Savvy Art Inc.

For Karen Mayer, Founder of Savvy Art Inc., the timing of the pandemic couldn't have been worse.

She had just taken bold steps to expand her business—incorporating, renting studio space, and hiring her first employee—when the world changed overnight. What had been a promising business strategy suddenly faced unprecedented market challenges, and debt only began to pile up as the pandemic continued.

By the end of 2022, it was clear she needed to pivot. She developed a new revenue stream called ArtSpa that was gaining traction; however, she needed guidance on how to strategically integrate it. "I signed up for The Forum Mentor Program Presented by The Scotiabank Women Initiative® in July 2023 to help recover my business from the difficult position the pandemic had left it in," she explains. "I needed help fitting my new offering in with my art gallery in a strategic, intentional way."

Through the program, Karen was paired with her Mentor, Beth Fisher, whose impact went far beyond business strategy. "The Forum Mentor Program has given me more confidence as an entrepreneur and a wider perspective on what a successful business is. Beth's given me tools that I use on a regular basis to assess opportunities and grow my bottom line. Her willingness to share all kinds of tips and resources was instrumental in me finding the path forward.”

Looking back, one of the most profound insights she gained was recognizing her own capabilities. "I learned that I possess all the skills required to be successful. Having a Mentor is vital for drawing the answers that reside inside, [which expedites] successful outcomes and a positive mindset."

Karen's experience shows that mentorship doesn't just provide practical guidance, but the confidence and clarity that entrepreneurs need to overcome challenges and pursue their dreams. As she concludes, "Asking for help when I truly needed it was the best decision I've made for my business in years."

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Rude Mama Hot Sauce

When Vian Nguyen, Founder and CEO of Rude Mama Hot Sauce, first discovered The Forum through Startup Canada, she was immediately drawn to the stories of inspiring women entrepreneurs in its network. 

"Seeing all these strong independent women founders share their stories through The Forum platform, I badly wanted to join. [I wanted] to be a part of this amazing collective and hoped that one day, I would be one of those amazing women entrepreneurs as well.”

That aspiration led Vian to join The Forum Growth Peer Mentorship Program, where she found herself in exactly the right place at the right time. "In the past, I often found myself in groups that were either too advanced or a few stages behind, which, while insightful, sometimes made it challenging to align my learning with my business's immediate needs," she explains.

For Vian, connecting with entrepreneurs at similar stages of growth created an ideal environment for learning and development. "This alignment has accelerated my growth as a business owner, offering tailored insights and fostering a sense of camaraderie that is truly invaluable.”

But what sets this program apart, according to Vian, is the depth of support she's received in tackling business challenges. "They don't just address the surface-level issues; they dig deep into the root of the challenge, offering fresh perspectives that I might not have considered on my own," she says. 

This holistic approach has helped her expand her vision and strengthen her strategic thinking, providing a significant practical impact. "I was able to finally address some critical tasks that had been lingering on my to-do list, such as finishing email marketing flows, refining my hiring process, and optimizing daily operations.”

Beyond day-to-day operations, the mentorship group has also helped Vian think bigger about her business's future. "They helped me see the bigger picture, especially in navigating complex areas like venture capital and funding opportunities, which are essential to the future growth of my business.”

Today, she’s leading Rude Mama Hot Sauce with confidence and clarity to bring authentic Vietnamese hot sauces to spice lovers across Canada. 

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Square Key Digital

Kristin Hartigan, Owner of Square Key Digital, decided to become a Mentor after an unexpected discovery.

While completing their Mentee profile for The Forum Mentor Program Presented by The Scotiabank Women Initiative®, they noticed an opportunity to serve as both a Mentee and Mentor. "I saw this as an exciting opportunity to dip my toes and give back while also receiving support," Kristin shares.

This dual role gave them a unique perspective and helped them tap into a rich ecosystem of support. As Kristin explains, "I’m at a much different part of my entrepreneurship journey than my Mentees are. I'm able to talk to my Mentor about what’s going on with my Mentees and receive guidance and feedback.

It's really solidified my sense of community and opened doors to new connections and an even deeper community than I ever imagined. It's kept me accountable for some less desirable items on my to-do list and has really broken down some walls that I've had for a long time as an entrepreneur."

The program and the community they found through it has also helped them combat the isolation that often comes with entrepreneurship. "For me, it's really become about not being alone. I'm not an island and I'm not the only one who is experiencing these common challenges of running a business.”

As someone with ADHD, Kristin found that mentoring has also helped them develop crucial skills. "[It enabled me to improve my] listening. As someone with ADHD, I'm always wanting to jump in, give advice, and tell everyone what to do to just fix all their problems. Being a Mentor has really allowed me to practice some skill sets that don't come as naturally to me."

Through this journey, Kristin’s also acquired a deeper understanding of what makes mentorship truly effective. "Learning to guide rather than lead has been the absolute best part of being a Mentor so far. It's been beyond rewarding [to not only watch] my Mentees grow, but grow because they’ve figured out solutions on their own."

As someone who's loved their experiences through The Forum’s mentorship programming, Kristin’s been quick to recommend it to those in their network. "I just love The Forum so very much and I tell every woman-identifying entrepreneur about it (even if they're not Canadian) because it's been such a game changer for me.”

Through Square Key Digital, an “un-agency” that helps its clients streamline their marketing and sales efforts, and their role as both Mentor and Mentee, Kristin shows the power that comes from embracing a comprehensive vantage point.

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Run Like a Girl Adventures Inc.

Courtney McQueen, Co-Founder and Director of Run Like a Girl Adventures Inc., knows that the most important steps forward are sometimes made possible through collaborative efforts. 

Despite running a successful adventure company since 2012, Courtney found herself at a crossroads after the pandemic forced a business restart. Like so many entrepreneurs, she grappled with questions about her path forward.

"Going into a women in business seminar through The Scotiabank Women Initiative in November 2023 was a big deal for me as a business owner and mom with two young kids," she shares. That seminar turned out to be a transformative step in her journey, as it connected her with a speaker from The Forum, whose supportive presence helped her realize she wasn't alone. 

This experience eventually led Courtney to join The Scotiabank Women Initiative® Mentor Program, powered by The Forum, where she was paired with Mentor Vered Lerner. Their partnership provided more than business guidance, and gave Courtney a fresh perspective on progress itself.

"It's awesome to have someone to bounce ideas off of who can provide unbiased feedback and ideas," she explains. “When I would mention a possible hurdle, she would help me think outside the box [and find] different solutions." 

While reviewing her accomplishments with her Mentor in a recent session, she had a revelation. "As I was telling her what I had been up to since our last meeting, it clicked to me: I am making progress, and I am accomplishing things. Sometimes it feels like we are going nowhere when really, we are!"

One of the most valuable lessons she’s gained from her Mentor is the importance of confidence. "I’m really good at working hard and getting things done, but sometimes, [I’m doing it] without confidence. [I’ve learned to] stand tall, and that what I have to offer and say matters."

Courtney’s mentorship experience has been especially valuable as she navigates her business's post-pandemic chapter. "Although I’ve been going for a long time, it feels new sometimes. This was just the right piece to my journey in helping me feel confident in my pursuit," she says. 

"This is an incredibly helpful program. I almost can’t put words to it. I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity. Entrepreneurs can often be tempted with [thoughts of self-doubt like] 'Do I keep going? Is this going to work?' A Mentor can really help."

Through Run Like a Girl Adventures Inc., Courtney’s creating opportunities for others to challenge themselves and find their paths forward—now with renewed confidence and clarity in her own entrepreneurial journey.

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Skills4Good AI

Josephine Yam is the CEO & Co-Founder of Skills4Good AI, an award-winning edtech company advancing responsible AI literacy with a mission to democratize AI education. To do this, Skills4Good AI offers memberships to its AI Academy. Members have access to a comprehensive curriculum with over 150 on-demand video lessons, as well as a collaborative community where they can connect, share insights and learn from each other, and cutting-edge experiences like monthly webinars, expert interviews and networking events. 

As Josephine explains, “As the first edtech company to provide responsible AI education in Canada, Skills4Good AI achieved a ‘first mover advantage.’ This has positioned us as thought leaders in the AI education field. The emergence of ChatGPT has further spurred exponential growth in our Academy membership. We have customers across Canada and the U.S. who are passionate about using ‘AI For Good’ and understand that continuous AI upskilling is critical to achieving this.” 

