Career Goals: Lise Watier Foundation – Let’s Start Up
Women have dreams and aspirations to earn more than a living wage. Did you know that in Canada, poverty primarily affects women, with 34 percent of working women earning less than $20,000 a year?
They too want to become self-sufficient and carve out a better life for themselves and their children.
These women need a fairy godmother, someone who understands, who has walked the talk and proved to the naysayers they were wrong when told she would never succeed.
It should be no surprise to learn that Lise Watier, a trailblazer in her own right as the CEO of Lise Watier Cosmetics, is exactly the entrepreneurial role model these women needed. In 2017, with the help of her daughter Marie-Lise Andrade, they launched the Lise Watier Foundation. Since its start, the Foundation has been helping to financially empower hundreds of women in Québec. After more than 10 years of positive change and hundreds of success stories, the Foundation is now bringing its transformative mission to Toronto, partnering with YWCA Toronto.
“The YWCA Toronto is thrilled to partner with the Lise Watier Foundation to launch the Let’s Start Up program. This program will help our association provide training and individual coaching to aspiring entrepreneurs interested in establishing their own businesses. We are grateful for this partnership and excited to support our participants on their journey toward sustainable financial independence,” says Heather M. McGregor, chief executive officer of YWCA Toronto.
What differentiates the Let’s Start Up program is how it provides women living in a situation of economic, social or professional vulnerability with the tools to navigate towards financial independence. The program doesn’t require any financial contribution from participants or limit their learning to any specific industry. Their dreams are achievable, and the supportive net doesn’t disappear at the end of their 18-week program.
“Our innovative program supports women’s professional development to help them regain confidence in their capacities and reach financial independence,” says Andrade, president and executive director of the Lise Watier Foundation. “We strongly believe that teaming up with YWCA Toronto will make a significant difference in empowering women in the community.”
The mission of the Lise Watier Foundation is to help women rebuild a sense of pride, regain control of their lives, and create a future for themselves that lives up to their aspirations and, most importantly, fosters financial independence. Whether participants are looking to continue schooling, enter the job market or start their own business, the Foundation’s goal is to provide women with guidance throughout their professional journey.
Let’s Start Up is offered twice a year:
WINTER: Week of February 7, 2022
FALL: September 2022
And is open to:
• women over the age of 18
• currently experiencing economic, social or professional challenges
• AND who are ready to take action.
Now’s your chance to develop your professional potential. To learn more, visit fondationlisewatier.com
