Sabine Soumare

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.

Sabine Soumare serves as the Executive Director of the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH), part of the Diversity Institute (DI). In this role, Sabine is dedicated to amplifying the impact of women entrepreneurs across Canada. She collaborates with ten WEKH regional hubs and over 250 partners nationwide, working to build partnerships, share knowledge, and promote best practices that foster a more inclusive and supportive entrepreneurship ecosystem for women.

A Leader in Diversity and Inclusion

Sabine brings over seven years of experience in diversity and inclusion, which she has used to connect and empower Canadian Francophone communities and other diverse groups. As a bilingual communications expert, she actively bridges language and cultural gaps, ensuring that the needs and contributions of Francophone entrepreneurs are recognized and supported across Canada.

A Wealth of Experience in Communications and Public Affairs

With a career spanning more than 15 years in communications, marketing, and public affairs, Sabine’s expertise lies in strategic storytelling and advocacy. Her consulting business provides strategic guidance to institutions and non-profits focused on supporting women, newcomers, and racialized communities. Her background includes a pivotal role as Senior Communications and Stakeholder Relations Advisor to Ontario’s Attorney General and the Minister of Francophone Affairs from 2015 to 2018, where she honed her skills in government relations and stakeholder engagement.

Building a Stronger Ecosystem for Women Entrepreneurs

Under Sabine’s leadership, WEKH has made significant strides in creating a collaborative platform that leverages insights from over 250 partners, enabling entrepreneurs, policymakers, and researchers to build a more inclusive, equitable landscape for women in business. Her commitment to WEKH’s mission continues to drive transformative change, empowering women across Canada to thrive in entrepreneurship.

Through her work, Sabine Soumare exemplifies the power of inclusive leadership and strategic partnerships in strengthening support for women entrepreneurs across Canada’s diverse communities.

Learn more about her work on WEKH’s website.

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