DivE In: June 2023

DivE In is your monthly source to learn about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) news, events and stories. Follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter to be notified when a blogpost is published. If you have any opportunities or news to share, please email programs(at)venturelabs.ca


📰 NEWS/UPDATES

SFU VentureLabs hosted an event in partnership with The Firehood on June 6, 2023

The event brought together  women-identifying entrepreneurs and angel investors to discuss various types of funding sources including equity, debt and grand funding. The event started with an engaging panel of women founders, with Danielle Graham from The Firehood, Jessica Yip from A&K Robotics, Karolina from Voxcell Valente, and Ewelina Pankowska from Reforest. 

VentureLabs hosted an educational event on corporate governance and board formation on Jun 14, 2023

This online webinar with Trish Mandenwo from Synergy provided valuable insight on various aspects of board formation, addressing key questions such as what constitutes a board of directors, the significance of having one, and when and how to initiate the process. The webinar also highlighted the importance of the 50-30 Challenge in creating a board that reflects a wide range of perspectives, backgrounds, and expertise is essential for effective decision-making and overall organizational success.

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Diversity Institute’s 50 – 30 Challenge Workshop Series

The Diversity Institute (DI) partnered with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce to host six webinars targeted to small and medium-sized enterprises, large corporations and other organizations. The series explored the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion; recruitment; diversity in leadership; leveraging diversity in procurement; inclusive human resources and what diversity means for marketing. Nancy Mitchell, senior program manager at DI, presented at the Diversity in Leadership webinar and highlighted the 50 – 30 Challenge, which encourages organizations to reach two goals; gender parity (50% women and/or non-binary people) on Canadian boards and/or in senior management; and significant representation (30%) on Canadian boards and/or senior management of members of other equity-deserving groups. Watch the webinars here.

‘I always felt like I had to work twice as hard’: York Region women speak out on workplace challenges

The article looked into what barriers women in business are facing and how they are tackling them. Read it here.


🗓 UPCOMING EVENTS


⭐️ COMMUNITY

Chinese Community Organizations Host Forum To Discuss Labour Market Issues Facing Newcomers and Racialized People

  • Attendees gained knowledge on programs and wraparound supports that help bridge labour gaps

Creative Solutions Are Needed To Close the Gap Between Equity-Deserving Groups and the Canadian Labour Market

  • Experts dug into the workforce trends, needs and barriers at the Amplify Leadership Summit

Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs Gift Guide

  • The guide is designed to showcase some of the fantastic products and services that Indigenous women entrepreneurs featured on the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) See It. Be It. Database

👤 SEE IT. BE IT.

The WEKH See It. Be It. Database spotlights the stories of women entrepreneurs making an impact.

Lily Tse launched the Think Dirty app in 2013 to help ingredient-conscious shoppers find natural beauty brands. In the last decade, her business reach expanded to 33 countries and collected more than 30 million scans by users in the app.


VentureLabs has partnered with Toronto Metropolitan University’s Diversity Institute as a BC partner for the 50 – 30 Challenge.

WHAT IS THE CHALLENGE?

The Challenge is aimed at advancing gender parity and increasing diversity on boards and in senior leadership roles. The aim:

  • 50% of board seats and leadership roles held by women and non-binary people
  • 30% of board seats and leadership roles held by members of other under-represented and/or equity-seeking groups (including racialized, Black and/or people of colour, people with disabilities, LGBTQ2+ people, and Indigenous people)

VentureLabs is proud to be the Regional Hub for the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) in BC. We are driven to create a more inclusive and supportive environment to grow women’s entrepreneurship in Canada. We challenge stereotypes, overcome barriers, and bring resources together in support of women entrepreneurs.

WEKH is a Government of Canada initiative that brings together service providers, programs, partners, and research across Canada in support of women entrepreneurs.

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