YOU could be this year s Businesswoman of the Year! CONGRATULATIONS on your nomination for the BYAs. These prestigious awards, proudly presented by the Women s Business Network, have recognized the accomplishments of outstanding business women in the National Capital Region since 1983. From the nominations received, three finalists are selected in each of the Organization, Emerging Entrepreneur, Established Entrepreneur and Professional sectors in recognition of their accomplishments in the National Capital Region. Not only are you a successful businesswoman, you are also a role model for the businesswomen of today and tomorrow. Your BYA Submission Please provide clear personal and professional details to assist the Judge Panel in assessing your submission. Please note that the Judge Panel will be assessing your submission solely on the basis of the information you have provided to them. Include specific examples wherever possible, including financial or growth data. This is your opportunity to strut your stuff and make your amazing accomplishments known! Criteria The Judge Panel uses a weighted point system to evaluate nominee submissions. This system ensures fairness and consistency; however do not feel obligated to provide a comment for each bullet, or to limit your submission to these points alone. Please remember this questionnaire is used across all categories so some questions may be better suited to some categories rather than other. Please use your discretion in describing your business and achievements as effectively and persuasively as possible. This document uses the words firm, business, practice, etc. interchangeably. Please consider this while assessing the applicability of any given bullet point to your situation. Weighted Criteria Overall Presentation 5 Brief Personal Biography 5 Introduction to your Business/Practice 5 Proven Business Acumen 35 Outstanding Leadership Skills 35 Notable Achievements 15 100% 1 P a g e
Suggestions for Completing your BYAs Submission Suggestions below are shown for questions 3-6 3) PROVEN BUSINESS ACUMEN 3a) Business Operations: Comment on the degree of your accountability and involvement (i.e. budgeting, planning, decision-making). Comment on the environment in which your business or practice operates. What economic benefit does your business or practice provide to the community? What exemplary innovation have you introduced? What initiatives have you established with staff, services or strategic partners? How do you define and measure customer satisfaction? What do customers say about you and your business? What other factors contribute to the successful operation of your business? 3b) Marketing, sales and business promotion What is unique about your products or services? How have you created, established or maintained a market niche for your products or services? How do you influence sales levels? What methods do you utilize to promote your business or practice? How do you help your firm to meet your client s needs? How do you stay current and relevant? How has your practice or industry changed over the years? Describe your responses to change and opportunity. 3c) Business success and financial risk What was your role in launching or developing your business or practice? Comment on the risks (financial and otherwise) that you undertook to begin or develop your business. How do you maintain sound financial management? In managing your human resources, how do you remain forward thinking and keep employees engaged? What challenges and risks have you faced in business? How do you assess/manage these risks on an ongoing basis? If your rewards or compensation are directly affected by business success, you may wish to include that in your comments. 4) OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP SKILLS What leadership qualities do you possess and in what ways do you demonstrate those qualities? What are your business philosophies and guiding principles? What challenges do you encounter and how do you handle them? How have you developed a vision and encouraged your people to be part of it? 2 P a g e
How have you impacted the culture of your organization? How do you define and measure staff satisfaction? What would your staff say about you and your business? What strategies have you implemented to move toward your goals? How do you communicate goals and execute on them? Consider both internal and external goals. How do you develop successful women? Describe your leadership behavior in areas such as: o Motivating, mentoring and/or inspiring others o Ability to gain consensus from your team o Change management o Maintaining the clarity of your own personal and professional standards o Establishing your business as a leader in its field o Developing effective relationships with strategic business partners, clients and staff 5) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Discuss the highlights from your resume you are most proud of What academic professional accomplishments or accreditations do you have to your credit? List any significant achievements or awards and the associated dates. Consider achievements outside of your business i.e. board/charity work, running the Boston Marathon, etc. Do any of your achievements relate to the success of others you have mentored? BONUS UNWEIGHTED QUESTION Should you be this year s recipient, as an ambassador of this award, how would you promote, support, and mentor women in business? 3 P a g e
