Of the many entrepreneurs recognized, my favorite was Susan V. Daywitt, CEO of SLM-Facility Solutions Nationwide. The feisty exec brought the audience of over 600 to applause and cheers several times as she described what her company does: recycle waste (like cardboard, grass clippings and discarded produce) back into topsoil “so the nation can grow more healthy food,” she said.

Her company also converts grease and cooking oil into biodiesel to power cars and trucks “so the nation can ease its dependence on foreign oil.”

When asked how she deals with adversity, she said she thumbs her nose at competitors and ignores those who tell her she “can’t.”

“Yes, I can,” she says – and her successful track record proves it!

Meet my new hero.

Noting that “women are a force to be reckoned with in business and the blogosphere,” the list acknowledges blogs “written with an engaging and unique voice” that can “equally be enjoyed by men and women.”

We’re so proud!

Good news, right?

Not if those businesses never make any money.

Historically, while women start more businesses than men, far fewer of those businesses ever earn a million dollars or more.

Nell Merlino wants to change that. I met Nell when we were both speaking to the annual meeting of Executive Women in Government, an association for the most senior women in the federal government who aren’t political employees. I talked about the power of women’s consumer clout in the marketplace. Nell tackled the topic in a slightly different way, noting that women would have a lot more clout if they had a lot more money!

Nell’s organization, Make Mine a Million Dollar Business, is designed to do just that: help enterprising women business owners and entrpreneurs make more money.

A Big Green Declaration for Change argues that you can do that, in part, by using resources more wisely, saving energy, and cutting costs for waste and travel. We lay out all the “how to’s” in our Breakthrough Coaching Program. Sign up now so you can make yours a million!

The Heart of Green award “recognizes those who are helping bring “green” messages to the mainstream,” wrote TDG editor Dan Shapley. “Your work influencing the buying habits of women fits the bill.”

Women now make up at least 50% of purchasing agents for companies. We’re buying the paper, pens, desks, chairs, computers, fleet vehicles, and even coffee mugs for the businesses we own or help manage. The Big Green Breakthrough coaching program focuses on how to make those purchases as environmentally as friendly as possible. After all, there’s no reason why we all can’t be “green” at heart, is there?

And not just any garden, either. She’s planting an organic garden right on the White House lawn.

She’s digging into dirt that’s lain fallow for a very long time. She’s trying several different varieties of vegetables and herbs. And she’s planning on “networking” to get her garden to grow: President Obama and their two daughters will have to pull weeds; friendly insects will keep plants healthy and pest-free.

When asked why she decided to get her hands dirty, she said she wanted to do something that would benefit her family’s health. But she wanted to set an example for the community, too.

Sound familiar? As we point out in A Big Green Declaration for Change, protecting our health and improving our community are two of the main reasons why women are greening their businesses these days.

In fact, starting a business is a lot like starting a garden. You’re motivated by what it can be, despite the challenging work it might take to get there.

I’m thrilled that Mrs. Obama’s garden will be “green” in every sense of the word. She’s setting an inspiring example for all us entrepreneurs who are planting our own “green” seeds in business.

What milestones do YOU want to achieve? We want to know.

Me (right) with supermodel Christie Brinkley and Anna Aurillo of U.S. Pirg at the Glamour photo shoot.

“Future generations depend on our vigilance. We must care,” says Lisa Jackson in the magazine. I completely agree.  (FYI, Katie Holmes was NOT at the photo shoot – but she still made Glamour’s cover!!!)

  We now know this is not true. In fact, nothing could be farther from the truth.

  Safeguarding our planet is the linchpin for our economic renaissance. As it turns out, protecting the planet for future generations is a top priority for every woman. Creating financial security for ourselves, our families, and our communities  is also key to our health and well-being.

  The new green economy is being valued at trillions of dollars. Women are poised to embrace this vision, own it, and take advantage of the countless opportunities it presents.

Women in Canada are being hailed as among the “most entrepreurial”  compared to countries like those of Western Europe and even the U.S.

Get this: Over the past two decades, women’s entrepreneurship has increased over 200%. Since 1997, reports Claire Beckton, Coordinator of the organization Status of Women Canada, women have started small and medium-sized enterprises at about twice the rate of men.

According to a recent study by the Royal Bank of Canada, if women experienced the same opportunities and labour market circumstances as men, personal incomes would be $168 billion higher.

What’s motivating women to go it on their own? Well, no surprise here: women still don’t have the same opportunity to break into the top echelon of most corporations as their male colleagues.

PLUS – and most of us can identify with this one – women crave more work-life balance than they’re finding in traditional business models (which is a key tenet of the Big Green Breakthrough approach, ahem!).

Now…what if all these female Canadian entrepreneurs added a green focus to their already impressive business vision? Imagine the impact they could have on health, wellness, and sustainability.

Read more here – and be inspired by our sisters in Canada!