September 26, 2019
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WNORTH Conference Unveils Powerful Speaker Line-Up Headlning in 2020

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Sixth annual conference supports female advancement to leadership positions in business 

Whistler, B.C. (September 17, 2019): This spring, women from around the world will convene in Whistler for the 2020 WNORTH Conference, an annual event that provides business professionals with the crucial skills required to ascend to senior executive leadership. Centred on the theme “Cultivating Legacy”, the conference – sponsored by PwC, Nita Lake Lodge, and Tourism Whistler – will feature presentations by business powerhouses like Shelley Zalis, CEO of The Female Quotient; Rola Dagher, president of Cisco Canada; and Esther Wojcicki, educator and author of How to Raise Successful People.

WNORTH represents a global community of women whose sights are set on the C Suite. The organization’s boutique conference, held annually in Whistler, hosts 170 high-potential female leaders from corporate, public and entrepreneurial sectors, who engage in three days of leadership training, networking and discourse with inspiring business leaders. The upcoming event will take place April 15 to 17, 2020 at Nita Lake Lodge.

Headlining the 2020 WNORTH Conference are powerful women such as Shelley Zalis, CEO of the Female Quotient, who is lauded as a pioneer for online research, a champion of gender equality, and a movement leader; Rola Dagher, president of Cisco Canada, who has transformed her division into the company’s top globally performing region; and Esther Wojcicki, educator and author of How to Raise Successful People, who is also the founder of Palo Alto High Media Arts Program, Journalistic Learning Initiative and Global Moonshots in Education. View the list of announced speakers here.

Women attending the 2020 WNORTH Conference can look forward to a wellness welcome event; a West Coast-inspired networking lunch; preferred rates at award-winning Nita Lake Lodge, access to Connect Dinners with Speakers and more. Attendees are encouraged to join The Members’ Club, WNORTH’s exclusive global network connecting ambitious and driven leaders through six city chapters; the club provides opportunities for in-person and online connection, as well as professional development and unparalleled networking experiences throughout the year.

“According to statistics, it will take over 200 years to achieve gender parity in the workplace – but who wants to wait that long?” says Shelley Zalis. “It’s time to stop admiring the problem and start activating solutions for change. That’s why I’m so delighted to join the WNORTH Conference, to bring more visibility to women making a difference and helping the best rise to the top. Together, we can transform equality from an ideal into a reality.”

“Women ascending to positions of leadership think a lot about legacy – specifically, how others are affected by products they build, services they offer and changes they make. This is why we chose ‘Cultivating Legacy’ as a central theme to explore during the 2020 conference,” says Heather Odendaal, Co-Founder and CEO of WNORTH. “Though our overarching goal is to help women develop the skills required to reach senior leadership roles, we are also committed to identifying – and overcoming – systemic barriers that prevent more of us from reaching these positions. We are so excited to share insights, learn from industry leaders, and connect with women from around the world about these issues next spring.”

The 2020 WNORTH Conference takes place April 15 to 17, 2020 at Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler, B.C. Early-bird tickets for members cost $799, and are available until January 31, 2020; non-members will pay $999. Conference passes can also be bundled with annual membership for $1,199. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Wnorthconnect.com.

April 9, 2019
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WNORTH Conference Announces Accelerate Scholarship Winners

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Two Sea to Sky Women to Attend Global Gathering of Women on the Rise

For Immediate Release – WHISTLER, B.C. April 9, 2019 – WNORTH Conference, a global gathering of women on the rise, today announces the winners of this year’s Accelerate Scholarship, Erin Murchie and Shelly Bortolotto.

The Accelerate Scholarship, sponsored by Pique Newsmagazine in association with the Whistler Chamber of Commerce, offers the opportunity for two women living and working in the Sea to Sky Corridor to advance their careers by attending the WNORTH Conference. WNORTH is a boutique conference focused on providing a forum for women who are aiming for, or already on, a senior executive leadership track. Read More

February 21, 2019
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Renowned Female Leaders to Inspire Attendees at 2019 WNORTH Conference in Whistler, BC

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Full agenda of the 5th annual global gathering of women announces impressive line-up of speakers for event taking place this April

For immediate release – WHISTLER, B.C. February 21, 2019 – The full schedule for the 2019 edition of the WNORTH Conference, taking place in Whistler, BC,  April 10th-12th, is now available online. This Global Gathering of Women on the Rise, presented by PwC, includes an inspiring and thought-provoking lineup of keynote addresses, panel discussions, workshops and high-level networking opportunities with top female leaders from across North America. The WNORTH conference aims to provide a forum for women who are aiming for, or already on, a senior executive leadership track.

