About WEKH
The Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) shares research and resources on women entrepreneurs in Canada.
Made up of 10 regional hubs, WEKH operates in both official languages and includes a network of over 250 organizations, reaching more than 100,000 women entrepreneurs.
WEKH is a part of the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy that aims to increase women entrepreneurs’ access to financing, talent, networks and expertise. Using a methodology developed by the Boston Consulting Group and the Cherie Blair Foundation (2019), it is estimated that closing the gender gap in entrepreneurship in Canada could add $41-$81 billion to Canada’s GDP.
WEKH Sharing Platform
A new platform to help connect women entrepreneurs and the women who support them.
Ask for what you need. Give what you can.
WEKH Alberta Hub
Mount Royal University's Bissett School of Business is proud to be the regional Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub for Alberta. Driven by the national WEKH mandate, our regional hub works to support Alberta's women entrepreneurs through information, resources and connection. We challenge gender stereotypes, bring awareness to female entrepreneurial success and opportunity and connect women entrepreneurs to the organizations that serve them.
By working with key partners throughout Alberta and across Canada, we are mapping the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem to build a community of practice that is more inclusive and supportive to women entrepreneurs.
Our Goals
Knowledge development and dissemination
As a regional hub, we aim to elevate and contribute to the research and knowledge on success factors and best practices for women entrepreneurs in Alberta and beyond. Our activities to achieve this goal include:
- Providing access to research papers, case studies and data
- Engaging with a network of academics in the area of women’s entrepreneurship and leadership
- Providing community-driven research support
- Conducting and publishing research with an Alberta focus
Teaching, learning and student engagement
Operating within MRU, we have a strong focus on integrating our mission in the post-secondary setting. Our objective is to increase WEKH’s profile and impact on campus, inspire students, and showcase the entrepreneurial talent within the MRU community through the following:
- Contributing to curriculum development
- Connecting classroom learning to real world experiences
- Highlighting entrepreneurial success within MRU
- Student internships
- Collaboration with other institutions
Building a community of practice
We work with a range of organizations within Alberta and nationally to expand our reach and further benefit women entrepreneurs. Our activities that act to build a strong community of practice include:
- Growing our database of support organizations and resources
- Connecting entrepreneurs with the organizations that serve them
- Bringing women entrepreneurs together with their peers
- Hosting and promoting relevant events
- Encouraging and supporting service providers in applying a gender lens
- Expanding partnerships and sponsorships by continually seeking out avenues for collaboration
Research and Resources
Research
- Mikwam Makwa Ikwe (Ice Bear Woman): A National Needs Analysis on Indigenous Women’s Entrepreneurship
- Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, Asper School of Business (2021)
- Breaking Barriers: A Decade of Indigenous Women’s Entrepreneurship in Canada
- Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business (2020)
- The State of Women’s Entrepreneurship in Canada 2020
- Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (2020)
- Growing Their Own Way: High-Growth Women Entrepreneurs in Canada
- Brookfield Institute, Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (2020)
- Trends in Canadian Women’s Entrepreneurship 2013-2019
- Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, The Centre for Innovation Studies, Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (2020)
- Boosting Economic Growth: A Report on Women Ag Entrepreneurship in Saskatchewan
- Fletcher, A., Newton, C. & Grandy, G. (2020)
- Women’s Entrepreneurship & Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Canada
- Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, The Centre for Innovation Studies, Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (2020)
Resources
- ATB Build Her Business
- Primarily financing
- The51
- Primarily financing
- Alberta Innovates
- Primarily business support
- Alberta Women Entrepreneurs
- Primarily business support
- Futurpreneur Canada (Alberta Hub)
- Primarily business support
- Women Entrepreneurs in STEM
- Primarily business support
- Government of Alberta Small Business Resources for Women Entrepreneurs
- Government resource
MRU Spotlights
Student, alumni and faculty entrepreneurs
We highlight emerging and established entrepreneurs who are students, faculty or alumni of Mount Royal University who self-identify as women.
You can find more information about these entrepreneurs and past spotlights on our MRU Spotlights page:
Do you know an outstanding entrepreneur? Nominate them by clicking the button below and filling out our nomination form:
Emily Robitaille, Student
Emily is passionate about evoking social change, particularly in the fashion industry. She is the Founder of Swim by Em, a swimwear label that aims to create confidence in a space that most females dread.
By combining her struggles with finding properly fitting swimwear and her love for fashion design, she has created a company that aims to eliminate the negative feelings associated with the bikini shopping experience.
Aislinn Grant, Alumni
Aislinn is the Founder of Grant–a design studio that creates meaningful brand identities for businesses and entrepreneurs through Canada. She's worked with everyone from amazing solopreneurs to organizations like TD and Westjet, and has been an entrepreneur from the age of 16.
Aislinn enjoys spending her free time mentoring university students at the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University and co-running PB&J (a community of female entrepreneurs dedicated to Playing Big).
Natasha B. Russell, Alumni
Natasha B. Russell, BCMM, PCC (NBR) is the Founder and CEO of NBR Strategic Solutions. She was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta Canada, loves to spend time with her family, travel and volunteer with non-for profit organizations that support youth development.
Her business offers coaching, speaking and consulting services to support purpose-driven entrepreneurs, corporations and non-profit organizations with achieving their business goals.
Events
Find events through WEKH Central:
WEKH Partners
