Women Entrepreneurs of Windsor -A Glimpse
As the world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8th, we decided to reach out to a few women entrepreneurs in Windsor-Essex, Ontario and have their story featured on our blog. These are some faces of our community who you maybe already know. Here’s a chance to know how they are pouring out their skills and talents into our community, while setting a great example for young women in the generation to come.
- Shauna Skinner
- Teacher/Entrepreneur/Blogger
- teamskinner5.wordpress.com
- Shauna Skinner
- Shauna Skinner
- What was the first thought which caused you to desire becoming an entrepreneur?
A few years ago after my final maternity leave, I went back to teaching full time where I quickly learned the hard lesson that one person cannot do everything well. There was a constant wrestle between what I loved (teaching), and what I was called to do in that season (take care of my family), and I realized that one had to give in order for me to put my time and energy into the other. Family trumps career. I resigned from my teaching position and stayed home to be with my kids in a huge step of faith, not knowing from where the income to replace my cheque was going to come.
Enter Young Living. Now as a leader with the company of Young Living, I have the luxury of working from home most days. Young Living is a company that makes and distributes the purest essential oils on the planet, as well as many natural products that contain their oils. I have the privilege of teaching classes and sharing products which I am extremely passionate about! Never would I have considered myself as an entrepreneur, but I’m so thankful for this opportunity to share, grow, be creative, and have the flexibility that I need for my life.
- What would you like little girls to know regarding them becoming entrepreneurs someday?
I would love for young women to be able to look at what I do and believe that they can have their dreams become a reality too. When I thought the door to teaching was closing forever, I had to work at re-identifying myself and figuring out who I was without teaching. When one piece of the puzzle isn’t fitting, don’t lose hope…there might be a brand new puzzle coming together!
- Your words of advice for women entrepreneurs
We women, we’re amazing creatures. We are designed to support, to love, to encourage, and to stand along-side. But we’re also made to express and learn and grow in our own giftings. The world needs to experience things that can only come from us. Don’t be afraid to step out and share your talents with the world—big or small. It will take hard work but wouldn’t it be exciting to see what could happen and what lives could be changed if you were to take a leap of faith?
- What keeps you going on those hard and difficult days?
There are difficult days…days when I want to throw in the towel or days when I feel like I can’t juggle it all well. Those are the days I have to go back to my “Why?” My why is the reason I’m in this business. It’s the lives I want to see impacted, the goals I have for my family, and the love and passion I have continually grown for what I do. On days my ideas are dried up, I chat with a mentor or try to get into a quiet place where my soul can have a break and be restored. Gratefulness is the neutralizer of all emotion. So I look back and see how far I’ve come and for how grateful I am for the people who are on this journey with me. I also look forward, with gratefulness and remember that the best is yet to come.
- Melanie Cerveni
- Photographer
- Melanie Cerveni Photography
- Melanie Cerveni Photography
My name is Melanie Cerveni. I’m the owner of Melanie Cerveni Photography based in Windsor ON. I specialize in weddings, maternity and lifestyle portraits. Since I was a little girl I always had a passion for photography, it was my hobby. Everything changed 3 years ago when my husband’s friend asked me to photograph his wedding. I love weddings, and to me, it’s a privilege to be able to witness and capture a life long moment that you will remember forever. I’m originally from Serbia but moved to Canada almost 5 years ago when I married my soulmate, Michael. My little family is very important to me, that’s why I spend most of my time taking care of them. My happy place is my home. I’m a sweet tooth and foodie. Give me the chocolate, pizza or red wine and we are best friends.
- What was the first thought which caused you to desire becoming an entrepreneur?
I grew up in a family where everyone was running their small business. I never thought I would one day be as well. My very first job was in the factory with different shifts I almost didn’t see my husband during that time. I realized that working for somebody is not for me. I wanted flexible hours, working from home…etc. When my son Liam was born I knew I wanted to be there for him and didn’t want to miss his growing milestones.
- What would you like little girls to know regarding them becoming entrepreneurs someday?
