perspectives
hello, my name is
Laura Didyk
Vice President, Client Diversity, Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
Since joining The Business Development Bank of Canada — better known as BDC, the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs — in 1994, Laura Didyk has had the opportunity to work with all types of business owners, at all stages and industries, helping them access the advice and capital needed to grow and succeed. An ally and advocate for underserved business owners and leaders throughout her career, from 2018-2020, she led BDC’s national Women Entrepreneurship Strategy which provided more than $1.4B in financing to over 5,000 women entrepreneurs over three years. Today, Laura leads the bank’s national approach to support Canada’s diverse entrepreneurs, including women, helping their businesses, and our economy, thrive.
She’s using her Perspectives platform to continue championing underserved entrepreneurs, by sharing engaging discussions about their journey, their business, and their plan for the future.
from her perspective
en français
I had my first taste of entrepreneurship while I was in my first year of university. My neighbours down the street, a couple with young kids, asked me if I could manage their ice cream shop over the summer. The work was hard, the hours were long — but over those three months, I came to love it. My experience in that little ice cream shop made me appreciate how entrepreneurs can become so absorbed with their business.
I had my first taste of entrepreneurship while I was in my first year of university. My neighbours down the street, a couple with young kids, asked me if I could manage their ice cream shop over the summer. The work was hard, the hours were long — but over those three months, I came to love it. My experience in that little ice cream shop made me appreciate how entrepreneurs can become so absorbed with their business.
more about laura
Laura Didyk is Vice President, Client Diversity at Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) since 2020. Diversity and inclusion are at the core of BDC’s corporate values and business strategy. Laura leads the bank’s national approach to support Canada’s diverse entrepreneurs, including women, Black, Indigenous, LGBTQ2, veterans, and newcomers: helping their businesses, and our economy, thrive.
Laura is a long-term advocate for small businesses and inclusivity. In 2018, she was promoted to National Lead, Women Entrepreneurs and helped BDC reach its ambitious $1.4B financing target ahead of schedule to inspire more women to start or grow their businesses. Since joining the bank in 1994, she has held progressively senior roles across many divisions that always centre on helping entrepreneurs thrive.
Having lived and worked in Calgary for over 20 years, Laura loves spending time in the mountains skiing and hiking with her husband and two daughters. She supports many like-minded organizations including sitting on WBE Canada’s Board of Directors, and national advisory committees for the Community Business Development Corporation, WEConnect International’s Expert Advisory Council, and the International Women’s Forum. She is also a mentor with the Haskayne School of Business MBA Program through the University of Calgary.
A Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), she holds a Business degree and a degree in Actuarial Science from the University of Manitoba.