Women entrepreneurs from across the region will gather in Smiths Falls on Friday, Sept. 25, for a one-day business conference focused on growth, leadership and building stronger businesses.
SHIFT conference will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Valley Heartland Innovation Centre, 91 Cornelia St. W. The event is limited to 60 participants and includes business sessions, networking, sponsor booths, lunch, a workbook, business templates and door prizes.
The conference is led by Diana Lidstone, founder of CEO Freedom Academy, who has hosted 15 previous SHIFT events across Canada, according to the event website. Business and communications strategist Helen Harwood Snell is also a featured presenter.
Sessions will focus on three areas: helping business owners move from handling every aspect of their operations into a stronger leadership role; improving the visibility and positioning of their businesses; and developing systems and boundaries that allow a business to grow without relying on its owner for every decision.
Local business owner Sherry Crummy is also among the speakers.
“Women entrepreneurs spend so much time working in their businesses that they do not always have the opportunity to step back and think about what comes next,” Crummy said. “SHIFT gives established women business owners a day to learn, connect and look at what may need to change as their businesses grow.”
Crummy said her presentation will offer practical ways businesses can become easier to find, build trust and be remembered. She has previously spoken at events in local communities, including through chambers of commerce and the Small Business Advisory Centre.
“It feels special to look out at the audience and see people that you interact with on a regular basis,” she said.
Crummy said the Smiths Falls event will also bring women entrepreneurs from across the region into town.
“I’m not aware of Smiths Falls hosting an event quite like SHIFT before,” she said. “It will bring women entrepreneurs from across the region into town and show that valuable business training and connections can happen right here in our community.”
Tickets are $125 and include lunch, a SHIFT workbook and business templates. The conference runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at the Valley Heartland Innovation Centre, 91 Cornelia St. W., Smiths Falls.
Registration and additional information are available at dianalidstone.com/shift.
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