Business guide suiting up women: New Sudbury publication highlights businesswomen, runs professional clothing donation project on the side.

AuthorMyers, Ella
PositionSUDBURY

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Lorna MacDonald seems an unlikely candidate to start up a business guide.

The Sudbury-based stay-at-home mom doesn't have a background in business, and she doesn't claim to have much of an entrepreneurial spirit. What MacDonald does have though, is a strong belief in the power women have in the local community.

Five years ago, MacDonald's life was changing and, inspired by her female friends in the business world, she decided to create a business guide geared towards women like them, and those who strove to be like them.

The result, Her Business Guide, was launched in September 2015.

"You have a vision of what your life will be, and all of a sudden, the kids are gone," said MacDonald. "Then you start something like this and you're thankful."

The business guide itself is published once a month, with 1,500 copies distributed to businesses throughout the region, free of cost. Each issue has a specific focus; for example, October's will be about cancer. The entire project is run by women, from the CEO to the writers to the PR team.

MacDonald's still adapting to life behind the desk, but said she's taken to it quickly.

"I can't give up now, I've gotten too far and have too many people involved," said MacDonald. Some of the people involved are helping Her Business Guide, but some need help from its side project, It Suits You.

Her Business Guide is about more than just celebrating business women, it's about creating them. In a room down the hall from her office, MacDonald has been collecting donations of clothing from friends and connections for It Suits You.

The program sets up women who are trying to enter the workforce with professional clothing to save them money and provide moral support. Their motto is "helping women transition towards self-sufficiency."

MacDonald said a lot of her inspiration for the It Suits You project came from her experience as a foster parent over the last 17 years. She met young girls and women who couldn't afford the price tag associated with a new, appropriate wardrobe when they started looking for work. At the same time, she realized that she and her friends often gave away...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT