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New Series from Women of Influence+ and TD Women in Enterprise Explores What it Takes to Thrive as a Woman Entrepreneur in Canada
The series follows the business journey of 12 outstanding women entrepreneurs, uncovering what it takes to make it in business and the struggles they overcame along the way.
Toronto, October 21, 2025 — Women entrepreneurs represent one of the fastest-growing segments in Canada’s economy, yet their stories remain underrepresented. A new video series from Women of Influence+, sponsored by TD Women in Enterprise, sets out to change that.
Launching today, the series marks the five-year anniversary of TD Women in Enterprise and illustrates the diverse realities of women entrepreneurs — the pivotal decisions about capital, growth, value, and resilience that shape their companies and the markets they influence.
Women entrepreneurs are a critical driver of Canada’s economic future, yet a recent TD study conducted by the Women’s Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub shares that nearly half (49%) of women entrepreneurs identified “securing financing or credit” as one of their biggest financial challenges, ranking it as the second-highest concern after “scaling their business” (53%). Women-owned firms already account for 19% of private sector businesses in Canada, employing thousands and creating measurable community impact. When met with the proper resources, they can often secure the financing required to move their business to the next level.
This series highlights what rarely makes headlines: the trade-offs and inflection points that determine whether a company scales, sustains, or stalls.
Shaping a Different Kind of Story
Starting today and dropping once every two weeks, entrepreneurs from sectors as varied as healthcare, wellness, childcare, organic food, and communications share how they made decisions under pressure — and how those decisions reshaped their companies. From modernizing multigenerational businesses to building North America’s largest childcare network, each founder’s story offers a distinct lens. Together, they reveal how entrepreneurial success is forged through vision, resilience, and strategic partnership.
The series is distinctive in its approach, positioning women’s voices not just as inspiration, but as data points in the broader conversation about economic growth.
“Visibility and recognition matter because they translate to access — access to capital, to networks, to opportunities,” said Maricel Dicion, Vice President of Strategy & Business Development at Women of Influence+. “This series captures the lived realities of women entrepreneurs, and demonstrates how their decisions shape growth across Canada’s economy.”
A Milestone for TD Women in Enterprise
Since 2020, TD Women in Enterprise has provided mentorship, financing, and advisory support to thousands of women entrepreneurs across Canada. Its fifth anniversary marks not just a program milestone, but a turning point, moving from support behind the scenes to a visible platform that reshapes how women’s entrepreneurship is perceived.
“Over the past five years, we’ve worked with women entrepreneurs who are transforming Canada’s business landscape,” said Julia Kelly, Vice President of Small Business Banking at TD. “Through this series, we’re proud to help share a sampling of their stories — stories of innovation, resilience, and leadership — highlighting specific advice or challenges they faced that can support other women entrepreneurs through their journeys as they bring their ambitions to life.”
Featured Entrepreneurs:
Angela Ysseldyk, Dutchman’s Gold
On modernizing a legacy business through crisis and reinvention.
Annie Laplante, Groupe MMI
On balancing rapid growth with the discipline of staying true to core values.
Anastasia Rebro, Farnham
On betting on herself to lead a legacy firm and proving that transparency can transform culture.
Cheryl Kerr, Medex Health Services
On risking it all through self-financing before redefining growth with the right financial partner.
Connie Lo & Laura Thompson, Three Ships
On turning underestimation into leverage.
Hayley Mullins & Sarah Cox, Joeyband
On increasing safety and connection for new families — and the challenges of funding, scaling, and sustaining a women-founded health innovation.
Heather Sloan & Enwei Li, HEALI
On innovating in sports recovery while navigating the realities of capital.
Jenn Harper, Cheekbone Beauty
On building an Indigenous-owned beauty brand that redefines representation and scales with resilience.
Joycelyn David, AV Communications
On how a single pricing decision became a turning point for her business and her leadership.
Marie-Josée Richer, Prana Organic
On using margins not just for profit, but as the space to protect values and sustain growth.
Victoria Sopik, Kids & Company
On building North America’s largest childcare network while raising eight children.
Dr. Woganee Filate, Lume Women + Health
On the realities of navigating entrepreneurship as a Black woman and reshaping women’s healthcare models.
Watch the Series
The TD × WOI+ Entrepreneur Series is now available at womenofinfluence.ca/td. New episodes drop every two weeks starting October 21, 2025.
About Women of Influence Worldwide Inc.
At Women of Influence+ (WOI+), our ethos is rooted in making meaningful and impactful change. We do this by placing ourselves and our community in positions of influence and power — places where we can drive transformation. We are dedicated to sharing and elevating the unfiltered success stories of a diverse group of role models. We know that when done right, from the podium or the page, these stories not only inspire, educate, and connect — they start to redefine our perceptions of gender roles and abilities.
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