IMPORTANT DATES Deadline for all submissions Three finalists in your category will be contacted by the BYAs Nominating Committee December 4, 2016, End of Day February 1 February 6 Finalists formally announced at the Finalists Cocktail Reception February 28, 2017 Finalists Jewelry evening to select the jewels you will wear to the BYAs Gala March 22, 2017 The BYA Gala 5:30-10:00 p.m., Shaw Centre April 20, 2017 DEADLINE FOR ALL SUBMISSIONS DECEMBER 4, 2016, END OF DAY Please return this completed form in PDF format to nominations@womensbusinessnetwork.ca Note: Only the three Finalists in each of the four categories will be contacted the week of February 1 to February 6 th, 2017 THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK! All questions can be directed to: Kim Farr CIBC, Commercial Banking Chair of BYA Nominating Committee kim.farr@cibc.com Lama Abi Khaled Legal Counsel, Laboratoires C.O.P. Inc. Vice Chair of BYA Nominating Committee labikhaled@yahoo.com Learn more about the BYAs, FAQs, view previous years finalists, and to learn more about the WBN: TheBYAs.ca @TheBYAsOttawa 4 P a g e
PERSONAL INFORMATION Contact information listed below will be the formal name, title and organization name used for all online, news, media releases, press kits, advertising and promotion of the BYAs. Please complete carefully. First Name: Last Name: Title: Organization Name: Mailing Address: City: Prov: Postal Code: Work Phone: Home Phone: Cell: Best way to reach me to confirm I am a finalist: Category of Participation (select one) Professional Emerging Entrepreneur Established Entrepreneur Organization Have you or your organization been the subject of any investigation by a governmental body or a civil or criminal complaint? YES NO If your answer is yes, you will be contacted by a member of BYA Nominating Committee. Nominee Attestation: I, (name and title) of (organization) attest to the fact that the contents of my submission are true and complete. I understand any falsification, misrepresentation or incompleteness in this questionnaire is grounds for disqualification at any time. I understand that placing an X in this box constitutes a legal signature confirming that I acknowledge and agree to the above Nominee Attestation. Date 5 P a g e
I understand that placing an X in this box constitutes a legal signature confirming that I give permission to the BYA Nominating Committee to release my name and contact information to the BYA Gala in order for me to be identified as a nominee during BYA related events. Date 6 P a g e
GUIDELINES FOR YOUR SUBMISSION You may write your submission in the 1 st or 3 rd person Please complete this questionnaire in the space provided in Calibri 11 pt font. You are encouraged to seek out mentors or professional advice in the preparation of your submission. You are not prohibited from seeking paid professional assistance to draft your submission. 7 P a g e
1) BRIEF PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY 5% Please provide a brief biography on yourself. If you are selected as a Finalist for the BYAs this piece may be used to introduce you at the Finalist luncheon and in other promotional media. 8 P a g e
2) INTRODUCTION 5% Please provide an introduction to you and your business, practice or organization. Provide any information that will assist the Judge Panel in understanding your organization, its products or services, and your role within. 9 P a g e
3) PROVEN BUSINESS ACUMEN 35% In this section, please tell us what makes you and your organization, business or practice successful and describe significant decisions and accomplishments to date in relation to the growth and management of your organization, business or practice. Please refer to the Suggestions on p. 2 for further guidance on completing this section. 3a) Business operations Describe the operations of your organization, business or practice and outline how you contribute to the operations on a day-to-day basis. 10 P a g
3b) Marketing, sales and business promotion Describe your contribution to the marketing, sales and business promotion of your organization, business or practice. 10 P a g e
3c) Business success and financial risk (ctd) Professional and Organization Categories: Describe your role and approach as it relates to financial performance of your practice or organization. Include targets, goals and other tangible examples of the results achieved and your role in achieving them. Entrepreneur Categories: Describe your role and approach as it relates to financial performance of your business. Include financial information relating to the size, growth and profitability of your business and information regarding targets established and measures of success. 11 P a g e
3c) Business success and financial risk (ctd) 12 P a g e
4) OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP SKILLS 35% How do you influence others through effective leadership as it relates to the wellbeing and viability of your organization and work place? Please refer to the Suggestions on p. 3 for further guidance on completing this section. 13 P a g e
5) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS 15% What is it that makes you a notable businesswoman? Include details regarding significant achievements, professional accomplishments, personal successes or any other notable achievements that you wish to share. Please refer to the Suggestions on p. 3 for further guidance on completing this section 14 P a g e