1. Being a Woman Entrepreneur
In Canada
Susan Kates – MBA
May 21st , 2013

2. Purpose of AMMJE
• The Mexican Association of Women
Entrepreneurs AMMJE is: "A civil organization
that brings together women entrepreneurs,
owners or shareholders of a micro, small,
medium or large company, to offer an
enriching experience in the common pursuit
of growth and improvement.

3. Canadian Statistics
• Women entrepreneurs are fastest growing segments of
the Canadian economy and represent a growing
economic force.
• Between 1991 and 2001, women's self-employment
expanded by 43%.
• There are more than 821,000 women entrepreneurs in
Canada, who annually contribute in excess of $18 billion
to Canada's economy.
• 4 out of 5 businesses are started by women.
• 47% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME's) in
Canada have at least one female owner.
RBC Canada

4. Self Employed women by
province (1989 – 2004)
BC 35.2
Alta 34.9
Ont 34.2
Nfld 35.6
NB 36.5
Que 33.6
NS 35.3
PEI 32.0
Sask 32.5
Man 30.3
2004 CIBC Small Business Outlook Poll

5. Canadian Statistics
• One person operations driving small business
growth
• 21% of women opened up their businesses due
to downturn in employment situation (2004)
• Women entrepreneurs are getting older
• Women entrepreneurs are increasing better
educated
• Women-run businesses are not necessarily for
women

6. Decision to become an
entrepreneur

7. Challenge 1
Capital
"One of the biggest barriers to women entrepreneurs is the lack
of access to capital. Quite often, women aren't seen as the norm
as ambitious, risk-taking entrepreneurs, which makes it
challenging to find investors ready to take a gamble. This renders
them invisible. One VC I met with started our conversation by
saying that he prefers to invest in female-led ventures since he
believes women run better companies. When I asked how many
female-founded companies were in his portfolio, he said almost
none because he never meets any female entrepreneurs.“
Leah Eckler, Women@Work, Globe and Mail

8. Challenge 2
Confidence
I’d say we’re still lacking the confidence and the
self-assurance that what we’re doing is good
enough.
Arlene Dickenson, Arlene Dickenson Enterprises

9. Challenge 3
Control
In their personal lives, women have a tendency to try to be
everything to everyone and wear so many different hats that
juggling everything becomes very difficult. So, when women
add “entrepreneur” and “business owner” into the mix, this
tendency is further magnified. Women can feel like they have
to “do it for themselves” or are the best person for every job
and have a tougher time delegating responsibilities to others.
This causes more time to be spent working in their business,
rather than on their business. This is a major hurdle to
overcome in order to have a successful business
Carol Roth, Author, Entrepreneur Equation

10. Tips
• Vision
• Flexibility
• Differentiation

11. Improvements
• Believing in yourself
• Persistence
• Telling others about your success