Founded in 2019, Leading Lenders is an information source for lenders that are innovating and adapting to the needs of women entrepreneurs in Canada. The initiative provides a free online toolkit and blog for lending institutions that support women entrepreneurs towards success. Lyssa is a Project Agent for the organization, focusing on recruitment as well as facilitating their panel discussions. Cathy sits on the National Advisory Committee among many other prominent advisors across Canada.

Lyssa completed a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Université de Moncton. Originally from Drummond, New Brunswick, Lyssa has lived in the Campbellton region since 2003. Before joining Restigouche CBDC, Lyssa began her career at the municipal government level and then transitioned to the provincial government, where she worked as a civil servant. Lyssa thrives in an environment where she learns new skills — and she loves to overcome new challenges.

Previously CEO of her own company, Bennett Group of Companies grew from a small group of service businesses to operations in industrial construction and manufacturing, human resource support, service, retail, industrial supply, real estate investments and operations. She has served on numerous corporate boards. Currently, Cathy serves as a Director with Vigilant Management, and Business Development Bank of Canada, as well as SheEO. She is also a Managing Partner of Sandpiper Ventures and a Director with Propel – Atlantic Canada’s e-accelerator for tech start-ups. Cathy is also founder & Chair of TaskForceNL, a social enterprise initially created to support PPE manufacturing during the COVID-19 pandemic now supporting immigration.

“Financial institutions need to look at women entrepreneurs as growers, not just good risk takers.”

In this week’s episode of the #StartupCanadaPodcast, sponsored by Mastercard and Scotiabank, we talk to Lyssa Leclerc and Cathy Bennett about activating women entrepreneurs and the bias and barriers that exist for them.  

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