I’m proud to call myself a Certified Online Business Manager, but I believe one of the most important roles I have as I do that work is as an ally.

From this corner of the world…

As a settler operating a business in what is now known as New Westminster, I wish to acknowledge that my work takes place on the traditional, unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples of the QayQayt First Nation.

All the way around the world…

Part of the way I give back is by volunteering with Sawa World, an organization that helps aspiring young small business owners in Uganda create microbusinesses to support their families. I believe that Black Lives Matter and assisting African business owners is one way I choose to express that through actions.

As the former Director of and long time leader in the International Association of Online Business Managers, I help empower women all over the world to have online businesses that support their lives and help them advocate for fair compensation wherever they are.

Building Teams, Supporting Dreams

I help my clients recruit the teams I lead on their behalf. Establishing inclusive recruitment practices to ensure diverse and representative teams is something that I am actively working on to provide the best in innovation to my clients.

Research shows that diverse teams perform better, come up with better solutions, they’re more productive and they make more money. They’re more likely to capture new markets and are better able to meet the needs of diverse clients. This makes business sense and it’s the right thing to do.

That’s why I want to ensure that Indigenous peoples have equitable access to jobs, training, and education opportunities within my business and the businesses I lead. It’s part of my responsibility under the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and I’m committed to addressing it.

Good Work For Good People Doing Good

I am proud to support a client who is working to support financial literacy for women and women business owners. With the gender wage gap to contend with, it’s important for women to be able to make the most of what they make.

I have experience supporting business owners who are neurodiverse and believe in providing quality, accessible service to my clients who benefit from additional support, support that is tailored to their needs and helps them be successful in the work they are called to do.

I look to work with clients and support clients who, like me, value diversity, equity and inclusion and who are actively making that part of their business model. I believe that committed people working together can create meaningful change in the world while making money.

Paying It Forward and Giving Back

In addition to my volunteer work, I allocate real dollars to the causes that matter to me. That spirit of giving is evolving into a regular allocation of at least 2% of all business revenue to provide ongoing support for the things I believe.

Causes I have supported 2020-2023 have included:

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
www.wetheprotesters.org
Vancouver Food Bank
Food Banks Canada
Plan International
Covenant House Vancouver
The Salvation Army
Union Gospel Mission
Indian Residential School Survivor Society

Support More Than Words

In recognition of my desire to include people at all points on the gender spectrum, I’ve felt led to look at the words that I use on my website. I want to make sure they are as inclusive as I want my business to be. I seek to be mindful of gendered, ableist, homophobic and racist language in my business and in the businesses I support.

More than that, I look to create systems that create a welcoming space for those who have been historically marginalized. I recognize that the words we use are important, but we can’t stop there. There needs to be action. In the process of compiling this diversity statement, I have engaged the support of a diversity and inclusion expert to help guide my efforts in building an ethical business.

From this corner of the world and all around the world, I’m about building teams, supporting dreams, doing good work for good people doing good, paying it forward and giving back while extending support more than words. I believe in working together to make meaningful change and working with teams is integral to my work in the world.

This statement was developed in collaboration , Alison Tedford.

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