women in IT. She is certified in Tilt365 and Leadership Circle, a comprehensive leadership assessment framework based on “Mastering Leadership”.

Doris is the founder and CEO of Publisher Production Solutions. A third-generation printer and entrepreneur, Doris has been helping publishers, authors and entrepreneurs, for over 20 years, with their print production needs. Recently launching a new division, Liquid Ink Design, she is helping CEOs and entrepreneurs bring credibility and visibility to their professional brand.

Doris is a Publisher, Print Consultant, Designer and a Creator of Visions. Doris is all about creating a solid brand for you and your company.

Publisher Production Solutions & Liquid Ink Design

Publisher Production Solutions is a production service for publishers and self publishers — providing solutions for all their printing needs.

Patti Pokorchak is an an award-winning marketing and sales executive, with 30+years of experience at IBM, Siemens, and many start-up companies in North America and Europe.

As a serial entrepreneur of 11 businesses since 1992, I have helped start and run a 7-figure 20-employee software company for 10 years before opening a thriving garden centre and hobby farm just outside of Ottawa, Canada.

I was NOT a born salesperson. I was a super shy introverted programmer who stumbled into sales as a way of escaping corporate life. Making six-figures by the time I was 25, I decided that there had to be more to life than climbing the corporate ladder. Wanting to live a life with no regrets, I left Toronto for a year of travel in Europe and returned 9 years later to Ottawa.  Finally, after a 30-year detour, I returned to my hometown of Toronto.

I say “If I can be a farmer, then you can be anything you want to be — with some basic sales and marketing skills that is.”  I love to make your passion profitable with my proven practical advice.

I am the author of “The Accidental Farmer: Adventures of a Serial Entrepreneur!” tales of my entrepreneurial life with lessons for all.

After selling millions of dollars, Deutsch mark and pounds sterling worth of products and services* to 25+ countries, I  finally accepted that I was a pretty amazing sales professional. I now love to sell and has deconstructed my million dollar success strategies to help other entrepreneurs develop their businesses and sell more effectively, with more skill and confidence.

My coaching has helped clients close bigger deals, faster, and for more money by being confident and clear in their value that they provide to others.

We have financial, business, leadership, HR and Transformational mentors available to WIBN members each month. Click to learn more