
Chelsea Prescod
Canadian Women's Chamber of Commerce
Chelsea encompasses an eclectic professional and entrepreneurial background with a deep commitment to empowering and mobilizing communities, specifically youth, women, and systemically excluded entrepreneurs.
Chelsea is the Vice President of Business Development and Growth at The Canadian Women's Chamber of Commerce (CanWCC). CanWCC is the first – and only – Chamber of Commerce for women-identified and non-binary business owners in Canada. Before joining CanWCC, Chelsea was the Regional Manager for the Client Diversity Team and the National Lead for Black Entrepreneurs at BDC. The Client Diversity Team's mandate was to ensure BDC’s portfolio reflected Canada’s diverse population. They aimed to provide all diverse entrepreneurs nationwide with the tools and resources they needed to access the right financing, people, and programs to grow their businesses successfully. In addition, Chelsea was also the Country Director for WeConnect International helping Canadian women-owned businesses connect with large corporate buyers and grow internationally.
As a woman of Afro-Caribbean descent who is the product of a business leader and a serial entrepreneur, Chelsea understands the hurdles faced while running a business as a person of color. She wants to help diverse business owners navigate the complex entrepreneurial ecosystem and discover new market opportunities. Chelsea believes in equitable entrepreneurship, and endeavors to help diverse entrepreneurs build generational wealth and break down systemic barriers.
Chelsea is motivated to build a better and equitable future for her twins, Justice and Freedom. She wants them to live in a world where they are judged by the content of their character and not their background. She wants their future limitless and is proud to be a part of an organization that allows her to be an agent of change and level the playing field for many.
She is a University of Waterloo graduate, with an Honors BA in Economics, Arts and Business and a Master’s of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology.
Workshops
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Michelle Lee
Mount Royal University
Coordinator of StartWork at MRU, supporting refugees and newcomers through inclusive employment and social innovation
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Adrienne Furrie
Adrienne Furrie Beauty
Professional makeup artist and beauty brand founder with over 20 years of experience working in beauty, fashion, and business
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Laura Keating Elske
People & Planet Consulting
Decision strategist, facilitator, and community builder with expertise in structured decision-making
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Barb Rallison
Institute for Community Prosperity / MRU / StartWork
Social innovator, community economic development leader, and impact investor with deep roots in Moh’kinsstsis and Métis-settler heritage, working at the intersection of systems change, equity, and place-based prosperity.
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Karina Birch
Rocky Mountain Soap Company, CEO
Karina Birch is the co-owner and CEO of Rocky Mountain Soap Company, a Canadian natural beauty brand based in Canmore, Alberta. Since taking over the business in 2000, she has grown it from a small shop into a national brand with over a dozen retail locations and a 25,000 sq. ft. workshop where all products are made in-house. Karina is known for her authentic leadership and commitment to sustainability, natural ingredients, and community. She is also a strong supporter of youth-focused initiatives like Fast and Female and Spirit North.
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Philip Lozano
Be Local YYC
Manager of Be Local YYC, with almost 10 years of experience working in social enterprise, with a focus on community and grassroot initiatives
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Tonya Surman
Centre for Social Innovation, CEO
Tonya Surman is a leading Canadian social entrepreneur and founding CEO of the Centre for Social Innovation (CSI). She’s known for creating visionary ideas, collaborative models, and spaces that drive systemic change. Tonya co-developed the Constellation Model and the Community Bond, which has raised over $10M to support social purpose real estate. Under her leadership, CSI has supported 6000+ changemakers. She also founded Social Innovation Canada, uniting innovators nationwide. Tonya is an award-winning leader recognized by Ashoka, the Trillium Foundation, and others.
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Kira Hunt
Adaptive Ecosystems
Landscape technologist, biomimicry researcher, and artist with a broad range of knowledge that includes urban planning, ecology, biology, design, machining, and mapmaking.
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