This year’s Conference theme is “Colour Our World” and will highlight the importance of diversification, creativity and modernization in the workplace (often through disruption) and women’s role in making these advancements.

The theme of diversification, creativity and modernization will be brought to life through keynote addresses by Amy Nelson, Founder & CEO of The Riveter, Seattle, who will deliver a talk on The Blueprint for Systematic Change, and Chitra Anand, Author of The Greenhouse Approach, Cultivating Deliberate Innovation in Organizations, who will wrap the conference by sharing her insights on just how organizations and individuals can cultivate a culture of innovation.   

Several other speakers will take the stage at the WNORTH Conference, including inspirational Alison Desir, Founder of The Harlem Run in NYC, and Diane Melchionne, Vice-president of Client Success at Indeed, who through her talk “Why Happiness & Curiosity Should Be Your North Star” will share her inspiring insights on how to achieve success by following your own path.

Leading the way in disruption requires focus, preparation and clarity, applicable for industries new and old. It is a conversation about the vision required to push through simply managing commotions and distractions that often characterize businesses, and forging a path not commonly travelled to strive towards long-term relevancy and stability.  This will be the subject of the first panel discussion at WNORTH, and will feature leaders from some of the most disruptive industries right now; Cannabis, Blockchain, AI moderated by Erin Millar, a trailblazing disruptor of Media.

The second Panel Discussion at this year’s Conference will explore the intersectionality of Creativity and Leadership.  Featuring panelists Celeste Burgoyne, Executive VP, The Americas, Lululemon Athletica, and Marni Johnson, Senior VP, Human Resources, BlueShore Financial, Jean Pierre LeBlanc, Co-Founder of Saje Natural Wellness and moderated by Steph Corker, Founder and People Consultant at the Corker Co.  

Several actionable workshops will be offered throughout the event; Mona Sheth from Indeed will explain how to achieve diversity when hiring, Carrie Gallant, a negotiation consultant and coach, will help hone attendees negotiation skills to help them get more of what they want, authentically and with integrity. Executive Presence Consultant Katherine Lazaruk will demystify what professional presence is, why it’s important and how it directly contributes to your earning potential, relationship capital and business success.  Finally, Allison Kinnear, Women’s Leadership Coach, Voice of Her Own, will lead attendees in finding ways to overcome our Imposter Syndrome.

Now in its fifth year, WNORTH has become a global and diverse community, facilitating connections between women in business as they ascend to executive leadership, through the annual conference as well as intimate gatherings in global Chapter cities including London, New York, Vancouver and Seattle.

CONFERENCE DETAILS & REGISTRATION

The WNORTH Conference presented by PwC will take place at the Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada from April 10-12, 2019.  Leading sponsors include Indeed, Blueshore Financial, Tourism Whistler, Nita Lake Lodge, BCBusiness and The Globe and Mail.

The Conference pass includes two days of keynote addresses, talks and workshops, some meals and special events, including an Opening Reception.

All attendees will also gain access to the WNORTH Networking app, hosted on Bizzabo, to connect with other attendees in advance of the conference. 

For more details or to register visit:  https://wnorthconnect.com/conference/

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MEDIA CONTACT
Virginie (V) Lamarche
media@wnorthconference.com 
Mobile: 778-686-1981

November 16, 2018
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Changing Tides – Enterprise Magazine

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BlueShore Financial Credit Union member and WNORTH CEO Heather Odendaal is expanding her global online networking platform in order to guide women along the executive path.

Published November 7, 2018
By Alexandra Gill – Enterprise Magazine
Photo: Heather Odendaal

It wasn’t your typical breakaway session. On a chilly night this past April, in the ski-resort municipality of Whistler, BC, about 70 attendees from the three-day WNORTH Conference for mid-career women on the senior-executive-leadership track convened at the outdoor Scandinave Spa.

They splashed through waterfalls, floated under the stars and networked in wood-burning saunas. Keynote speaker Halla Tomasdottir, an entrepreneur and former presidential candidate in Iceland who co-founded the the investment firm Audur Capital — guided by feminine values — held court in a steaming hot tub, doling out advice on everything from how to generate high-level support for equal-pay legislation to the difference between raising sons and daughters. Then she challenged the women to a cold-water plunge. “Let’s pretend we’re men and see how long we last,” Tomasdottir joked. Read More

October 30, 2018
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WNORTH Conference Announces First Five Speakers that will Inspire Female Leaders in Whistler Next Spring

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5th annual global gathering of women to take place at Nita Lake Lodge,

April 10-12th, 2019 

WHISTLER, B.C. October 30th, 2018 – The WNORTH Conference team is excited to announce the participation of six world-class female leaders to its fifth edition, taking place in Whistler, BC next April 10-12th, 2019. Alison Desir, Amy Nelson, Barinder Rasode, Celeste Burgoyne and Dr. Lois Nahirney will each take the stage to share experiences, challenges and defining moments that shaped both their business and personal paths. WNORTH is a boutique-style conference focused on providing a forum for women who are aiming for, or already on, a senior executive leadership track.

