Embracing Diversity: Black Women Build Businesses

Email Shelley LaMorre, manager, alumni and donor relations, Faculty of Management atshelley.lamorre@dal.ca.

Dalhousie Faculty of Management

Please join our online panel discussion hosted by Jalana Lewis with panelists Ashley Hill, Joyce Adom, Shekara Grant, and Rene Boudreau

Grab a coffee and join us as we host female entrepreneurs in an interactive online conversation about diversity, equity and inclusion in building businesses and much more. Embracing Diversity: Black Women Build Businesses is hosted by Jalana Lewis, Dal’s director of African Nova Scotian engagement, and includes panelists Ashley Hill (Dalhousie, BA &#x27;13), Joyce Adom (Surrey, MSc &#x27;11), Shekara Grant (Dalhousie, BA &#x27;19) and Rene Boudreau (Dalhousie, BA ’15).

About our host:Jalana Lewis is is Dalhousie's first director of African Nova Scotian Community Engagement. In 2016 Lewis, who formerly worked in law and social justice, managed Lindell Smith’s successful campaign to become the first Black city councillor in Halifax in 16 years. After that, she became the lead researcher on the Lord Dalhousie Panel examining the university’s history and connections to slavery. About our Panelists:Joyce Adom is the founder and CEO of Simply Go Natural Cosmetics, a black women owned organic cosmetic manufacturing company and brand that hand make natural plant -based cruelty free skin care products for normal to severe dry skin and hair care products for different hair types and needs specializing in curly, coily, wavy, hair and textured hair since 2016, based in Halifax, Nova scotia. Simply Go Natural Cosmetics was founded after struggling in finding healthy hair and skin care products for her and her family as a new immigrant to Canada in 2015 and therefore nutrition based.Her hair care products makes it easy for women, men and children with curly, wavy, and coily hair to embrace and maintain healthy natural hair, toxin free with products ranging from shampoos, conditioners, hair serums and hair butters, while our skin care helps those with normal to severe dry, and sensitive skin achieve healthy glowing skin by using high performing organic ingredients in waterless body butters and solid creamsHer products are now available online at simplygonatural.com , 12 Sobeys, Amazon, Black Owned Toronto store in Eaton Centre/shopping mall, and in 5 local health stores in Halifax. We are still growing and expanding into more Sobeys in Atlantic Canada, nationwide and other stores to give consumers easily accessible healthier hair and skin care choices. René Boudreau (Dalhousie BA'15) is an African Nova Scotian woman and the entrepreneur behind Elevate &amp; Explore Black Nova Scotia Inc., a travel community and business aimed at encouraging more Black travellers to visit Mi'kma'ki, Turtle Island (Nova Scotia, Canada) and inspire all travellers to explore Black Nova Scotia. Known around the East Coast as a true advocate for Black travellers, René is a leader contributing to the powerful Black travel movement that has emerged over the past decade. René has worked in non-profit, community based organizations for over 10 years and has always been passionate about travel, community, and creating memorable experiences for others. René believes in the importance of representation and inclusivity and it is demonstrated through her work. Since founding Elevate &amp; Explore Black Nova Scotia Inc., René has partnered with other businesses/organizations, created tours and events, and hosted retreats.Shekara Grant is from Cherry Brook, Nova Scotia. Shekara graduated from Dalhousie University in 2019 with a combined Honours in both Sociology and French, as well as a certificate in Intercultural Communications. She is peripatetic and as such have found herself living and/or working abroad, notably in Australia and France where she resided for seven months each. In June 2020, she co-founded Change Is Brewing Collective, a Black and Indigenous run Community Interest Company. They produce craft beers and ciders in collaboration with existing small businesses, then donates a portion of the profits back to projects supporting Black and Indigenous communities and food security initiatives. Shekara is a passionate advocate for anti-racism and is constantly in search of new projects or business ideas that she feels will help propel this movement forward.Ashley Hill (Dalhousie BA'13) is the Founder and Executive Director of The PREP Academy, a community based non-profit organization that inspires and prepares African Nova Scotian students for college and university. Ashley is passionate about student advancement, education and the development of African Nova Scotian communities. Her goal is to create programs and services that help students access and navigate resources and experiential learning opportunities.Ashley was the first in her family to receive a university degree. As an African Nova Scotian, she has faced challenges and experienced systemic barriers in her pursuit of obtaining a higher education. It was through her lived experiences that shaped her dedication to student access and success.She currently serves on the Advisory Council at the MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning and on the board for The Futures Program. She dedicates her time to helping students discover their full potential and gain opportunities to explore their leadership abilities.

Our {communityGuidelinesLink} describe the sort of content we prohibit on Eventbrite. If you suspect an event may be in violation, you can report it to us so we can investigate.

To report other categories of prohibited or illegal content, submit {link}

Embracing Diversity: Black Women Build Businesses

More events from Dalhousie Faculty of Management

Discover more events from Dalhousie Faculty of Management, from Business to other experiences you might love.

Embracing Diversity: Black Women Build Businesses

More events from Dalhousie Faculty of Management

Discover more events from Dalhousie Faculty of Management, from Business to other experiences you might love.

You might also like...

Browse more events with different dates, prices, and formats to find your next great experience.