Women of Substance: Almira Bardai

I wanted to write a feature on Almira Bardai because she has accomplished what so many women business owners dream of – she runs a profitable company while traveling all over the world.   Since August 2006, she has been in South Africa, Argentina, London (3 times), Paris, Australia and Spain.  And her company ran without a hitch in client service;  in fact revenues have grown by 30%!

 Almira admits her number one goal is to run her own company and have a great lifestyle and she seems to have accomplished it.  She is Partner at Jive Communications, a boutique PR and communications firm that increases recognition and improves the bottom line for companies around the world.

What intrigued me is that so many of us became business owners so we could have more flexibility, yet few of us take steps to work and travel.  We start thinking of how impossible it would be; we worry that we will lose clients because balls will get dropped.  So read on to see how Almira does it.

How did you get started doing this?

 A client sent me to Cape Town, South Africa to work for them. I knew the CEO from my time in London and he got in touch while I was in Canada, and flew me to Cape Town. This was actually my first contract, and made me realize the potential of running my own company and having a great lifestyle using the technology available to us. 

What are your top tips for running a business successfully while traveling around the world?

1.    Service clients continually.  Arrange your schedule to work to client time.  When I come back from my travels, clients often comment “I didn’t even know you were out of town.”

2.    Have a team in place at the office back home to delegate to.  Be clear on their roles and responsibilities.  Brief them on what your expectations are while away and check in regularly.

3.    Use technology effectively.  Almira admits she could not travel like this without it.  Her tools of choice include:  Blackberry, VOIP (with a Vancouver number), Skype and her laptop.  On some trips she has just used a Blackberry and internet cafes successfully. 

Your words of wisdom to other women in business?

“It’s all about your support network.  I have a wonderful mentor.  Make sure you surround yourself with phenomenal people.  I have this great network of amazing women who act as my Board of Advisors.  I could not have accomplished what I have without this connection and guidance.  My favorite quote comes from Jill Earthy, Executive Director of Forum of Women Entrepreneurs – ‘There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help women.’”

So for those of you out there itching with a travel bug, get inspired by Almira and figure out how you can make it happen.  As you can see, it is not impossible!

Woman of Substance – Stacey Bridges

I met today’s Woman of Substance, Stacey Bridges, when I received a box of her gorgeously yummy cake balls for Christmas.  These things are divine – both to look at and to eat!  After licking my fingers off, I got in contact with Stacey in Austin, Texas, to learn the story of her wonderful company – Cake By Bridges.  This has to be one of my all-time favorite business ideas!  Check out her website – it is a feast for the eyes.  

How did your company get started?

I was a costumer for theatre and opera for 9 years.  It was just after I finished my Fine Arts Masters in Costume Technology at the University of Texas, Austin. I was doing a little R&R and happened to be watching Food Network – it was a cake show. I was really drawn to the aesthetics of the cakes they were making.  My boyfriend encouraged me to take a course and I started playing around with cake.  From the very beginning, I saw my cakes as an art form – I wanted them to be spectacular.  Six months after my first cake, we decided we wanted to make it a business and Cake By Bridges was launched in August 2008.  We do cake balls, wedding and anniversary cakes and custom orders for corporate events and parties.

My background in art provides the inspiration for the cakes;  I look for images I like in nature, magazines, on-line and then I create the image in sugar.  Recently I did Steeler football helmets for a client’s Superbowl party.

Cake balls are your number one seller – how did you come up with the idea for them?

I stumbled across a recipe for cake balls one day.  They sounded fun and different so I made the recipe and started to test market them.  People loved them so our new product line was born.   They are the perfect solution for dessert – hand held, pretty and easy to eat.  We now ship them all over North America.

What is the most important lesson you have learned for success in business?

Patience!  And the ability to learn from others who have already experienced what you are going through.  With no prior business experience, every business challenge is new to me and slightly terrifying at times. 

My focus has always been on creating beautiful things – not running a business, so I had a lot to learn fast.  We have tapped into our network of friends to get connections to experienced business people who have generously shared their advice and insights.  This has been invaluable to us growing so quickly.  

 What does Cake by Bridges have planned for 2009?

We have a fun, quirky product.  We just finished our marketing plan and the focus this year is to keep building our word of mouth, which has been our main marketing tool, and to also build a stronger web presence and launch a newsletter.

For Valentine’s 2009, we have created special decorated cake balls – heart shaped or with roses, hearts and teddy bears – check them out here.  In addition, we have a special  flavor for the month of February – Cherry Amaretto!