With the mind of a lawyer and the heart of an entrepreneur, Josephine was driven to develop Skills4Good AI to combine her passions while helping to make the world a better place as it adopts and evolves with AI. 

“When I immigrated to Canada from the Philippines, I started my career in Canada as a lawyer with an international law firm on Bay Street in downtown Toronto. My journey took a transformative turn when I attended Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. In one of my classes, a well-renowned professor remarked, ‘If you aren’t changing the world, don’t bother.’ This inspired me to co-found Skills4Good AI to address the lack of diversity and inclusion in our rapidly changing digital world. This drive was fueled by my firsthand experiences of being an outsider in three intersectional ways: I am a woman, a person of color, and a Canadian immigrant.” 

Josephine also found the education and support she received through The Forum to be invaluable in her entrepreneurial journey: “I am immensely grateful for the education I received from The Forum E-Series Program and my incredible Mentor from The Forum Mentor Program, who’s continued to advise me over the years.” 

While few would attempt to argue against the importance of responsible AI adoption today, that wasn’t always the case—and proved to be one of the greatest challenges Josephine faced when launching her business. 

“In 2019, when we began offering responsible AI education, many dismissed AI as science fiction. Convincing people of AI’s potential dangers without proper guardrails was an uphill battle. Despite skepticism, we persevered because we believed AI was a transformational revolution and it was crucial to help people build the skills to thrive in the Age of AI. We continued to develop our AI Academy with intellectual property assets, providing training to those who saw what we saw: AI was coming, and we needed to be ready. 

Today, Skills4Good AI is a pioneering force in Responsible AI education. We’re proud to be Canada’s leading edtech provider in Responsible AI, with the Government of Canada as one of our customers.” 

By democratizing access to AI education and focusing on ethical applications, Skills4Good AI empowers professionals to navigate the ethical complexities of AI and leverage it for the greater good. 

Watch Josephine’s TEDx talk, “How To Right Algorithmic Wrongs” on how we can use AI For Good.

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Nita Agustin Counselling

Nita Agustin is an Indonesian Chinese licensed clinical counsellor based in Burnaby, B.C., who proudly provides guidance and support to gender- and neurodiverse teens and young adults who are curious about living as their most confident selves. 

The path that led Nita to start her own business wasn’t a linear one. As she explains, “Having my own business was a culmination of years spent wondering why I can’t fit into a box. I felt like I spent enough time in the first 30 somewhat years of my life finding places and pockets of community where I fit in. Later on, I learnt that there’s a vast difference between fitting in and belonging. I needed to do certain things in those workplaces in order to fit in. Nowadays, I’m able to show up as myself. It’s been tremendously liberating.

It's been transformative for me to be able to work with folks who are internally motivated to make shifts in their lives. It means a lot to partake in and witness the many shifts that happen as we work together. I want to make an impact in people's lives and it's been very rewarding to have the opportunity to do so through my work.” 

Giving back and helping others shine has enabled Nita to build a business that’s truly rewarding, but getting to the place she is now hasn’t come without its challenges. 

“Comparing myself to others, accessing funding, and developing a sense of direction are the greatest challenges I’ve had to overcome. One of the hardest, invisible hurdles is trusting the process, which means not comparing myself to other practitioners in the field. In the beginning, I started off by [trying to reflect] what other counsellors were doing. I felt like this was a reasonable starting point. But soon enough, I realized that I was doomed to fail if I were to copy and paste their decisions and mindset. After I [started making] decisions based on my gut, purpose, and my own end game, I’ve seen my practice flourish in ways I never thought possible.” 

Nita realized there’s no blueprint or step-by-step manual for building a business, and believes that knowing your values is critical to making decisions and maintaining your sense of direction. She’s also found it extremely helpful to have a small and supportive network who she can reach out to when she needs to soundboard ideas. 

Like so many entrepreneurs, securing funding and building her business with a limited budget has been particularly challenging. 

