Jan Carr, President of the Central Alberta Leading Ladies networking group, at their first meeting in Sunterra Market. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

By Alessia Proietti

Central Alberta Leading Ladies

Red Deerian forms new ladies networking group to empower women in business

Nov 8, 2023 | 3:56 PM

If you asked the question of who runs the world, Beyoncé would respond girls do. Some Red Deerians are saying the same, forming a new women’s networking group focused on empowering women in business.

The Central Alberta Leading Ladies held their first luncheon on Wednesday at the Sunterra Market meeting room in Bower Place (4900 Molly Banister Dr.).

The location was befitting as according to Kristi Mehr, Sunterra’s Vice President of Marketing & Communications, the chain’s co-founder, Flo Price from the central Alberta town of Acme, used to host women’s gatherings in her home, networking over bread-making.

President Jan Carr, having been involved in similar groups in the past, says she started the group as a way for women to meet and make friendships, while simultaneously helping grow their businesses.

“Networking, as anybody will tell you, works if you work the networking. It doesn’t just happen; you have to get to know the ladies outside the meetings, form the relationships, and find value in what each of them do and tell them what they can do to help you. It’s reciprocal,” she said.

Clancy Pennock

Penhold Elementary teacher named Edwin Parr nominee

18h ago

SERVICE COSTS INCREASING

Student fees increasing in Chinook's Edge School Division

18h ago

Red Deer Regional hospital

AHS alerts public of measles exposures in Red Deer

21h ago

Roughly 20 women in attendance started off the meeting with a self-introduction and an anecdote of something they’ve accomplished that they are proud of.

Attendees came from various backgrounds including banking, law, massage therapy, hypnosis, pet grooming, events, fashion, and more.

Roughly 20 women attended the first meeting of the Central Alberta Leading Ladies group. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

“We need to help one another. There’s no growth if you don’t help one another,” said Carr, adding she hopes the group will grow to a consistent 20-25 people.

The group then heard from guest speaker Daria Zmiyiwsky, President of Black Press Media, on the topic of self-confidence and self-esteem.

Carr says she was pleased with the turnout and hopes everyone took away something of value from the presentation, learning how to help themselves as well as others.

“Ladies need to promote one another. Men seem quite capable of doing what they do over here, and it’s just more cohesive; I think women are more nurturing and I think we work together better as a women’s group,” she said.

She says the group intends to meet once a month for lunch with a guest speaker and incorporate group volunteer-based initiatives where the ladies can give back to the community together.

There is no membership fee to join and those interested can contact Carr by email at centralalbertaleadingladies@gmail.com or phone at 403-396-1200.

—–

Download the rdnewsNOW mobile app on Google Play and the Apple App Store for all the latest updates on this and other stories.

For local news delivered daily to your email inbox, subscribe for free to the rdnewsNOW newsletter here. You can also download the rdnewsNOW mobile app in the Google Play and the Apple App Stores.