When organizers of Small Business Week in Labrador West wanted a key speaker at a “Women in Business” breakfast seminar Jacqui Winter was a perfect choice.
Winter lived 17 years in Labrador West is known for many work facets: Communications, public relations, trainer, human resources management and work in community development and non-profit organizations, to name a few.
Winter eventually left Labrador West, and continued working in many of these fields. Her experience lead her to form a company, which has been growing since its inception.
Winter shares what it takes to be a successful.
“It is important to make connections and to make sure you keep up to date with them.”
She says connections with the Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs gave amazing help and provided invaluable guidance and expertise.
She also says it’s important to not be afraid to take risks.
Winter worked as a consultant for about a year and a half beginning in 2014 and rebranded in 2015 to the company that is HR Project Partners today.
Winter told the seminar she went from working at home, to opening an office in St. Johns, to hiring seven full-time staff by 2017 as her business grew. In May of 2019 she opened second office in Labrador City and now has 35 contract employees,
Winter says key advice is ensuring good team support. She once formed a minority partnership which allowed her to grow and offer new business services so she says teamwork can make a difference.
Some participants wondered if there were any unique challenges being a woman in her business. She says bidding with oil and gas companies can be challenging as a small business owner, but she explained that’s when her contacts with NLOWE and the Newfoundland and Labrador Oil and Gas Industries Association proved valuable.
“You have to believe in yourself.”
She said being a woman never held her back, and society today sees the value women bring to the table.
That’s why more women head up companies and corporations, she offers.
Winter has been featured in Atlantic Business Magazine and is a 2019 NLOWE award recipient.
This article originally appeared in The Labrador Voice.
To read the original article, click here.
