The Centre for Women in Business (CWB) joined organizations, government representatives, financial institutions and researchers from across Canada at the Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC) National Summit in Ottawa to discuss the current state of women’s entrepreneurship and explore opportunities to strengthen support for women-owned businesses.
The summit focused on the barriers that continue to limit business growth, the progress being made across the women’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and the steps needed to ensure women entrepreneurs have access to the resources, expertise and opportunities they need to succeed.
CWB’s Executive Director, Tanya Priske explained that, “for CWB, attending was important because it provided an opportunity to contribute our experience, connect directly with decision-makers and ensure the perspectives of women entrepreneurs in Atlantic Canada are part of the national conversation.”
In addition to participating in the summit, CWB held several off-site meetings and connected with representatives from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), Global Affairs Canada, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), Export Development Canada (EDC), BMO, Scotiabank and other key organizations.
These conversations provided an opportunity to share CWB’s work, discuss the challenges facing women entrepreneurs and explore opportunities to support business growth. A particular focus was CWB’s emerging work in the defence sector and its efforts to help women-led businesses better understand and access opportunities in this market.
One area of particular interest was CWB’s emerging work in the defence sector and the opportunity to help women-led businesses better understand and access this market. While new sectors can offer significant growth potential, entering them requires more than identifying an opportunity. Businesses need specialized knowledge, an understanding of industry requirements, and practical guidance to navigate the path forward.
“It is an emerging area where we see considerable potential and there appears to be limited comparable programming specifically designed to support women entrepreneurs,” Tanya noted.
The opening session, The State of Women’s Entrepreneurship and What Comes Next?, was another highlight. Bringing together federal perspectives, research and economic insights, the discussion examined both the progress being made and the gaps that continue to require attention.
For CWB, these insights are important in shaping how programs are designed and how support is directed to women entrepreneurs at different stages of business growth.
The summit also reinforced the importance of collaboration across government, financial institutions, and business support organizations. Each plays a different role, and by sharing expertise and identifying gaps, the ecosystem can provide more connected and effective support.
“Access to training is important, but women entrepreneurs also need practical guidance, specialized expertise and support that responds to where they are in their business journey. At CWB, we take a comprehensive approach, connecting women with the knowledge, resources and expertise they need to move their businesses forward,” Tanya shared.
Moving forward, CWB will continue building on the relationships established in Ottawa, contributing its experience and exploring opportunities to collaborate with organizations across the country.
“Having federal departments, financial institutions, researchers and organizations supporting entrepreneurs in the same room creates opportunities for meaningful conversations and a better understanding of where support is needed,” Tanya reflected.
The WEOC National Summit provided a valuable opportunity for CWB to share its work, strengthen national relationships and help advance the conversation about what women entrepreneurs need to start, grow and scale successful businesses in Atlantic Canada and beyond.