If there was an Olympics dedicated to entrepreneurs, these ladies would be leading the opening ceremony for Canada.
The 14th annual PROFIT/Chatelaine W100 list celebrates and honours 100 of Canada's top female entrepreneurs. From presidents of Canada-wide agencies to CEOs of city-specific organizations, these women are perfect examples of how to be successful in today's market amongst the many challenges.
Entrepreneurs were ranked by a combination of size, growth rate and profitability, according to PROFIT Magazine. Part of the requirements for nominated entrepreneurs was a yearly revenue of at least $200,000, and women must also be owners or significant stakeholders and have the responsibilities of making chief decisions within their companies.
This may be just the push Canada needs to encourage and support more female entrepreneurs. One Globe and Mail article notes that Canada was at risk of lagging behind other countries like the United States in creating strategies to boost women's entrepreneurship. The article states that in 2011, only 16 per cent of small and medium-sized businesses were owned by females, according to Industry Canada.
This year's top entrepreneur, Kelsey Ramsden, is president of civil construction company Belvedere Place Development based out of Kelowna, B.C. Ramsden's revenue growth rate of 804 per cent in the last three years and the changes she made to her business post-recession were all reasons for her first-place win, according to Profit Magazine.
Inspired yet? Check out the top 30 of this year's Top Female Entrepreneurs and the full top 100 list at PROFIT Magazine.
