Breaking Barriers . Building Bridges IWEP Digital Conference 2025

IWEP Digital Conference 2025

Breaking Barriers . Building Bridges

2025.01.31 & 02.07 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. PST

Join us for Breaking Barriers. Building Bridges, a two-day online conference crafted to equip women entrepreneurs with the tools, strategies, and inspiration they need to elevate their businesses. Whether you're launching your first venture or scaling to new heights, this event provides practical guidance from industry experts, innovative approaches to tackling challenges, and actionable steps to achieve your goals.

The event features sessions designed to deliver fresh insights and real-world solutions. Discover Creative Approaches to Branding and Marketing, where you’ll learn how to craft and share your unique story while forging stronger connections with your audience. Learn from Partnering for Prosperity: Building Bridges with Indigenous Businesses, where we’ll explore ways to foster positive relationships with Indigenous communities and create collaborative opportunities for mutual growth. You’ll also gain valuable knowledge on developing a clear, actionable roadmap to Strategize Sustainability—building a resilient business designed for long-term impact and success. Be inspired as we celebrate the story of Empowered Women, Empowering Business, an empowered woman entrepreneur who broke barriers and built a thriving venture, sharing lessons to fuel your own journey.

Another standout feature of this conference is the Speed Networking with Speakers—a focused and interactive opportunity to connect directly with industry leaders. Ask your pressing questions, gain expert advice, and build meaningful connections with professionals who understand the entrepreneurial path.

This isn’t just another event; it’s your opportunity to pause, reflect, and leave with the insights and confidence to take bold steps forward. Expect to walk away with fresh ideas, actionable strategies, and a renewed sense of purpose to break barriers and build bridges to new opportunities.

Don’t wait to take action! Join a community of like-minded entrepreneurs and start creating your next breakthrough.

The presentations will be delivered in English, with Wordly's AI-powered translation service available in French.

Conference Agenda

About the Speakers

About the IWEP

IWEP Digital Conference 2025

Agenda

Day 1: 2025.01.31 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (PST)

10:00 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.

Opening Remarks

10:20 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Your Brand, Your Story: Crafting Marketing Strategies to Set You Apart

Meghan Jobson, Education & Marketing Lead, nine10

11:00 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.

Speed Networking

11:30 a.m. - 11:35 a.m.

Introduction

11:35 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Partnering for Prosperity: Building Bridges with Indigenous Businesses

Sharon Bond-Hogg, Chair, Westbank First Nation Economic Development Commission

12:15 p.m. - 12:35 p.m.

Speed Networking

12:35 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.

Closing Remarks

Day 2: 2025.02.07 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (PST)

10:00 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.

Opening Remarks

10:20 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Strategizing Sustainability: A Roadmap to Long-Term Business Growth

Meredith Hannen-Tugwete, Regional Sustainability Manager for Canada, Canadian Turner Construction Company

11:00 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.

Speed Networking

11:30 a.m. - 11:35 a.m.

Introduction

11:35 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Empowered Women, Empowering Business: Celebrating Entrepreneurial Success

Aisha Yang, Co-Founder and Director, Herbaland Canada

12:15 p.m. - 12:35 p.m.

Speed Networking

12:35 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.

Closing Remarks

IWEP Digital Conference 2025

About the Speakers

Meghan Jobson

Meghan Jobson is a Certified Digital Marketing Professional and leads Nine10 Training and Marketing departments. She helps clients write their website content, build brand strategies, and more. She's put her English degree and writing skills to use over the last 5 years in Marketing where she started in email Copywriting. She earned her CDMP in 2022 and continues to teach digital marketing in a variety of capacities. She works remotely out of her cabin in central Alberta, where she lives with her partner and their Animals.

Education & Marketing Lead, nine10

Sharon Bond-Hogg

Sharon Bond-Hogg, a proud member of the Nooaitch First Nation, is a trailblazing Indigenous entrepreneur and founder of Kekuli Café. Celebrating Indigenous cuisine, culture, and community, Kekuli Café has flourished under Sharon and her husband Darren’s leadership, expanding to four companies with innovative food service models like drive-thru, grab-and-go, and dine-in, and an exciting new venture underway.

With extensive expertise in business startups, Sharon excels at identifying market needs and crafting strategic plans for success.

Sharon is deeply committed to uplifting Indigenous communities. She serves as Vice Chair of Indigenous Tourism BC, championing Indigenous tourism growth, and as Chair of the Westbank First Nation Economic Development Commission, fostering sustainable opportunities.

Additionally, Sharon supports education as a board member at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, helping guide quality learning for Indigenous students in her hometown of Merritt, BC.

Chair, Westbank First Nation Economic Development Commission
CEO/Founder, Kekuli Cafe Properties Inc.

Meredith Hannen-Tugwete

Meredith Hannen-Tugwete is a sustainability subject matter expert, which started in the construction industry where she has worked for almost 20 years. With a background in architecture, structural engineering and a Masters in Sustainable Development and an MBA in Sustainability and Leadership. Meredith’s sustainability journey has taken her all over the world working in Africa, South America, the US and Canada. She has worked for Non-profits, public and private. Most recently in the last few years has started teaching at BCIT in both the Business and Construction Departments.

Regional Sustainability Manager for Canada, Canadian Turner Construction Company

Part-time Instructor in Business and Construction Department, British Columbia Institute of Information Technology

Aisha Yang

Aisha Yang's journey from her kitchen table to leading Herbaland Naturals as a global nutraceutical powerhouse exemplifies resilience and ambition. After moving from Taipei to Canada in 2001, she founded Herbaland following the birth of her third child. Leveraging her sales and marketing background in aviation and an Executive MBA from Queen’s University, Aisha grew Herbaland into Canada’s largest nutritional gummy manufacturer, employing 200 people and exporting to 40 countries.

Herbaland, the first B Corp certified gummy manufacturer globally, is known for its inclusivity, sustainability, and innovation, producing 250 products and distributing 70 million units annually. Recognized with awards like the 2023 EY Entrepreneur of the Year, Aisha’s leadership prioritizes gratitude, integrity, and community service. Beyond business, she champions diversity and women in leadership, earning accolades for empowering others and making a meaningful impact.

Co-Founder and CEO, Herbaland Canada

IWEP Digital Conference 2025

About the IWEP

The Integrated Women's Entrepreneurship Project (IWEP) is funded by the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy.

IWEP is a multi-regional project organized by S.U.C.C.E.S.S. in partnership with the Immigrant Education Society, Saskatoon Open Door Society, Seneca Polytechnic, Microcredit Montreal, and Women in Business New Brunswick, delivers entrepreneurship services across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick.

Funded by:

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Organized by:

In partnership with: