Thompson Rivers University

Grad hosts inspiring conference for women entrepreneurs

January 27, 2017

TRU Alumna, Julie John, at her desk, in her store—Eagle Eye—First Nations Gifts

Julie John, a recent TRU graduate, has been planning and organizing a women’s entrepreneur conference, Be Inspired!, set for Sat., Feb. 4, 2017,  at the Coast Kamloops Hotel & Conference Centre. John’s message for the event is to “Be Inspired. Be Motivated. Be Moved.”

John is hosting this event through her event management business, Be Inspired!. The conference is intended to encourage networking and professional development, information sharing and mentoring through presentations, open discussions and socials for female entrepreneurs at any stage of their business planning.

Read more about the sessions and speakers and register for the conference.

John encourages those women who want to network with like-minded businesswomen, who want to start a business but are unsure of where to start, and who want to be inspired by successful women in their community to come out on Feb. 4 and take part in the workshops and seminars, even mingle in the wellness space.

John, a recent Tourism Management alumna with a major in entrepreneurship and a minor in marketing, has seen success in the past year as an event manager, entrepreneur and business owner.

She has previously planned several events as the main organizer for her Be Inspired! business. Her gift shop, Eagle Eye First Nations Gifts, has had a successful year on Victoria Street in Kamloops and is currently in the middle of a move to Aberdeen Mall.  Now she looks forward to the first conference that she has truly envisioned, organized and set in motion.

TRU Alumna, Julie John, in her store—Eagle Eye—First Nations Gifts

TRU Alumna, Julie John, in her store—Eagle Eye—First Nations Gifts

John credits some of her recent achievements to her time in the Faculty of Adventure, Culinary Arts and Tourism and the School of Business and Economics.

“The courses that I took at TRU have given me more confidence. Before, I felt I wasn’t good enough, smart enough; felt I wasn’t enough. With education, it has given me assurance to do what I set my mind to do.”

Her gift shop and event planning are day-to-day work  for John. This conference is a culmination of several months’ work.

What will success look like for her?

“Success of this conference will be women leaving this event inspired! Women leaving with a sense of  ‘I can do this’ and ‘I’m not alone’.”

She hopes her conference attendees find new networks, are inspired by the speakers and have fresh, new ideas to try for their own businesses.

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