As a small community, approximately 1500 active Activators, we have co-created significant impact, started to shift some critical systemic barriers and increased the depth of our relationships this year. The storytelling that we are all doing on social media makes us seem like we have a 1000-person strong comms department! From our Ventures’ socially and environmentally sustainable job creation, to our community-led Summits down under, to our trade events and our collective impact working together on the World’s To Do List – all during an unprecedented pandemic – phew, it’s been quite the journey.
We’ve shared a list of highlights below and would love to read/hear your year-end summary. Tag us on social and use the hashtag #SheEO to share.
Ventures
Selected Ventures
44 Ventures funded
AU (5), NZ (5), CA (24), US (5), UK (5)
100% of 2021 US Ventures are owned and led by Black women
Over 43% of 2021 Ventures globally are BIPOC-led
Venture Success
⭐ Launched an interactive Venture impact report tied to the UN SDGs.
8 virtual Venture retreats and 1100 coaching/mentoring/advising sessions, delivered by Venture Development Guides with Ventures
Redesigned Venture Retreat and onboarding for Ventures, as a 3-month cycle to first root them in the community, understanding the resources available to them.
$3.5M+
distributed to 2021 Ventures
7 loans
delivered to existing Ventures from the Perpetual Fund – 2 have already paid back!
Community
Events and Learning
NEW! Inclusion Storytelling events
- Anti-Asian Racism Learning Circle
- What’s age got to do with it?
- Pride Story Slam
- Global Indigenous Event
AU Summit + Venture Announcement self-organized by 44 Activators.
185 Community Calls delivered
50 mindset blogs and 24 mindset learning sessions delivered in 5 countries, ranging from Dealing with Negative Self Talk to Finding Purpose
Launched series of Entrepreneurial Learning Circles for Ventures and Activators
NEW! Community Tools
👣 Community Tealprint – A dynamic resource hub for all things SheEO!
🐝 Working Groups – 10+ in operation, led by Activators
👋 Welcome Circle: ~100 Activators volunteered to welcome new and prospective Activators with 1:1s
💬 Community Slack – Main communications platform for the community
👐 Ask/Give: 650 Asks and Gives on the Ask/Give platform and in Slack
Pathway to Sustainability
BMO matched our 0% interest loans to Ventures - with no collateral
We approached BMO in January about matching loans and announced the partnership in early March – from idea to agreement and $1.2M in under 60 days!
This partnership enabled the shift of our revenue model. We are here to be self-sufficient as a community and fund ourselves. Canada was the first country “flip” our revenue model upon reaching Perpetual Fund status.

Activator Cohorts Launched
Companies gifted in groups of Activators to experience the power of our ecosystem.
Company | # of Activators | Learn more |
---|---|---|
PNC Bank | 50 | PNC joined in a 3-year deal worth $1.257M USD to support the growth of our model. |
Shopify | 100 | Shopify committed to gifting in 300 Activators who are social entrepreneurs (100 per year). |
UBS | 50 | |
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise | 30 | |
RBC | 50 | |
Export Development Canada | 20 |
💡 Activations shifted to a subscription model. As of late 2021, 69.7%+ of the community is on subscription.
🔑 Mastercard returned for year 2 with a $250K USD grant
📖 First business case by a top University – Center for Gender & the Economy
✨ Interested in setting up a cohort for your organization’s team members? Reach out to Janaki and learn more about the SheEO Activator Cohort program.
SheEO HQ
Process
👣 Documented internal processes and launched the Team Tealprint
🧡 Worked collectively on an inclusion statement as a team
💭 Formalized rest structure of quarterly resets, summer Fridays, and holiday closure

Systems
💌 Developed more timely and sophisticated system for tracking of Venture repayments
📈 Salesforce architecture and cleanup to enable better tracking, dashboards
⚡ Moved to new payment system – Chargebee
Team
- Welcomed new team members (9 full-time, 2 part time): Danielle, Nat, Julia, Ivana, Meg, Steph, Loren, Finn, Arden, + summer interns (2)
- Experimented with local community builders on contract – Julie and Moira in Australia
- Ethnographers shadowed team for 3 months and delivered a report on our approach – funded by Board Member Dori Tunstall
- Created and ran 3 team retreats to build cultural connection, relationships, effectiveness, skills
- Launched weekly reflection sessions with whole team share learning/transformation weekly with one another
- Delivered 30+ “SheEO School” sessions to build skills of core team


Thank you from the 2021 SheEO Team 💜

Vicki Saunders
Founder: I’m an entrepreneur committed to building businesses that have a positive impact on the world. I’m here co-creating a community focused on transforming ourselves and systems to create a life-sustaining society.

Jessy Wang
Director, Activator Growth: I’m a community builder who is obsessed with details + connecting people who are doing good in the world. I’m here to create the conditions for women working on the World’s To-Do List to thrive.

Natalie Geffen
Operations Manager: I’m an inquisitive project manager who loves creating order out of chaos. I am here to support the creation of a better world through the work of our radically generous community.

Renee Tavares
Venture Experience Lead: I am a lover and a supporter of entrepreneurs. I am here to listen, learn and co-create a community that is building equitable systems and resource the women and non-binary entrepreneurs who are leading this change.

Kristin Grimshaw
Lead Graphic Designer: I am passionate about design and helping brands who are doing amazing things in this world. I am here to bring SheEO’s brand vision to life and be part of something meaningful.

Caring Gibner
Systems Architect: I’m a puzzle solver, information synthesizer + learning enthusiast. I’m here because a world for everyone needs to be built by everyone.

Tania Cheng
Director, Process Innovation: I am a process designer + changemaker who loves to turn ideas into reality + make things better. I am here to build inclusive, equitable, and sustainable communities where everyone can thrive.

Janaki Hadida
Partnership Development Lead: I am a connector, people lover + builder of experiences. I’m here to create and nourish relationships so that we can make global impact, together.

Danielle Cadhit
Director, Tech Operations: I'm a creative and analytical changemaker who is passionate about social justice and systems change. I'm here to challenge and transform conventional thinking in order to rebuild our systems for the greater good.

Julia Castor
Technology: I'm a creative techie who thinks data is beautiful. I use information to create pathways to bigger and better things and make our journeys a little easier. I'm here to use insights in our favor so we can all shine.

MJ Ryan
Lead Development Guide: I am questing toward wisdom and compassion. I want to help co-create a community of radical generosity to increase success and fulfillment for all those who seek a better world.

Steph Oey
Communications Lead: I’m an avid creator who uses digital media to promote equity and share the stories of powerful changemakers. I’m here to provide a platform and amplify the voices of women working on the World's To-Do List.

Ivana Budisa
Finance + Operations Manager: I am a lover of data + organizing databases to be able to use them to their full potential. I am here to help build more equitable + inclusive communities, where women’s voices are welcomed + valued.

Teresa Ko
Head of Finance: I love working with small business owners in highlighting their successes financially. I'm a Chartered Professional Accountant working on the World's To do List.

Vyoma Fadia
Executive Assistant

Finn Li
Venture Project Manager: I am most happy while creating a structure or process or making order that fosters sustainability and growth. I am here to share my love of precision and organizing while building compassionate, inclusive, and accessible spaces to honor the “both and” in each one of us.

Megan Côté-Landry
Data & Technology Specialist: I'm an authentic collaborator, strategic thinker, and lifelong learner committed to empowering others through data. I'm here to generate new insights, share knowledge, and help create a more equitable, inclusive, and kind world.