Featured Entrepreneurs
Giovanni Smith: A Beacon of Change in the Utility Sector
In the utilities sector, few accounts highlight the challenges and successes of Black individuals. Giovanni Smith, originally from Mandeville, Jamaica, sets himself apart in this context. In spite of attaining a Bachelor of Architectural Studies, he was compelled to switch his focus to the utilities sector due to systemic barriers. His journey, transitioning from an aspiring architect to ultimately a business owner, showcases his adaptability and impact in the sector. His story is not just about personal achievements; it reflects the entrepreneurial spirit of an individual who, despite numerous obstacles, managed to carve out a unique space for himself in an exceedingly specialized industry.
Chantel Ross Francois: A Beacon for Black Canadian Women Entrepreneurs and Catalyst for US-Canada Partnerships
Chantel Ross Francois, President of the East Point Convention & Visitors Bureau (EPCVB) in Metro Atlanta, is a Black Canadian woman with a Caribbean heritage leading the EPCVB delegation of business, cultural, and political leaders from East Point, Georgia. She is a sponsor of Jamaal Magloire’s Toronto Revellers in the 2023 Toronto Caribbean Carnival. She has always appreciated the cultural value of the parade and carnival celebrations as well as the value and economic impact on the travel and tourism industry that benefits Toronto, the province of Ontario, Canada, and beyond. In her new role, she will tap into the experience economy connecting the United States and Canada.
Carla Beauvais: Empowering Black Canadian Entrepreneurship Through Culture and Communication
Carla Beauvais, Executive Director and co-founder of Fondation Dynastie, promotes diversity and inclusion in the sector of arts, culture, and media. She also co-founded Orijin Village, providing businesses in Black communities with technological solutions that allow them to reach new market sectors and bridge the digital divide.
From Banking to Building: Ian Tolliver's Work in Breaking Ground and Barriers
Ian Tolliver has a dream. He wants to see his name displayed proudly across a building he constructs. It wasn't a sudden decision; it was a dream that began as a humble cornerstone in his childhood and has been under construction for decades. “It was a dream that I had when I was like four or five or something like that. When I saw my name on a building, I didn't know what it was, but I could remember it, as if I had the dream last year. So, I just thought the construction was going to be the final thing, but I just had to go through a number of steps to get there.”
Stephen Callendar: From Skyscrapers to Community Upliftment
In the competitive Canadian construction sector, Stephen Callendar's name is widely recognized. With a career spanning four decades, he has carefully built a reputation that combines his business acumen with a strong commitment to community empowerment. From the towering structures that grace Toronto's skyline, proudly reflecting the work of his company, Bass Installation, to his role as the president of the Afro Canadian Contractors Association (ACCA), Stephen's accomplishments highlight his impactful leadership.
Icon Talent Partners: Bridging Canada's Talent Gap
Black entrepreneurs have a remarkable talent for recognizing community needs and crafting solutions to address them. These solutions not only benefit the Black community but also contribute significantly to building a stronger Canada. Take Derrick and Marilyn , for instance. They launched Icon Talent Partners to help Black and visible minority communities find industries that best suit their talents. While the federal government grapples with the dual challenges of building the country’s population and creating a more competitive, skilled workforce through strategic immigration pathways, private organizations like Icon Talent Partners are addressing one of Canada’s most crucial problems—aligning homegrown talent with high-impact industries.
Binta Financial’s Innovative Solution to Help Newcomers Build Their Credit History in Canada
Paschal Okwundunever imagined his own experience as a newcomer to Canada would become a springboard for his fintech startup. However, after hearing how many others went through similar – if not worse – experiences, the serial entrepreneur knew a solution was hidden somewhere. It all started when he moved to Canada from Nigeria eight years ago as an MBA student at the University of British Columbia and struggled to find housing. “Between the first day I landed and a few weeks later, I had to speak to at least six different landlords before one finally agreed to rent their place to me. And the simple reason was because I did not have a Canadian credit history, even though I worked in banking in Africa,” he says.
