Across two cities, two provinces, and two very different business landscapes, one thing remained constant: the energy in the room and the feeling of community.
WBE Canada's Supplier Innovation Days in Halifax and Toronto brought together women entrepreneurs who were eager to learn, connect, and discover new opportunities. While each event reflected the unique challenges of its region, they shared the same spirit of collaboration, innovation, and those powerful "aha!" moments that happen when women business owners come together with purpose.
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At every event, WBE Canada delivers on three pillars that help women-owned businesses grow: Learning. Leadership. Motivation.
As WBE Canada President Dr. Georgette Zinaty reminded attendees, "Your runway is built long before the opportunity arrives."
Those words resonated throughout the day. Success doesn't begin when an RFP lands in your inbox or when you're invited to pitch. It begins much earlier—with the relationships you cultivate, the reputation you build, and the confidence you develop by consistently showing up.
Your runway is your network. It's your mentors, your champions, your peers, and the people who know your capabilities because you've made the effort to be visible. Your runway is never static, It grows every time you attend an event, ask a question, introduce yourself, share your expertise, or say "yes" before you feel completely ready.
Showing up is only the beginning. Participating is where the magic happens.
Women entrepreneurs often underestimate the value of sharing their own stories. Yet every success story has the power to inspire another business owner—and often opens doors you never expected.
That was evident during a panel discussion at Supplier Innovation Day: Toronto, moderated by Kirsten Kathiravelu of Birchwood Consulting, with Carla Parslow of Parslow Heritage Consultancy, Nicky Starrett of Pomp and Sass, and Natalia Smalyuk of NBAU Consulting.
As the conversation turned to “the best thing WBE Certification ever did for my business”, something remarkable happened. One certified WBE shared her experience winning a City contract. Then another. Soon, hands were going up across the room as women entrepreneurs realized they were part of a growing community of successful City suppliers. Stories emerged of current projects ranging from archeological undertakings to professional services consulting , completed signage installations, renewed service contracts, and lessons learned along the way.
The celebration was contagious, with Alyssa Neinhaus, Coordinator, Purchasing Services, Programs and Policy at the City of Toronto, supporting the discussion and the connections that followed. Those conversations didn't end when the session did—they continued throughout the day and beyond.
That's the power of community.
Too often, entrepreneurs think success is a ladder that only one person can climb. But women-owned businesses thrive when we build scaffolding instead—creating space for others to stand alongside us, support one another, and rise together.
Across Canada, women entrepreneurs are driving innovation, building resilient businesses, and creating lasting economic impact. The opportunity is there. The question is whether you're positioning yourself to seize it.
WBE Canada Certification opens doors to supplier diversity opportunities with corporations and public sector organizations, but certification is just the beginning. The relationships you build, the knowledge you gain, and the community you become part of are what transform opportunity into long-term business growth.
If you haven't experienced a Supplier Innovation Day, make this the year you do. Join us in Montreal on July 14 or Vancouver on September 15, and be part of the conversations that spark new partnerships, new ideas, and new opportunities. Then join us this November at WBE Canada's 17th National Conference and Tradeshow.
You never know who you'll meet, what you'll learn, or which conversation could change the future of your business.
Your runway starts today.
Learn more about WBE Canada Certification: www.wbecanada.ca/certification
Learn more about WBE Canada Corporate Membership: www.wbecanada.ca/corporate-membership
