The Downtown Networking Association

One of our DNA members describes the association as follows:

"Membership in the Downtown Networking Association, commonly known as 'the DNA', means membership within a group of dynamic, energetic and goal-oriented professional women. As a member of DNA, you will experience relationship-based networking through events and seminars that vary in topic matter from personal to professional. Whether it be a serious seminar topic or a fun-loving networking social event - there's something for everyone! If it's work-life balance you're looking for, being a member of the DNA offers networking opportunities for the serious networker and social butterfly alike!"

Download the DNA slideshow (Powerpoint, 4.7 MB)

Message from the founders of DNA...

Barb Smith and Saskia Adams.

Where have the last ten years gone?  It seemed like just yesterday that  we were commiserating over lunch about the lack of organizations & general support for women in the early stages of their careers.  As we  tried to navigate this new landscape, we were already shaking our heads at the "rookie" mistakes we'd both made and lamenting how much easier it would be if we had someone to help guide us along the way.

In school, we'd had no trouble connecting with our peer group and were accustomed to approximately equal representation between the sexes.  Yet as we entered the business world, we looked around and didn't see as many welcoming faces as we'd assumed would be there.  Senior female mentors and role models seemed to be few and far between.  But surely our generation was equally represented in the business world?  Surely we could find strength & support in our own numbers?

Where were the rest of those smart & ambitious, yet fun-loving women whom we had laughed with during our school days?  They may have pursued different career interests but we knew that they were out there somewhere.  The challenge, we realized, was both how to re-connect with the ones we used to know and how to branch out to meet other professional women.  We checked out a few of the existing networking groups that were oriented towards women, but couldn't find anything with the right mix of diversity, work and play. Yes, we wanted to be taken seriously as young professionals but we didn't want to feel like we had to look and act serious 24/7.   It became clear that we were going to have to start something new.  Between us we had enough contacts to recruit an initial board and core member group, and as a junior associate at the law firm of Ladner Downs (now Borden Ladner Gervais LLP), Barb persuaded her firm's management committee to provide initial funding for DNA.  Problem solved and DNA was born!

In DNA, we hoped to foster a culture of cooperation and collaboration, not competition.  Where our members could discuss new concepts & ideas with other interested women.  Where we could openly talk about our mistakes, in the hopes that others would learn from them, not repeat them.  Where we could share our knowledge, broaden our horizons and help each other with the challenges and problems of the day.  Where we could pool our resources to give back to the community in which we lived and worked.

And yet, if all a member took away from being in DNA was a sense that she wasn't alone out there in the business world, and that in every office tower there were like-minded women struggling to make a name for themselves yet still have some fun along the way then, in our minds, DNA has succeeded. For us, DNA represented the comfort of knowing that no matter how tough of a day or week you were having at work, you could always call on a DNA friend for some patio martini therapy!

Both of us are now living in the United States and we miss the talented, supportive and fun women we each befriended in Canada.  Through DNA we became better friends and met and learned from amazing women across a diverse field of careers & interests.  We are thrilled that DNA is thriving a decade after we first hatched it ... further proof that Vancouver is still the cool women capital of the world.
 

dna events

Members are invited to participate in the following types of events:

Luncheons

The monthly luncheons are great opportunities to get to know other members.

Seminars

Seminars are held on a variety of subjects ranging from art therapy to career development to work/career life/balance.

Socials

DNA also holds social events such as the Drinks After Work event which is an after-work social at a restaurant or lounge.

Sports activities

Various sports activities are organized, such as hiking and snowshoeing.

Go to the event page