StrikeUP Connects Webinar Series
The StrikeUP Connects webinar series directly connects our women entrepreneurship community with free online educational seminars, tools, networking, and business resources.
Upcoming Sessions
NEXT SESSION: COMING SOON
Exporting 101
Presented by Export Development Canada and the Forum for International Trade TrainingÂ
Wednesday, August 19 | 1-2 PM ET | Free | Zoom
More details and registration launching soon.Â
Watch our Past StrikeUP Connects Webinars
Past StrikeUP Connects Webinars
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This Connects presentation shares insights from a national research study on neurodiversity and entrepreneurship, exploring the unique experiences, challenges and strengths of neurodivergent women in business.
Speaker: Dr. Jennifer Fane,  Lead Research Associate at Signal49 Research
Smart transitions start with a clear plan. Jill Knowles of Scotia Wealth Management shares practical guidance on exit and succession planning, including sale readiness, valuation basics, tax considerations and protecting the value you’ve built.
Speaker: Jill Knowles CFP, CIM, CFDS – Senior Wealth Advisor, Portfolio Manager. With over two decades at Scotia Wealth Management, Jill has developed a breadth of expertise in investment and retirement planning, estate planning and insurance needs analysis which allows her to serve clients with diverse needs including those with more complex circumstances or more sophisticated objectives. Jill finds it particularly rewarding to empower women through the financial planning process especially for those women with newfound independence either through loss of a spouse, divorce, or who simply wish to make independent decisions on their financial affairs.
Presented by The Scotiabank Women Initative®
If your business feels stuck, this session will help you reset. Siobhan McManus of BDC shares practical strategies to recognize stagnation, improve productivity, diversify markets and explore new sources of capital.
Speaker: Siobhan McManus, Regional Manager, BDC
Siobhan joined the Business Development Bank of Canada (also known as BDC), the only Bank devoted exclusively to entrepreneurs, 5 years ago, after working with a large commercial chartered bank, and spending time in healthcare philanthropy. She leverages her expertise to journey alongside entrepreneurs throughout all stages of the business cycle. She has worked across a diverse spectrum of industries and with businesses of all sizes, as a partner, to help them access the financing and advice they need to succeed. She is proud to support entrepreneurs through her leadership as a Client Diversity Champion, and B Corp (Beneficial Corporation) Champion. Supporting BDC’s national Client Diversity and Inclusion strategy, Siobhan works closely with Women Entrepreneurs to equip with the resources and the tool they need to thrive, understanding the unique challenges they face, and the incredible strengths they possess.
Presented by: BDC
Turn social media from a chore into a strategy. Sarah Carmichael of Bees & Honey Creative shares how to define your audience, choose the right platforms, use content pillars and create purposeful content that supports real business goals.
Speaker: Sarah Carmichael, CEO & Founder, Bees & Honey Creative
Sarah Carmichael, MBA, is the Founder & CEO of Bees & Honey Creative — a fractional marketing agency that helps founders turn business goals into impactful brand strategies. With a background in strategic marketing, brand development, and digital communications, Sarah has guided startups and growth-stage companies across energy, tech, legal, and creative industries.
She’s known for translating big ideas into action plans and has led companies through launches, rebrands, and funding milestones — with several going public or achieving successful exits. As the Calgary Ambassador for Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO), Sarah is passionate about empowering women entrepreneurs to show up confidently and consistently, both online and in business.
Resilience is not about pushing through at all costs. Maureen Codispodi of Help Clinic Canada shares practical tools to support your mental health, recognize burnout and build a more sustainable approach to entrepreneurship.
Speaker: Maureen Codispodi, Therapist, Counsellor and Founder
Maureen Codispodi, founder and director of Help Clinic Canada, is a force of change in the landscape of mental health support in Canada. She brings 25 years of experience and a life-long passion for education into her commitment to making a difference. She is committed to breaking down barriers to mental health services by providing ethically priced virtual therapy by qualified Canadian therapists. With the support of her team she is making an impact in the lives of Canadians everyday. Maureen tirelessly champions awareness and advocates for the importance of access to services for all.
Explore the key trends shaping small business over the next five years. This Small Business Week session with BDC shares practical insights on rising costs, changing customer needs, labour shortages and technology disruption.
Carine Bergevin-Chammah, Economist – BDC
Carine is a seasoned economist with a Master’s degree from the Barcelona School of Economics and over seven years of experience in economic research and analytics. During her two years at BDC, Carine honed her expertise in Canadian SMEs, delving deep into the business financing market and the unique challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises.
Presented by: BDC
Get the latest insights on women’s entrepreneurship in Canada. WEKH shares key findings from the State of Women’s Entrepreneurship 2024 report and what the data reveals about the current landscape for women entrepreneurs.
Dr. Wendy Cukier, Â Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Learn the fundamentals of exporting with tools and resources from Export Development Canada and practical guidance from a Certified International Trade Professional with FITT.
Learn how to navigate key federal business tools and requirements in Canada. Corporations Canada and Innovation Canada share practical guidance on creating business entities and using tools like the Business Benefits Finder and BizPal.
Celeste Pinkney – Training and Operations Excellence Officer, Business Services, Corporations Canada, Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) & Sado Yusuf – Senior Outreach Strategist, Innovation Canada
