Are You In? Let Me Tell You How and Why "I'm In"
I am unabashedly evangelistic about SheEO - have you heard of it?
It's existence and the women SheEO supports give me hope for the future of our world. Below I share the short story of about how and why "I'm In" - this whole post is less than a 3 minute read... the inspiration and energy you'll receive from learning more about SheEO will be well worth your time spent!
If you usually appreciate what I share here, I so encourage you to investigate, and if you feel pulled to it, become an "Activator". NB: The deadline for Activating (in Canada, the US and the UK) in order to vote for this year’s Ventures is this Friday November 1! So read on and activate today! (It's a super quick process!) You will be very happy and energized by your decision to Activate!
An Activator is a radically generous woman who gives $1000 in a year (plus $100 for admin) to fund "Ventures", that is, women-owned companies who are “working on the World’s To-do list” (aka the UN's Sustainable Development Goals). Each Activator gets to vote on which Ventures will be funded that year. SheEO started right here in Toronto and has spread to Australia, New Zealand, the US and, this Fall, the UK!
I have just signed up for my third year as an Activator.I’d love to tell you how I first learned about SheEO and why I signed up in the first place. I think it’s a good story.
In the Fall 2017 I got two separate email invitations from women I know at Stikeman Elliott, where I articled and was an associate. The invitation was for a marketplace event – I understood simply that it was to support female entrepreneurs. (I had so much more to learn!) And that was enough to entice me.
At that same time, I was preparing to host my first ever weekend retreat for professional women. While my retreat was going to be for a small (but mighty!) group of women, I nevertheless was intrigued by how it could impact more women beyond just those attending. I mulled over that question… and in the shower at the cottage (funny where we get some of our best ideas, right?) it occurred to me that I could go to that marketplace and see if there were any entrepreneurs who wanted to give me samples of their products to share as gifts with my retreat participants. Then the benefits of the retreat would be extended to the entrepreneurs and the participants would also get an added benefit. So that is what I had as my intention going to the marketplace.
When I arrived at the event, I was blown away by both the physical environment, and the level of energy in the room. The firm had done a big renovation of one of the floors where I used to work and it looked completely different – transformed from a relatively dark space divided into offices into a large, inviting, light-filled space – and it was completely packed with very excited women. I was so intrigued – what’s been going on down here at Bay and King?? - and began to talk with some of them and explore the marketplace. I soon made good on my original intention by talking with the gracious and generous Lisa Mattam of Sahajan Ayurvedic Skincare who immediately agreed to give me some samples to share with my retreat participants (which she did again in 2018). I highly recommend her products!
Then it was time to hear Vicki Saunders, the founder of SheEO, speak. Vicki is such a powerful speaker and very soon had us all mesmerized with her story of the founding of SheEO. The bottom line was that, once Vicki had finished her story and explained how SheEO works, I knew I could not leave that buzzing room without putting my credit card down and becoming an “Activator”. I wanted “IN”.
And now I’ve been IN for 2 years and have just signed up for a third.
I’m IN because I am dedicated to supporting women to “make room” for themselves and be at their most empowered and this is exactly what SheEO does for the incredible female entrepreneurs in the world who are dedicated to working on The World’s To-do List. I’m in because the women of SheEO give me hope for the future of humanity and our world.
I highly recommend finding the money to become an Activator. (BTW you can pool your money with some friends - you don't have to fund it all by yourself - be inspired by a large group of girls in high school who formed a club and pooled their money to get one Activator vote!)
I am blown away by the effects of the surge of hope-fuelled energy, and connecting to something larger than myself that becoming an Activator has given me. We all need this as human beings - to feel a part of something greater and to be contributing positively to it. I like to call it "human spirit" energy and it's a largely untapped resource in many of us. Being an Activator will help you tap right into this energy for yourself and then... watch the ripple effects happen in the rest of your life!
And it is really fun and inspiring to learn about these incredibly innovative women entrepreneurs we are supporting. There is a Global Summit coming up in March here in Toronto which will be a wonderful opportunity to meet and, further support, the women of the Ventures as well as fellow Activators and, of course, the incredible SheEO team.
Finally, as Activators or not, we get to benefit from the amazing products being created by the Ventures, such as Abeego food wrap, Numi undershirts, Lunapads, Satya organic skin care, the app Think Dirty Shop Clean, Routine deodorant and Made With Local real food bars, all of which I actively and enthusiastically use. And, as the mother of an awesome person with special needs, I am also heartened by MagnusMode. Finally, I am putting one of these grow gardens from SucSeed on my Christmas list!
One of the easiest ways to learn more about SheEO is to start listening to their super-inspiring podcast. Try this episode entitled Radical Generosity, where Vicki is interviewed by Komal Minhas, investor, entrepreneur and SheEO Activator, and/or have a look at this blog post - 13 Women-Led Ventures Leading Climate Action. I'd love to hear what you think and do LMK if you Activate! You can activate here! The deadline for Activating in order to vote for this year’s Ventures is this Friday November 1st! So Activate! You will be very happy and energized by your decision to Activate!
Final thought - if you know of another woman who might want to hear about SheEO, share this with her!
Thank you for reading!
With hope and gratitude, Milisa
