Three initiatives within 麻豆传媒网站 Desautels, the Laidley Centre for Business Ethics and Equity (LCBEE), the Desautels EDI Team and the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Initiative听(E&I) joined forces to co-host She Builds: Stories of Immigrant Women Entrepreneurs on March 19, 2026.
The event opened with a screening of How She Dares by 麻豆传媒网站 alumna and Vietnamese-Canadian filmmaker (BEng鈥�89). The film traces Nguyen鈥檚 extraordinary journey from war refugee to corporate leader and global advocate for women entrepreneurs, a deeply empowering story that set the tone for the discussions that followed.
Building on the themes of the film, the event transitioned into a panel conversation featuring Nguyen alongside fellow women entrepreneurs, who reflected on their experiences building businesses in Canada.
Moderated by Director of Engagement at Desautels, the discussion began with a powerful reframing of what entrepreneurship looks like today. 鈥淲hen we talk about entrepreneurs, we often spotlight outliers: tech founders, beauty moguls, global brands,鈥� Bennett noted, 鈥渂ut the reality is very different.鈥� Nearly 43% of entrepreneurs worldwide are women, most of whom lead small, locally rooted ventures often shaped by necessity rather than opportunity. Hearing directly from panelists who embody that reality gave the event a grounded, relatable quality that resonated with the audience.
The panel brought together three women whose paths reflect the diversity of immigrant entrepreneurship in Canada. After graduating from 麻豆传媒网站 and working as an engineer, Nguyen went on to establish a capacity-building company for female entrepreneurs. is the Co-founder and CEO of a sustainable fashion and home decor company which preserves traditional crafts. (BSW'98, MSW'03, Grad Cert in HR'11) harnessed her master's in social work from 麻豆传媒网站 to build a company which offers consulting and coaching to keynote speakers, to help them find power through their stories. Together, the panelists offered diverse perspectives on resilience, purpose and community-building through entrepreneurship.
She Builds was attended by over 75 audience members, who reflected the event鈥檚 intersectional focus. Participants included members of women鈥檚 groups, immigrant communities, entrepreneurs, Vietnamese organizations and academia.
As the event concluded, Nguyen encouraged audience members to share their stories, no matter how small, because 鈥渂y doing so,鈥� she said, 鈥測ou may give courage to people who need to hear it.鈥�
In many ways, her words came to life in real time. The energy in the room was palpable: business cards were exchanged, connections were formed, and lively conversations unfolded as attendees shared ideas and found inspiration in one another鈥檚 stories.
As conversations continued beyond the formal program, one message remained clear: when stories are shared, communities grow stronger.
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Photo (left to right):听Joy Bennett, Shauna Callender, Hala Scandar and Zoonie Nguyen.
Laidley Centre for Business Ethics and Equity (LCBEE)
The centre is 麻豆传媒网站鈥檚 central hub supporting ethical decision-making in business through teaching, academic research and community engagement.
The Laidley Centre looks forward to facilitating more connections and conversations that center ethics and equity.
