Meet Nadine Bernard, RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Micro-Business Finalist

Nadine Bernard is a visionary Mi’kmaq entrepreneur from the We’koqma’q First Nation, where she currently resides with her family. As the CEO and Founder of Indigevisor Ltd., Nadine specializes in Indigenous engagement and procurement, guiding organizations in developing communication strategies and Indigenous Benefit plans for infrastructure projects. Her expertise spans Indigenous NGOs, municipal and provincial governments, with a strong focus on diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism initiatives.

Nadine’s dedication to community and reconciliation is further demonstrated by her role as a board member of the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Nova Scotia chapter. She also served as the past co-chair of the Tribe Network’s board of directors, supporting BIPOC entrepreneurs across Atlantic Canada. Nadine holds diplomas in Mi’kmaq Studies and Business from Cape Breton University and in Aboriginal Leadership and Indigenous Women in Community Leadership from the Coady Institute at St. FX. Additionally, she is an active facilitator of the Kairos Blanket Exercise.

A proud mother of three grown children and grandmother of two, Nadine’s commitment to creating a better world is both inspiring and impactful. Her leadership and passion for uplifting Indigenous communities and advancing broader societal progress make her a truly remarkable figure.

I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur when… I realized there were gaps between the business world and Indigenous communities. I wanted to bridge those worlds and be a conduit for positive change. 

Entrepreneurship is made for me because… it aligns perfectly with my lifestyle and fuels my passion for elevating Indigenous voices, allowing me to use my professional experiences to help build capacity within our communities. 

The impact I hope to make through my work is… to change the narrative around entrepreneurship and self-employment. While much attention is given to the barriers and challenges, I want to highlight the positives — creating employment, the flexibility of working from home, and bringing new opportunities to Indigenous communities. 

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned on my entrepreneurial journey is… that success isn’t just about having a great idea. It’s about understanding the big picture of running a business, the intricate internal structures that are essential for daily operations and long-term growth, and mastering the tools that bring the vision to life. 

My proudest accomplishment is… contributing to economic reconciliation by bringing work and opportunities to Indigenous communities, while fostering growth and empowerment. 

The biggest risk I took that paid off was… transitioning from small-scale projects to large-scale federal government contracts. Despite uncertainty about capacity, I believed in our potential. Now, we’re thriving and working on Indigenous procurement on a billion-dollar project. 

My biggest setback has been… not fully understanding financial structures and projections from the start. I had to build my knowledge and capacity in this area as Indigevisor grew. 

I overcame it by… strengthening my internal structure to be more proactive than reactive. The key was learning to ask for help. Now that it’s a team effort, things are moving in a positive direction. 

The best advice I’ve received as an entrepreneur was… to know your business inside and out, without giving away too much authority over your knowledge. It’s important to share information wisely and stay connected to every aspect of your operations. Trust your team, while ensuring you’re aware of the details to keep everything running smoothly. 

I surprise people when I tell them… that I started this business from nothing. After receiving my layoff slip, I went to Service Canada to start this company rather than filing for Employment Insurance. It began with an idea, a solid understanding of business, and a good network, with no formal plan in place. 

If I had an extra hour in the day, I would use it to… reflect and journal, capturing the good and bad moments. I’d take the time to observe my growth from a broader perspective, reflecting on where I was a year ago, how I’ve navigated challenges, and where things have shifted. 

If you googled me, you still wouldn’t know… that I have a fear of flying, despite constantly travelling for work. That’s why I prefer to drive whenever possible. 

The future excites me because… of the potential impact of economic reconciliation for Indigenous communities and how it can affect future generations. I’m thrilled about the role my team and I will play in driving this change.

Connect with Indigevisor Ltd. on LinkedIn and Facebook.