Bridging the Gap for Female Entrepreneurs in Canada with Laura Didyk – November 21st 2019

It can be easy for entrepreneurs to feel lonely – women entrepreneurs even more so. But if you ask Laura Didyk, Vice President and National Leader for Women Entrepreneurs at the Business Development Bank of Canada, she’ll tell you how to break that spell.

“One of the biggest trends I've seen is the magic that happens when women come together to support one another. When women entrepreneurs meet others who have faced the same problems, they feel they have a strong connection, and feel better supported to handle the challenges that they're facing.”

Laura has always been passionate about entrepreneurship. Since 1994, Laura has held progressively senior roles at BDC across many divisions of the bank. From consulting and finance to branch support and subordinate financing, Laura has worked with all types of entrepreneurs, at all stages of their business.

Through this experience, she consistently saw one gap: a lack of women. Since 2015, Laura has been an ally and advocate for female business owners and leaders. She began as the regional Women Entrepreneurs Lead in the prairies helping drive the bank’s and securing local champions. Today, Laura drives the bank’s mandate to support women entrepreneurs across Canada.

On this week’s THRIVE Podcast, Komal Minhas and Laura talk about building the landscape for women entrepreneurs in Canada.