Women in Business

Our Purpose

To foster an inclusive business community where women thrive as entrepreneurs and business professionals.

COMMITTEE MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

Rita Hemmes

Associate Financial Advisor |

Co-operators Financial Investment Services

“Meeting women in business reminds me how crucial it is to recognize our diverse backgrounds and skill sets"

Anke Schroeder

Interior Designer | Black Cat Design

“Being part of the Chamber has opened up new avenues and opportunities for me. "

Laina Neudorf

Founder & Success Strategist | LTP Success Solutions

"Don’t wait until everything feels ready or perfect—clarity comes from action."

BY THE NUMBERS:

CANADIAN WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

Women are making strides in entrepreneurship—but gaps still remain.

Here’s a quick snapshot:

Women-owned SMEs increased from 15.6% (2017) to 16.8% (2020).
Canadian women have higher startup rates than the global average (14.8% vs. 10.1%).
Indigenous women have higher business ownership rates (23.2%) than non-Indigenous women.
Women-led businesses receive less funding, with men receiving ~150% more on average.

Statistics Canada Reports:

Globally, Canada has the third highest index for women entrepreneurs.
Ontario has the highest proportion of women-led SMEs at 36.9%, while Alberta sits at 13.1%.
Businesses led by men have a higher 14-year survival rate (50.2%) compared to those led by women (45%).

To learn more about women entrepreneurs check out these resources:

Statistics Canada

Made In Canada

Business Link Alberta

UPCOMING WIB EVENTS

Dress For Success

Women in need of professional attire can enjoy a private shopping experience at the career expo!

Event Link

Speed Networking Event

Join WIBASC for an evening of speed networking, the fastest way to build meaningful connections!

Event Link

Stronger Together

Join BPW for an inspiring evening empowering women through collaboration, connection, and leadership!

Event Link

Being Spicy – The Authentic Entrepreneur

Lynette Tremblay

Co-Founder of Stay Spicy | Founder of Iconoclast Solutions

Lynette Tremblay, Co-Founder of Stay Spicy and Founder of Iconoclast Consulting, was always wired to be an entrepreneur. After a career in executive leadership, she hit her breaking point of trying fit into the corporate world. After working for “boss-holes,” she needed autonomy, freedom, and to finally take a chance on herself.

Starting in 2023, Lynette launched two businesses. Stay Spicy began as a podcast with her partner, Sheri Doyle, and has grown into a community that encourages women to embrace their personal brand. As Lynette puts it, your business is not your brand—your personal brand is your business. Through one-on-one brand development consulting, podcasts, and merchandise, they support individuals looking to grow both personally and professionally.

Lynette’s other venture, Iconoclast Solutions, is focused on helping businesses grow while also guiding them through periods of crisis and transition. She challenges established norms around navigating change, describing herself as a bit of a Mary Poppins—putting new systems in place with a spoonful of sugar.

We asked Lynette about the role of mentors in her growth. For her, it’s a support network of female entrepreneurs. This approach provided a valuable sounding board without replacing self-knowledge. One key lesson: there’s no perfect time or opportunity to start.

Lynette emphasizes the importance of self-belief and courage. Women can sometimes undersell their own competency and understanding of business, which may lead to undercapitalization and missed opportunities to secure the funding needed to grow.

“As women entrepreneurs we do it different. What I learnt from other women entrepreneurs and from just doing it myself, was just trying it. We want to do things in our own authentic way and that is what differentiates us in the market. Because why would anyone choose us if we were just like everyone else.”

To support women entrepreneurs, Lynette has offered a $50 discount on a personal branding package to readers of this newsletter. Just tell her you saw it here when you email her at hello@stayspicy.ca!