On March 5 and 6, Okanagan College (OC) Careers Hub and Events, with support from Trades and Business, partnered with Women Entrepreneurs of BC to host TogetHER: Innovation & Strategic Alliances Summit for Women Leading the Way.
Forty-seven leaders, business owners and students came together at OC’s Vernon campus to connect in shared learning, laughs and solidarity in celebration of Women in Construction Week and International Women’s Day. Following the powerful Women’s Warrior song by Amber Cardenas, the conference started with a welcome from Caitlin Hartigan, Dean of Trades and Deobrah Lampitt-McConnachie from WeBC. The conference icebreaker was a presentation on CCWESTT’s Shadow Work video by Sara Cousins, Manager, Trades Programs. The video started a dialogue on the many forms leadership can take and how to recognize it.
The first day included a panel on Strategic Partnerships and Innovation to Support Women-Led Business that included Caitlin Hartigan, Rebecca Goodman, Operations Manager for Southern Interior Construction Association and Siobhan McManus, Regional Manager, Inclusive Entrepreneurship Enterprises, BDC.
The second day kicked off with an announcement from Alison Gibson, Dean of Community Engagement & Careers, on the launch of OC Works, a federally-funded project supporting employers to hire students. It also included a workshop from Tiffani Hardie, Founder and CEO of bibidi on Leading in Male-dominated Industries: Building credibility, influence and momentum. The conference wrapped up with a dynamic session from Sue Solymosi from Chatterbox Creative on intentional networking to transform connection into collaboration.
Participants described the TogetHER Summit as a highly impactful event that sparked new ideas, encouraged collaboration, and strengthened community connections among women entrepreneurs and professionals across the region. Many shared they left the event feeling inspired and motivated to apply insights from the sessions within their organizations and networks — particularly those related to strategic partnerships, leadership in male-dominated industries, and intentional networking.