“I see resource allocation and budgeting as [the factors that] would help move the needle in my business the most. But each decision is not black and white. There might be a time when it makes more sense to bleed money in the short term in order to propel longer term growth. Sometimes I may need to make lifestyle adjustments in order to support my overarching goal. At the same time, I also don’t want to be a starving entrepreneur. I’ve needed to be very intentional about my decisions and plan strategically.”

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Ky Sargeant Consulting

Ky Sargeant is an EDI Consultant & Facilitator who created Ky Sargeant Consulting to combine her love for language and performing arts with her understanding of empirical research for effective inclusion efforts. 

As she explains, “Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are often viewed either as superficial ‘feel good' exercises, or as cold, calculative systems. I believe the truth lives somewhere in the middle. Engaging in any kind of work for social good requires you to build genuine connections with people, while also recognizing the larger structures that shape our behaviour. I strive to inspire my clients to find the joy in making progress on EDI, and then provide the research-backed tools needed to make it happen.”

Ky started doing grassroots student activism in 2018, which eventually led to the UBC Business School's Senior Dean of EDI offering her a job as her research assistant. 

“In my three years supporting the school and doing research, I learned that over the last 40 years, the way we've done EDI work may have caused more harm than good. There's a lot of challenges people don't think about, but one that really stuck with me is the fear that many feel towards the term ‘EDI.’ People often see ‘EDI’ and worry about being a bad person or saying the wrong thing, which is a huge barrier to learning. As someone with years of performing arts experience in poetry and comedy, I found myself uniquely positioned to turn a typically fearful learning experience into something enjoyable and inspiring. The amazing response I had to my work while I was still a student made me realize that there was a big need for this in the business world, which led me to starting the practice I have now.” 

For Ky, marketing her business has been one of the greatest challenges she’s faced as an entrepreneur. 

“I spend a lot more time focusing on improving my work than I do talking about it. While I love the fact that virtually all my clients come from organic referrals, I often wonder if it will be enough if I don't start marketing myself more conventionally. I think a large part of this comes from my fear of taking space as a transgender woman. There is so much hostility and danger involved with being a publically known trans woman, that I feel held back from doing more in order to protect myself. I also worry a lot about not representing my community well enough. There are so few trans women in the business world that I'm always wary of how people will see my actions as a reflection of others, so I strive to show up in space with a lot of intentionality, which means I need to be more careful of how I manage my energy.”

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ZERO Cocktail Bar

Gail Lynch is the CEO and Experience Designer of ZERO Cocktail Bar, Canada’s first  non-alcoholic cocktail bar, tasting room and bottle shop experience, located within in Toronto’s historic Cabbagetown district. 

As Gail explains, “We provide access to beautiful, flavourful cocktails for those of us wanting the creativity and delectableness of a traditional cocktail without the alcohol. Our tagline, ‘Come for the Cocktail, Stay for the Chat,’ brings communities together. Our cocktails are crafted using premium non-alcohol spirits and bar mixes created in-house using delectable fruits, herbs and spices. Our customer base is as varied as our drinks: young and young at heart, the sober community, the sober curious, and those looking for something fresh and new.”

To offer its diverse clientele the varied experiences they’re seeking, ZERO Cocktail Bar offers full zero-proof cocktail bar service, team-building mixology workshops and events, cocktail crafting menus for events, restaurants and bars, and a tasting room and bottle shop. 

Gail believes that non-alcoholic cocktails should be an expected and thought-out option at every celebration and event, and says that as a “Black 2SLGBTQIA+ woman, equity, inclusion and community are hallmarks of everything I do.”

Sober living for the past decade, Gail’s journey in building ZERO Cocktail Bar began “To protect my mental health during the pandemic. I built a 2x4 bar with a cement countertop and began experimenting and crafting zero-proof cocktails. I was bored with the same old standard drink options usually available during social events, so I made it my mission to craft cocktails using premium non-alcohol spirits, botanicals and bar mixes. I had no idea that creating this bar would give me the creative outlet to experiment with delicious, in-house recipes using delectable, organic fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices.” 

For Gail, accessing financial support has been one of the greatest challenges in starting and growing her business. She’s found it extremely difficult to receive support and education from her financial institution, and funded ZERO Cocktail Bar using her personal finances. 