 Any words of advice to women in business?

Go for your dreams.  Never in a million years, would I have ever imagined I would open a cake business!  But the idea came along and I went with it.  When opportunities are offered to you, grab them! Take them, develop them and then spend the time to grow them.

Women of Substance: Minna Van

Today’s Woman of Substance is Minna Van, a 27 year old dynamo who started her first company, Atomic Media, in high school.  This serial entrepreneur has since launched 2 other companies:  The Network Hub and Urban Bella Marketing.  High energy does not even begin to describe this woman.

What drove you to open The Network Hub?

I was lonely working in my basement office, tired of being on my own.  My vision was to create affordable office space to work in, that would get people out of their basement offices and provide a place where they could share ideas, energy and best practices.  So I went out and found a downtown space, and the hub was born.  Now we have expanded to 2 floors and have a waiting list!

What was the inspiration for Urban Bella Marketing?

This company was launched 18 months ago.  I saw a need in the market for a promotion company that would cut through the clutter and reach consumers effectively through personal, interactive relationships. We catch the eye of your customers through unique events and product tastings.  Our clients include liquor companies and Fortune 500 companies.  We got our first client by crashing a trade show and collecting business cards of all the marketing directors who were there.  The next day we emailed them all and landed our first contract!  You have to be confident and after what you want.

What’s your secret for being able to manage so many companies?

My greatest business strength is that I am quick to spot new opportunities in the market and then I am quick to act on them.  Urban Bella Marketing, for example, was launched the day after I came up with the idea.  A week later, we were at the trade show!  I focus on building the marketing and sales strategy for my companies and then I put strong partners in place to run the business – I hate the operations stuff.

What is your strategy for handling the recession?

We are being even more targeted in the new clients we are going after.  Our focus is to expand strategically by adding new services that are popular in a slower economy.  The real key is that we move quickly when we spot an opportunity, and there are a lot of them out there.

What’s your other advice to other women in business?

Just go after what you want.  If you’re always an observer in life, you’re not really living your life.  It is always the things you didn’t get to do that you regret, rather than the things you messed up or the stupid mistakes you made.

Women of Substance: The Modern Domestics

At a recent speaking event, I met Denise Trottier and Cori Kyle, owners of a very cool company – The Modern Domestics.  I love everything about this company – the business model, their dead-on niche marketing, their branding and their website!

This company is proof of the effectiveness of niche marketing.  They opened in May 2008 and their client base continues to grow on a weekly basis.  In fact, the market response has been so positive, they are already working on a franchising model.  With that kind of record of success, how could I not interview them for Women of Substance?

1.  What is your business? 

We take care of domestic needs like housekeeping, errands, laundry and ironing, as well as offering senior care and delicious meals.  People today are so busy they are almost crazed.  We know that a well-run home is the foundation for a happy life so we do the stuff you never have time for, that makes all the difference to how happy you feel at home.  We make home a stress-free zone for our customers.

2. How did you discover this niche market?

When doing our market research, we noticed that no other company really put the total package together – they either offered either cleaning or errands, but not both.  We wanted to combine it to make a total domestic help service.  That is what our target market told us they really wanted.

3.  What words of wisdom do you have for women entering the business world? 

The world is your oyster.  Nothing is ever as hard as it seems and we, as women, are usually more intuitive to what people really need, which can make us great business idea people.

4. What advice would you give to women who work full-time and complete all the household duties?

Take time to enjoy your life and your family.  Take some “me” time.  Delegate the chores or hire a cleaning company.  It’s more cost effective than you realize.  For the cost of your daily Venti Cafe Latte and banana bread at Starbucks, you could buy more than an hour of housekeeping within a week.  Trying to do it all yourself causes a lot of unnecessary stress.  Besides, what would you rather do – clean the house or play with your kids?

5. Your business offers many different domestic options to help in the home, what is the most purchased option? 

 People love the fact that they can get their errands and laundry done, but the most popular option is housekeeping (once every second week is most common).

6.  What’s your big goal for 2009?

We are really excited about the unique micro-franchising model we are developing;  we believe that it will give every woman an opportunity to own her own business, work around her family, and bring significant income into her household with fantastic hours. 

Woman of Substance: Nina Corrie

Nina Corrie is the owner of Tattoos for Now – an airbrush tattoo company.  She is young, spunky and has build a thriving business.  I wrote about her business success this week in The Province newspaper.  What the article doesn’t mention is that several years ago she had a business partner and the night before they were to open 11 new locations, he took a full-time job, leaving her to handle everything on her own.  The reason she is a Woman of Substance, is because she survived what could have been a fatal financial blow for most people and rebuilt the successful business she has today.  And because she is fearless – she just goes after what she wants.  Something more women need to do!  Read the whole article about Nina here.

