Donna Messer, was a “speaker”, “journalist”, “author”, “coach”, “trainer”, “advisor”, “facilitator”, “mentor” and “leader”. A common theme runs through all these words that describe Donna… a love of people.
Donna Messer truly embodied that message in everything she did. She was known as the “Queen of Networking”.
Donna was a founding member of WFIM, and one of WFIM’s longest-continuing members. She held the position of Chair of the Board on more than one occasion. As Chair, Donna was an enabler. She believed in the team, and was always bringing in new board members. Under Donna’s leadership, WFIM grew; we evolved and learned the importance of building relationships, laughter, and how to support each other.
Sadly, Donna passed away on April 3, 2015, after a brief battle with cancer.
For more than two decades, Donna has been a renowned expert on and promoter of the often overlooked, true currency of business – personal relationships – how to forge, nurture and leverage them to enable those who properly cultivate these relationships to put them to mutual benefit.
A dynamic, highly sought-after speaker, Donna has spoken throughout North America, the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe and Iceland on a host of topics dealing with the art of networking and the ties that bind. She has spoken before Federal, Provincial, Municipal and State governments, even serving as an advisor to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on issues relating to women in business.
A noted author and journalist, Donna’s more than 4,000 articles have graced the pages of newspapers and magazines including Enterprise Magazine, Small Business Canada Magazine, Career Options Magazine, Canadian Opportunities Magazine, Life and Fashion Magazine, Pets and Animals, Women with Vision Magazine, Company of Women Magazine, Timeless Woman.
Donna has interviewed various “movers and shakers” including Senator Pamela Wallin, former Liberal Cabinet Minister, Sheila Copps, as well as an exclusive interview with the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson. Among her five books as a published author is Effective Networking Strategies, a Canadian bestseller written in 1993 well before “networking” became the de rigueur buzzword of the outplacement and executive search industries, selling over 50,000 copies over the past 15 years.