By Jenna Tenn-Yuk
Ursula Belanger was among a handful of pioneer women executives in Europe’s hospitality industry during the 1980s. When she began working in Ottawa, she found management was still predominately male; a male boss at the Sheraton Hotel suggested she join a women’s network.
A decade later, that decision has led to many important developments in her personal life and career.
Now, Belanger is giving back to the community as the new president of the Ottawa Women’s Business Network.
“I’ve really learned and benefited from my membership, but now it’s time to step up to the plate and give back,” she says. “I don’t believe in just criticizing – if you want to change something, get involved.”
Belanger has been active on the executive board for the past two years and has also served as director of programming. This four-year investment on the executive is long and daunting, she says, but it is also exciting to be able to make a difference.
During her year as president, Belanger says she wants to examine the network’s sustainability and maintain its relevancy by ensuring it is addressing real needs. She also wants to increase membership by developing partnerships with other business groups in Ottawa and across the country.
“It’s important in networking that we have a good diversity of members and a balance of young people,” she says. “Only once we have that variety, will we have more value.”
The WBN is in its 26th year and has grown to 160 members. Belanger says it is important it remains Ottawa’s leading network for businesswomen to share ideas and form partnerships.
Its advantage, she says, is it reaches out to all professional groups and offers learning, networking and mentoring.
Centretown merchant Jodi Fedor has been a member of the network for more than a year, and says she has found it important to be in a community with like-minded women and to celebrate their accomplishments.
“We are all on a common journey and face similar challenges,” says Fedor. “Developing a successful business is a shared goal among all ages.”
Fedor says the network has also created more exposure for her company, Exuberance By Fedor, which manufactures and sells organic skin care products.
Belanger says she has learned from other WBN members’ challenges, struggles and successes.
They taught her life and business skills, she says, and constantly inspire her to mentor others in her community.
“I admire how many balls these women have in the air without dropping any of them,” Belanger says.
Heather Maclachlan, the network’s outgoing president, worked closely with Belanger. She says Belanger is dedicated, creative and good at overseeing projects and creating solutions.
“She wants to update and increase membership so there will be more opportunities for women to create their place in the business community of Ottawa,” Maclachlan says.
After seven-and-a-half years at the Congress Centre, Belanger recently returned to the hospitality industry at the Crowne Plaza Hotel as regional director of sales and marketing for CHIP Hospitality.
Lynne Martichenko, director of communications at the Congress Centre, says Belanger is active in the local business community, but the network is her first priority.
“She likes to surround herself with strong and accomplished women, and has been heavily influenced by the network,” says Martichenko, who worked with Belanger at the centre.
Belanger, who grew up in Germany, has been in Ottawa for almost 20 years and loves the beauty, outdoor lifestyle and variety of companies in the city.