The Forum Business Finance Essentials
Presented by
The 2024 Cohorts Are Now Full!
Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified of upcoming events and programming updates, including when applications will open for the 2025 cohorts.
The Forum Business Finance Essentials
Presented by
A learning experience for all self-identifying women, trans-femme & non-binary entrepreneurs looking to build their business financial management skills
What if you could learn to read the story of your business, one number at a time? What if business finance was less of a mystery? How would that change the connection you have to your business, and shape the decisions you make and how you feel about them?
Through our Business Financial Essentials program presented by TD Bank Group, we're happy to introduce you to The Finance Cafe! The Finance Cafe is Canada's only financial learning program designed by women entrepreneurs for women entrepreneurs. The program has also been designed with acknowledgement of the systemic barriers faced by women, and the unique lived experiences and relationship with money that each entrepreneur brings.
The Forum Business Finance Essentials 2024 cohorts are now FULL. Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified of upcoming events and programming updates, including when applications will open for the 2025 cohorts.
Gail Lynch, CEO and Founder, Zero Bar Cocktail
This program provides access to:
An Introduction session
6 guided weekly online sessions focusing on different financial concepts: Each session will build upon the previous one so you can see how the numbers relate to each other, and how they come together to write your business story.
Self-guided learning: Complement the peer-to-peer sessions with 1.5 hours of applying the learnings to your own business financials.
Tangible tools provided by the Finance Cafe: Easy-to-use templates, formulas, videos and quizzes provided online to support you in applying your learnings.
A Closing session
Mentorship: All participants gain free access to 12 months of mentorship - 1:1 advice, support, and insights for 12 months (a $300 value)
Thanks to the generosity of TD, our Presenting Sponsor, The Forum Business Finance Essentials is being offered as a free learning opportunity.
We invite women and gender-diverse entrepreneurs to apply for this unique opportunity to connect and learn with a supportive cohort of peers in 8 virtual sessions held over 8 weeks.
You’ll be welcomed into a virtual learning environment that supports social and emotional well-being. A place where we aim for non-judgment and curiosity, where learning is shared and space is created for you to apply new thinking to build a company you love.
And because we know that access to financial capital is the biggest barrier women face along our entrepreneurial journeys, the program also explores the impact of stereotypes and bias when raising capital, and provides strategies to help you be more successful when pitching to lenders and investors.
All participants in the program will also gain free access to 12 months of mentorship, which includes 1:1 advice, support, and insights ($300 value).
In completing this program, not only will you have the knowledge and skills to achieve your financial goals, but you will have the opportunity to build connections within a community of diverse women entrepreneurs.
“I cannot believe how different I feel about my business financials after this program. I finally feel like I understand what the different reports do and how I can leverage them. The feeling of empowerment is hard to describe. I've already taken steps to get my books up to date so I can look at them monthly. This course is invaluable.”
We invite women and gender-diverse entrepreneurs to apply for this unique opportunity to connect and learn with a supportive cohort of peers in 8 virtual sessions held over 8 weeks.
You’ll be welcomed into a virtual learning environment that supports social and emotional well-being. A place where we aim for non-judgment and curiosity, where learning is shared and space is created for you to apply new thinking to build a company you love.
And because we know that access to financial capital is the biggest barrier women face along our entrepreneurial journeys, the program also explores the impact of stereotypes and bias when raising capital, and provides strategies to help you be more successful when pitching to lenders and investors.
All participants in the program will also gain free access to 12 months of mentorship, which includes 1:1 advice, support, and insights ($300 value).
In completing this program, not only will you have the knowledge and skills to achieve your financial goals, but you will have the opportunity to build connections within a community of diverse women entrepreneurs.
The Forum Business Finance Essentials 2024 cohorts are now FULL. Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified of upcoming events and programming updates, including when applications will open for the 2025 cohorts.
The Forum Business Finance Essentials covers:
Community Building
Meet like-minded women entrepreneurs and create new connections.
Lived Experience & Mindset
Explore the role of lived experience in entrepreneurship and the influence our money mindset has on decision-making.
Goal-Setting
Discuss the importance of aligning personal and entrepreneurial goals.
Financial Storytelling
Investigate the dynamics of profit and the different stories it tells, and the role of financial statements and how they build a story.
Cash & Solvency
Delve into how to turn profit into cash and keep your business profitable.
Preparing for the Future
Determine how to prepare your business for the future with goals, projections, and budgets.
Financing
Learn about the different types of financing for your business and how to assess what is right for you.
Mentorship & Support
Access one-on-one mentorship for 12 months to help you achieve your business goals.
“This course made it so easy to follow complex financial terms and statements. Using examples made it easy to follow, and emulate for my own business, and I enjoyed re-learning these concepts that I'd studied in college! I highly recommend it!”
