2 Saskatoon entrepreneurs recognized at Top 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada award ceremony

Two Black women in Saskatoon saybeing recognized at a national event was an energizing experience that has motivated them to push forward in their own careers and connected them with otherBlack women on the rise.

On Oct. 15,Black women from across the country gatheredat the Oasis Convention Centre in Mississauga, Ont., for theTop 100 Black Women to Watch in 2022 awards ceremony,put on by Canada International Black Women Excellence (CIBWE).

Two Saskatoon entrepreneurs,Betty Mutwiri and Oyindamola Ajibola, were among the recipients.

Mutwiriruns BM Leadership, Coaching and Consulting Incorporated, which offersinclusive leadership programs and coaching.

"It's gratifying to know that the work that I have done in my career in the community matters to people and it has a positive impact," said Mutwiri. "It definitely has given me fresh wind in my sails to keep doing that."

The gala was about more than just recognizing the achievements of the recipients. It also raised money forThe Esther Handy Children's Fund, an initiative that supports young girls' education in Canada and Cameroon.

Being there was so energizing.- Betty Mutwiri

Mutwirisaidthe gathering also challenged the idea that there is only room for one Black woman in any organization, an attitude colloquially known as the "one seat at the table" phenomenon.She saidshe has often been the only Black woman at gatherings for seniorleadership and that itcompounds the feeling of being a minority.

"I definitely have experienced it firsthand," Mutwiri said.

She said seeing so many Black women who excel in their fields in one room had an impact on her.

"That definitely created a very different dynamic from what I've been used to," said Mutwiri. "Being there was so energizing."

Inclusion comes from actions

Saskatoon's Oyindamola Ajibolawas recognized at the event for her work empoweringimmigrants to thrive in Canada.

She is the creator of the magazine Immigrant Muse,the Immigrant Connect conference, and an app that connects immigrants to programs and services.

Ajibola said she also understands what it's like to bethe only Black women in a room. She said it can makepromoting inclusiondifficult.

"If you don't feel fully aligned with the organization because there is some agenda you want to push, and you feel like you're the only one, you can't push it alone," said Ajibola.

She saidcelebrating diversity but not prioritizing inclusion isa common pitfall for organizations.

"Diversity is what we see, but inclusion is what we do. So if we are the diverse audience but we don't feel like there is inclusion in the company, then it reduces satisfaction."

Ajibola said having more than one Black women in the workplace makes a difference.

"You can share nonverbal cues," she said. "When you blink, the other Black woman knows what you're talking about and they completely get you."

Ajibola said her networkgrew exponentially at the award ceremony, even though it was only one evening.

"It just opened opportunities for me to collaborate with other amazing women that are doing great things in their field," said Ajibola.

Changing the narrative

On top of both being recognized at the ceremony, Ajibolaand Mutwiri are collaboratingon a book.

"I was very disturbed after George Floyd's murder and I just felt as a mom and as a Black woman, I need to energize other Black women leaders," said Mutwiri.

"I decided to facilitate a leadership program just for Black women, and after that I invited them to co-author a book."

The book willlaunch in February 2023 to coincide with Black History Month.

"We just want to change the narrative of the Black woman leader," said Mutwiri."We want it to be normalized."

A third Saskatchewan womanalso made the Top100list. Bernice Richard is the COO of Custom Agriculture Intelligence, a board member of the Friends of the Royal Saskatchewan Museum and a children's book author.

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.