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 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.
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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:
Dina Ibrahim, Student
Dina Ibrahim is the founder of HYAT CO. which strives to bring affordable and high-quality hijabs to women all across the world. She uses her platform through the business to bring awareness to different issues in the modest fashion community and hopes to expand her collections to offer more products.
Specifically, she has been an advocate for plus-size women and hopes to create a safe space for them to share their own fashion ideas.
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).
Our Goals
+ Knowledge development and dissemination
+ Teaching, learning and student engagement
+ Building a community of practice
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)
- Rise-Up: A study of 700 Black Women Entrepreneurs
- Black Business and Professional Association, Casa Foundation, de Sedulous Women Leaders, and Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (2021)
- The State of Women's Entrepreneurship in Canada 2021
- Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (2021)
- Boosting Economic Growth: A Report on Women Ag Entrepreneurship in Saskatchewan
- Fletcher, A., Newton, C. & Grandy, G. (2020)
- 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)
- 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
- Canadian Women’s Network (CWN) Silicon Valley
- Primarily business support
- Alberta Agrivalue Processing Business Incubator
- Government resource
WEKH Alberta Podcast
WEKH is proud to present Women Redefining, a podcast dedicated to sharing the stories of women entrepreneurs in Alberta who are fighting the odds and finding success.
Events
Find events through WEKH:
WEKH Partners
