She Owns It Women's Entrepreneurship Conference

Get inspired, feel empowered and grow your network at the BECN She Owns It Women’s Entrepreneurship Conference!

The Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland invites women in business to join us at the 'She Owns It' Women's Entrepreneurship Conference on Thursday, November 9th

The 'She Owns It' conference highlights and celebrates women in business, and aims to inspire women in their entrepreneurship journey. This year’s agenda includes motivational sessions by Cheekbone Beauty Founder and CEO Jenn Harper and Co-Founders of The June Motel and stars of the 'Motel Makeover' Netflix series, April Brown and Sarah Sklash, as well as an informative session about leveraging e-commerce for small businesses by Digital Main St. E-Commerce Program Manager Candice Cristovao.

She Owns It logo

Event details

BECN's 'She Owns It' Women's Entrepreneurship Conference
Date: 
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (Registration opens at 8 a.m.)
Location: Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn & Convention Centre, 930 Burnham Street, Cobourg
Ticket cost: $40 + HST

TICKETS SOLD OUT! Stay tuned for more 'She Owns It' workshops and events throughout Northumberland.

This event is brought to you by the Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland and Northumberland County, with support from Regional Tourism Organization 8.

BECN logoNorthumberland County logo RT08 logo

Meet our keynote speakers

Jenn Harper Headshot

Cheekbone Beauty Cosmetics INC. Founder and CEO, Jenn Harper

Presenting 'Helping The World See Indigenous Faces'

Jenn Harper is an award-winning social entrepreneur, leading the way in sustainable cosmetics, while giving back to the Indigenous community. Jenn is an Anishinaabe woman and a member of the Northwest Angle #33 First Nation in Kenora, ON. She is the Founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty—a sustainable cosmetics company that aims to help every Indigenous person see and feel their value in the world. Cheekbone Beauty has been gaining popularity throughout North America, following Jenn's appearance on the CBC’s hit show Dragons' Den in 2019, and is available and at 52 Sephora locations across Canada. Since the launch of her business, Jenn has received widespread recognition across the country, including being listed as one of Chatelaine’s 'Women of the Year' in 2019, in the '2022 New Innovators List' by Canadian Business, and in Entrepreneur Magazine’s '100 Women of Influence in 2022' list.

April Brown & Sarah Sklash headshotThe June Motel Co-Founders and stars of 'Motel Makeover' Netflix series, April Brown & Sarah Sklash

Presenting 'Let’s talk business friends: Lessons from The June Motel’s success'

April Brown and Sarah Sklash (pictured left to right) are the Co-Founders of The June Motel and stars of Motel Makeover, a Netflix reality series following the renovation of The June Motel. April Brown studied business and public relations at Western University, before beginning her career at a PR agency, where she worked on big name consumer brands. Sarah Sklash studied at Ivey Business School, and spent a decade working in public service, focused on creating customer-centric processes. In 2016, April and Sarah left their desk jobs and purchased a rundown roadside motel. Through dedicated work, they shaped The June Motel into the globally recognized destination it is today.

Meet our professional development speaker

Headshot of Candice Cristovao

Digital Main St. E-Commerce Program Manager, Candice Cristovao

Presenting 'Digital Transformation for Small Business: E-commerce considerations to streamline your strategy'

Candice is the driving force behind the Digital Main St. e-commerce programs. With a passion for empowering small businesses, Candice's mission is to revolutionize the way local entrepreneurs embrace the digital landscape. Candice's enthusiasm for technology and its potential to transform businesses is evident. Her attention to detail and client relations expertise leave a lasting impact, inspiring others to embrace innovation and digital transformation.


Presented in partnership with the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).FedDev Canada LogoProvince of Ontario Logo
Town of Cobourg logo  Municipality of Port Hope           Watton Employment Services Logo

Supported by:

Partner logos including Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce, Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce, Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce and Brighton-Cramahe Chamber of Commerce