Empowering women in business: BECN ‘She Owns It’ Women’s Entrepreneurship Conference returns

Graphic with She Owns It logo and text that says 'BECN Women's Entrepreneurship Conference. Tickets on sale now. Thursday, November 7, Cobourg ON. Northumberland.ca/SheOwnsIt'. Graphic includes headshots of The Sorry Girls, Julie Cole and Pay Chen. Logos for BECN, Northumberland County, RT08 and Province of Ontario

Cobourg, ON – September 19, 2024 – After a successful sold-out event last year, the highly anticipated Business and Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland (BECN)’s ‘She Owns It’ Women's Entrepreneurship Conference is back, ready to empower and inspire women leaders in business again this year. 

The half-day conference, taking place at the Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn & Convention Centre on Thursday, November 7th, will motivate local entrepreneurs with an incredible lineup of inspiring guest speakers, including The Sorry Girls, Mabel’s Labels Co-Founder and Senior Director Julie Cole and Media Host, Producer and Writer Pay Chen. Presented in partnership with Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8), the conference offers the opportunity to hear the personal stories, experiences and lessons learned from these successful women in business. 

“We are excited to welcome back Mel Hannah from Peterborough Pure Country 105 as our emcee again this year, as we connect with another remarkable group of business leaders,” states BECN Business Development Coordinator Kailyn Coupland. “This year, we have an impressive lineup of industry experts sharing their valuable knowledge as well as new surprises and takeaways for attendees, including the opportunity to get a free digital professional headshot by Laura Benn of Gooseberry Studios on-site at the conference. This event is a great opportunity for women to come together, share insights amongst each other, grow their network and celebrate their impressive achievements in our community.”

The agenda for the conference includes three presentations. Julie Cole, Co-Founder and Senior Director of Mabel’s Labels, will open the conference with humour and practical advice as she shares business lessons she learned throughout her career – from starting Mabel’s Labels in a basement to a multi-million-dollar acquisition. Julie is an award-winning entrepreneur, best-selling and award-winning author and media personality. She has appeared on NBC's The Today Show, CNN, HLN's Raising America, Breakfast TelevisionThe Marilyn Denis Show, CP24, and CityLine, among many others. Her articles have also appeared in The Huffington Post, The Globe and Mail, Today's ParentProfit MagazineWorking Mother Magazine, and numerous websites.

Becky Wright and Kelsey MacDermaid of The Sorry Girls will then dive into the history of their careers, including the pinnacle successes and challenges along the way. With over 2.2+ million YouTube subscribers, more than 15 million monthly views across various platforms, appearances on shows like The Drew Barrymore ShowGood Morning America, Breakfast Television, Global News and Netflix, and 14 years of experience, The Sorry Girls have grown into a full-scale digital media brand. Their channel focuses on DIY, interior design, sustainability, empowerment and education.

Attendees will also learn how to leverage media and influencer marketing to unleash their brand’s potential during a professional development session led by Pay Chen. Pay is a seasoned broadcaster with over 20 years of experience as a producer, writer, host and guest expert. Her work spans across all networks, including the CBC, CTV, Global, CityTV, The Food Network and other specialty stations. As a freelance writer and food expert, Pay shares delicious discoveries as well as insight and opinions on industry trends and events.

Attendees will leave the conference with useful takeaways, an expanded business network, and the inspiration to fuel their own entrepreneurial pursuits.

Tickets for this event are limited and registration is required to attend. Tickets are available to purchase for $43 +HST, by visiting Northumberland.ca/SheOwnsIt.

Event details 

Date: Thursday, November 7th, 2024
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn & Convention Centre, 930 Burnham Street, Cobourg 
Ticket cost: $43 +HST 
Tickets available for purchase at: Northumberland.ca/SheOwnsIt

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