She’s also noticed that “The support provided by lending institutions, non-profit organizations, and governments often fails to reach the entrepreneurs who need it. Many organizations and governments create a false narrative of support for Black and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities through commercials and announcements. These entities fly the Pride flag high in June and provide support to large organizations as it benefits their own PR. Unfortunately, these supports don’t get to those who are in need.”

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Virtual Gurus

Bobbie Racette is the Founder and CEO of Virtual Gurus, a talent marketplace that supports businesses by connecting them with skilled virtual assistants from Canada and the U.S. Offering a wide range of services including specialized virtual assistant roles, workflow optimization, and on-demand customer support to meet the diverse needs of businesses, Virtual Gurus is powered by advanced algorithms, machine learning, AI, and expert human insights to efficiently and effectively match assistants with clients. At the same time, the company maintains its commitment to social responsibility by creating meaningful employment opportunities for marginalized groups such as single mothers, Indigenous peoples, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and those with alternate abilities.

Bobbie was motivated to start Virtual Gurus after going through her own experience with job loss and facing the many challenges marginalized communities are confronted with in the workplace. As Bobbie puts it, “I saw an opportunity to reinvent myself and help others who face similar employment barriers. I recognized a gap in the marketplace for virtual assistants and set out to create a platform that not only provides jobs, but also empowers individuals from underrepresented communities. This drive to support others and create equitable employment opportunities led to the founding of Virtual Gurus in 2016.”

While Virtual Gurus fills a key gap in the market, starting and growing the company has come with a series of challenges.

“One of the most significant barriers was securing funding. I faced 170 rejections before finally securing the necessary investment. This experience taught me resilience and strengthened my determination to support others facing similar obstacles. Additionally, breaking into the technology sector as an Indigenous, Métis-Cree, 2SLGBTQIA+ woman presented its own set of challenges, including overcoming systemic barriers and biases.

However, these experiences fueled my commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable future, both through the services offered by Virtual Gurus and my broader advocacy efforts, including sitting on the board for the TELUS Pollinator Fund and serving as Chair of the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation.” 

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Erin Laye Photography

Erin Laye is the entrepreneur behind Erin Laye Photography, a portrait photography business that’s based in Campbell River, B.C. With the goal of helping women look and feel their best in their photoshoots, she also started her own podcast called Beyond The Pose: By Erin Laye Photography, which offers helpful tips and tricks to those who want to go into any photoshoot feeling confident and prepared.

From a young age, Erin was eager to contribute to her community, connect with people, and make a difference. Once she received her diploma in professional photography and had the chance to work alongside amazing photographers, she realized she could give back while pursuing her passion by helping people appreciate the unique beauty they possess.

As she explains, “[Finding] the opportunity to use my skills to help and create opportunities for others keeps me going.”

Erin’s giving nature has continued to lead her down the entrepreneurial path. She recently launched her second venture, Smart Landlord Solutions. “This business was inspired by the crash course I went on as a new landlord who is a young woman. I want to help other new and existing landlords learn from my mistakes and provide systems and coaching so that they don’t have to do it all alone.”

For Erin, finding a supportive community has been one of the greatest challenges she’s encountered while starting and growing her businesses. “I have often found it isolating to be a business owner, especially with multi-passions, as a lot of people can’t relate. I was recently paired with a Mentor through The Forum Mentor Program Presented by The Scotiabank Women Initiative® with the goal of starting a new online business. I’m very excited to see how this can help me in my journey!” 

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Design de Plume

Meggan Van Harten, RGD, and Jennifer Taback, RGD, are Co-CEOs of Design de Plume (DDP), an Indigenous and women-owned creative agency that creates accessible and inclusive design solutions. Working across Turtle Island (Canada and the U.S.), Design de Plume harnesses the transformative power of design to empower communities and weaves Indigenous wisdom and women-led innovation into every project. 

As they explain, “When we originally started the business together in 2009, we wanted to use our gifts of design and have good jobs within a structure that offered more autonomy. DDP has really evolved since then and we’ve moved from simply solving problems to trying to anticipate how changes will affect our work more proactively. We’re trying to look ahead and see how we can incorporate Indigenous perspectives in innovative ways.” 

