1. Real Life Lessons: Engaging Communities, Stakeholders, and Rights Holders Women as Entrepreneurs: Transforming Economies Tracey Scarlett April 11, 2013

2. What is Entrepreneurship? Entrepreneur: one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise Business based on an idea, vision, goal, or invention One of the most significant predictors of a thriving economy is a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem!

3. Did You Know? 98% of Canada’s GDP comes from SMEs All net new jobs in the US between 1977 and 2010 (Kauffman Foundation) came from small business creation and growth 96% of all businesses in Alberta are defined as small business 36% of private sector employment in Alberta comes from small business

4. Did You Know? 35% of all businesses in Canada are majority owned by women and nearly 50% have female ownership There are approximately 1 Million female entrepreneurs in Canada; 110,000 reside in Alberta Women open businesses at more than double the rate of men Female led businesses employ 1.5M Canadians $117B annual economic impact

5. Alberta Women Entrepreneurs Our Vision is to ensure: Women Entrepreneurs are successful contributors to the Alberta economy Build the Person, Build the Business, Build the Community

6. Why become an entrepreneur? Women we see state the following factors: Money Different lifestyle / often accompanies a significant life change event Control over your future Build something your way Work according to your schedule

7. 18 Years of Impact in Alberta Loans: Over $16M; leveraged 2.2:1 Estimated economic impact: $450M Jobs created: 200-250 annually Clients in business after 5 years: 75% Average additional revenue per client over 5 years: $1.9M

8. The Landscape: Services for Entrepreneurs Stage of Business Start-Up Pre-Start-Up Established Service Offerings TransactionalSupportive Banks Professional Advisory Services Business Information, Workshops $2M+ Peer Groups Executive Coaching Business Incubators Start-up Mentorship Programs Gov’t Lending programs Business Plan Competitions SR&ED Tax credits Innovation Programs Accelerator Programs Business Associations & Affinity Groups

9. The Big Question: Are gender based initiatives still relevant?

10. Food for Thought Women have ownership in nearly half of all small businesses in Canada –Yet majority female owned firms are half the size of male owned firms Industry Canada reports that growth aspirations are the same for majority male and female owned firms –Yet women do not access the same level of financing for growth (controlled for sector)

11. Food for Thought Young women comprise more than 50% of many bachelor degree and advanced degree programs The wage gap remains with women earning 89 cents for each dollar earned by men (bachelors degree new grads) –Equal earnings in government, education, social sectors –86 cent dollars in management professions –72 cent dollars in sales and professional services Interestingly the wage gap disappears when women own their own businesses (UK study - Barclays, 2013)

12. Food for Thought In fields such as accounting and law, women represent the majority of new graduates –Yet very few women reach senior manager or partner level Canada’s productivity gap continues to grow –Yet we have a large pool of highly educated professional women sitting on the sidelines

13. Demographics in Canada

14. AWE: Helping Businesses Realize Success Connecting to Contracts Program –Supplier Diversity Certification –Trade Missions Building on Success Workshops Annual Leadership Summit Celebration of Achievement Excelerator Program Next Step to Success for Aboriginal Women

15. The Big Question How will you develop the economic potential of your entire population? Opportunities for community economic development: Mentorship Leadership development Communities of support (peer groups) Entrepreneurship support for expanding businesses Supplier diversity initiatives

16. Thank you! tracey.scarlett@awebusiness.com