12 Black and Indigenous entrepreneurs enter
the program aimed at unlocking growth opportunities
TORONTO, April 16,
2024 /CNW/ - Traditional territory of the
Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the
Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples – EY Canada, with the
support from BDC, the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs, is proud to
announce the 12 entrepreneurs selected for the EY Entrepreneurs
Access Network Class of 2024. Launched in Canada in 2022, the program helps Black and
Indigenous leaders access learning and networks to transcend
barriers and scale their business.
"The class of 2024 consists of visionary entrepreneurs from
diverse industries, united by their shared commitment to engaging
with their communities and meeting consumer needs through
innovative and sustainable solutions," shares Christopher Gordon, EY Entrepreneurs Access
Network Program Co-Director. "Whether it's consumer products and
retail or tech-enabled recruitment, the entrepreneurs in this
year's program put humans at the heart of their business."
The Canadian entrepreneurs are:
- Ejibola Adetokunbo-Taiwo, Simply Ejbola
- Yemi Akindoju, Vanity Fashions
Limited
- Keenan Beavis, Longhouse
Media
- Carla Casseus, CC4
Solutions.
- Felicia Dewar, miskamaoswin
Foods Inc.
- Darian Kovacs, Jelly Digital
Marketing & PR
- Vanessa Marshall, Jack59
Inc.
- Sabe Mpofu, Millenilink
- Jordan Perrin, DuraClim
- Cory Skinner, Factr Limited
- Jennifer Taback, Design de Plume
Inc.
- Tanya Walker, Walker Law
Professional Corporation
"Entrepreneurs are the driving force behind Canada's economy, and we couldn't be prouder
to work with a cohort that embodies the rich diversity and dynamic
spirit of Canada's entrepreneurial
landscape," says Myriam Gafarou, EY Entrepreneurs Access
Network Program Co-Director. "At EY we strongly believe that
an entrepreneur's pathway to networks, mentorship, capital and
knowledge shouldn't be determined by the color of their skin, their
cultural background or their gender. Instead, it should be guided
by their creativity, character, compassion and courage."
"We know too well that the most common barriers underrepresented
entrepreneurs face include access to financing, mentorship and peer
networks. That's why diversity, equity, and inclusion is central to
our strategy for fostering entrepreneurial success at BDC," says
Ms. Fatiha Senhaji, Vice President of Inclusive Entrepreneurship at
BDC. "Working alongside partners like EY, we can help propel these
entrepreneurs further, faster and support Canada's economic prosperity."
Now in its third year in Canada, the Entrepreneurs Access Network aims
to address the disparity gap by working with Black and Indigenous
entrepreneurs through seven tried-and-tested drivers of growth:
people, technology, operations, customer, finance, transactions,
and risk. The Entrepreneurs Access Network participants also gain
access to EY subject matter experts, benefit from a curated
executive curriculum and are paired with an EY Relationship
Ambassador for 1:1 coaching to help guide them through their growth
journey.
"In a short amount of time, this program has rapidly grown into
a thriving network, propelling businesses owned by underrepresented
groups to new heights," says Daniel
Baer, EY Entrepreneurs Access Network Program Co-Director.
"I'm proud of how far the program has come in a few short years and
look forward to seeing how the program's future growth will
strengthen EY's commitment to accessibility, inclusivity and
fostering Canada's economic
development."
The Entrepreneurs Access Network is part of EY's entrepreneurial
ecosystem that has been celebrating and supporting entrepreneurship
in Canada for 30 years. The
program runs alongside EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® and
EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women™, both of which support a
diverse and inclusive ecosystem that helps enable entrepreneurial
growth at every stage of business. At EY, we strongly believe in
Entrepreneurship for All.
Learn more about the EY Entrepreneurs Access Network and EY's
commitment to building an equitable and inclusive entrepreneurial
ecosystem for all.
This year's program sponsor is BDC.
About EY Entrepreneurs Access
Network
The EY Entrepreneurs Access Network is a program designed to
support Black and Indigenous entrepreneurs. It aims to address the
disparity gap by combining a curated, one-year educational
curriculum for business owners of Black and Indigenous controlled
private, for-profit organizations, with coaching and networking
opportunities. Participants are paired with an EY Relationship
Ambassador for dedicated coaching to help guide them through their
growth journey.
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This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP
SOURCE EY (Ernst & Young)