However, growing DDP into the impressive creative agency it is today hasn’t been easy. “As we grew, we became very aware of the challenges that come with being diverse young women in business. Opportunities for us weren’t the same as other businesses who had similar training and experience. We had great services to offer but our local pool of potential clients didn’t see the value we were bringing to the table. They only saw young women and thought we were inexperienced.” 

To overcome this, Meggan and Jennifer talked about rebranding their business to sound more like the businesses around them. As a part of this process, they removed their pictures from requests for proposal and their website and changed their logo to one that looked less “soft.” 

“It looked great but it didn’t sound or feel like us. So we had a choice, either continue to play the same game by doing things just like everyone else, or stay true to ourselves, take a big risk, and think bigger than we were at the time. We immediately threw out all the branding work that didn’t feel like us, embraced our core values, carried them into every project, and said no to projects that didn’t fit that vision.” 

That decision turned out to be one of the most pivotal moments of growth for DDP, and is what enabled Meggan and Jennifer to find a circle of clients whose values align with theirs. “We’ve grown into a creative agency that has a reputation for creating big impact. We’re proud of the good we’ve done in the world by challenging harmful biases in design and creating inclusive and accessible design solutions that reach people where they are at.”

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Creative Dynamics Virtual Services

Brittney Ashley is the proud Founder of Creative Dynamics Virtual Services, a company that is redefining the scope of virtual assistance by providing hands-on "done-for-you" support and business coaching that helps entrepreneurs build and scale.

Brittney, a certified business coach and imposter syndrome coach, wants to help entrepreneurs overcome limiting beliefs and strive towards their goals with confidence. She and the Creative Dynamics team are there to provide practical virtual assistance and guidance.

While Brittney specializes in overcoming imposter syndrome, it’s something she used to struggle with herself—and is what led her down the path she’s on now. As she explains, “Despite my extensive experience and qualifications, I grappled with self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy. Through mentorship, self-compassion and continuous learning, I conquered these doubts and emerged stronger. I became an imposter syndrome coach to help others navigate similar challenges.” 

Like many entrepreneurs, Brittney has also found it especially challenging to overcome pricing structure resistance. “Despite the undeniable value and quality of our services, persuading potential clients of their worth has proven to be a formidable task. I know this challenge resonates with many women in business, and I'm dedicated to confronting it directly.” 

Having experienced toxic work environments first-hand before starting her business, Brittney was driven to create a truly supportive, nurturing, and creative space where fellow entrepreneurs can thrive without having to side-step negative pressure—helping people find success and happiness both inside and outside of the business world. 

Brittney is also the host of “Breaking Norms, Building Dreams”, a radio show with a listenership of 200,000 that reminds individuals of their worth and dismantles societal norms that hold them back.

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The Willows Box & Co.

Kathryn Chong, Tracey Monette and Gloria Chong are sisters and Co-Founders of The Willows Box & Co. They became aware of The Scotiabank Women Initiative Mentor Program, Powered by The Forum just six months into starting their business, and immediately knew it would be a valuable opportunity for them.

Ready to create efficiencies for their business, develop effective marketing plans, and zero in on their target audience, they were ready to seek out different perspectives that would help them gain clarity and take the next step. 

They say “It’s reassuring to have the support of this program and our mentor, who’s been encouraging, helpful, and a great coach. The exercises, best practices, and templates are clearly and thoughtfully designed to empower businesses for success. The material and guidance will help us navigate challenges and make strategic, informed decisions.” 

With the confidence to grow their business from a place of strength, the sisters say that after just one year, they’ve “Created a foundation, entered into a collaboration with one of Alberta’s largest employers, and have moved into our first warehouse. The future is exciting!”

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PURE Design Inc.

Ami McKay, Founder of PURE Design Inc., first got involved with The Forum in 2008 as a mentee: “I appreciated it so much and wished that it was something I could have had when I was younger. So after about five years when I felt like I had enough life experience, I decided to give back as a mentor the way that other women had supported me.” 

Looking back on her time as a mentee, she says “It was great to have an ear to talk about my struggles as an entrepreneur. This supportive environment impacted me in a positive way through my highs and lows as a business owner.” Now as a mentor, she finds she continues to benefit from the experience while giving back. Not only does it remind her of her own accomplishments and the wisdom she has to share, but she’s found it’s strengthened her ability to lead in her own company. 

