Colleen James

Women of Rubies has successfully hosted its 4th Media Visibility Bootcamp, a transformative two-day event designed to empower women with essential tools and strategies to enhance their visibility, build credibility, and achieve success in personal and professional spheres. This year’s Bootcamp was held during a milestone moment as Women of Rubies celebrated its 9th anniversary, marking nearly a decade of empowering women globally.

The event featured distinguished speakers, engaging panel discussions, and interactive networking sessions that inspired participants to harness the power of media to amplify their voices and achieve their goals.

Day 1 Highlights

The bootcamp opened with a powerful address from Hon. Charmaine Williams, Distinguished Guest of Honour, who emphasized the importance of visibility for women entrepreneurs and her unwavering commitment to supporting their access to vital resources.

Special Guest Patricia Bebia, leveraging over 20 years of media experience, delivered an inspiring talk on how visibility can transform opportunities for women, leaving participants motivated to take control of their narratives.

Notable sessions included:

Prudence Zoe Glorious on “Innovative Approaches to Public Relations: Building Transparency and Credibility,” providing actionable strategies for building trust.
Esther Ijewere, founder of Women of Rubies, presented “The Power of Wikipedia: Leveraging Open Knowledge for Women’s Visibility and Empowerment,” highlighting the platform’s role in amplifying women’s contributions.

The day’s Fireside Chat Panel featured insights from:

Heather McWilliam, founder of Brave Inspires Brave, on leveraging media for mental health advocacy.
Amaechi Omijeh, on successful social media campaigns driving small business growth.
Erica Ayisi, with practical steps for women of color to overcome systemic barriers.

Day 2 Highlights

Day 2 began with a keynote by Sabine Soumare, who presented the “2024 State of Women’s Entrepreneurship in Canada,” offering valuable insights into the current landscape.

Special Guest Councillor Colleen James spoke passionately about the representation of women in media and the importance of challenging misrepresentation.

The main session speakers were:

Kesiena Edafiogho on “Leveraging Media to Boost Career Visibility in the Digital Space”

Kesiena emphasized the power of personal branding and storytelling to stand out in the digital world. She provided practical tips on using social media platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram to connect with professional networks and boost career visibility.

Priscilla Iyari on “Effective Marketing Communication Strategies for Securing Funding”

Priscilla shared essential strategies for positioning brands to attract funding. She highlighted the importance of tailoring messaging, building trust, and crafting compelling proposals to secure grants and investments.

The final Fireside Chat brought actionable insights from:

Blessing Okebe, on personal branding for competitive industries

Some Empowering Nuggets Shared During the Bootcamp

Throughout the event, speakers shared memorable and empowering nuggets:

Reflections from Esther Ijewere

Reflecting on the event’s success, Esther Ijewere shared:
“This year’s Bootcamp and our 9th anniversary symbolize the remarkable journey of Women of Rubies. Through this platform, we have empowered countless women to amplify their impact and visibility. I am deeply humbled by the inspiring women who joined us and proud of the milestones we have achieved together.”

Sponsors and Media Partners

The event was proudly supported by Myeki.market, and Chekwube Uchea, with BellaNaija, Naijapreneur Canada, and Guardian Nigeria as media partners.

Get the BootCamp replay here; womenofrubies.com/mvbc4

For more information about Women of Rubies and future events, visit www.womenofrubies.com.

In October 2022, Colleen James was elected to the Regional Council, representing the residents of the City of Kitchener. With over 15 years of experience in municipal government, both at the city and regional levels, Colleen has built a reputation as a trusted leader and advocate for equity and inclusion. Her work has left an indelible mark on her community and beyond.

A Career Dedicated to Equity and Inclusion

Colleen’s professional journey is not just defined by her role in government. As the founder of Divonify Incorporated, she has established herself as a leading consultant on equity and inclusion. Her work spans locally, nationally, and internationally, partnering with public, private, and not-for-profit organizations dedicated to driving meaningful change. Her expertise and guidance have helped many businesses and institutions build more inclusive environments.

Values That Drive Leadership

Colleen’s leadership is shaped by a set of core values that influence her decisions and interactions as a Councillor. These values include:

Building trusted relationships: Colleen believes that trust is the foundation of effective leadership.
Equity-informed community discussions: She ensures that all voices are heard and that discussions are approached through the lens of equity.
Listening and collaborating: Colleen understands the power of collaboration and actively listens to community members.
Empowering and amplifying: She strives to empower others and amplify underrepresented voices.
Taking meaningful action: Colleen is committed to creating tangible outcomes that benefit her community.
Being accountable: She holds herself accountable to the community she serves, ensuring transparency in her decisions and actions.

Academic Excellence and Community Recognition

Colleen is a proud graduate of the University of Toronto, where she earned an Honours B.A. in history, political science, and Caribbean studies. She furthered her education with a master’s degree in leadership, higher, and adult education from U of T’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE).

Her dedication to excellence has not gone unnoticed. In 2020, Colleen was named one of the Top 100 Black Women to Watch by the Canada International Black Women Event. A year later, she was recognized as one of the Top 25 Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Persons of the Year by the Canadian Multicultural Group. In 2024, she was honored with the Public Service Excellence Award by Women of Dignity International.

Commitment to the Waterloo Region

Colleen’s involvement in the community extends far beyond her political role. She is a graduate of Leadership Waterloo Region and has contributed her expertise to several local boards and committees, including the Kitchener Public Library and KW Oktoberfest. Additionally, she plays an active role in the Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region, where she established the James STEM scholarship to support students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

A Proud Kitchener Resident

Born and raised in Kitchener, Colleen’s family immigrated to the Waterloo Region over 50 years ago. Today, she continues to live in Kitchener with her partner, Daren, and their daughter, Maleigha, deeply connected to the community that has shaped her life and career.

Colleen James is not just a Regional Councillor; she is a leader dedicated to equity, community collaboration, and creating a brighter future for Kitchener and beyond.

Highlights from the Fourth Cohort of the Women of Rubies Media Visibility Bootcamp