I first became active with Young Women in Business Toronto in 2016 when I was early in my career and looking to connect with like-minded young women. I found their networking events and workshops so helpful that I went on to volunteer with them, ultimately becoming the Vice President, of Community & People before sitting on their Advisory Council.
Like many non-profits, all hands were needed on deck so I had the opportunity to wear many hats including blog features of amazing speakers like Renish Kamal, Founder & CEO of Fidget Toys Ltd., and Emilia Romano, Director of Marketing at Imperial Lifestyle Management. I was the project manager of the 2018 personal finance boot camp featuring three finance sector professionals who taught 20+ people hands-on finance skills.
I’m so proud of all the incredible women I was able to connect with. As a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers, it was a lot of work often done in between full-time jobs, raising kids, and running businesses. But it was an incredible experience knowing I was able to help in some small way with their careers. Whether it was practicing interview questions over coffee, spreading the word about new businesses, or even editing resumes and cover letters. I know they all certainly helped me in return.
Catherine Vendryes 