More than 120 women were given a surprise visit by Premier Christy Clark, this week in Kelowna.

Clark was the keynote speaker at the 25th Annual Women in Business publication event 含羞草研究社� where she spoke on issues of inequality, female empowerment and success.

含羞草研究社淥ne of the problems that a lot of women have when we are trying to get ahead in this society is confidence; not because we aren含羞草研究社檛 born with it, but because we grow up in a culture where women are told again and again, in so many subtle ways that we are not good enough,含羞草研究社� said Clark to an engaged group of women.

She spoke about the expectations on women being lower than their male counterparts, and that anytime a woman makes a mistake or is less than perfect she proves to the critics that she is not worthy.

含羞草研究社淭hat confidence issue is something as a generation of women we need to take on,含羞草研究社� she said.

The Premier noted the many women around her who have inspired her over the years, who she believes would make great politicians, but don含羞草研究社檛 always seem to be confident enough to take on the task.

Following Clark was another female speaker who claims one day she believes should become premier.

Renee Wasylyk, the CEO of Troika Developments, says she never listened to the naysayers during her career path.

含羞草研究社淚 simple didn含羞草研究社檛 let anyone tell me who I could or couldn含羞草研究社檛 be, but I believe that through optimism, courage, tenacity, and hardwork anyone could do and achieve greatness,含羞草研究社� Wasylyk explained.

Having just announced the 2017 B.C. Budget Clark also touched on the economy and small business.

含羞草研究社淲hen we support small business we support job creation and we have had 70,000 new jobs created in British Columbia in the last year and most of those 70,000 new jobs have been created by women like you in every single corner of this province,含羞草研究社� said the Premier.

Women in Business magazine has been published in Kelowna by the Black Press for the last 20 years.