Jen Murtagh has spent a significant portion of her career advocating for others. Dubbed a “people philanthropist” by one of her closest friends, she spent the past five years as the executive director of the CKNW Orphan’s Fund, raising money for children with disabilities. Four months ago she took on a new role as the CEO of The Minerva Foundation, a charitable foundation that elevates the visibility, influence and contribution of girls and women.

When we build confidence in women, when we build capacity in women, when we build skills and leadership development and give women the opportunity to really bring their voice to the table, I feel that that really spills out into the community.

A firm believer in the law of reciprocity, Jen is passionate about giving back and meeting like-minded people. Over her years of networking, Jen has built what she refers to as a solid female powerhouse contingent and credits many of them as the reason behind her success. Recognizing the tremendous benefits of networking, Jen founded Networking in Van, an online database that curates events and networking opportunities in Vancouver, making it easier for others to meet and connect as well.

In today’s interview you’ll learn:

- Why Jen views networking as a by-product of professional development.

- Why she believes leadership is important.

- Why she says she has learned more in the past two years than the first 36.

- Why she believes it’s important for women to advocate for themselves.