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Who are we and what is The CWB Way?

Since it began at Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) in 1992, the CWB has championed women business owners. In the past 30 years, we’ve worked with thousands of women entrepreneurs in Atlantic Canada. We’ve learned what it takes to build and grow a business - and how to create a world where women entrepreneurs thrive.

That world has equal access to capital, investment, and opportunities. It has greater health and prosperity for everyone.

It just makes sense - dollars and cents, in fact - to encourage women to pursue their business dreams and create an entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports them. Consider this, Dr. Wendy Cukier of the Diversity Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University says:

Close to 38%

of self-employed Canadians are women.

Just over 15 %of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are owned by women.

If women were able to fully participate in the economy, they would contribute $150 million

to Canada’s GDP by 2026.

In 2022, fewer than five per cent of corporate and government contracts are awarded to women owned businesses, according to

the Women Business Enterprises Canada Council. In 2022, fewer than five per cent of corporate and government contracts are awarded to women owned businesses

The 5 elements of the CWB Way

The CWB is on a mission to ensure every woman entrepreneur in Canada has the access, resources, and support she needs to build the business of her dreams.

We have created a pioneering methodology based on three decades of experience with thousands of women business owners. To succeed, women entrepreneurs need

five crucial elements:

Watch for these icons throughout the book to see how the CWB way impacts female business owners.

1. Women-Centered Learning

2.

Dedicated Centres for Women in Business

3.

All-In Partnerships

4.

Research, Results and Accountability

5.

Advocacy and Outreach

This is a powerful, internationally-recognized system that uplifts all women entrepreneurs and weaves together a strong network of public, private and non-profit support.

This is the CWB Way.

Women-Centered Learning

We want you to succeed.

We’re entrepreneurs ourselves, so we get it: women need the right information, programs, and support at just the right time on their business journeys.

That’s why we curate, facilitate, and connect women to the resources they need from startup to succession. Whether mid-growth, high-growth, a ‘solopreneur’ or a business with hundreds of employees, we create our programs with women entrepreneurs in mind.

Women are so good at sharing. The conversation around the table is not just about business but about emotional support. You find women you can depend on for a personal issue or a professional one.

- CWB Business Advisor