Breaking Barriers . Building Bridges IWEP Digital Conference 2025

IWEP Digital Conference 2025

Breaking Barriers . Building Bridges

2025.01.31 & 02.07 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. PST

Join us for Breaking Barriers. Building Bridges, a two-day online conference crafted to equip women entrepreneurs with the tools, strategies, and inspiration they need to elevate their businesses. Whether you're launching your first venture or scaling to new heights, this event provides practical guidance from industry experts, innovative approaches to tackling challenges, and actionable steps to achieve your goals.

The event features sessions designed to deliver fresh insights and real-world solutions. Discover Creative Approaches to Branding and Marketing, where you’ll learn how to craft and share your unique story while forging stronger connections with your audience. Learn from Partnering for Prosperity: Building Bridges with Indigenous Businesses, where we’ll explore ways to foster positive relationships with Indigenous communities and create collaborative opportunities for mutual growth. You’ll also gain valuable knowledge on developing a clear, actionable roadmap to Strategize Sustainability—building a resilient business designed for long-term impact and success. Be inspired as we celebrate the story of Empowered Women, Empowering Business, an empowered woman entrepreneur who broke barriers and built a thriving venture, sharing lessons to fuel your own journey.

Another standout feature of this conference is the Speed Networking with Speakers—a focused and interactive opportunity to connect directly with industry leaders. Ask your pressing questions, gain expert advice, and build meaningful connections with professionals who understand the entrepreneurial path.

This isn’t just another event; it’s your opportunity to pause, reflect, and leave with the insights and confidence to take bold steps forward. Expect to walk away with fresh ideas, actionable strategies, and a renewed sense of purpose to break barriers and build bridges to new opportunities.

Don’t wait to take action! Join a community of like-minded entrepreneurs and start creating your next breakthrough.

Conference Agenda

About the Speakers

About the IWEP

IWEP Digital Conference 2025

Agenda

Day 1: 2025.01.31 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (PST)

10:00 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.	Opening Remarks
10:20 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.	Your Brand, Your Story: Crafting Marketing Strategies to Set You Apart	Meghan Jobson, Education & Marketing Lead, nine10
11:00 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.	Speed Networking
11:30 a.m. - 11:35 a.m.	Introduction
11:35 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.	Partnering for Prosperity: Building Bridges with Indigenous Businesses	Sharon Bond-Hogg, Economic Development Director, Westbank First Nation
12:15 p.m. - 12:35 p.m.	Speed Networking
12:35 p.m. - 12:40 p.m.	Closing Remarks

Day 2: 2025.02.07 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (PST)

10:00 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.	Opening Remarks
10:20 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.	Strategizing Sustainability: A Roadmap to Long-Term Business Growth	Meredith Hannen-Tugwete, Part-time Instructor in Business Department, BCIT
11:00 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.	Speed Networking
11:30 a.m. - 11:35 a.m.	Introduction
11:35 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.	Empowered Women, Empowering Business: Celebrating Entrepreneurial Success	Aisha Yang, Co-Founder and Director, Herbaland Canada
12:15 p.m. - 12:35 p.m.	Speed Networking
12:35 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.	Closing Remarks

IWEP Digital Conference 2025

About the Speakers

Meghan Jobson

Meghan Jobson is a Certified Digital Marketing Professional and leads Nine10 Training and Marketing departments. She helps clients write their website content, build brand strategies, and more. She's put her English degree and writing skills to use over the last 5 years in Marketing where she started in email Copywriting. She earned her CDMP in 2022 and continues to teach digital marketing in a variety of capacities. She works remotely out of her cabin in central Alberta, where she lives with her partner and their Animals.

Education & Marketing Lead, nine10

Sharon Bond-Hogg

Sharon Bond, a proud member of the Nooaitch First Nation, she is a lifetime groundbreaking Indigenous woman entrepreneur and the visionary founder of Kekuli Café. Celebrating Indigenous cuisine, culture, and community, Kekuli Café has grown under Sharon's (and her husband, Darren’s) leadership to include four distinct companies, each offering innovative food service models such as drive-thru, grab-and-go, and dine-in options, with an exciting new venture on the horizon.

With extensive experience in business startups, Sharon has honed her skills in identifying market needs and developing strategic plans that lead to successful implementation.

Beyond her entrepreneurial successes, Sharon is actively involved in various organizations that uplift Indigenous communities. She serves as the Vice Chair on the Board of Indigenous Tourism BC, where she champions the growth of Indigenous tourism throughout British Columbia. Additionally, she holds the position of Chair on the board for the Westbank First Nation Economic Development Commission, focusing on creating sustainable economic opportunities for her community.

Sharon's commitment to her hometown of Merritt BC, education, is evident in her role on the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology Board of Education, where she helps steer the institution towards delivering quality education for Indigenous students.

In 2023, she achieved her Master of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University, a milestone she once thought was unattainable.

Her exceptional accomplishments have earned her significant recognition, including the title of Business Woman of the Year by the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) in 2020 and the Kelowna Woman in Business Rise Award in 2021.

Sharon Bond's unwavering dedication to her heritage, community, and pursuit of excellence in business makes her a true inspiration and a leading figure in Indigenous entrepreneurship.

Economic Development Director, Westbank First Nation
CEO, Kekuli Cafe

Meredith Hannen-Tugwete

Meredith Hannen-Tugwete is a sustainability subject matter expert, which started in the construction industry where she has worked for almost 20 years. With a background in architecture, structural engineering and a Masters in Sustainable Development and an MBA in Sustainability and Leadership. Meredith’s sustainability journey has taken her all over the world working in Africa, South America, the US and Canada. She has worked for Non-profits, public and private. Most recently in the last few years has started teaching at BCIT in both the Business and Construction Departments.

Regional Sustainability Manager for Canada, Canadian Turner Construction Company

Part-time Instructor in Business Business Department, British Columbia Institute of Information Technology

Aisha Yang

Aisha Yang's journey from her kitchen table to leading Herbaland Naturals as a global nutraceutical powerhouse exemplifies resilience and ambition. After moving from Taipei to Canada in 2001, she founded Herbaland following the birth of her third child. Leveraging her sales and marketing background in aviation and an Executive MBA from Queen’s University, Aisha grew Herbaland into Canada’s largest nutritional gummy manufacturer, employing 200 people and exporting to 40 countries.

Herbaland, the first B Corp certified gummy manufacturer globally, is known for its inclusivity, sustainability, and innovation, producing 250 products and distributing 70 million units annually. Recognized with awards like the 2023 EY Entrepreneur of the Year, Aisha’s leadership prioritizes gratitude, integrity, and community service. Beyond business, she champions diversity and women in leadership, earning accolades for empowering others and making a meaningful impact.

Co-Founder and CEO, Herbaland Canada

IWEP Digital Conference 2025

About the IWEP

The Integrated Women's Entrepreneurship Project (IWEP) is funded by the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy.

IWEP is a multi-regional project organized by S.U.C.C.E.S.S. in partnership with the Immigrant Education Society, Saskatoon Open Door Society, Seneca Polytechnic, Microcredit Montreal, and Women in Business New Brunswick, delivers entrepreneurship services across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick.

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In partnership with: