Looking to hang out with the rat race for the weekend? Vancouver, Canada is the perfect weekend getaway spot for the busy businesswoman!

From a bike ride in Stanley Park to the hottest concerts and most delectable cuisine, Vancouver promises not to disappoint!  A long weekend will be just enough time to catch a flavor of this hip, international city.

Just be sure get there before the 2010 Winter Olympics make Vancouver too costly and crowded for your budget and enjoyment.

Entrepreneur Goddess Suggests:

Lodging: Fairmont Downtown. Built in 1928, this gorgeous hotel stands out among the modern high rises dotting the skyline. You can’t beat the location, just a short walk from the trendy boutiques on Robson as well as the picturesque waterfront. The downside to staying at the Fairmont: $13/day for in-room internet.

Restaurant: Cardero’s. If you’ve ever wanted to dine over the water, here’s your chance. The seafood will please the most discriminating seafood lovers and the salads, bless them, will bring tears of happiness to vegetarian eyes. Cardero’s also offers a huge selection of locally brewed beer, so drink up.

Recreation: Bike rentals in Vancouver go for about $10 for 2 hours at a bike shop across the street from Cardero’s. If you forget your helmet, it’ll cost you an extra $5. A couple of hours is more than enough time for a scenic ride around Stanley Park.

Free Internet: Blenz Coffee appears to be a few steps ahead of Starbucks in Vancouver, they have one on just about every corner. For the price of a cup of coffee, your wifi is free. Follow them on Twitter: @blenzcoffee.

Related articles

• Vancouver: Perfecting city life with the great outdoors (cnn.com)
• VANCOUVER, SEX WORKERS, TRAINING: Media Training Prior To Winter Olympics (huffingtonpost.com)

On a recent trip to Mexico, I sat down and interviewed woman social entrepreneur, Patricia Basave.

Tejedoras de Cambios – Interview with Patricia Basave from Skovi on Vimeo.

Patricia Basave is the founder of Tejedoras de Cambios (Weavers of Change), a non-profit organization based in Monterrey, Mexico that helps abused women heal their lives through the process of narrative identity.

The project originated in March 2005 when Patricia created the concept of Tejedoras de Historias (Weavers of Stories). She worked with a group of women who were very interested in working on their own personal development.

By writing their autobiographies, these women uncovered their beliefs and identities. Through that, they started to reorganize and find new positive meaning in their own lives.

Patricia explains that during the sessions there were tears and laughter, but always respect and empathy. The sisterhood they created helps them gain confidence to confront and heal their past wounds.

Session topics include feminism, sexuality, self-esteem, relationships, and forgiveness.

The main objective is to enrich and empower women to improve their self-esteem, to overcome oppression and victimization, to become their own best resource, to feel confident, and to find a true and positive meaning in life.

It was a pleasure interviewing Patricia and she deserves our admiration! All the efforts she has devoted to improving the lives of many women in Mexico make her a true Entrepreneur Goddess. Thanks again, Patricia, for all the wonderful work you do!

For more information about Tejedoras de Cambios please visit their website at www.tejedorasdecambios.org.mx (in Spanish).

Lucky graduates! The Duke University Class of 2009 landed Oprah Winfrey as their commencement speaker. Here are some highlights from the speech:

If you can find a way to give back … you will be a huge success because for sure, one of the things I’ve learned is that the best way to enhance your own life is to contribute to somebody else’s.

My greatest lessons have come from my work…I look at life everyday as an experience ‘How can I grow from this?’ …25 years later I’m still learning.

At some point something in life is going to eat you inside…but graduates, I want you to know if you can summon the courage…and remember what good are you to anyone if you’re miserable, I know for sure you’ll be a huge success. Remember…you are responsible for your happiness…you are responsible to the energy you bring to everything.

If you can see the possibility of change in your life, of seeing what you can become and not just what you are, you will be a huge success.

You never know what kindness you offer today to someone how that might live with them forever. If you can be generous enough to say kind, affirming words to those who may long to hear them, you will be a huge success.

It’s great to have a nice home. It’s great to have nice homes! It’s great to have a nice home that just escaped the fire in Santa Barbara.

It’s great to have a private jet. Anyone that tells you that having your own private jet isn’t great is lying to you.

You really haven’t completed the circle of success unless you have helped someone else move to higher ground…I spend my life thinking of how I can help someone else move to higher ground.

Each of us has to stand in our own shoes. The real question is: How will you stand in your own shoes? Every experience will give you the chance to make that choice.

Trust your gut to help you stand proudly in your own shoes as you help others stand in theirs and I know you will be a huge success.

We love Oprah, a true Entrepreneur Goddess! Watch Dr. Oprah give her speech at Oprah.com, it’s well worth your time.

A quick reminder to step out of your office and usual life! It’ll keep you more productive for those days and hours when you’re in the office.