Eligibility
You are eligible to register if you are:
A self-identifying woman, non-binary, or trans-femme majority or equal stakeholder, (co-)founder, or (co-)owner actively leading a business operating in Canada;
An employee in line to lead the business who is currently a key decision-maker
A woman manager or staff member who is a key decision maker in an Indigenous band- or community-owned business.
This program is ideal for you if your business:
Has been in operation for at least one year
Has financial statements from at least one fiscal year
Have questions about your eligibility? Email programs@theforum.ca for support!
When is the program?
Each cohort will have 8 sessions, offered over the course of approximately 8 weeks. Choose the dates that work best for you!
All sessions will take place LIVE (virtual), weekly on Tuesdays from 9:00am - 10:30am PST | 12:00pm - 1:30pm EST on the dates below.
Cohort 1: March 4 - April 22, 2025
Cohort 2: May 6 - June 24, 2025
In order to get the most out of the program, we recommend that you attend each live session, and ensure that you have an additional 1.5 hours set aside to complete complimentary self-guided learning.
The Forum Business Finance Essentials 2024 cohorts are now FULL. Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified of upcoming events and programming updates, including when applications will open for the 2025 cohorts.
What’s Included:
- Guided weekly online sessions: Each session will build upon the previous one so you can see how the numbers relate to each other, and how they come together to write your business story.
- Self-guided learning: Complement the peer-to-peer sessions with 1.5 hours of applying the learnings to your own business financials.
- Tangible tools: Easy-to-use templates, formulas, videos and quizzes provided online to support you in applying your learnings.
- Mentorship: All participants gain free access to 12 months of mentorship - 1:1 advice, support, and insights for 12 months (a $300 value).
COHORT 1
COHORT 1 SCHEDULE | MARCH - APRIL 2025
Each virtual session will take place from 9:00 am to 10:30 am PST | 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm EST.
| March 4 | Introduction to the program and fireside chat. Connect with your peers, learn from experts, and set yourself up for success. |
| March 11 | Introduction to the platform.
Your money mindset is your most powerful financial asset. |
| March 18 | Financial fundamentals.
Financial statements as decision-making tools. |
| March 25 | The profit story.
Exploring the different types of profit and profitability. |
| April 1 | Turning profit into cash.
Keeping your business solvent. Why cash is queen. |
| April 8 | Your financial roadmap.
Building your company’s future through goals, projections and budgets. |
| April 15 | The financing landscape.
Learning the ins and outs of financing for your business. |
| April 22 | Program close and reflection.
Take stock of what you’ve learned, and consider what comes next. |
COHORT 2
COHORT 2 SCHEDULE | MAY - JUNE 2025
Each virtual session will take place from 9:00 am to 10:30am PST | 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm EST.
| May 6 | Introduction to the program and fireside chat. Connect with your peers, learn from experts, and set yourself up for success. |
| May 13 | Introduction to the program and the platform.
Your money mindset is your most powerful financial asset. |
| May 20 | Financial fundamentals.
Financial statements as decision-making tools. |
| May 27 | The profit story.
Exploring the different types of profit and profitability. |
| June 3 | Turning profit into cash.
Keeping your business solvent. Why cash is queen. |
| June 10 | Your financial roadmap.
Building your company’s future through goals, projections and budgets. |
| June 17 | The financing landscape.
Learning the ins and outs of financing for your business. |
| June 24 | Program close and reflection.
Take stock of what you’ve learned, and consider what comes next. |
Meet the Facilitators
Shannon Pestun
Shannon is a courageous leader known for breaking barriers to advance an inclusive and sustainable economy. For the past decade, she has worked to accelerate women’s entrepreneurship. She was one of the first leaders in the country to lead a women’s banking strategy and was appointed to serve on Canada’s women entrepreneurship strategy expert panel.
Shannon is the Co-founder of The Finance Cafe, the CEO of Pestun Consulting and Senior Advisor to Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub.
Through an Indigenous worldview, Shannon brings a refreshing and transformational approach to her work. Her commitment and leadership inclusive entrepreneurship have made her one of the country’s most sought-after advisors and trusted voices on issues facing women’s entrepreneurship and the importance of building an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem among educators, government, industry and media.
Originating from the Métis homeland and Treaty 1 territory, Shannon resides in the Treaty 7 territory and is a proud member of the Métis Nation of Alberta.
Shauna Frederick
As a skilled Chartered Professional Accountant and Family Enterprise Advisor, Shauna has experience not only as a female entrepreneur, but as an on-the-go CFO who takes the frustration and anxiety out of the accounting unknowns. Working with entrepreneurs from across a variety of sectors, Shauna helps them navigate the financial and accounting challenges that come with running a business.
