Woman entrepreneurs expanding reach: Profit magazine
Canwest News Service
OTTAWA – There’s never been a better time to be a female business leader, Profit magazine says in its annual list of the top 100 women entrepreneurs in Canada.
In releasing its 10th annual rankings, called the Profit W100, the business publication said the list shows that women are increasingly leading companies in sectors traditionally dominated by men, such as construction, manufacturing and information technology.
As well, it said women business owners have more support from networking groups and organizations devoted to peer mentoring, and there is improved access to capital for female business owners than in the past.
Rebecca MacDonald, executive chairwoman of Energy Savings Income Fund in Toronto, is ranked number one on Profit magazine’s W100 list.
“There are many diverse, fascinating stories among this year’s Profit W100 winners,” Ian Portsmouth, editor of Profit, said in a statement. “These are leaders who may have faced tough challenges but came out ahead as strong businesswomen, who lead companies in a wide range of sectors. They are role models for all entrepreneurs.”
The average revenue for companies led by women in this year’s list has more than doubled to $36 million from $15 million in the inaugural rankings released in 1999.
This year’s top-five ranked women entrepreneurs, ranked by revenue in their last fiscal year, are:
. Rebecca MacDonald, executive chairwoman of Energy Savings Income Fund, Toronto ($1.74 billion)
. Gabrielle Chevalier, president of Solutions 2 Go Inc., Mississauga, Ont. ($453.3 million)
. Madeleine Paquin, CEO of Logistec Corp., Montreal ($209.6 million)
. Janis Grantham, president of Eagle Professional Resources Inc., Ottawa ($88.5 million)
. Robin Todd, CEO of Marks Supply Inc., Kitchener, Ont. ($61.3 million)
