Women from the Foothills were given an opportunity to network in Okotoks Tuesday morning.

The Foothills Centennial Centre hosted about 60 influential ladies for the #BeHerChampion event which promotes successful women in business.

The breakfast featured Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women Dr. K. Kellie Leitch as well as Macleod M.P. John Barlow.

Leitch says the government is placing an emphasis on women in business.

About 60 women attended the #BeHerChampion breakfast.

"I can tell you that women entrepreneurs really are the focal point for your government in the next wave of growth in the economy," she says. "For us, we're focused on creating jobs and what John wants to do here as a local MP is make sure we're growing more jobs."

Leitch says the government is supporting women lead business financially through a $700 million investment by the Business Development Bank of Canada over the next three years.

She says she highly recommends women look into mentor-ship.

"If you've ran a small business you've experienced some of the pitfalls of those businesses and you then can make sure that wisdom you have is bestowed on another. It allows someone who's building a business plan or has questions about how maybe they should be marketing in a local area to be able to speak to someone in a frank conversation to get that kind of advice."

According to Leitch, women led businesses make up about 12 to 14 percent of Canadian small businesses.