"The program enabled and empowered me. I was introduced to local women who had started their own business, faced similar challenges, and prevailed. I was moved and inspired through their stories. The instructor provided us with the resources and confidence to take our business to the next level. We attended networking events, watched inspiring films and attended a panel discussion. My favourite part was connecting with my fellow Enterprising Women participants."

Pam Wheaton (eW5) opened Heartbreak Boutique and Skates in uptown Saint John in 2012. Her store specializes in two things Pam loves; retro clothing and the Roller Derby. Besides cool fashion, she supplies skates and their accessories for teams and players in the local circuit. For Pam it's a dream come true to have her own store. She loves the support she gets from the local community of fellow entrepreneurs, and of course, from her loyal customers.

"Enterprising Women has been an amazing experience, I had the opportunity to come together with other women and harness the power of women supporting each other."

"I am first and foremost a dreamer and a quilter. That's what I love to do and it's fabulous that I get to do it everyday now. Thank you to [Kaleidoscope] for helping me complete my business plan."

Alisha Anderson (eW4) started as a make up artist and opened Dione Cosmetics, one of only 155 cruelty free color cosmetics companies in the world! She has a store in Quispamsis, NB plus has salespeople she calls Goddesses & Gods across Canada selling the Dione line. She has been featured on the cover of makeup magazines, and had shout outs from various celebs. Recently, she has teamed up with Pennington's to find the next cover girl in the #CurvyGirlCoverContest. We are fortunate to have her guest facilitate eW to share her amazing experience.

Lesley Belyea graduated from Enterprising Women and is an accomplished artist, but what she loves most is the budgeting reminders she got from the Money Matter$ modules. "Money Matters has taught me that sticking to a budget and keeping a log isn't just easy, it's rewarding. I immediately saw the rewards of my cash growing and my debt shrinking. I have successfully shrunk my debt to a manageable size. I only use my credit for emergencies such as medical or repairs. The excitement that I used to get from buying a new treat has been replaced by the excitement of watching my money grow and my debt shrink. This self-control has done wonders for my anxiety and confidence."

Christina MacLennan  was seeking financing to relocate her business, Nails by Christina. The Social Enterprise Hub was only a few weeks away from being completed and Christina jumped at the the space opportunity for her Salon.' I feel even more connected to the Waterloo Village community now that my work is within walking distance of not only my home but also my children's school. It makes my work- life balance of a single mom entrepreneur way more manageable." Christina then completed the Enterprising Women Program to expand her business. --Tools such as the Business Model Canvas allowed me to envision my business in a different way and make sense of it even more. I also value the support of the other women in the group!

Cheryl Horgan runs Inner Crows, a small company that specializes in jewelry made from recycled metals. Besides selling online through an Etsy site, Inner Crow jewelry is currently being sold in outlets in Fredericton and the Miramichi.  Her favorite thing about running her business is the joy of creating. She says the Loan Fund gave her the confidence she needed in her products and her pricing.

We awarded the annual Judi Chisholm Financial Literacy Award to Kathy Young. The Award is given to an individual who demonstrates through a short essay, how they continue to use financial literacy tools in their life. An A$$ETS graduate, she used her $500 to move to a better apartment for her family. Kathy then enrolled into Enterprising Women  and after graduating started Pound Fit at the Hub, a fitness class that uses drumming  to beat out the sweat.