Being an entrepreneur can be challenging, especially when you are starting out. You have to know who you are. How are you going to represent yourself and influence others? It’s not going to happen overnight. You just have to be patient and start with a small goal. Always learn new things.
- Your words of advice for women entrepreneurs
Investing in yourself is the best gift you can give it to yourself. Make a commitment to education and always follow your gut.
- What keeps you going on those hard and difficult days?
My husband, he is my biggest support. He gives me courage and hope. Many times I feel like quitting and think this is not for me. He makes me see the light at the end of the tunnel.
- Teanna Lindsay
- Event Planner
- Teanna Lindsay Events
My name is Teanna Lindsay. I have been a professional event organizer for 12 years. I have coordinated many different types of events, from weddings, to large meetings and conferences to Political Campaign National Tours, community events and large festivals. Creating and producing events is my passion. I live to change lives, one event at a time.
- What was the first thought which caused you to desire becoming an entrepreneur?
My first thoughts were that I wanted the freedom to use my creativity and have the ability to not be tied to an office structure and at a desk in a cubicle every day. I wanted to be able to work from where ever my laptop is.
- What would you like little girls to know regarding them becoming entrepreneurs someday?
I would tell them that self-confidence and a belief in yourself and your ability to accomplish anything you set your mind to, is the most powerful tool you can own. When I have an idea for a new event, no matter how challenging, I believe that I can do it, and then I figure out how to make it happen. I don’t give in to challenges, I embrace them… half the fun of accomplishment is what you had to go through to get there!
- Your words of advice for women entrepreneurs
My advice is support each other. Do not compete with each other. Some of my happiest memories are times that I helped other women to see their potential and motivated them to follow their hearts. “Be the woman who fixes another women’s crown, without ever telling her it was crooked” – Unknown
- What keeps you going on those hard and difficult days?
What keeps me going is on hard and difficult days is knowing how lucky I am that my office is in my home and that I am able to provide for my family doing what I love, under my rules. If I have an off/Un productive day, I don’t have to force myself to go into an office and sit there…creative people have ups and downs. I know that when I have an un-creative day…there are 3 more productive days to follow, I just have to give myself a break. Being an entrepreneur enables me to live a life of freedom. I don’t have to work from 9-5 every day. Some days I don’t work at all, other days I work through the night to make a deadline, and if it’s a festival weekend, I work for 72 hours only napping…. Some days I work in my pajamas and other days I coordinate an event for the Prime Minister. I have freedom & variety. That keeps me going. Also coffee…coffee keeps me going.
- Joanne Birley
- Entrepreneur
- www.thelittlethingsbyjo.com
- The Rustic House
- The Rustic House
- What was the first thought which caused you to desire becoming an entrepreneur?
I’m a mother of two and from the day I became a mom, I wanted to be there for my kids, could not afford daycare, so I took it upon myself to have both worlds and in order to do that I turned to self-employment.
My first business in Windsor was a cleaning company. During the years of that business I became ill and found out I had fibromyalgia and disk degenerative disease, it was to the point I had to close up shop. I was put on disability for a few years then disability stopped as I got worse. Yes, our system is wonderful, but at that point, I needed to figure out a way to help my family financially. I always had the passion for decor from a young age, I wanted to go into interior design etc but we had many hard times and life challenges got in the way of that. So that is where the blog started The Rustic House By The Little Things By Jo in September 2013. I could not always afford the high priced decor and furniture, as you may find at Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware. When my father in law passed, my husband took upon himself to make our very first piece. From that moment on, it set us off to build our own furniture with equal quality and design, for a fraction of the price. That one piece, which in turn gifted us by turning our hobby into a modern rustic craze. We have created many many pieces and we put our heart and soul into every piece.
- What would you like little girls to know regarding them becoming entrepreneurs someday?
When you put your hard work and passion into what you do, you can be successful. I tell my daughter all the time, “you can’t give up, some days are hard, really hard but you step up and move forward.”
- Your words of advice for women entrepreneurs
Starting a business isn’t always easy, and it’s critical you work on something that means a lot to you. When you find your niche you can accomplish anything you put your mind too.
