Beedie student female leaders named Women of Promise

On the same day that Hillary Clinton delivered an impassioned speech in Vancouver about the role of women in business, five Beedie School of Business students were honoured by the Vancouver Board of Trade (VBOT) for their contributions as female leaders in the community.

In front of an audience who would later attend the event headlined by the businesswoman who may very well be the next President of the United States, the students were named as Women of Promise by the VBOT’s Women’s Leadership Circle.

In conjunction with Telus, the Women of Promise honours ten women who are making outstanding community contributions reflected in their commitment to where they live, and their efforts to elevate women by recognizing the importance of diversity in leadership roles.

The Beedie recipients included BBA students Kelly Lee, a volunteer in the Leaders of Tomorrow Mentorship Program; Ravneet Dhaliwal, co-founder of social enterprise Math4me; Renee Chau, chair of the student leadership team for Canadian Women in Technology; Qudsia Ahmed, a member of the Board of Directors for Young Women in Business; and Business minor student Madeline Simpkin, who holds a leadership role with SOS SFU, a Canada-wide program helping students prepare for exams.

“I am constantly amazed by the excellence of our Beedie students and the impact they are having on their communities,” said Casey Dorin, Executive Director of Undergraduate Programs, Beedie School of Business. “The dedication and commitment to making a difference these young women demonstrate is inspiring. They are truly worthy of the title, ‘Women of Promise’.”

In addition to being recognized at the reception, each recipient was rewarded with a complimentary ticket to the Hillary Clinton presentation. There, they joined more than 2,700 people to hear her speak about the role women have to play as business leaders, the current situation in Ukraine, and Vancouver’s position as a dynamic link between the East and West.

“Having had several amazing mentors myself, I can personally attest to how important it is to look for opportunities to give back to the community, inspire future leaders, and help each other grow,” said Renee Chau. “Hearing Hillary Clinton speak reinforced this. She highlighted how other leaders around the world changed their community – not because they wanted recognition, but because they truly believed in helping others.”

The VBOT’s Women’s Leadership Circle is one of the largest women’s business networking groups in Metro Vancouver. It connects, supports and advocates for women in business in an inclusive community that embraces diversity.

For more information about the VBOT’s Women’s Leadership Circle, visit www.boardoftrade.com/programs/WLC.