Fixing the scale-up challenge for women-led businesses, with TD’s Julie Dimitri

What does it really take to help women entrepreneurs scale in Canada — and where are we still falling short?

In this episode, Eva Hartling sits down with Julie Dimitri, National Manager, Women in Enterprise at TD, for an in-depth conversation on the realities women founders face when navigating financing, growth, and long-term sustainability.

Drawing on TD’s recent research with the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, Julie unpacks why access to capital remains a persistent barrier, why Canada has a scale-up problem — not a start-up problem, and how confidence, timing, and banking relationships can make or break a business’s growth trajectory.

Together, Eva and Julie explore:

Why women entrepreneurs tend to wait too long to seek funding — and the cost of that delay

What women actually want from their banking relationships

How bias and confidence gaps still show up in financial decision-making

The importance of relationship-based banking and integrated financial support

Why ecosystems, mentorship, and intentional connections matter as much as capital

This episode offers practical insights for women founders at every stage, as well as a candid look at what financial institutions must do differently to truly support women-led businesses.

A must-listen for entrepreneurs, advisors, and anyone committed to unlocking the full economic potential of women in Canada.

This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale