All Women Empowered (AWE) Conference 2024

On October 26th, 2024, we are hosting our annual All Women Empowered (AWE) Conference at the Museum of Nature! The theme this year — “Powerful Voices, Empowered Choices” — reflects our deep commitment to empowering clients to thrive at work and in life.

Exclusively for our clients, this all-day event is an opportunity for attendees to gather together, participate in exciting and innovative workshops, and hear from some of Ottawa’s most accomplished women in business. Designed to inspire connection and networking, we hope AWE empowers and prepares our clients for the workforce.

Workshop: Soft Skills

Rocio graduated from the University of Ottawa with her BA Honours in Linguistics with a Minor in French. She then pursued a Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language (CTESL), from Carleton University and went on to teach in the Intensive Language program for 10 years (non-credit/credit English) at the university. She also taught English as a second language to newcomers to Canada, in the LINC program.

In July 2017, Rocio started at Carleton University as the manager of Career Development. With a background in adult learning and Learning and Development, she has brought a different lens to Career Development. She works closely with faculty to have conversations with their students about what kind of skills are acquired through their course work, highlighting the importance of skills identification and articulation.

Prior to coming back to Carleton University, Rocio was an Instructional Designer at Health Standards Organization. She was responsible for building training materials to support healthcare organizations through a rigorous accreditation process. Her portfolio allowed her to deepen her knowledge and gave her the opportunity to work with clients that are touched by the healthcare system across Canada. In this role, Rocio also trained to lead groups through Design Thinking, one of her favorite ways of unpacking challenges through new initiatives driven by the user experience.

Just over two years ago, Rocio became the Director of Career Services and Co-operative Education, allowing her to further solidify and expand her skills in adult learning principles, business design, and leadership. Rocio is passionate about elevating and empowering people to identify and articulate their skills and strengths to leverage their self-power to reach their personal and professional goals.

Workshop: Creating Connection: Unlocking the Secrets to Conversation Success

Linda Babulic is a Shamanic Life Coach, Speaker, Author, and Founder of ZEST Your Life | ZEST Your Business.

With extensive experience in the public, private, political, and non-profit sectors, Linda combines compassion with challenge in her coaching style, creating a safe space for clients to explore and discover greater purpose and fulfillment. Linda's personalized approach ensures that each session is relevant and impactful, offering practical strategies and actionable advice that empower clients to make significant, positive changes in their personal and professional lives. Her greatest satisfaction comes from knowing that her training sessions leave employees more motivated and inspired.

An engaging and compelling speaker, Linda captivates audiences at conferences, workshops, and as a guest on podcasts, sharing her wisdom and insights with a wide audience.

Twenty years ago, Linda’s soul was yearning. A vision quest in 2003 was the first step on her journey to creating a new relationship with herself and fulfilling her Sacred Contract – to be of service. The philosophy that she lives by is centered on the belief that relationships are the cornerstone of human existence, essential for personal growth, evolution, and enduring connections that transcend physical life. There are three relationships you must have for a healthy, vibrant life: relationship with self, others, and nature.

Honours:

• Named one of the top 25 people in the capital 2015 by Ottawa Life Magazine
• The Honourable Hilary M. Weston, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario recognition of volunteer contribution
• Rotary Club Volunteer Appreciation Award Recipient
• Warden’s recognition – Fenbrook Medium Correctional Institution
• Listed in the Best Dream Coaches

Oluyinka Oso

Workshop: Resilience in the Face of Adversity

Oluyinka Oso is a dynamic, multifaceted and inspirational leader, wife, and proud mother of two. With over two decades of experience living in the diaspora, her journey has taken her from her home country of Nigeria to the United States and now to Canada. Oluyinka boasts an impressive academic background with a Bachelor's degree and two Master's degrees - an MBA and a Master's in Accounting - earning memberships in various academic honour societies, including Beta Alpha Psi, Phi Kappa Phi, and Delta Mu Delta.

Professionally, Oluyinka has built a robust career with over 10 years of experience driving internal audit, risk, and compliance initiatives at global companies and "Big 4" firms such as Assurant, TD, PwC and Deloitte Canada.

Beyond her professional achievements, Oluyinka is the co-principal of Arewa Baobab Superfoods, a health product company. She is deeply committed to social impact and founded the Phoenynx Education Foundation, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to empowering women and young children in Nigeria, driving socio-economic change and promoting education. Through her podcast, Real Conversations with Ynx, she engages with influential leaders to discuss self-improvement and personal growth. She also volunteers with nonprofits, such as Dress for Success Ottawa, One Young World, participates in organised races like the Under Armour Toronto Waterfront 10K, and has recently rekindled her love for cycling by joining a bike club.

Oluyinka's creative pursuits are equally inspiring. As a writer and style curator, she expresses her passion through poetry, children's books, and curating print styles. Her Instagram platform, @curatedbynx, showcases her love for vibrant colours and bold fashion, encouraging women to step out boldly, find their personal styles and embrace their individuality.

In addition to her creative and professional endeavours, Oluyinka serves as a career mentor to women, fostering a sense of community and support. Her work exemplifies the transformative impact of African leaders on a global scale. Oluyinka is dedicated to championing social impact, creativity, innovation, and progress.

Workshop: Style & Visual Identity

Clothing that fits: fits your life, fits your body and fits your vibe. Rebecca Rowe is a designer turned stylist who realized the tools to help women feel good when they look in the mirror were already hanging in their closet.

Your lifestyle will affect not only how your body looks but also dictate how you move and interact with your world. Your clothing is an extension of you as well as your world and sometimes we need to look at ourselves and remember that we’re unstoppable. With all the noise of society and social media, Rebecca helps people find peace within themselves through their clothing, teaching people how to use their clothing as a tool for success.

A professional wardrobe consultant and declutter expert, she gets into people’s closets and helps sort through emotional and physical baggage to find their confidence.

We’re thrilled to host this year’s conference at the beautiful Museum of Nature (240 McLeod St, Ottawa, ON K2P 2R1). This venue holds special historical significance: in 1918, the legislation recognizing women’s right to vote in Canadian Federal elections was signed in the Museum of Nature!

Paid parking is available onsite.

If you’re planning to travel bus, there are several routes that stop close to the Museum:

• Bus Route 5 Billings Bridge (Stop at Elgin/Catherine)
• Bus Route 5 Rideau (Stop at Argyle/Metcalfe)
• Bus Route 6 Rockcliffe (Stop at Bank/Flora)
• Bus Route 6 Greenboro (Stop at Bank/Arlington)
• Bus Route 7 St-Laurent (Stop at Bank/Flora)
• Bus Route 7 Carleton (Stop at Bank/Arlington)
• Bus Route 14 St-Laurent (Stop at Gladstone/Metcalfe)
• Bus Route 14 Tunney’s Pasture (Stop at Gladstone/Metcalfe)
• Bus Route 55 Westgate (Stop at Catherine/OConnor)

We would like to acknowledge that the AWE Conference is taking place on the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people. As we come together for this event, let us commit ourselves to the work of reconciliation and deepening our understanding and respect for Indigenous communities.

Dress for Success Ottawa extends heartfelt thanks to our generous sponsors for supporting our AWE Conference. Your kindness and generosity enable us to empower women and gender nonconforming individuals across Ottawa, which means the world to us. Thank you!

Registration for the conference will open on September 3. There are a limited number of spaces available, so sign up early to guarantee you can attend.

Have questions that aren’t answered here? Send us an email at [email protected].

Host or Publisher Dress for Success Ottawa