Women of Substance: Dr. Carolyn Anderson

Dr. Carolyn Anderson is truly extraordinary – she really thinks BIG!  In addition to being an eye surgeon, she is also an author, motivational speaker and entrepreneur!  She owns 6 companies – Dr. Carolyn Anderson Eye Surgery, Langley Surgical Centre, Images by LSC, Impower Age, Impower Med and Impower Women.  We sat down over dinner and she shared the following tips for building the life you want.

The combination of medical doctor and entrepreneur is a rare one;  what fueled you to become an entrepreneur?

My driving vision has always been to touch as many lives as possible;  I wanted to bring that to life and I felt the best way to do that was to build different businesses.  The best part of being an entrepreneur is the excitement of not knowing how things will turn out.  You get an idea, you start building and it always turn out different than you expected.  And I like having control over my destiny –  it is up to me to make my vision come to life, to build the life I want.

I am going to ask the question every woman is thinking right now:  How do you do it all?

It’s a combination of wanting to accomplish certain things and then doing only those things that are impactful and that move me forward.  I hand off the stuff I don’t like doing and that I am not good at.  The one thing that has really driven my success has been learning to leverage and delegate.  I get my team on board with new business ideas – I get their input and ideas on how we can make an idea successful.  Combining our expertise and energy we have accomplished some remarkable things!  All of them have a do it now attitude.

Another important thing is self-care.  I get up at 5AM and work out every day – it gives me energy.  And then I just hang for a half hour writing in my journal, reviewing my goals and meditating.  This gets me energized and focused for the day ahead.  Too many women spend all their time looking after others and give nothing to themselves.  You have to recharge your batteries on a daily basis if you want to be successful.

I have always been extremely goal-focused.  Every day I write down 6 key things to get done that day – 1 key thing for each business.  This keeps me always moving forward and focused on what I need to bring me success.

I also do a weekly planning process;  every Sunday evening for 1 hour, I sit down with 8 blank sheets of paper – one for each business and one each for Family and Fitness.  I have a goal for each one and then quickly write down all the things I can do this week to move forward and accomplish that goal.  I know that even if I only get one thing on each sheet, I am getting closer to making that goal happen.  I have been doing this for years and it works really well for me.  The key to building success is not doing the occasional big thing – it is actually about building continuous improvement on a daily basis.  I am always asking myself:  What can I do this week to move myself forward?

Talking with Dr. Anderson is very inspiring.  The tools she uses are simple and extremely effective.  If you find yourself struggling to get the important stuff accomplished on a daily basis, give her tools a try – I think you’ll be surprised at the results you’ll get.

Women of Substance – Tamera Olsen

Today’s interview is with Tamera Olsen, Executive Director, Mortgage Brokers Association of BC.  A very high-energy woman and mother of two boys, she has held some interesting jobs in the non-profit world and has some great advice for women in business about setting limits.

What is your current job? 

Executive Director for the Mortgage Brokers Association of British Columbia.

What do you do before this job? 

Executive Director for the Professional Ski Instructors of America/American Association of Snowboard Instructors – Northern Rocky Mountains.

What do you feel is the important thing you have mastered to contribute to your success?

My vision, diplomacy, integrity, conviction, and passion.

How do you balance family and work?

I don’t own a blackberry. I turn off my cell phone in the evenings. I work hard at the office so that I can focus on activities with my family when not at work.  I firmly believe in a work/life balance and my family comes first.

Words of wisdom for women entering the business world?

Negotiate your terms.  It is important to understand that you’re worth it. Without being pushy or ungrateful, counter job offers with competitive salary recommendations and decent benefits.  This positions you much more favourably when annual increases come up, and puts you higher on the corporate ladder.  It also shows you as a professional who deserves respect, in that you are capable of taking charge of your career. Lastly, maintain a work/life balance for ultimate satisfaction. 

Women of Substance – Robyn Ritter Simon

I recently had the opportunity to hear Robyn Ritter Simon speak in LA on running for public office. Her message was strong and ear-catching so I interviewed her for the Women of Substance column.

Married, with 3 sons, Robyn began her career as a broadcast journalist and political commentator, producing and hosting her own public affairs program – Robyn Ritter Reports. In addition to being involved in several other projects, she is also President of the National Women’s Political Caucus, LA-Westside and in February 2008 she announced her candidacy for the Los Angeles City Council, District 5.

