WeBC

Growth Peer Mentoring Group for women business owners in Canada - BC English-speaking group
2023-09-27 11:00 - 12:30 UTC
This Fall, WeBC is launching a brand new Growth Peer Mentoring Program for women business owners, and applications are now open. Virtual groups are available across Canada in both French and English, in partnership with The Forum, SDECB and WEOC.
Register Free

Smooth Operator: Preparing for the Future
2023-09-28 10:00 - 12:00 UTC
This is the 3rd session in a 3-part series Building your Business Plan: Formalize Your Ideas.
What are some of the mistakes new business owners make and how can you avoid them? In this session, we’ll show you how the proper planning and procedures can help you achieve smooth sailing. From ‘whoops’ to ‘what if,’ Archana will identify typical mistakes and risks in running a business, and help you to envision the best case scenarios for you to work towards. You’ll hear from other women entrepreneurs about their real life experiences and how they were able to adapt to changing circumstances. Together, we will:

Explore processes that you can use to avoid mistakes, including workflows, templates and procedures.
Imagine possible risks to your own business and come up with plausible solutions so you can be confident in your future.
Identify key operational decisions that need to be made.

Register Here >>>

Self-Fund Your Business or Use Other People’s Money?
2024-01-17 10:00 - 11:00 UTC | Webinar
Running out of money is one of the top reasons businesses fail. Using the ‘right’ money at the ‘right’ time can help you stay in business as well as accelerate your startup or growth. However, it can be tricky to know when you should self-fund your business and when you should look for sources of debt, grant or equity funding.
If you tend to default to building your business with your own savings, you’re not alone. According to a recent study by Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC), 88% of women entrepreneurs feel confident managing their business finances, yet 78% hate owing money and 62% take pride in building their business without external sources of money.
There are times when it makes sense to self-fund your business, and there are times when it makes sense to leverage other peoples’ money.
On January 17 our Senior Director of Loans & Advisory Services, Melanie Rupp, will explore these different scenarios and answer common financing questions such as:

What is the cost of using my own money to grow my business?
Is it less risky to use my own money?
Do I need to go into debt to grow my business?
How do I know which funding sources are right for my own business?

Join us to learn how to match your business needs with the right kind of funding!
Open to everyone!
Facilitator: Melanie Rupp, Senior Director of Loans & Advisory Services, WeBC

Register Here >>>

The Price Is Right: Strategies for Small Business
2024-01-31 09:30 - 11:00 UTC | Webinar
Finding the right price and pricing strategy for your business can be challenging. You don’t want to over-price your product or service and drive customers away, but you also don’t want to under-value your product or service or your business will never be profitable.
Whether you’ve been running your business for many years or if you’re new to business, this webinar will provide you with techniques that can be easily implemented. As your business grows, so should your pricing strategies, and pricing your product or service can be key to the future of your business.
In this webinar, you will learn:

Key pricing strategies and the pros and cons of each
Tips and tricks for price setting using consumer psychology
How to evaluate and adjust your pricing strategy so you can maximize your financial returns

Wednesday, January 31 | 9:30am to 11:00am | Webinar
Pricing: $25, free for WeBC loan clients and Unity Women Entrepreneur Program Clients
Facilitator: Kelly Masson, WeBC Business Advisor

Register Here >>>

Virtual Event in Honour of International Women's Day | A Community of Opportunity: Amplify Diverse Voices of Women in Business
2024-02-28 10:00 - 11:00 UTC | Webinar
Join WeBC for an event in honour of International Women’s Day!
This year’s theme is #InspireInclusion, which encourages us to consider how we each contribute to an inclusive world in all aspects of our lives and businesses.
If you make a purchase, you have power; if you have a voice, you have a platform; if you have a community, you have an opportunity to foster a sense of belonging.
Join us on February 28 to hear from four inspiring women who will share their own journeys and how they’re helping to build communities that amplify and empower diverse women entrepreneurs:

Kelsey Pringle, Owner of 5 Star Media Group and Co-Founder of UPLIFT Women’s Business Summit
Alissa Assu, Owner of RavenSong Soap and Candle, Bear Essential Oils and West Coast Wildflowers
Ashley Ramsay, Founder & CEO of The Wonderer & The 5TH Series; Board Director at Accelerate Okanagan; Investor at Women’s Equity Lab; and Past Mentor for WeBC
More panelists to be announced

You will leave feeling inspired to celebrate the unique and valuable contributions of diverse perspectives, supported by a vibrant network of entrepreneurs, and excited to drive the economic empowerment of women!

Facilitator: Shauna Harper, CEO of WeBC

This virtual event is free and open to everyone!

