Date: Thursday, November 30, 2017
Location: Beanfield Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
WEConnect International in Canada will host its annual “Power the Economy” signature event for women-owned businesses, multinational corporations, senior government officials, and partner organizations supporting the growth of women’s entrepreneurship across Canada. Power the Economy offers targeted education for business owners seeking to grow their businesses as well as a rich environment for corporations interested in creating or improving their inclusive sourcing programs. The agenda includes world leaders in supplier diversity and inclusion, business experts, successful women business owners, valuable networking opportunities, concrete business leads, and the high-powered energy and enthusiasm of impassioned advocates ready to power up women’s contributions to economic growth.
Note: Only WEConnect International certified women's business enterprises with up-to-date certification will be qualified for the corporate matchmaking session.
Purchase Tickets here.
Agenda Overview
8:00am |
Registration Opens |
9:00 am |
Welcome Remarks Host: Silk "Eternia" Kaya, Artist, Connector, Engager |
9:15 am |
Panel: Accessing Working Capital to Grow Your Business Introduction: Laura Didyk, Vice President, Alberta South, Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
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9:50 am |
Panel: Financing Your Export Plans Moderator: Lesley Lawrence, Senior Vice President, Financing and Consulting, Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
|
10:30 am |
Break |
10:45 am |
Panel: Inside the Mind of a Buyer Moderator: Lee Lewis, Global Supplier Diversity Manager at Enterprise Holdings
|
11:45 am |
Lunch with Keynotes
|
1:00 pm |
Concurrent Workshops Participants will gain a thorough and useful introduction to human-centred design, and how they can apply it to real challenges in their own companies. With an engaging hands-on activity that addresses a real-time problem, workshop participants will learn practical skills and tools as they work through an accelerated design process.
This workshop is essential for those who are passionate about increasing team and leader performance, reducing cost and changing the culture of their workplace to be highly accountable and productive. Facilitator: Renée Safrata, CEO, Owner and Founder, Vivo Team Development |
2:20 pm |
Concurrent Workshops
In this highly actionable talk Saul Colt will go over both and set you on your way to being successful in finding the first 1000 customers for your small business or startup or your first 100,000 customers if you are a larger organization.
Positioning Your Brand for Global Expansion Location: 204BC This workshop will cover the minimum components that make up a “brand platform”, The importance of an explicit competitive positioning in the marketplace you want to play in, what you need to think about so that your brand gives you the ability to create a meaningful and cohesive customer experience, and much more! Facilitator: Ruth Bastedo, SVP, Corporate Development, Gravity Partners Ltd. |
3:30 pm |
Concurrent Sessions WEConnect International certified businesses will have the opportunity for face-to-face interactions with WEConnect corporate members to pitch their business and learn about opportunities with these corporates buyers. Panel: Unlocking Opportunities for Your Business
For all non-certified women’s businesses that have completed self-registration.
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5:00 pm |
Networking Reception |
View the Full Agenda and Speaker Biographies Here.
Sponsors
GOLD SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
Bronze Sponsor
Media Sponsor

Participating Corporates
Workshop Presenters
Sponsorship Opportunities:
WEConnect International in Canada is seeking sponsors who share a passion for growing women’s business and leadership. WEConnect International certified women business owners are savvy business leaders, high-level decision makers, knowledgeable consumers, and are loyal to brands and trusted service providers. The Power the Economy conference provides an exceptional opportunity in Canada to connect, understand and make a favorable impression on this important sector. For more information please contact:
Chelsea Prescod |
Edith Cecchini |