EY seeks high potential Canadian women entrepreneurs for 2015 Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ program

 Program helps women entrepreneurs scale their businesses

TORONTO, March 9, 2015 /CNW/ - EY is calling on Canadians to nominate successful female entrepreneurs for its 2015 Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ program – an elite business network and customized accelerator program.

"EY's Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ program focuses on high-potential women entrepreneurs whose businesses show real potential to scale – and then helps them do it," says Carrie Marchitto, EY's Entrepreneurial Winning Women Leader in Canada. "Women in the program learn how to grow their business by expanding their network, building a public profile and evaluating financing for expansion, among other things. Past program participants have achieved truly exceptional results as successful entrepreneurs who punch above their weight among peers in North America."

Here's what the Canadian 2014 Entrepreneurial Winning Women have to say:

"The contacts and connections I've made through the program are invaluable. Having titans of industry as advisors at hand is accelerating my growth. What would normally take months of research and struggling to get in touch with the right people is now one phone call or email to someone I've met through EY. It's mind blowing. " — Kristen Wood, Creator & President, THE TEN SPOT.

"Being a part of the program is like joining a secret society of women leaders. The sharing of support, life lessons and professional guidance has given me a fresh perspective while reaffirming my sense of confidence both personally and within my industry. I feel the courage to think big and act bold." — Kathy Cheng, Founder, Redwood Classics Apparel.

"Entrepreneurial Winning Women has given me access to a network of women who run incredible businesses. We run into the same issues from time to time and it's good to know they're just an email or phone call away when you need to talk things through. I've been given advice that has changed my business." — Tonia Jahshan, Founder and President, Steeped Tea Inc.

Eligibility requirements
To apply for the Entrepreneurial Winning Women program, applicants must fit the following criteria:

• Founding woman CEO and majority owner of a privately held Canadian or US company
  • For those women who have sought outside investment, the founding woman entrepreneur may still apply if she retains a majority ownership stake of what's left after deducting all outside investments.
• Company must have reported at least $2 million in sales in each of the last two years
• Venture must be less than 10 years old
• Entrepreneurs must be able to attend an orientation and coaching session at EY's headquarters in New York City on October 15-16, 2015, as well as the EY Strategic Growth Forum, November 11-15, 2015, in Palm Springs, California.

The Entrepreneurial Winning Women panel of independent judges — representing successful entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders — will select up to 12 women for the class of 2015. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate qualities needed to take full advantage of the program, including successes to date that exhibit the creativity, tenacity and plan necessary to realize their companies' full potential and the confidence and conviction to drive toward market leadership. In addition, Entrepreneurial Winning Women should have the professionalism and level of business sophistication needed to interact effectively with potential investors, high-level business advisors and top executives.

To apply or nominate a deserving woman entrepreneur, visit: www.ey.com/ca/entrepreneurialwinningwomen. The application deadline is June 15, 2015.

Collaborating organizations
The North American program is conducted in collaboration with TEC Canada, Babson College's Center for Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership, Golden Seeds, the Kauffman Foundation, the National Association of Women Business Owners, The Committee of 200, the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the Women's Business Enterprise National Council and the Women Presidents' Organization.

Join the conversation with our #winningwomen at @EY_WinningWomen.

About EY's Strategic Growth Markets Network
EY's worldwide Strategic Growth Markets Network is dedicated to serving the changing needs of high-growth companies. For more than 30 years, we've helped many of the world's most dynamic and ambitious companies grow into market leaders. Whether working with international mid-cap companies or early-stage venture-backed businesses, our professionals draw upon their extensive experience, insight and global resources to help your business succeed.

About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY is proudly celebrating 150 years in Canada. For more information, please visit ey.com/ca. Follow us on Twitter @EYCanada.

EY refers to the global organization and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

SOURCE EY (Ernst & Young)

Erika Bennett, [email protected], 403 206 5157; Julie Fournier, [email protected], 514 874 4308; Sasha Anopina, [email protected], 416 943 2637