“I encourage any woman to join as there is so much to gain as both a mentee and as a mentor. In the olden days, we mentored the younger generations, passed down knowledge and support, and it is missing in our culture today. It’s very fundamental for us women to connect with other women, to be guided and to guide. Don’t forget to ask for help! Even I still need a mentor today as my business grows and changes,” she says.

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Worldview Intelligence Canada

Kathy Jourdain, Co-Founder of Worldview Intelligence Canada, knows just how important it is to stand by women-led businesses and agrees that the glass ceiling that’s prevented women from achieving top leadership positions requires ongoing action in order to be broken. 

She says that “The Forum and its focus on celebrating the success of women and supporting them in their journey” made it an easy decision for her to get involved as a Mentor through The Forum Mentor Program Presented by The Scotiabank Women Initiative® and the Growth Peer Mentorship Program

Throughout her career, Kathy has proudly held meeting spaces where people can fully show up as themselves, and has appreciated how open and welcoming The Forum’s mentorship programming is. As she explains, “[Even if we’re not in the same industry], we each bring ideas and perspectives that can be helpful to everyone. I would say there are two key things that are essential in mentoring. One is presence. To be fully present to the conversation that is happening in the moment–whether one on one or in a group. The other, related to being present, is to focus on the other person and what they need at that moment.”

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Klondike Kettle Corn

Having completed an accelerator program through Venturepark Labs in Alberta, Katie Young, Founder of Klondike Kettle Corn, learned just how important mentorship was for building a business. So when she heard about the Growth Peer Mentorship Program through her local entrepreneurship hub, Yukonstruct, she was ready to lean into the opportunities it would present.

Through the program, she was able to make invaluable connections with other women entrepreneurs, and explains that “There are so many resources out there, but nothing beats connecting with people you can trust. The support offered by this group felt very intimate and unique.” 

Different from other mentorship groups Katie has been involved in, the Growth Peer Mentorship Program offered a space for women entrepreneurs to freely share the unique challenges they were currently facing so the group could ask questions and offer suggestions. She says “Being able to just talk about your own business to other women who could relate was very important and led to great discussions that were actually relevant to the challenges presented.” 

Connecting with other business leaders in her group even led Katie to hiring her first bookkeeper and social media manager. “I felt like I had the confidence and knowledge to know my business was ready for this, and my group offered great connections,” she explains.

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Hey Rebel Creative

When Liz Fillmore, Co-Founder, Creative Writer, Content Creator and Social Media Specialist of Hey Rebel Creative joined the Growth Peer Mentorship Program, her business was going through a transition. Looking to secure more clients to maintain a steady cash flow, she knew that fresh perspectives would be pivotal in helping her solve an ongoing challenge.

When she connected with other entrepreneurs through the program, she says “Learning they faced similar struggles was a relief. We always think someone is lightyears ahead of where we are because of the confidence they exude when in reality, most of us are facing the same things–just in different ways. This group taught me to appreciate my own growth, embrace the value of my unique perspective and skills, and acknowledge that not every task has to be completed in a single day. That sort of encouragement and permission to be kind to yourself from your peers is empowering, inspiring, and comforting.”

Like many, Liz had become accustomed to the idea that entrepreneurs need to be “ultra-confident, competitive, and sometimes ruthless” in order to succeed, but her mentorship group provided a space that welcomed vulnerability, opened the door for questions, and enabled her to think more deeply. This allowed her to experiment with new ideas that might have previously been outside of her comfort zone, helping her to overcome her barriers. 

With a deep understanding of just how valuable the support of fellow entrepreneurs is, Liz has continued to uplift others in the community by becoming a mentor for The Forum Mentor Program Presented by The Scotiabank Women Initiative®, sharing her knowledge as a speaker through The Forum E-Series Presented by RBC, and volunteering her time to answer questions and join coffee chats.

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Adobea Foli Consulting

After taking a two-year pause from her business to grow her family, Adobea Foli, Founder and CEO of StartGrowPivot Advisory Inc., which is now Adobea Foli Consulting, was ready to relaunch. She pushed forward and was starting to see momentum, but between running her business, raising a family, and working a full-time job, she felt she was starting to burn out. Armed with plenty of ideas but minimal time and resources to follow through with them, she decided to seek out a mentor who could share some advice.