Shauna is passionate about entrepreneurship, diversity and advancing the rights of women and girls. She spent close to 10 years with the Famous 5 Foundation and chaired the Foundation for five years. Through that experience she had the opportunity to learn from women entrepreneurs, oversee committees across Canada, work with external partners and Government officials and co-lead the creation and delivery of a Girls’ Leadership Program, a five-week program that builds leadership skills in girls.
Co-founder of The Finance Cafe | Owner of Frederick OTG
Hear From Our Community
Earlier this year, more than 70 self-identifying women, non-binary, and trans-femme entrepreneurs took part in The Forum Business Finance Essentials program. Meet some of our alumnae and discover how the program has helped them enhance their financial management skills.
Have you participated in this program? We’d love to hear from you! Share your experience below for a chance to win a $500 USD Visa Gift Card through StoryTap! T&Cs apply.
“What an amazing program! Thank you, Shauna and Shannon, for developing this material. Thanks to Libin and the team for coordinating. Thanks to The Forum for supporting this initiative. And thanks to all who have been a part of this. I’ve learned so much from your experiences and shares.”
The Forum Business Finance Essentials is made possible by our sponsors & partners
Our enormous thanks to them for their generosity.
Presenting Sponsor
TD, the Presenting Sponsor, is a longtime supporter of The Forum, and a champion for all self-identifying women, non-binary and trans-femme entrepreneurs—especially Black and Indigenous women, and people of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community —across Canada, sponsoring pivotal programs like The Odlum Brown Forum Pitch Finale and The Forum Founder’s Circle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I apply to the program?
The Forum Business Finance Essentials focuses on giving you the technical skills you need to help see the story of your business through its finances: where it’s been, where it is, and where it’s going.
You’ll also explore your financial beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes to help you understand why you make the financial decisions you do, and how that impacts the growth, success, and sustainability of your business.
Financial wellness and empowerment is a journey involving self-compassion and community support and this program offers a welcoming and supportive learning experience. We invite self-identified women, non-binary or trans-femme entrepreneurs.
What will I walk away with?
By the time you complete the program, you will:
- Have taken part in a virtual learning cohort that supports your social and emotional well-being
- Have the clarity, confidence, and capabilities you need to read and write the story of your business through its finances
- Have been given the space to be curious and apply new thinking to your business, and form a deeper connection with it
- Be better positioned to build a company you love that meets both your personal and business aspirations
- Walk away with strategies to successfully pitch lenders and investors to access capital
Who is the program for?
The program is designed for self-identified women, non-binary or trans-femme entrepreneurs who have been operating their business for at least one year, have access to annual financial statements for their company, and are looking for a space to explore financial concepts and what they mean for you and your business.
What stage of business should I be at?
It’s aimed at helping you understand your company’s financial performance in a new way and is best suited to entrepreneurs whose businesses have been operating for at least one year. This is so that you can apply the learning and concepts immediately to your business.
Do I need to be good at math?
You do not need a background in accounting or finance, or to be strong in math to succeed; you just need a commitment to learn. You’ll see why once we get going!
Does this program cost anything?
No! Thanks to the generosity of our presenting sponsor, TD, this program is free for all self-identified women, non-binary or trans-femme entrepreneurs.
In addition to the six-week program, you will also receive access to 12 months of mentorship ($300 value).
What are the dates of the live sessions?
The live online sessions will take place from 9:00 am to 10:30 am PST | 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm EST in two cohorts. Cohort 1 takes place on March 4, 11, 18, 25, April 1, 8, 15, and 22, 2025. and Cohort 2 takes place on May 6, 13, 20, 27, June 3, 10, 17, and 24, 2025.. Please ensure before applying that you will be available to attend all the live session dates and times.
How do I apply?
The Forum Business Finance Essentials 2024 cohorts are now FULL. Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified of upcoming events and programming updates, including when applications will open for the 2025 cohorts.
How is this program delivered?
This program is delivered in English. Everything is done virtually, including the live sessions, so you can participate no matter where in the world you are.
What is the time commitment for this program?
The program consists of weekly live sessions and self-directed individual learning. Each live session is 1.25 hours; self-directed learning is about 1.5 hours per week.
What do I need to bring to this program?
For this program, you’ll need:
- Access to Zoom
- A laptop with Excel installed to work through the templates
- A calculator
- Financial statements: If possible, bring your latest accountant-prepared year-end financial statements; this will allow you to apply the learning directly to your business. (If you don’t have these, we have created financial statements that you can use throughout.)
- A growth mindset and a commitment to learn and grow
How many women will be accepted into the program?
This program is open to 35 entrepreneurs per cohort. We recommend applying early to have a better chance of securing a place.
What types of accessibility accommodations or resources are available for the program?
If there are any concerns or requests for specific accessibility accommodations please indicate this on your application form and we will do our best to meet your needs.
For more information on The Forum Business Finance Essentials Program presented by TD please contact programs@theforum.ca.