Connect Directly With the Experts Who Help Women Entrepreneurs Grow​
Free, live webinars that put you face-to-face with the experts and topics that move your business forward. Watch a focused, high-impact presentation, then bring your questions to a live Q&A — and walk away with insight you can act on right away.
Upcoming Webinars
Reserve your seat for our next live sessions. Each StrikeUP Connects webinar is free, virtual, and designed to give you practical takeaways plus the chance to ask your questions directly.
Global Entrepreneurship Scaling and Trade
Presented in partnership WITH the women entrepreneurship knowledge hub
- Tuesday, November 4 · 1:00–2:00 PM EST
- Dr. Wendy Cukier — Academic Director, Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH)
Join us as we celebrate Global Entrepreneurship week with Canada’s leading voices on women’s entrepreneurship for a data-driven look at where the landscape is heading. Dr. Wendy Cukier of the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) shares the most recent research and insights shaping the environment for women entrepreneurs across Canada — the trends, the opportunities, and what they mean for your business.
As always, a live Q&A follows so you can dig deeper into the findings that matter most to you.
Exporting for Growth: Getting Started with Your Export Plan
Presented in partnership with EDC & FITT
- Tuesday, August 19 · 1:00–2:00 PM EST
Thinking about taking your business beyond Canadian borders? Export Development Canada (EDC) and the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) team up to break down the essentials of exporting — from your very first international sale to finding new markets and managing risk with confidence. You’ll leave with a clear, practical roadmap for growing your business globally, followed by a live Q&A to get your specific questions answered.
What you'll learn
- The building blocks of a solid export plan
- How to research, assess, and enter new international markets
- Tools, supports, and financing to reduce risk and fuel your growth
Catch Up On-Demand
Missed a session, or want to revisit one? Our full library of past StrikeUP Connects webinars is yours to explore, anytime. Access expert presentations and real-world insights on demand, and learn at the pace that works for you and your business. Whatever stage you’re at, the guidance you need is just a click away.
Past StrikeUP Connects Webinars
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Learn the fundamentals of exporting, assess your business’s readiness for international growth and explore the key steps to building a practical export plan.
Presented in collaboration with Export Development Canada (EDC) and the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT), featuring Anne-Gabrielle Berthaud of EDC and Lora Rigutto, CITP®, of FITT.
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
Never Miss What's Next
New experts. New topics. New opportunities to grow. Join the StrikeUP community and be the first to know when our next Connects webinar goes live — plus get free resources, funding opportunities, and networking made for women entrepreneurs, delivered straight to your inbox.
