5 Mins | 700 Words
By: Mackenzie Houston

Fearless, Fierce and Focused: Women Business Leaders are the Future 

March is here, which means it’s time to celebrate International Women’s Month (#IWM2025)! Across the world and here in Ottawa, women are breaking barriers, leading industries, and reshaping the future of business.

Earlier this month on March 3rd, Invest Ottawa kicked off the celebration with its flagship event, The “F” Factor: Fueling Founders.

The inspirational event brought together women, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and advocates to discuss the challenges and triumphs of women in business. Given the current uncertainty in the marketplace, this event provided a perfect time for this community to come together for support, insight, and inspiration.

The morning started with reflections from Invest Ottawa’s President and CEO, Sonya Shorey, who shared an important message about the true impact of ensuring the success of everyone in our society.

“It’s always been about merit,” Shorey told attendees at the sold-out event while sharing statistics to support an economic case for action for women being part of the economy.

“$150 billion in GDP could be found by fully utilizing women’s economic potential… $100 billion in impact from unleashing immigrant entrepreneurship…and $270 billion in gains from upskilling workforce, innovation, productivity, with people from every walk of life.”

“So don’t tell me that there’s not incredible economic impact,” she added.

Embracing the “F” Factor

The message from the day’s speakers was clear: To succeed in business, women need to embrace the “F” factor. This means being fierce, fearless and focused. These qualities are highlighted by the event to fuel innovation, drive meaningful change, and inspire the next generation of leaders.

“Be bold, be fierce.”

– Monika Bains, Senior HR Leader

Panelist Kelly Gregoire, Chief Operating Officer at TryCycle Data Systems, suggested that another “f” word should be added to the mix: fear. Gregoire says that fear is normal, but it shouldn’t stop you. It is part of the journey, but pushing through it is where growth happens.

“Fear is okay,” she advised. “You have to do it, and you have to try it. You need to push through the fear and build confidence.”

Investing in Women Means Investing in the Future

According to Hawley Kane, Director of Product Marketing at LemonadeLXP, policies and programs designed to uplift women in the workplace are crucial.

She says success isn’t only about individual grit – it’s about having systems in place that ensure hard work and superior contributions are rewarded, no matter who you are.

“Support people in the workplace to be their true self,” she said. “Stop with the performative stuff and truly live it daily.”

Investing in women is not simply a matter of fairness. It’s also smart business. Diverse teams drive innovation, outperform competitors, and generate more substantial financial returns.

Companies prioritizing hiring, retaining, and promoting diverse talent position themselves for long-term success.

The Future Is Ours

According to Katherine Homuth, Founder & CEO SRTX, women today aren’t just building businesses — they’re redefining industries, advocating for inclusivity, and proving that success is measured by impact as much as by profit. From financial literacy to strategic planning, women business leaders need access to the right tools to lead confidently.

Homuth says that by providing systemic support, including funding opportunities, leadership development programs, and targeted DEI initiatives, women-led businesses can thrive.

“Generally, as Canadian female founders, we don’t have the same access to networks; we don’t have the same soft landing, so we have to create it.”

– Katherine Homuth, Founder & CEO SRTX (aka Sheertex)

Homuth’s own experience speaks to this reality. When Sheertex faced a major business challenge, she turned to LinkedIn and called on Canadians for support, showing the power of community, advocacy, and fearlessly asking for what you need.

As we celebrate International Women’s Month, let’s continue to uplift and empower women founders. Be bold. Be fierce. The future is ours to shape.

A special thank you to the sponsors and partners whose collaboration has been instrumental in bringing these impactful events to life including BDC Thrive Venture Fund, Rogers, SAS Institute and Calian, with core contributions from the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario and the City of Ottawa.

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• International Women’s Month continues at Invest Ottawa throughout March. Join one of the upcoming #IWM2025 events! Check out our IWM2025 calendar here
• Revisit The “F” Factor: Fueling Women Founders – check out the full event playback on YouTube.