Women’s Month Celebration March marks International Women's Month, a time to honour the women shaping industries, driving change, and transforming communities worldwide. It’s a moment for reflection, appreciation, and celebration of the strides made by women in all sectors. Invest Ottawa celebrated its 7th Annual International Women’s Month (IWM25) this year with a powerful event: The "F" Factor: Fueling Women Founders. The event focused on empowering women entrepreneurs and featured various inspiring speakers, panellists, and thought leaders who shared their invaluable insights on scaling businesses, resilience, leadership, and navigating the entrepreneurial journey. This vibrant celebration highlighted the importance of fostering a collaborative environment where women in business can thrive.

A Space for Women Entrepreneurs

Invest Ottawa’s commitment to building an inclusive and supportive ecosystem for women entrepreneurs started with the first F Factor event seven years ago. Many women entrepreneurs shared that they didn’t feel adequately represented in the programs, networks, or mentorship opportunities at that time. This feedback ignited a movement within Invest Ottawa to create a more inclusive space for women founders. Since then, measurable progress has been made to support women entrepreneurs, and the F Factor event has become a core part of that mission.

This year’s event, held in honour of International Women’s Month, featured a dynamic fireside chat with two inspiring women leaders: Katherine Homuth and Stephanie Lipp. Along with a panel of incredible women speakers, they shared their experiences on topics ranging from growth to innovation, leadership, and the challenges of scaling a business.

The Fireside Chat with Katherine Homuth and Stephanie Lipp

A highlight of the event was the fireside chat with Katherine Homuth, founder of Sheertex, and Stephanie Lipp. Katherine’s story of building Sheertex—a revolutionary company known for creating unbreakable tights—was inspiring. From humble beginnings, Katherine’s innovative vision and tenacity have helped propel Sheertex into a globally recognized brand. What resonated most with the audience was Katherine’s ability to raise over $200M in funding and prove that with the right mindset, anything is possible.

Katherine empowered the women in the room by sharing her journey. She said that building a successful business was not just about the idea but about resilience, resourcefulness, and the right support. She encouraged entrepreneurs to take full advantage of the resources available to them, emphasizing that tapping into available networks, funding opportunities, and mentorship is crucial to business growth. "Take advantage of the resources out there," Katherine urged, offering practical advice to entrepreneurs at any stage of their journey.

Another key piece of advice Katherine shared was the importance of emotional support within one’s network. She stressed that finding not just any investor but the right team—one that philosophically aligns with your goals—is critical to a business's success. "As you're growing at a faster rate, having the right people who philosophically align with your goals and mission is important," Katherine explained.

While growing a business can be exhilarating, it can also be uncomfortable and challenging. Katherine acknowledged that failure is often part of the process and encouraged the audience to embrace these challenges as they build and scale. "99.999% of the time, you will be truly failing, and that's part of the process. You have to love it being hard and challenging—it’s all about problem-solving," she shared. This resilience and determination were apparent as she discussed the hurdles and lessons learned throughout her journey.

Katherine also offered insightful advice on the importance of confidence and negotiation. She encouraged women to "Have the confidence to ask many questions, ask for negotiations, and have the ambition—that's all you need to begin with." She said, "Life is long, career is long. Make the most out of your life and your learning, and protect your interests."

One of Katherine's most powerful messages was her approach to overcoming negativity. She emphasized that when faced with negative responses, entrepreneurs should "show them how successful you can become." This statement encapsulated her belief in resilience, determination, and the unwavering belief that success is built over time through focus and persistence.

Insights from the Panel: Women Leaders Share Their Wisdom

In addition to Katherine’s fireside chat, the F Factor event featured a powerful panel discussion with women leaders who have made significant contributions in their respective fields. The panellists included Kelly Gregoire, Hawley Kane, Monika Bains, and Sarah Sedgman, offering unique insights on leadership, growth, and innovation.

Kelly Gregoire, an advocate for women in leadership, spoke about the importance of collaboration and mentorship. She emphasized that finding the proper support and building meaningful relationships is critical to business success.

Hawley Kane shared valuable lessons on managing growth while staying true to core values. Her insights focused on maintaining balance and ensuring that the business culture and values remain strong even as the business expands.

Monika Bains, with her expertise in Human Resources, highlighted the importance of supporting one another as women in business. She stressed how critical it is for women to lift each other, especially when navigating the challenges of talent acquisition and team-building.

Sarah Sedgman, known for her work building community-driven businesses, shared insights into how resilience is key to overcoming obstacles. She encouraged the audience to continue building their businesses with a focus on community impact and long-term sustainability.

The panellists’ collective wisdom resonated deeply, reinforcing that success is built on collaboration, mentorship, and perseverance. Their stories of resilience, innovation, and growth were inspiring.

Invest Ottawa’s Commitment to Women Founders

The F Factor event is just one example of Invest Ottawa’s ongoing efforts to support and empower women entrepreneurs. Over the years, Invest Ottawa has made significant strides in ensuring that women are represented at all levels of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Today, women make up 50% of Invest Ottawa’s advisors, which is starkly contrasting to just 10% in 2017. The organization has also seen substantial growth in the representation of women founders across its tech venture programs, with 45% of Ignition companies, 55% of Accelerator companies, and 68% of ScaleUp companies having at least one woman founder, co-founder, C-suite exec, or VP.

One of Invest Ottawa’s flagship programs, SheBoot, has also played an integral role in empowering women founders. Co-founded by Julia Elvidge, Jennifer Francis, Sonya Shorey, and Invest Ottawa, SheBoot is a national non-profit initiative that has helped women raise over $35 million. Additionally, 52 women angels have invested $1.3 million of their capital in women-led businesses, demonstrating the power of collaborative action and collective investment.

Looking Ahead: The Path Forward

As Invest Ottawa celebrates its 7th Annual International Women’s Month, the journey toward full equality and representation for women in the entrepreneurial ecosystem continues. However, the progress made is undeniable. Events like The "F" Factor: Fueling Women Founders serve as reminders of the incredible impact women entrepreneurs are having on the business landscape. Canada stands at a pivotal economic moment. Unlocking the full economic potential of women could add an estimated $150 billion to Canada’s GDP, according to McKinsey & Company. The economic case is clear, and Invest Ottawa is committed to supporting women entrepreneurs as they continue to scale their businesses and build lasting change.

As we move forward, let’s continue to break barriers, celebrate the achievements of women entrepreneurs, and work together to create an inclusive and resilient ecosystem. By supporting each other, we ensure women have the tools, resources, and networks to succeed.

For more information about Invest Ottawa's work with women entrepreneurs, visit Invest Ottawa Women at Women | Our Collective Commitment | Invest Ottawa