Alberta publishing pioneer Ruth Kelly will talk about overcoming obstacles to achieve success in business when she visits St. Albert next Thursday.
As part of the chamber of commerce’s Vision of Success speaking series, the founder of Venture Publishing will deliver a speech entitled “What Do Girls Know About Business Anyway?”
“My message is very much about, success is achievable no matter what the obstacles that are in front of you,” Kelly said in an interview.
The obstacles she’s faced since starting her company in 1997 are the same as any entrepreneur, Kelly said, but she has experienced a few situations that wouldn’t have happened if she were a man.
“An advertising agency owner in Calgary suggested that perhaps, rather than a business magazine, I should produce a magazine on knitting or handicrafts, something more suitable for women,” Kelly said.
After 13 years of building her successful publishing business, Kelly has noticed some differences between male and female entrepreneurs. In general, women tend to do more research and seek more advice when forming a business, she said. And women are generally less inclined to embrace risk.
“It’s much more prevalent to see women who own their own business. I’m not the exception any more,” she noted.
The chamber’s speaker series has featured two previous talks by successful female entrepreneurs since rolling out last November. The events have drawn between 80 and 100 people, almost exclusively women, although men are welcome to attend, said chamber president and CEO Lynda Moffat.
Like the previous talks, Thursday’s event will include a fashion show, this time focused on shoes.
“There’s kind of a core of women that just love that,” Moffat said. “We try to make it an enjoyable evening.”
She described Kelly as a dynamic orator.
“She’s a world-class speaker. She’s highly, highly regarded,” Moffat said.
Kelly was named a Global Woman of Vision in 1998, a YWCA Woman of Distinction in 2003 and received the Advertising Club of Edmonton’s 2004 Fellowship Award for contributions to the industry and the community. In 2005 she received a Centennial Medal for service to the province, and in 2008 Canadian Women in Communications named her Woman of the Year.
The event is scheduled for Thursday, May 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Kinsmen Banquet Centre at 47 Riel Dr. The fourth and final speaker of the series will be local food advocate Jessie Radies in August.
