ABOUT

HISTORY

In 2019, a group of Brantford businesswomen, led by Shannon McMannis founded Ladies Who Lead, with the intent to provide information, connection and support to professional women in the Brantford, Brant, and Six Nations area.

The team saw a need in the community to promote women in a wide-range of professions that differed from more transactional networking groups. There was a gap for genuine connection amongst professional women, to learn from one another, share stories/experiences, and build community connections. In addition, the group wanted to create an environment that fostered collaboration over competition. It is through these valuable connections that Ladies Who Lead fosters collaboration over competition.

After a successful first year, Ladies Who Lead, like so many organizations, was forced to take a pause during the early stages of the pandemic. Refusing to be dormant, the group moved to a completely online format, offering much needed connection, support and resources to women in the community.

Fast forward to the new reality. Ladies Who Lead focused on resuming in-person meetings to provide timely information to the membership and has been committed to resuming connection and support as individuals and businesses recover. Ladies Who Lead continues to move forward, hosting community events of prominent leaders such as Arlene Dickinson and Hayley Wickenheiser.

Ladies Who Lead is continually developing resources and programming to empower the advancement of women in the workplace and our communities.

WHO WE ARE

A network of dynamic, professional women and those who identify, empowered through support, inspiration and mentoring, to promote success of women in business and their professions.

OUR COMMITMENT

Ladies Who Lead strives for diversity, equity, and inclusion. We commit to using these practices in our membership, our community, and the work we do. Join us in embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion for every member of Ladies Who Lead and the greater community.

OUR FOUNDATIONAL PILLARS

Building Business

Ladies Who Lead will foster an environment that allows professional women to network with other dynamic professionals, to provide one another with peer support and empowerment. We will engage professional speakers on a variety of prominent and meaningful topics that will help grow and prosper your business.

Building self

As women we often put ourselves on the back burner and allow our family, business and others to come first. Ladies Who Lead wants to provide you tools for self care, and thus empower you to be refreshed and reinvigorated. We all need to put our oxygen mask on first, from time to time!

Building Community

We believe that business and personal growth is based on building long term relationships. It is not about the quick sale or tracking referrals. It is about networking with like minded professional women and building each other up, not tearing each other down. We want to help women enhance their personal brand, learn to balance the difference between personal and professional relationships, master the art of conversation and more.

Building Relationships

We believe in supporting women in their philanthropic goals and objectives. Ladies Who Lead believes that giving back to our community is a priority and we want to enable our membership to feel empowered to do the same. We all want a strong community where individuals and businesses prosper and grow. Ladies Who Lead wants to LEAD our community with philanthropic endeavours to several local organizations.