Andrea Bailey-Brown: Pioneering Diversity in the Automotive Industry
Black women entrepreneurs in Canada are making remarkable strides in the business world. They are proving their capacity to build successful businesses, despite facing obstacles such as racism, limited access to funding, and a lack of representation. Their invaluable contributions to the Canadian economy are increasing the country’s global competitiveness and empowering their communities. In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (BEKH) is featuring a series of profiles that highlight the inspirational stories and accomplishments of four Black women entrepreneurs who are breaking down barriers in various industries.
On the list of trailblazers is Andrea Bailey-Brown from Edmonton, Alberta. This serial entrepreneur is pioneering diversity in the traditionally white male-dominated automotive industry. A proud Jamaican Canadian, she holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta, with a major in French and a minor in German, as well as a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Royal Roads University. Her entrepreneurial journey began during her third year at university. Andrea took the bold step of buying her first business–a chocolate store that was up for sale on the campus where she worked part-time. After completing her studies, she started her professional career as a teacher but resigned from teaching to focus on her passion for entrepreneurship.
Andrea decided to close the store and set her sights on purchasing a franchise. Today, she owns five Jiffy Lube locations across Alberta and British Columbia that have generated over $30 million in revenue. When she bought her first location in Calgary, she made history as the first Black woman to own a Jiffy Lube franchise in Canada. Her business expertise, however, extends far beyond that of her franchise empire. She is also a sought-after keynote speaker, business consultant, and the founder and CEO of Bailey Brown The Franchise Agency, which represents a large number of established franchises looking to partner with franchisees. Through her agency, she helps entrepreneurs to buy a franchise, grow their franchise or turn their business into one.
Andrea’s success has not gone unnoticed. She has received several awards and recognitions for her notable accomplishments, including being named Entrepreneur of the Year in 2022 by Diversity Magazine. She attributes her success to her investment in the pursuit of knowledge, her unwavering commitment to personal growth and development, being an avid reader, and possessing the mindset of a winner. While she admits being a mother and a wife has motivated her entrepreneurial journey, she emphasizes the importance of not getting caught up in tradition and creating a life that inspires you. Having additional responsibilities like caregiving and other forms of unpaid work can make it difficult for Black women to balance the demands of entrepreneurship and personal life. She suggests looking at how Caucasian women scale their businesses since they often have time to network because they don't carry an invisible workload.
“It really hurts a lot of Black women because of the traditional roles we’re given, and we keep it. You can’t grow your business if you don’t have space to get new ideas,” said Andrea. “The universe will give you answers and tell you the next business to start, who to connect with, where to go, but you can’t hear it if you are burned out,” she explains. “I just learned that if you really want to live your calling, you have to figure out how to not live in that space of being tired.” Her advice to Black women is to be intentional about the quality of life they envision, and to assert their power by prioritizing their self-worth.
She recommends all Black women entrepreneurs read two books: The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz and The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks. The first teaches you to be impeccable with your word, don’t take anything personally, do not make assumptions, and to always do your best; the second allows you to figure out what is stopping you from reaching your goals.
Andrea points out one of the biggest hurdles Black women face when trying to establish their businesses is representation. They may struggle with being the first to enter a particular space and feel discouraged when they do not see other individuals who look like them. To overcome these challenges, she urges Black women to adopt a clear sense of purpose and recognize their value as innovators.
“I think there’s value in being the first and showing up in places that we don’t necessarily think we belong. We have to learn to understand the value in why we’re showing up there,” she added. “When we show up in places where we are the first or we are the only, we have to know that we are there alone but we have a tribe behind us.”
Andrea’s journey demonstrates how BEKH plays a crucial role in developing supportive ecosystems for Black entrepreneurs. As part of a national network of six regional hubs, BEKH conducts research on the status of Black entrepreneurship in Canada. This unique, community-led research strategy employs a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to help identify barriers and gaps in access to support that impede the progress of Black entrepreneurs. By sharing data and insights, the Central Hub will better inform recommendations and policies that enable Black-owned businesses to reach their full potential.
