Program Description
The program will start bridging the large income gap (annual salary of women in business is $34,958 and men is $63,658 most recent census report), almost double the national average, between women and men in Northern BC.
The consequences are sharp inequalities. Without access to resource sector wages or business income, Indigenous women and girls are forced into economically precarious conditions where they experience food and housing insecurity. A key ingredient for success is leadership training to develop a sense of self value and worth. Such training empowers women’s confidence and self-esteem.
The outcome is they become agents of change through development of their entrepreneurial skills. A change to the economy, over time, transforms communities, cultures and ways of living.
Duration
Depending on the detail required from the community this workshop can be anywhere from 1-80 days in duration.
Key Learning Objectives
The proposed curriculum will have six modules plus where needed, an ongoing one on essential skills instruction. The modules are:
- Effective Communication – this is the foundation to success and relationship building. Participants will be more strategic and efficient in their communication.
- Conflict Management - provide participants with the understanding and skills to professionally avoid and resolve conflicts.
- Life Balance – expose participants to methodologies and strategies exploring pathways to add more balance to their lives. This module will incorporate Indigenous practices and ceremony.
- Effective Networking – explore the value of networking, coach in building online networks and identifying strategies to build and maintain networks in the business and Indigenous communities.
- Entrepreneurial Training – develop business skills essential to leadership and career success. Topic areas include business acumen, strategic planning and financial literacy.
- Effective Leadership – starts with participants recognizing their management strengths and limitations. Participants will build on this to develop their skills for supervision and growth in Indigenous and Western enterprises.