Empowering Lasting Leadership Excellence program (ELLE) is a management leadership program to equip both experienced and newcomer female entrepreneurs with the tools and skills needed in agriculture and agribusiness. The ELLE program builds on the three-year pilot project, Success for Women in Agri-Food program, which launched in 2017.
The goal of these two programs is to address unique challenges faced by women agri-entrepreneurs such as access to financing, developing management skill sets, and gender bias.
Over the course of 12 months, the ELLE program will offer leadership and business management courses in a hybrid delivery model. Participants will gather in-person at 11 different regional locations for face-to-face cohort learning.
Instructors will present using interactive virtual technology, combined with additional virtual café chats for additional networking and mentoring opportunities for women from across Canada. Virtual peer groups will also be available for more in-depth discussions to maximize learning, growth and relationship building between women in agriculture and agri-food businesses.
“We really wanted to focus on reflecting where women are at in their roles — sole owners, partners, decision-makers in the business, or the unsung heroes who are playing a supportive role,” says Heather Broughton, President of Agri-Food Management Excellence.
“Even if you’re not in an industry position, these skills are important within your own family farm. By building those management skills, you make stronger business managers, which means better decision-making and a stronger farm.”
The Empowering Lasting Leadership Excellence program will launch in January 2022 for $2,499.