International Women's Day events scheduled for this week will help support Grey-Bruce’s female entrepreneurial community.
During the pandemic, women-led businesses were most likely to be impacted economically and affected by school and daycare closures.
According to the Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce, 61 percent of women founders reported losing contracts, customers, and clients due to COVID-19, compared to 34 percent of all small businesses.
Saugeen Connects will kick off the week with local entrepreneur Amanda Lynn Mayhew speaking about “Women Empowerment: Overcoming Barriers & Biases”, followed by an entrepreneur panel this evening at 6:30 PM.
On Thursday, at 6 PM, Business to Bruce and the Women’s House Serving Bruce Grey are hosting Sarain Fox for a keynote titled, “Career Development: The Golden Thread.” An online auction and donations will be collected for Women’s House.
To wrap up the week on Friday, March 11 at 9:30 AM, entrepreneurs who identify as female are invited to network with mentors, other entrepreneurs and organizations supporting small businesses at a “Mentor Mash”. The virtual event will be kicked off by Michèle Newton, who will present Breaking the bias. The event is sponsored through the Startup Women Community Fund presented by Scotiabank, UPS and TD.
“It is through our connections that we grow in both giving and receiving support, celebrating every stage of the entrepreneurial journey, and creating valuable relationships needed in business,” says Mia Toose, Catapult Grey Bruce Vice-Chairperson, and Founder of Truli Wetsuits for Women. “The Mentor Mash event will be a fantastic opportunity to foster those connections among Grey-Bruce’s female entrepreneurial community. I’ll be there as a participant and am looking forward to meeting some new people!”
During the pandemic, women-led businesses were most likely to be impacted economically and affected by school and daycare closures. According to the Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce, 61 percent of women founders reported losing contracts, customers, and clients due to COVID-19, compared to 34 percent of all small businesses.
Organizations participating in the week’s events include: BDC, Bruce County Economic Development, Bruce Community Futures Development Corporation, Catapult Grey Bruce, Georgian College Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre, Grey County Business Enterprise Centre, The Hub Huron-Kinloss, Saugeen Economic Development Corporation, Saugeen Connects.