For the fifth edition, Heather Odendaal, Co-Founder and CEO of WNORTH, really wanted to offer a line-up of speakers with diverse professional backgrounds: ‘Leadership opportunities can come in many ways, shapes or forms. This year’s Conference theme is “Colour Our World” and will highlight the importance of diversification, creativity and modernization in the workplace and our role in making these advancements. As women our challenge is often to recognize and to grasp them’, said Odendaal. ‘I’m thrilled to announce this first round of speakers; each of them demonstrates that no matter what your field is, from sports to sciences to marketing, leadership opportunities for women do exist and they are diverse, now more than ever. I know our conference attendees will be inspired by these six incredibly accomplished speakers, and hopefully the event will act as a springboard to elevate themselves both professionally and personally’, she concluded. Read More

June 7, 2018
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Canadian Initiative Touches Down in London to Support Women Mid-Career

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WNORTH will host their inaugural London Event at Canada House

For Immediate Release – LONDON, UK. June 7, 2018 – WNORTH, a global community of women who are aiming for, or already on, a senior executive leadership track, will host their inaugural London event in partnership with the High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom at Canada House on Thursday, June 14.  WNORTH will celebrate and profile “Modern Role Models” with a lineup of leading speakers from around London including:

  • Alison Nimmo, Chief Executive at The Crown Estate
  • Farah Mohamed, CEO at the Malala Fund
  • Chantal Coady OBE, Founder at Rococo Chocolates
  • Max Foster, Anchor and London Correspondent at CNN
  • Shirin Foroutan, COO at MPC Film
  • Rupal Kantaria, Social Impact Advisor, Co-Lead Global Women at Oliver Wyman

Read More

April 13, 2018
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WNORTH Conference Announces Accelerate Scholarship Winners

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Two Sea to Sky Women to Attend Global Gathering of Women on the Rise

For Immediate Release – WHISTLER, B.C. April 10, 2018 – WNORTH Conference, a global gathering of women on the rise, today announces the winners of this year’s Accelerate Scholarship, Justine Nichol and Krista Lambie.

The Accelerate Scholarship , sponsored by Pique Newsmagazine and in association with the Whistler Chamber of Commerce, offers the opportunity for two women living and working in the Sea to Sky Corridor to advance their careers by attending the WNORTH Conference. WNORTH is a boutique conference focused on providing a forum for women who are aiming for, or already on, a senior executive leadership track. Read More

March 19, 2018
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PIQUE NewsMagazine: Rising Regardless

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Whistler’s business community is flush with women leaders — but what hurdles have they crossed to get there?

We’re witnessing a watershed moment. There’s been a tidal wave of conversation, heated debates, and marching in the streets, pushing the subject of gender equality to the forefront of our current cultural moment. Some believe these discussions have only pulled us further apart, while others see it as a call to arms, a rallying cry. Either way, we have to decide whether this wave is going to wash over us, leaving only small fragments in its wake, or if it will alter our social landscape forever. With women coming forward and sharing their stories like never before, of stunning abuses of power, of systemic barriers to entry, of unfair and unequal business practices, we need to be ready to listen, and then we need to be ready to act. With all that we’re being told, what will we do next?

READ THE FULL ARTICLE
September 13, 2017
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Global Gathering of Women on the Rise Welcomes Icelandic Leader as Keynote

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Female Leaders Return to Whistler at WNORTH Conference Spring 2018

WHISTLER, B.C. September 12, 2017 – The WNORTH Conference  is set to return to Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, April 18 -20, 2018.

WNORTH is a boutique-style conference focused on providing a forum for women who are aiming for, or already on, a senior executive leadership track. Now in its fourth year, WNORTH has become a global community of women on the rise, facilitating connections between women in business as they ascend to executive leadership, through the annual conference as well as intimate gatherings in cities across North America.

WNORTH Founder, Heather Odendaal, revealed that the first five speakers at the 2018 conference will be Halla Tomasdottir, Joanna Pena Bickley, Tej Singh Hazra, Steph Jagger and Erin Sills. Read More