Why Canada is failing women entrepreneurs and how do we fix it, with Marwa Abdou of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce

In this episode, we’re tackling an issue that’s holding Canada back—our entrepreneurship gap, especially when it comes to women-led businesses. Despite years of investment, progress has been painfully slow, and the numbers tell a troubling story: entrepreneurship is in decline, self-employment has dropped, and gender-based barriers are costing the economy up to $180 billion in lost potential.

To make matters worse, Canadian entrepreneurs are also navigating rising costs, supply chain disruptions, and trade barriers—including tariffs—that further limit growth. While the impact of tariffs on GDP is estimated at 2.6% annually, the entrepreneurship gap is costing us even more.

Our guest on this episode helps us unpack this: meet  Marwa Abdou, Senior Research Director at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Marwa has spent her career championing financial inclusion, gender equity, and private sector growth, working with organizations like the World Bank and OECD. She’s here to break down the findings of the Chamber’s latest report, Women Entrepreneurs: Canada’s Biggest Missed Business Opportunity, and talk about what it will take to finally move the needle.

If we have the talent and resources to thrive, why are women entrepreneurs still being left behind? And what needs to happen to change that? 

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! Please 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