What’s the most important skill that’s gotten you where you are now?
A centered family life – everything for me comes from there. You sometimes have to make difficult choices. I always tell women you can have it all, you just can’t have it all at the same time. You will have to make choices but always remember that you can come back to it.
Define what you want and then have a plan that makes it happen. Your days will never be flawless; just keep your priorities straight and focus on what’s important.

Advice you’d give to young women in business?
Two things I want them to keep in mind:
1. You have to be a great listener and communicator to achieve success. If you don’t listen to your audience and get in tune with them – make a connection with them – then you will never be successful. Don’t rely on technology to make those connections – get out and meet people in person!

2. Do something today because tomorrow may not be here. Too many times I see young women who want to run for office but keep putting it off until the ‘time is right’. I want them to know there is no magic test for running for office. If you believe in it and go for it, then the opportunity presents itself.

Robyn has incredible energy and I found her very inspiring to speak to. She nearly got me running for public office! Read more about Robyn’s story here.

Women of Substance – Lindsey Horvath

On a recent trip to LA, I had the pleasure of meeting Lindsey Horvath, who is a ball of fire. In her mid-twenties, she is already Vice President of Theatrical Print for bpg Advertising Agency in Los Angeles, where she develops creative marketing and advertising campaigns for theatrical film releases.

She also is heavily invested in her community, holding many leadership roles in various organizations. She is the President of the Hollywood Chapter of NOW, as well as the Vice President of Young Feminism for California NOW. She is the Vice President of Outreach for National Women’s Political Caucus – LA Westside. The City of West Hollywood’s City Council unanimously appointed her to the Women’s Advisory Board, which serves the needs and interests of the women of West Hollywood. She is on the Board for the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project, as well as the YWCA of Glendale. She is a Community Events Producer for the two-week Until the Violence Stops Los Angeles Festival, a project of the VDAY organization working to stop violence against women and girls. Lindsey also co-founded OBJECT, a women’s Conversation organization.

At the age of 25, you have accomplished a lot in a short time – what drives you?
I learned at an early age to go after what I wanted. I never let being female or other people’s limited thinking derail me from going after my goals. My passion is about making an impact and the work that I do in advertising and in the public arena is focused on creating education, support and network opportunities for women. It is about making an impact on the way women are portrayed and positioned in our society, about opening more opportunities for them.

What would you say is the most important skill for women to master to be successful?
Communication skills – it is not just what you say but how you say it. Your words and actions speak volumes. The people I admire the most lead a daily life of action. Be proud of who you are and speak with confidence. Communicate clearly what you want and expect from yourself and from others. Overcome your fears and go after what you want.

An extraordinary young woman, Lindsey is fiercely committed to making a lasting impact. To do this, she plans to run for elected office. Keep an eye on her – she will be a future president of the United States!

Women of Substance

In my travels, coaching and speaking, I get the opportunity to meet with many successful women who are doing amazing things in business. So I have decided to add a new section to the blog: Women of Substance which will feature their stories.

And so I would like to introduce you to Lisa Watts who I recently met in California. She is the Operations Manager and Technical Adviser to the Vice President of the Digital Office Division at Intel Corporation. In addition to working at Intel for 14 years, she is also an entrepreneur and artist. She designs a line of artisan jewelry under the label L. Michele Designs and is an active partner is several Sacramento businesses, including Restaurant 55 Degrees and W Gallery & Studios. Plus she has two kids. This is one very busy, passionate lady! And she contributes to an interesting blog Damsels in Succes.

What made you go into IT? Before she went into IT, Lisa went to art school and did interior design. Then she tried accounting school and hated it, so she went into banking because she had a passion for business. She started playing around with software and thought it was interesting. She went to school in computing science and started her career at Intel in PC repair. Since then she has worked in many different areas of the company, gaining expertise. Her success is based on always stretching and taking on bigger and bigger responsibilities. Lisa believes in going after what you want; never worry about failing.

You work in a very male-dominated industry – what are the most common ways that women give away their power?

• They second-guess themselves.
• They don’t go for the high-profile assignments because they lack confidence.
• They focus on action, instead of results.

Words of wisdom for women on balancing family, work and life: Make sure you have a support structure in place – recognize that you don’t have to do everything yourself to be a good mother. Take advantage of technology – work remotely if you can. Chances are you will get more accomplished because of fewer distractions. Focus on what matters most to you; have a plan in place and only do the important stuff. Decide what you want and what’s important and go for it. Let the rest go!