How Ginella Massa is Bridging the Media Gap for Canada's Underserved Communities
Ginella Massa never saw herself as an entrepreneur. The award-winning journalist, and North America’s first hijab-wearing national TV news anchor, spent many years gracing the television screens of Canadians, delivering news in some of the country’s largest markets. Now, the founder of Massa Media & Communications Inc. says her new venture is one she loves, born out of a passion to serve her community and bridge the knowledge gap between mainstream media and marginalized communities.
Carine Bado Creates Platform to Help Parents Navigate Canada’s ‘Childcare Desert’
The struggle to find childcare is a familiar one for Carine Bado. As the CEO and Founder of My Little Tribe, her frustration navigating what she calls Canada’s “childcare desert” is what led her to create a solution to ease the pain millions of parents deal with daily.
How Cheyanne Tunti is Buildling Community in Metro Vancouver's Local Beauty Industry
As a second-generation entrepreneur, Cheyanne Tunti says she’s drawing on deep wells as sources of strength to persevere in her journey of building a business in Metro Vancouver. Her faith in God and her father’s inspiring journey as a businessman from Ghana have been unfailing sources of hope as she navigates the world of entrepreneurship.
How Sean De Freitas is Helping Black Entrepreneurs Scale
Many Black entrepreneurs don’t have a blueprint for how to scale their business, taking it from a single-person operation to a fully staffed enterprise. However, changes across the ecosystem in recent years mean there are more resources to help as they embark on this journey. Sean De Freitas is the founder of Zayick Consulting, a boutique firm that goes beyond bookkeeping and accounting, to help Black entrepreneurs analyze the data so they can make informed decisions about the future of their business.
From Immigrant to Financial Entrepreneur: How Eduek Brooks is Empowering Canadian Women
In 2018, Eduek Brooks was drowning in over $40,000 in consumer debt. Overwhelmed but resolved, she knew she had to get serious about managing her finances. However, about two weeks after deciding to clear the debt, she was laid off from her full-time job.
Is The Future of Coffee Black?
As a Black woman in Canada's coffee industry, Nadine Umutoni is helping to forge a new path for Black entrepreneurs. The founder of Vancouver-based startup Neza Coffee says she wishes she'd started sooner.
About Manasseh & Ephraim Talent Agency (META) - BEKH Newsletter July 2023
As a result of the racial uprising of 2020, which shed light on widespread and systemic anti-Black racism, people in positions of power began to listen and take tangible steps in building more equitable opportunity and access for Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC). One such industry is the Canadian film and television industry.
About Reelworld Screen Institute - BEKH Newsletter July 2023
Reelworld Screen Institute is a pioneering non-profit organization dedicated to empowering and showcasing Indigenous and racialized voices in the screen industry. Founded in 2000 by award-winning actress and producer Tonya Williams, Reelworld has been a catalyst for change, fostering diversity and inclusion within the film, television, and digital media sectors.
National Indigenous People’s Day Interview with Ian Tolliver
Ian Tolliver of Tolliver International Incorporated & Founder of the Ontario Black Contractors Association (OBCA).
The Inspiring Life of Jamaal Amir Akbari: Entrepreneur, Artist, Activist, and Father
Jamaal Amir Akbari, stage name JustJamaal ThePoet, is a celebrated figure whose entrepreneurial pursuits have positioned him as a prominent voice within the Black community.
Embracing Intersectionality: The Remarkable Entrepreneurial Journey of Moe Egeh
Moe's role as the founder and owner of Hibiscus Realty, the only Black-owned real estate brokerage in Ottawa, illustrates the power of resilience, determination, and perseverance to conquer adversity.
Dr. Helen Ofosu: Building Career Resilience - Facing up to Barriers at Work
Dr. Helen Ofosu believes that in good times and bad, career resilience is one of the major keys to success.