She found that support through The Forum Mentor Program Presented by The Scotiabank Women Initiative® to be invaluable, as she was able to share ideas, gain fresh perspectives, and then prioritize tasks that would lead to revenue generation while balancing time constraints. 

As Adobea explains, “The most impactful lesson from my mentor has been the art of letting go and focusing on a few crucial goals. I wrestled with many ideas and passions, aiming to pursue them all to grow my business. I was offering various services, from workshops to coaching content creation to courses. With the help of my mentor, I realized that my message needed to be more precise to make a more significant impact. They helped me shift my perspective, take a step back, and assess what wasn’t working for me.”

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Kale Health

Jennie Ding grew up in Canada as a first-generation Chinese immigrant, and was determined to always “do better.” She found herself constantly striving to reach an even more impressive goal than her last. After finishing her Master’s degree, she went to medical school, where she found herself working 30+ hour overnight hospital shifts during her residency. 

She was working exceptionally hard, but realized she didn’t really know who she was or what she truly wanted to accomplish. Eventually, she found the inspirational books of author Brene Brown, and says that she “Discovered that I had so much to learn about myself, and it started with letting go of who I think I'm supposed to be and truly embracing who I really am: a person who values family, creativity, and community.”

She started Kale Health as a way to combine her interests in preventative medicine, nutrition, holistic wellness, and her desire to empower individuals in achieving their health goals.

A physician-led, data-driven health and wellness coaching company that focuses on blood sugar control to guide behavior change, Kale Health’s programming helps treat chronic conditions like obesity, digestive issues, sleep disorders, high blood pressure, hormone imbalances, and chronic fatigue. To do this, all of its programming is backed by the latest medical research–using state-of-the-art continuous blood sugar sensors and microbiome gut health testing to create personalized health plans for each client. 

Ironically, Jennie became one of her own clients after launching Kale Health:

“I did some blood tests and was shocked to find out that I have pre-diabetes, even though there's no one else in my family with diabetes. I thought I was doing all the right things but it seemed the stress from working in medicine finally caught up to me. My body was telling me I was burnt out. I slowed down my work schedule, took some time off to visit my grandparents in China, and focused on healing my body. I dug into the research on blood sugar control and created a program for myself to successfully reverse my pre-diabetes in under 60 days. Not only are the numbers on my lab tests much better, but I feel the best I have in years. Having taken the time to look after myself first, I’m in a much better position to care for others.”

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CAYA Health

Veronica Li, Registered Clinical Counsellor, and Stephanie Dang, Registered Dietician, are the founders behind CAYA (Come As You Are) Health Centre. They created the multidisciplinary medical and allied health clinic to support all women, trans, and non-binary individuals–who’ve received an overall lower quality of healthcare, less access to services, and as a result, worse health outcomes. 

They started the clinic when they were just 30 years old–but took the risk in building a business that they knew would bridge an important gap and provide quality care that is trauma-informed, sex-positive, weight neutral, and gender-affirming. 

When launching CAYA Health Centre, Veronica and Stephanie encountered several barriers. As they explain, “We were continuously told that this had not been done before and that there was no manual to start this type of clinic. It was challenging to get answers and we had to take a trial-and-error approach. We learned a lot from these experiences and hope to one day share these experiences with others so that this type of healthcare will be more accessible to all across the province. Another barrier we encountered was the public's lack of trust in the system. There is a feeling of desperation and urgency for healthcare amongst British Columbians and as we were setting up this clinic, we wanted to ensure that we had thought about each individual patient and client experience. We wanted to rebuild their trust in healthcare–but knew that we couldn’t do it alone. We relied heavily on our community for wisdom and support as we navigated through our opening and continued growth.” 

While dedicating themselves to the wellbeing of their own patients, Veronica and Stephanie worked hard to overcome the challenge of starting a business while balancing all of the work involved in setting up a clinic–from seeking funding to managing business regulations and administration. Though it hasn’t been easy, they have no regrets: They say “it's definitely been worth it to bring these services to a much-needed population and work towards a more equitable healthcare system.”

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