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Empowering Indigenous Entrepreneurs

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Small Business Pillar Partner: Rogers Business
Small Business Week supporting sponsors: BOOM Group, Mastercard, Prairies Economic Development Canada SAIT Corporate Training
Supporting sponsor: Keyera

When and where

Date and time

October 23, 2025

5:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Location

Rogers Barlow Campus
2400 32 Ave NE, Calgary, Alberta, T2E 6T4, Canada

Website:

https://membriticketing.azurewebsites.net/eventdetails?chamberid=dcb9d98d-4a5a-4ee1-b6cc-1cac22aff0e8&eventid=c68901ee-554c-f011-877b-0022483e30f3&lang=en

About

Indigenous businesses are a powerful force for economic development, job creation and cultural preservation but many still face unique barriers to success. As the business landscape evolves, it’s more critical than ever to have meaningful conversations about the opportunities, challenges and solutions shaping the future for Indigenous entrepreneurs.

Join us for a powerful panel discussion with accomplished Indigenous business leaders as they share insights on overcoming financial barriers, amplifying Indigenous voices in business, leading through innovation and sustainability and building resilience in today’s economic and political climate. They’ll discuss the realities of entrepreneurship, the importance of cultural identity in business, and the strategies that have helped them succeed.

As we celebrate Calgary Small Business Week, this conversation is a vital reminder that Indigenous entrepreneurs play a critical role in shaping our city’s economy. By fostering inclusivity, breaking down barriers and creating opportunities, we can all contribute to a stronger, more diverse business community. 

Tickets

Member: $59
Non-member: $119

Members are able to redeem benefit credits for this event. Please login to the Member Portal to manage your benefits.

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Refund Policy

Registered event attendees may cancel their tickets:

  1. 72 hours in advance of an event for paid tickets. Please note: Refunds will be processed to the original form of payment and may take 5-10 business days to appear on your statement.
  2. 24 hours in advance of an event for member event credits. Please note: Membership credits will be refunded directly back into your membership account within 24 hours.

Jo Williams Goodon

Founder| Not Your Average Jo Communications, Co-Founder | Hip Image

Jo Williams Goodon’s entrepreneurial roots run deep in her Manitoba Métis community, where hunting and trapping were part of everyday life. The daughter of two entrepreneurial parents who were lifelong business partners, Jo was especially influenced by her father, Irvin Goodon—a respected Métis construction industry leader who made history as the first recipient of the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business’ Lifetime Achievement Award. Growing up in a household where the family homestead doubled as a lumberyard, she learned early the fundamentals of commerce, customer service, and integrity. And at just 10 years old, she launched her first business selling trees, a seasonal venture she grew and ran for 15 years.

That same drive has guided her in building Not Your Average Jo Communications, a strategic communications firm specializing in small business and Indigenous-focused promotion. She is also a co-founder of Hip Image, Calgary’s leading photo and video booth company focusing on high-impact corporate brand activations, which also serves as a platform to showcase Indigenous cultures. Both companies reflect her commitment to championing Indigenous culture, organizations, and people through storytelling, event activations, and partnerships that create meaningful connections.

Wade Kerr

Manager, Indigenous Entrepreneurship | BDC

Wade Kerr is the Manager, Indigenous Entrepreneurship at BDC.  His passion is to empower and enable entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds.

Wade is a member of the Kitigan Zibi First Nation and has years of experience in the Indigenous banking space with a focus on Indigenous economic empowerment.

He is the son and grandson of entrepreneurs and has an in-depth understanding of challenges faced by business owners. In his spare time Wade is an avid skydiver, captain in the Calgary Apollo 2SLGBTQ+ softball league, and spends time giving back to the community.

James McInnes

Founder | Prompty

James McInnes is the founder of Prompty, a relationship manager that’s redefining in-person networking to be efficient, enjoyable, and secure. His journey spans from international stages as a professional beatboxer to a 15-year career in accounting, and now full-time entrepreneurship. 

James launched Prompty in 2023 after realizing that transactional methods of in-person networking, such as exchanging social media and business cards, limit the creation of genuine, lasting relationships. 

A proud Métis entrepreneur, MBA graduate, and father of two, James blends creative thinking with business strategy to build tools that make real-world relationships easier to start and to sustain. 

Bryce Starlight

Vice President, Business Development | Taza Development Corp.

Bryce Starlight is a dedicated leader and advocate for Indigenous-led economic development, a testament to his ability to build strong, respectful relationships between Indigenous communities and industry partners. As Vice President of Business Development at Taza Development Corp., Bryce plays a pivotal role in advancing one of North America’s largest Indigenous-led real estate projects. His work ensures alignment between traditional Tsuut’ina values and conventional economic practices, helping foster understanding, preserving culture, and creating long-term opportunities for future generations.

Bryce brings a wealth of experience from both the public and private sectors. He has served on Provincial and Federal-based political and technical working groups focused on First Nations land management, education, water policy and resource stewardship. His deep understanding of Indigenous governance and policy frameworks is accompanied with hands-on experience managing major infrastructure projects.

In the private sector, Bryce spent more than five years working closely with Indigenous communities to develop pipeline and transmission line applications across Alberta and British Columbia. He has led engagement efforts on complex energy projects, facilitated working committees, and presented directly to Indigenous leadership, helping to build mutual understanding and trust throughout the development process.

At Taza, Bryce works collaboratively with Tsuut’ina Nation and Canderel to ensure that cultural integrity, efficient decision-making, and strategic alignment remain central to the project’s progression. His leadership reflects a deep commitment to Indigenous empowerment, reconciliation through development, and building a future that honours the past.

Moderator

Monique Fry

VP Social Impact & Indigenous Relations | Sustainative Inc.

Ey Swayel, my name is Monique Fry, and I am from the Xwchíyò:m First Nation on my grandfather’s side and from the Shíshálh Nation on my grandmother’s side. Both Nations are located on territories that are currently known as the province of BC. I have more than 17 years of experience in cross-cultural communication with a focus on successful engagement and partnerships with Indigenous communities. I hold both a BA and an MA from the University of Calgary (UofC) in Communication and Culture, with a focus on International Indigenous Studies with Culture and Society.

I have worked in cross-sectoral spaces all my career- including non-profit, urban Indigenous, social investment, energy, tech, and post-secondary education. I value transparency, ethics and protocols, and centering Indigenous ways of knowing into all my work and life. I have been called a Cultural Mediator by Elders in the community for my work to bridge the divide between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

I currently reside with my family in Mohkintsis, Treaty 7 territory, just outside of Calgary, AB. I do community engagement and strategy work with NGO’s, Indigenous Governing Bodies, and philanthropic foundations through our 100% First Nation owned company called Sustainative Inc. Along with my husband Christopher Fry, we co-teach a graduate course in the School of Public Policy at the UofC, in the Sustainable Energy Development MSc program. 

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