- What keeps you going on those hard and difficult days?
Nothing comes easy that is for sure, you have to be a go-getter. Being an entrepreneur is hard work, its not easy at all. Even with all my aches and pains, I get up and put my 100 percent in it. When I can’t work that is ok too, because I have no one telling me otherwise, I’m the boss. This is my full-time job! This is what I do to provide for our family! This is what I chose to do! So I have to work extra hard, to create ideas and do my job!
Our furniture and decor business was not whipped up overnight, we have put countless hours, weeks, months into it. At the end of the day when our clients pick up their pieces my reward is to see their happy faces. I believe our success is from our work we provide and how you treat your clients.
- Katherine Sims
- Owner of Elysian Beauty Bar
- Elysian Beauty Bar
- Elysian Beauty Bar
- Katherine Sims
- What was the first thought which caused you to desire becoming an entrepreneur?
My first thoughts when it came to the option of becoming an entrepreneur were questions. Why am I going to do this and what do I plan to accomplish? When the answers came to me it was clear it was what I was meant to do. I wanted to make humans feel beautiful and special in their own skin my way. Being in the beauty industry we often fight our own demons through our insecurities. I wanted to show my 3 daughters beauty comes in all shapes and forms and what I do is make those beautiful things come to light. That women are strong powerful and beautiful souls.
- What would you like little girls to know regarding them becoming entrepreneurs someday?
What I want young ladies/ girls to know for me particularly working with hair is that for me, hair is a blanket of which we hide under often. When we peel all the layers back and allow your hair to be part of the spirit inside and not the blanket that hides it, your opportunities are endless. On the other side of fear is greatness and overcoming the fear of the unknown only makes you stronger.
- Your words of advice for women entrepreneurs
Becoming an entrepreneur is not easy and it’s not for the week. You must be strong and resilient to all obstacles. Especially those who don’t see their vision. Stepping outside of the box is always confronted with negative opinions, but believe in you more than anything else. Have the faith and hope in you, all that you do because all you need is you and if you believe enough, that encouragement is contagious. The world has a wonderful way of bringing your dreams into fruition. You just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Our community here in Windsor has many different social groups to help with the upcoming entrepreneur. Reach out. You would be surprised who is willing to help.
- What keeps you going on those hard and difficult days?
What keeps me going on hard days is that knowing all that I do is done with pure honesty and effort. Knowing that my 3 beautiful daughters are watching me closely and learning from every move I make. That no matter what they do in life they will do it with gut, ambition, pure of heart, and humility. This world is a hard place to live in at times. To become a breath of fresh air and happy people because they followed their heart and dreams. Succumbing to society idealism’s and thoughts of who and what they need to be will be non-existent because I don’t. The most important thing for me in what I do in order to keep me going is that I give the best of me to every person that comes to me for beauty needs, and every person that comes to me to learn and grow. At the end of the day being me with no excuses is what I feel is the key to unlock true happiness and success. Passing that along is the true reward.
- Maria Mouammar
- Owner of Elysian Beauty Bar
- Elysian Beauty Bar
- Elysian Beauty Bar
- Maria Mouammar
- What was the first thought which caused you to desire becoming an entrepreneur?
My first thoughts that sparked my desires to be an entrepreneur were that I wanted to use my talent to bring the best out of people the very best way I knew how. I wanted to be in an environment where I could bring my vision to life.
- What would you like little girls to know regarding them becoming entrepreneurs someday?
I want little girls to know that even though its a lot of hard work and dedication, there is not feeling as rewarding knowing that you can build something that is yours and if you put your mind to it, create a work environment that will showcase all your talents.
- Your words of advice for women entrepreneurs
As a woman, we sometimes think that we can’t handle any more than we already have on our plate. But when you get to be self-employed you are able to create a schedule that works for you and your life. That feeling of accomplishment on something you built from the ground up makes you hold your head up high.
- What keeps you going on those hard and difficult days?
On the hard days, when I’m ready to give up cause it gets too hard, I remember the reasons I got into this business. I remember my passion and love for bringing out the best in my clients in the way they most feel beautiful.