Register Here >>>

Fireside Chat: AI Tools for Business Growth
2024-09-19 13:00 - 14:00 UTC | Webinar
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere. If you’re growing your business, it can help you create efficiencies and grow faster, but you need to be strategic about how you use it.
So how do you identify where AI can be most helpful for you, how much should you budget, and how much time does it take to set up? Join us to hear from two tech entrepreneurs who are leveraging AI to grow their businesses:
• Lawrence Lewis is the CEO and Founder of OneFeather, Canada’s only Indigenous technology company specializing in electronic voting and community engagement solutions.
• Maya Adly is the CEO and founder of ROAR, a one-stop booking platform for service-based businesses.
They’ll share key AI tools, how they’ve integrated them into their workflows, and some lessons learned along the way.
Join us for this free fireside chat to ask your questions and explore how AI tools can support your business growth!
Thursday, September 19 | 1pm to 2pm PT | Free Virtual Fireside Chat
Facilitator: Andrea Jacob, WeBC Business Advisor
Panelists:
• Lawrence Lewis, CEO & Founder, OneFeather
• Maya Adly, CEO & Founder, bookwithroar.com
This session is available with simultaneous French interpretation. To request this service, please email skillsdevelopment@we-bc.ca by September 10.

Register Here >>>

We Grow Together Greater Victoria
2024-11-19 17:00 - 19:00 UTC | Esquimalt Gorge Park & Pavilion, 1070 Tillicum Road, Esquimalt, BC
On November 19, WeBC and The Forum invite you to celebrate the incredible contributions of women entrepreneurs in BC and beyond!
With festivities spanning 144 countries, Women’s Entrepreneurship Day is all about connection and support. Join us to hear from inspiring local women, meet fellow women entrepreneurs and share experiences. Plus, visit our partner showcase to discover valuable resources that can help you on your journey.
Let’s gather to honour the achievements of women and support one another in this vibrant community.
This event is free and open to everyone but space is limited!
Join us >>>

Pollinator Program Launch: A Virtual Debut
2025-10-16 12:00 - 12:30 UTC | Virtual
We’ve been building something beautiful—come see what it’s all about!
Over the past 30 years, WeBC has connected with thousands of women across the province—women who uplift others, spark ideas, and help their communities grow. And through all those conversations, one question kept coming up: How can we build more of a community?
We’ve been listening, dreaming, and building—and now, we’re ready to share something special.
Introducing the Pollinator Program: a new initiative designed to support women who naturally connect others, share resources, and help their communities flourish.
Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just beginning to explore what’s possible, this program is about weaving impact into what you already do—and growing together.
Join us for a 30-minute virtual launch event featuring:
???? Shauna Harper, CEO of WeBC, who will outline the program and why we were inspired to create it
???? Pauline Stevenson, our “Queen Bee” and long-time WeBC Regional Ambassador, who will share how you can get involved
After the launch, we’ll open the program intake and we’ll be looking for women in all regions of BC to join us. This is your chance to learn what the program is all about, ask questions, and discover how you or someone you know can get involved.
Everyone is welcome to join us for this program launch. We can’t wait to share this with you!
Click here to register >>>

Invest in Her, Shape the Future: A Celebration of Women’s Entrepreneurship
2025-11-19 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Denver) | Webinar
Join WeBC , The Forum, and WEDO on Women’s Entrepreneurship Day as we celebrate the ripple effect of investing in women entrepreneurs! This year’s theme, Invest in Her, shines a spotlight on the opportunity and impact that comes from supporting women-led businesses, not just for individual founders, but for communities and Canada’s economic future.
Entrepreneurship can be a lonely road: late nights, tough decisions, and moments of doubt. In this energizing session, we’ll zoom out and look at the big picture: what women are accomplishing across Canada, and why your journey matters.
You’ll hear from three inspiring leaders:
• Shauna Harper (WeBC) will share highlights from WeBC’s impact report, giving you the data and stories that show the true value of investing in women entrepreneurs.
• Amy Englemark (WEDO) will spotlight how national community-building efforts are creating greater collaboration, powerful partnerships, access to capital and community connection.
• Kirsten Koppang Telford (The Forum) will speak to the power of mentorship and how growth happens when women come together in supportive communities, reminding us that we’re never alone on this journey.
Whether you’re seeking inspiration, connection, or the confidence to advocate for yourself and others, you’ll leave inspired to ask—and answer—‘How can I use my business to create change and help more women succeed?’
Celebrate your achievements, get pumped up, and join a movement that’s shaping Canada’s future!
Wednesday, November 19 | 2pm PT | Free Virtual Celebration
Open to everyone!

Register Here >>>
