WBNB Launches Second Round of Women Moving Online Program
COCAGNE, N.B.— Angèle Miller has been in business for the last 20 years. Her most recent venture is Creekside RnR, a glamping resort she opened with her husband last fall during the pandemic.
Last spring she participated in the first session of Women Moving Online, a program that is part of the Atlantic Canada Women in Growth Partnership (ACWGP).
“I find this program has been fantastic because I get to connect to a lot of other women in business in New Brunswick that share similar goals and passion and we help each other and support each other,” said Miller.
After the success participants like Miller had in the pilot program, another round will be held this September.
Run by Women in Business New Brunswick (WBNB), the program aimed to provide training for women in New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador to move their business online during and after the pandemic.
“Over the past year, COVID-19 has had an impact on women entrepreneurs across Atlantic Canada,” said project coordinator Isabelle Arseneau in a press release last week. “It has forced them to rethink how they market their products and services, today and in the future.”
Miller found the program last spring through WBNB’s newsletter. Miller grew up in the small community of Cocagne and moved out west for 14 years before returning home two years ago. When she came back, she said she didn’t have many connections to the business community in New Brunswick. This program helped to change that.
“For me, this program has been very inspirational,” said Miller. “I find we can connect with other people that are going through the same things and share the same things and we become friends when we help and support each other.”
The program matches a Canadian participant with a participant from another country they are partnered with. Miller’s match, or “twin sister”, Amelie Achard owns a glamping business in France. Since both women were doing the same thing in a different market, they had a lot to learn from each other.
“There are always different ways and approaches to look at things,” said Miller. “I find that getting a different perspective from someone in your sector makes a big difference.”
Throughout the program, the “sisters” shared information like their suppliers and sources. Talking with Achard gave Miller more information about the French market and new ideas for her own business in New Brunswick. The program also introduced her to other women a little closer to home.
“I’ve made some really good connections and friendships that way too,” said Miller. “There is a woman in business in Moncton that I’m connected with that I wouldn’t have met if not for this program.”
Even though the program was brought about from the repercussions of COVID-19, the information the women are learning won’t lose relevance as restrictions loosen.
“What I’m finding is that a lot of the things that we had to learn and adapt so fast to during COVID brought a lot more stress to a lot of business owners and unpredictability on what is going to happen,” said Miller.
Part of adapting meant adding things like contact lists and an elevated online presence to her business. Miller said while COVID restrictions can take some of the human element out of a business, owners can still maintain a high level of service.
“I find, for us, all these things we are learning and we’ve learned through these programs are definitely going to stay,” said Miller. “I don’t think they will be going away.”
Applications for Moving Women Online 2.0 are open now until August 8. The eight to ten-week program is scheduled to begin in September of this year.
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Rachel Smith is a summer intern for Huddle. Send her story suggestions: [email protected].