Women Who Build: Leadership in Action Brings Together Women from Business, Politics, and Community Leadership in Mississauga
On September 25, 2026, Business Woman PRO Canada hosted Women Who Build: Leadership in Action at Port Credit Memorial Arena in Mississauga.
The event brought together women entrepreneurs, business executives, professionals, political and community leaders, representatives of partner organizations, vendors, and guests.
The main purpose of the event was to create a platform where women with diverse professional and personal experiences could meet, share their stories, discuss important social and economic issues, establish valuable connections, and discover new opportunities for collaboration.
Opening of the Event
The event was hosted and moderated by Liudmyla Zakharchuk and Anna Konyashyna.
Following the welcoming remarks, Nadiya Yashan, Founder and President of Business Woman PRO Canada, addressed the guests.
In her opening speech, Nadiya spoke about the organization’s mission to bring women together, support their professional and personal development, help them build successful businesses, create meaningful partnerships, and strengthen women’s voices in society.
Guests were also introduced to the work of Business Woman PRO Canada, its completed projects, and its plans for the future.
Women in Politics Panel Discussion
The first panel discussion focused on women in politics and public decision-making.
The panellists included:
Bonnie Crombie — business leader, former Member of Parliament, three-term Mayor of Mississauga, and former Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party.
Ramsha Haq — legal professional, entrepreneur, community advocate, Founder of Synergy Consulting, and candidate for Mississauga City Council in Ward 9.
Marion Nader — CEO of Nexus Strategy Group and a political strategist with more than 20 years of experience in politics, government, and election campaigns.
The speakers discussed their journeys into public leadership, the challenges women face in politics, the importance of representation, and the need for more women to participate in decision-making.
Special attention was given to the reasons women remain underrepresented in politics. These include double standards, increased public scrutiny, financial barriers, insufficient support, and the difficulty of balancing political or professional careers with family responsibilities.
It was an open and meaningful conversation about responsibility, courage, social change, and every woman’s right to be heard.
Combined Panel on Business, Leadership, and Community Development
The second part of the program combined two planned themes: Women in Business and Women in Community Leadership and Development.
The panellists included:
Dr. Rina Raichada — CEO of Dentistry On 10, dentist, and entrepreneur with 25 years of experience in professional development and business leadership.
Donna Smith — Founder of Miik, a Canadian women’s clothing brand.
Sue Loveless — small-business and entrepreneurship consultant representing IDEA Mississauga.
Dr. Elyse Watkins — leader in workforce development, education, and future skills.
Marichka — singer, composer, ethnomusicologist, and cultural advocate.
The combined format provided an opportunity to explore women’s leadership from several perspectives, including entrepreneurship, professional development, education, culture, and community engagement.
The speakers openly shared their experiences of creating and developing their businesses and projects. They spoke about difficult decisions, lessons learned, financial responsibility, team building, and the transition from working as a practitioner to thinking and leading as a CEO.
They emphasized that professional expertise alone is not enough to build a successful business. Entrepreneurs also need to understand their finances, know their numbers, adapt to change, build strong professional relationships, and be willing to ask for support.
The discussion also explored the role of women in strengthening communities and the importance of education, culture, professional development, and creating opportunities for future generations.
Each speaker presented her own perspective on leadership, shaped by years of professional and personal experience.
Moderators Lyudmyla Zakharchuk and Anna Konyashyna created an open and welcoming environment for meaningful dialogue. The speakers shared not only their accomplishments but also practical advice, personal experiences, and responses to questions from the audience.
Meaningful Connections and New Opportunities
Following the presentations, participants had an opportunity to ask questions, discuss the ideas raised during the panels, and continue their conversations during the networking portion of the program.
The vendor showcase was also an important part of the event. Participating companies and organizations introduced guests to their products, services, and potential opportunities for collaboration.
The program included morning coffee and refreshments, lunch, complimentary prize draws, opportunities to meet the speakers, professional networking, photography, and individual conversations.
These informal interactions often become the starting point for new partnerships, business projects, professional collaborations, and lasting friendships.
Thank You to Our Partners
Business Woman PRO Canada sincerely thanks Alterna Savings for supporting Women Who Build: Leadership in Action.
The support of our partners helps us create professional platforms where women can gain new knowledge, make valuable connections, present their projects, and confidently develop their businesses and leadership potential.
We also sincerely thank Dobra Good Food for providing delicious catering and taking such wonderful care of our guests. The quality of the food, thoughtful presentation, and warm hospitality helped create a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere for networking and conversation.
We thank all our speakers for their openness, professionalism, and willingness to share not only their achievements but also their challenges, important lessons, and personal stories.
Special thanks go to our moderators, Lyudmyla Zakharchuk and Anna Konyashyna, as well as the Business Woman PRO Canada team, volunteers, vendors, partners, and every guest who became part of this event.
More Than an Event
Women Who Build: Leadership in Action was much more than a series of presentations and panel discussions.
It was a day filled with knowledge, genuine emotions, new discoveries, encouragement, and authentic women’s leadership. After the program, many participants shared their impressions, thanked the speakers, and explained how the stories they heard inspired them to view their own possibilities differently and take their next step.
This is the mission of Business Woman PRO Canada: to create an environment where women can meet, learn, grow, exchange experiences, find partners, and support one another.
Women Who Build demonstrated that modern women’s leadership is not limited to one field. Women build companies, participate in politics, strengthen communities, create cultural and educational initiatives, and take responsibility for shaping the future.
Business Woman PRO Canada will continue creating opportunities for meaningful connections and bringing together women who do more than dream about change—they build a stronger future through their actions every day.
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