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ib-nkillimNrtMKUNHll“will in]... main. 4 MW !.,\a\ B1 'ng glo I ’ O I I Former Mlss Oktoberfest 3 blog nominated for international award By Gm. MM'DUNAIJ) . r q - 1' - , ~ t gr,- *I (lirurmle Vii/f Q l f 1 4 Eng '11i .,.. ‘g I I, i/ 7~~~-7W~-w W‘» i.i » .5, . x r . ‘ i. ioml entrepreneur has been nominated .1 ' ‘ _ 3E i f ' ' ~ Alor .i prestigious international award for ’ 1‘ l ' \ "h ‘ i i I her blog about women» business Issues. ‘ , ’ ‘ ‘ I Natalie MarNt-il runs the biog She lakes _ . iv ,2 ‘ i on the World. ninth is a finalist for the \tmre 2-1; “1, r . Amrrd ill the best biog categon "{7‘r ‘ ‘ ' ‘ ilH' \lt'\'lt‘\ have been called the (lsi‘ars ‘ V \ a '1 for women in business [he inwards \\'lil be j: \ ‘ handed out in New \ork( it) next month ’ {I ‘ I; .1, 1'.“ "il\ (ll'iillllt'l\‘ .in honour incum- there . w ‘_ 2‘ ’ jg; \ till‘ so many tategorn‘s and .i lot of the ’ g L” 3’ .134.â€" \‘ l \\(iilit‘ll nominated are women i look up to." _~ ,' . ‘1 ., . I! ‘.' will .\1.ii‘.'\‘e1l.ti University oi'Wati'rloo grad ‘ i '1 ' : ' .’ . ‘ unn- and former Miss Oktoberfest. .5. w, ‘.‘ M.“ \ii-II started the hing in March Jililii. ‘ d ' ~ I ‘ ’the is .1 lot oi nriiing about lillsilit'\\ \\ . and entrepreneurship. but not much by ’< 4:.“ _ 1'“ ' W ’ women." she said. ”i wanted to offer a differ ‘ ~. ,~"_" . - ., s \ cnl perspecthe and connect Willi other y (/W \ u l mien entrepreneurs. ” ,â€" ' i In the year and hail \lnt't‘ the site , if g ‘ ‘ launched, Mut‘Neii has developed a core \ 1‘ . l‘ - W ‘ i J ‘ group ol'foilowers. About 5.000 women from « ' . "\e - 77 \ around the world read the biog. l \ " And though she‘s attracted attention I, a: from big outfits such as the Stevies. recogniâ€" ‘ . tion is about all she gets from the site. .2- : ‘ . “With anything oniine. it's really hard to ‘ ~3‘iiti‘f" monetize it," she said. “For me the real value x is the networking. it helps get my name and . _ i my brand out there." Natalie MacNeIi logs on to her blog, She Takes on the World, which was nominated for 3 Stevie Award. one murmurs move The 23 year old is an entrepreneur herself MacNeil to expand the blog, inviting two instead of being an article about a business opportunity to meet some amazing ‘ â€" she‘s a media producer who creates web- contributors to help write for the site. issue, they can connect with each other and women." she said i sites and does some writing. But she's still pumping out the content share successes and problems. Though her recognition has grown and i Her latest project is Garage Entrepre~ and trying to keep the biog fresh. "One of the things people really like her biog is becoming even more popular, 1 neurs. a social networking site for young “We try to do three updates a week. but about blogs as opposed to traditional media MacNeil still lives in the region. i business owners. really whenever we can write something. we is the personal touch." MacNeii said. “i feel connected to this community," she 3 The site has attributes of Facebook. put it up.” she said. “People can learn and share experiences said. “id like to be successful here and be J where like-minded business owners can One ofthe topics MacNeii has been tack~ that have meant alot to them." able to go events like the Stevies and tell i connect and network, but it also offers ling lately blog is work-life balance, MacNeil wants to expand her blog to them about (Waterloo Region).” i resources and advice for fledgling entrepre' “It‘s a big issue for working women,” include forums where women entrepre- But her roots here aren't too deep. Mac- neurs. MacNeil said. “if they're working . . . they feel neurs can create a better connection. Neil added. i She's also busy doing other projects and bad for neglecting kids and if they're at For now, she's focused on Garage Entre- 'l’m young and if the right opportunity ? during Oktoberfest had to stand in a few home they feel they‘re neglecting work” preneurs and admits she’s excited for the comes up . . . well, l'm ready for anything,” i times when the 2009 Miss Oktoberfest fell ill. She believes blogs can help women Stevies in NewYork City. she said. MacNeil’s blog can be found at - Her busy schedule has actually caused entrepreneurs by giving them an outlet â€" “Even ifl don't win. it will be a great www.5hetakesontheworid.net. ; . i do l i ¢’$ ’ . i ‘ i ‘t i i \ Years of ‘9 ‘ V i ' 1' i\ . kil.\i\ii.’\ii \ii Busmess$ ‘ More Days of Savmgs i