Inclusive entrepreneurship starts with making space for more women entrepreneurs to be seen, supported and valued. In Canada, June marks both Pride Season and National Indigenous History Month, offering an opportunity to celebrate, reflect and recognize the leadership, contributions and lived experiences of communities that continue to shape our country.
For StrikeUP, it is also a reminder of what inclusive entrepreneurship should look like.
Women entrepreneurs do not all experience business ownership in the same way. Access to funding, mentorship, networks and visibility can look very different depending on identity, geography, community, lived experience and the systems people are navigating.
For Indigenous women, Two-Spirit entrepreneurs, 2SLGBTQI+ founders and women whose identities intersect in different ways, those barriers can be even more complex.
That is why inclusion in entrepreneurship cannot be treated as an add-on. It needs to be part of how business support is designed, shared and delivered.
Why visibility matters
Representation matters in business. When entrepreneurs see founders, mentors, speakers and leaders who reflect different identities and experiences, it helps expand the idea of what entrepreneurship can look like.
But visibility is only one part of the work.
Inclusive entrepreneurship also means listening to entrepreneurs about what they actually need. It means creating spaces where people feel respected, supported and seen. It means recognizing that there is no single path to building a business, and no single definition of success.
For some entrepreneurs, success may mean scaling nationally. For others, it may mean building a sustainable business rooted in community, culture, flexibility or purpose. All of those paths deserve to be valued.
Building stronger business communities
At StrikeUP, community has always been central to the work. The goal is not only to share information, but to help create access to meaningful support, practical learning and connection for women entrepreneurs across Canada.
Pride Season and National Indigenous History Month are important moments to reflect on who is represented in entrepreneurial spaces, whose voices are being amplified and where more work is still needed.
A stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem is one where more women can access the tools, relationships and opportunities they need to grow. It is one where Indigenous entrepreneurs, 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs from historically underrepresented communities are not only included, but recognized for their leadership, innovation and contributions.
Moving forward with intention
June is a time for celebration, learning and reflection. It is also a reminder that inclusion requires ongoing action.
That can mean supporting Indigenous-owned and 2SLGBTQI+-owned businesses. It can mean seeking out diverse speakers, suppliers, mentors and partners. It can mean asking who is missing from the room and what needs to change so they can be there.
Inclusive entrepreneurship is not separate from business growth. It is part of building stronger businesses, stronger communities and a stronger economy.
This month, StrikeUP honours the contributions, leadership and resilience of Indigenous Peoples, Two-Spirit people and 2SLGBTQI+ communities across Canada.
We remain committed to building spaces where women entrepreneurs can connect, learn and grow, together.
