Our Mission

Picture this: It’s 2020, right in the thick of a global pandemic, and Canadian women are facing unprecedented challenges in the workplace. Business closures, layoffs, and the impossible juggling act of remote work while homeschooling kids — it felt like everything was stacked against us. But here’s the thing about Canadian women: we don’t back down from a fight, especially when it comes to supporting each other.

That’s exactly when EmpowerHER Collective was born, right here in Toronto, with a simple but powerful belief: when women succeed, everyone wins.

Our Story: From Coast to Coast Vision

EmpowerHER Collective didn’t start in some fancy boardroom with million-dollar funding. It started with real conversations between real Canadian women who were tired of seeing talented, brilliant women held back by systemic barriers, imposter syndrome, and the old boys’ club mentality that still exists in too many industries.

We looked around and saw the stats — according to Statistics Canada, women-owned businesses represent about 16% of all small and medium enterprises in Canada, yet they often struggle to access the same resources, funding, and networks as their male counterparts. From St. John’s to Vancouver, from Yellowknife to Windsor, the story was the same: incredible women with game-changing ideas who just needed the right support system.

So we decided to build that support system ourselves.

What Drives Us: Core Values That Matter

Authentic Connection Over Surface-Level Networking

Forget the stuffy networking events where everyone’s just collecting business cards like hockey cards. We believe in creating genuine connections that actually move the needle. Whether you’re a tech entrepreneur in Waterloo or a small business owner in Saskatoon, you deserve relationships that go deeper than LinkedIn endorsements.

Practical Support, Not Just Inspiration

Sure, motivational quotes on Instagram are nice, but what Canadian women really need are concrete tools, real mentorship, and actionable strategies. We’re talking templates for business plans that actually work, financial planning advice that considers Canadian tax implications, and mentorship from women who’ve walked the walk in the Canadian market.

Celebrating Success While Acknowledging Struggle

We’re not about toxic positivity here. Building a business or climbing the corporate ladder in Canada comes with unique challenges — from navigating different provincial regulations to dealing with seasonal business fluctuations. We celebrate the wins, but we also create safe spaces to talk about the real struggles without judgment.

Our Commitment: More Than Just Words

Breaking Down Geographic Barriers

Canada’s a big country, and not everyone can hop on a plane to Toronto for networking events. That’s why we’ve invested heavily in digital platforms that connect women from Nunavut to Nova Scotia. Virtual mentorship programs, online workshops, and digital resources ensure that your postal code doesn’t limit your potential.

Industry-Agnostic Empowerment

Whether you’re crushing it in Calgary’s energy sector, innovating in Montreal’s tech scene, or building an agriculture business in Manitoba, our resources and community are designed to support women across all industries. We understand that what works for a Bay Street executive might not work for a Yukon entrepreneur, and that’s okay.

Long-Term Relationship Building

This isn’t a one-and-done workshop situation. We’re committed to being your professional development partner for the long haul. From emerging professionals to seasoned executives looking to pivot or scale, we provide resources and community support that evolve with your career journey.

Impact That Goes Beyond Numbers

Since 2020, we’ve connected thousands of Canadian women through our mentorship programs, helped launch countless businesses, and watched incredible leaders emerge from our community. But the real impact isn’t just in the statistics — it’s in the confidence we see building, the risk-taking we witness, and the pay-it-forward mentality that creates ripple effects across industries.

We’ve seen women land their first board positions, secure funding rounds, negotiate salary increases they never thought possible, and most importantly, realize they’re not alone in their professional journeys.

Looking Forward: The Future We’re Building

Our mission isn’t just about individual success stories — though we love celebrating those. It’s about fundamentally changing the landscape for Canadian women in business and leadership. We envision a Canada where gender isn’t a barrier to accessing capital, networks, or opportunities. Where work-life integration is the norm, not the exception. Where mentorship flows naturally, and women lift each other up as a matter of course.

Every resource we create, every event we host, and every connection we facilitate is a step toward that future.

Ready to be part of something bigger than yourself? Join the EmpowerHER Collective community and let’s build the next generation of Canadian women leaders together. Because when we rise, we all rise — and that’s not just our tagline, it’s our promise.