Kristine Leadbetter-Gold, MCM’s Post

Transcript

Welcome back to Hamilton Life. I can't believe they're celebrating their fifth year already. The From the Women's network, Christine Leadbetter Gold is here to tell us about their upcoming holiday social. I remember when we first started chatting, it was over Zoom. Yeah. Yeah. So we started during COVID. So it was a, a virtual, you know, initiative and it was only meant to be one year and then it went so well. We did it the second year and now we're in Year 5 and it's our first year full year of programming. And we have a mix of. In person events and hybrid events because we we want to still be able to serve our virtual audience. Yeah, we were talking about all the great guests that were going to be there online and you just had to show up to the Zoom and you'd get all these great benefits. And I think people were encouraged to make their own drinks at home or something. Yep. And even the first year, I think we did some like you could order catering and that we partnered with local restaurants. We've done a lot of different creative things over the years. Again, it's a community initiative. It is for, you know, all professional women across probably the Golden Horseshoe is our major catchment area, but it definitely has Hamilton. You know base so yeah, it's been great in person. Thanks in person 5th year. So the theme is fantastic holiday in Paris. Yeah, so our upcoming holiday social. So this is kind of fun. So we have different kinds of events, like we were just talking about our summit, which is like our all day content event. And then our socials we introduced last year to a great success. So we did a a fun one in the summer at radius that was little Jay Vida and we noticed everybody really got into the theme. We're like, oh, we like themes. I love a theme. So now for our holiday party, we're doing it at Millies. So where else to go when you think of holidays in Paris? And it's a little bit of playing off of Emily in Paris if you're familiar with the show. So you can come up as dressed up as you want or you know, come as you are, that's allowed to. But it's people dressed as characters. You think, well, if you want to get fancy, sparkly, feathery, like whatever your vibe is, you're welcome to wear it. It's kind of an occasion that you can support those outfits at. And then if you want to stay more casual or business casual, that's perfectly fine too. But we found in the summer where they're with our dulce. Give everyone seemed to like have an outfit. You know, we're women, we like outfits, we like fits. So it, it's been a little bit of fun to do that and then partnering with Millies as well is great. And of course, where else do you go for a great fit? So no, I don't like outfits. I'm not good at it, as you can tell. I'm gonna have billions and then they'll they'll dress you and you're good at it. Expired. You can have fun. You go. Alright, so Emily and Paris is the theme for the holiday social. It's coming out next week. Yeah. So next week on Wednesday, December 18th. So tickets are still available. And you can get them at womansnetwork.ca. It's downtown Hamilton at Millies, 5:00 to 8:00 PM approximately. There'll be some, some drinks, some food and some amazing giveaways actually. So Millies is doing a gift card and style session. And then we also have some great jewelry pieces from Dean Davidson. So that's a great connection. And there's a few other giveaways as well. So I won't spoil all the surprises, but it's, it's a lot of fun. But it's also, you know, before the holidays, you take a break, enjoy time with the family. It's time to just, you know. Connect with some of the professionals in the city that you might not have had time to yet this fall. So it's a quick, you know, touch point before you take a break for the holidays. Who is the women's network? You say mostly professionals. Yeah. So the the women's network is meant for professional women. So that's very broad, right. So, and and it's all the different industries that we have kind of in the area. So you can see, you know, people like me and marketing and business development. And then you'll see doctors and lawyers and like, it really runs the gamut of kind of who comes out. But it's it's a great network. It's great to have. People that are similar to you like, so for me, I love meeting other people in marketing and building out my network that way. And then it's also really great to have connections that aren't the same as you, right? So when you meet an accountant or somebody in a different industry, right? And then it just opens more doors and helps you strengthen your network. Very cool. The women's network been around for now five years. That's crazy. Just surprises you. I find that interesting. Why does it surprise you? Well, because we just when we started and we're a group of volunteers that put these events on and we couldn't do it without our sponsors. Especially the Scotia Women's Initiative, carrying Michelle Shadow to you ladies because you guys really got behind this initiative. But you know, it just started out as a call to answer, you know, the loneliness in COVID, right? So women were feeling, you know, not connected, they're stuck at home. The triple shift or quadruple, quadruple shift started kind of happening. And we worked with the chamber on, you know, looking at some of the research that they did for women during COVID. So it was International Women's Day, there was nothing going on. And you know, I got together with a couple of other. Women and we're like, we can do something. So we started virtually and, you know, we had, I think over 350 people at our first virtual conference and it was a lot of work. We all have jobs and stuff. We're like, OK, that was great. Next year we'll be back to normal. We have to do it next year. We're still in lockdown. So we did it again. And then it kind of grew into its own thing. And, and even this year, we're really pleased to be partnering with the YWCA and trying to support some of the initiatives that they've done for women and a few other organizations like the SPC, SPCA. So, you know, we try to make this a community initiative. But it is very much there to serve on the professional women, help them stay connected and provide them with professional development, right? So that's a big part of it, lifelong learning. We partner with the Degroote School of Business, with the Master of Communications management program. Like we really work with all these different institutions in the community. And that's what's, you know, I think makes us so strong and keeps us around taking on a life of its own. So the holiday social, we just described a holidays in Paris, December 18th and then we alluded to that summit earlier that's happening in March. That's still a going concern. Yeah. So this again, fifth year. So we're moving it to in person based on, you know, the requests of those in attendance, but we're keeping it virtual. So for those of you who have joined us virtually, there will still be those virtual tickets available. You sell the flexibility. You can still come to the after party if you do want to have a little bit of in person networking time, but we are moving it to in person. So Friday, March 28th, it's going to take place at Mont Hill Golf and Country Club, so just outside of Hamilton, but not too far, not too much traffic, but you still get a bit of a retreat vibe and it'll be a full day. Comment and it's gonna be amazing like I'm so excited and and and that's all in development out and coming down the pipeline January will probably be yeah I'll come back on to chat more and share a bit about our speakers and some of the different moving parts in there some fun things like a fashion show and you know we got to make it feminine and as much as it is you know about you know empowerment but yeah so I'll be back chat more about that save the date for now Friday March 28th. Wednesday, December 18th, a holiday social. We get the details by going to womensnetwork.ca. Thank you so much for being here. Thank you so much for having me. It's always great to be have a wonderful holiday. Yes, Happy happy holidays everybody. See you next year. I will be. What's that? I love that. See you next year. After the break, I'm gonna be learning how to make a Yule log stage. Is that right? A Yule log? Yule ball. We're gonna make a Yule balls in tune.