Grow Your Skills

Supporting women entrepreneurs with access to resources, groups, events and training to achieve personal and professional growth and development. The list below is intended to get you started in finding skill development opportunities that meet your unique needs.

Women in Business

National Resources

BDC Women Entrepreneur - Access tools and resources to start, grow or scale your business.

Business Women in International Trade (BWIT) - The only national program that provides targeted products and services to help women entrepreneurs internationalize. BWIT’s mandate is to provide targeted support and service to export-ready and export-active women-owned businesses. 

powHERhouse - a national women’s leadership accelerator that offers a variety of training, media, publications, programs, partnerships and connection opportunities to grow leadership 

StartUp Canada #StartupWomen - Download a curated document of resources and training opportunities available across Canada.

Women and Gender Equality Canada - Find information on a variety of programs across Canada to connect experienced leaders with women seeking career guidance.

Women’s Enterprise Organization of Canada (WEOC) - The national association of professional business support organizations dedicated to the success of women entrepreneurs, and the authority on women’s entrepreneurship in Canada. Member organizations operate under provincial mandates and provide an array of services including skills-development in critical business management topics, connections to financing and trade development opportunities. They also facilitate peer-to-peer networking among business owners and mentoring through business community volunteers.

Women in Leadership Foundation (WIL) - Deliver inspirational programs that bring women together to collaborate in the development of their leadership skills and creates positive change in the future of women’s leadership.

Alberta

Alberta Women Entrepreneurs - Offer tools and resources to help women across the province succeed in starting or growing a business. They connect women with access to capital, training and workshops, business advising, and mentorship opportunities.

Atlantic Canada

Center for Women in Business - Help entrepreneurs and business leaders throughout the Atlantic region launch new business ideas, propel established companies to new levels of success, and thrive as owners, CEOs and industry leaders.

Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE) - Help women entrepreneurs start, grow and advance successful, leading-edge businesses that capitalize on emerging economic opportunities. Offer training opportunities such as workshops and seminars to help women entrepreneurs take advantage of changes in the economy.

Prince Edward Island Business Women’s Association - A provincially and nationally recognized non-profit organization with a strong voice for women entrepreneurs and business professionals, a solid reputation for assisting women in business, and a large network of services, skills, and resources to help women entrepreneurs start, grow, and connect their business.

Women in Business Initiative - Recognize the significant impact that women entrepreneurs have on the Atlantic economy and is committed to providing the tools and support they need to succeed.  

Women in Business New Brunswick - Offer women entrepreneurs valuable information and networking opportunities for enhancing their business planning and growth. 

British Columbia

Women’s Enterprise Centre - A leading resource for women entrepreneurs, offering skills development, business loans, free business guidance, business resources, mentoring, networking and events.

Manitoba

Women’s Enterprise Centre of Manitoba - Help women entrepreneurs throughout the province find information, improve their skills and acquire financing so that they can start, expand or purchase a business. The team delivers resources to support women at every business stage and offer advisory services, in-person and online training, and access to capital.

Ontario

Innovation Guelph - Provide mentorship and business support services that help innovative enterprises start, grow and thrive.

PARO Centre for Women Enterprise - Offer a variety of events throughout the year and help women develop their knowledge, skills and networks through workshops, training, coaching and conferences. 

Rotman Initiative for Women in Business (University of Toronto) - Offer a blend of top academic instruction and practical knowledge, centred in three key areas: leadership effectiveness, professional performance and personal growth.

Silicon Halton - A grassroots, industry-led, technology focused community of Freelancers, Solopreneurs, Entrepreneurs, IT Professionals, and Students committed to technology, community and growth.

Quebec

Femmes, affaires et developpement (French only) - Support and contribute to the advancement of the leadership abilities of women entrepreneurs. They assist women business owners to increase and diversify their supplier networks in order to better position themselves among the larger, more successful Canadian and American organizations. 

Evol

Saskatchewan

Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc. - Offer programs and services to women entrepreneurs in Saskatchewan including business advisory and support services, start-up and expansion lending, networking and mentoring opportunities, and business development seminars which focus on entrepreneurial skill development.

Western Canada

Western Economic Diversification – Women’s Enterprise Initiative (bilingual) - Assist women entrepreneurs with access and information to start, scale up and grow their businesses.


Women in Business Conferences

Information to come

Business Skill Development

Agri-Food Management Excellence programs (AME) – Offer a variety of Executive Management Programs and empower farmers, ranchers and other agribusiness professionals through leading edge courses delivered in an unconventional format.

Community Futures Network of Canada - Provide small business services to people living in rural communities. Each office delivers small business loans, tools, training and events for people wanting to start, expand, franchise or sell a business.

Farm Credit Canada - Offers practical tools, new perspectives and breakthrough moments. Bringing the best minds in agriculture to communities across Canada to inform, inspire and help you get the most from your business.

Farm Management Canada (FMC) - Offer farm business management through leading-edge resources, information, events, and tools for farm business success. 

Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) - Provide international business training, resources and professional certification to individuals and businesses. A leading export-import training and certification expert.

Futurpreneur Canada - Provide financing, mentoring and support tools to aspiring business owners aged 18-39. Their internationally recognized mentoring program hand matches young entrepreneurs with a business expert from a network of more than 2,800 volunteer mentors. 

Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada – Access information to start, grow or manage your business.  Search for webinars, Twitter chats, tradeshows and networking events to help you learn more on a variety of topics.

Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) - Deliver programs that develop strong leaders who are critical voices around opportunities and key issues facing rural and northern Ontario.

TEC Canada - an extensive executive and leadership development program with access to a peer advisory board, one-to-one coaching, speakers, learning, and global networking.