StrikeUP Signature Series: From Survival To Strategy
You've built something real. Now it's time to run it with intention.
Growing a business requires more than hard work. It requires stronger systems, better financial decision-making, intentional leadership and the confidence to step away from the day-to-day and focus on what matters most.
Join hundreds of women entrepreneurs from across Canada for a dynamic virtual event focused on making the shift from constantly doing to intentionally leading.
Through an inspiring keynote, an entrepreneur panel discussion and facilitated speed networking, you'll hear real stories from women who have navigated this transition themselves. They'll share the lessons, challenges, and strategies that helped them move beyond survival mode and build businesses positioned for long-term growth.
Together, we'll explore:
The shift from founder to CEO thinking
Strategic business growth and scaling
Pricing, profitability and financial confidence
Leadership and decision-making during growth
Building systems that support sustainable success
Leveraging support, capital, and your network effectively
You'll leave with practical takeaways, fresh perspectives, and valuable new connections with women entrepreneurs who understand exactly what you're building.
Because success isn't about doing more. It's about building smarter.
Free to attend | Virtual | February 25, 2027 | 1:00–3:00 PM ET
Presented by The Scotiabank Women Initiative® and hosted by StrikeUP, an initiative of Nventure.
What You'll Experience
Featured Keynote
Sarah Stockdale, Founder & CEO of Growclass
From building growth strategies for startups to leading one of Canada's best-known growth marketing education companies, Sarah Stockdale has spent her career helping founders turn momentum into sustainable growth. In this keynote, she'll share lessons and practical insights for entrepreneurs who are ready to lead with greater confidence and intention.
Session title and full description coming soon.
Featured Conversation
When Hustle Stops Working
There is a moment in every entrepreneur's journey when the thing that got you here stops working. The hustle, the doing everything yourself, the figuring it out as you go - it carries you through the early years and then quietly becomes the thing holding you back.
In this candid panel conversation, women entrepreneurs share what that moment looked like for them and what it took to shift from surviving to running a business with intention. They will talk honestly about the decisions, the failures, the systems, and the support that helped them move from founder to leader.
Expect real stories, practical takeaways, and the kind of conversation that does not make it onto the highlight reel.
Facilitated Speed Networking
Meet women entrepreneurs from across Canada in a structured speed networking experience designed to help you make meaningful connections in less time.
Whether you're looking for collaboration opportunities, trusted referrals, accountability partners, service providers or simply a community of entrepreneurs who understand the realities of growth, you'll leave with new connections and fresh perspectives.
Agenda
1:00 PM ET
Welcome & Opening Remarks
1:10 PM ET
Featured Keynote
Sarah Stockdale
1:50 PM ET
Featured Conversation
When Hustle Stops Working
2:20 PM ET
Speed Breakout Networking
2:50 PM ET
Closing Remarks
Meet the Speakers
Keynote
Sarah Stockdale, Founder & CEO of Growclass
Sarah Stockdale is the Founder and CEO of Growclass, an award-winning education company helping women and underrepresented professionals learn practical skills in marketing and AI to grow their careers. Growclass has a global alumni network of thousands of founders and marketers.
In her limited spare time, Sarah is also a Co-Host of Pagenerd, a popular scifi book club podcast.
Featured Conversation
Robyn Flynn, Podcast Producer & Owner of Le Studio Quinze
Robyn Flynn is an award-winning media professional with more than 15 years of experience in radio, podcast production, content creation and social media marketing. She is the founder of Studio Quinze on Montreal’s South Shore, where she helps businesses, organizations and creators bring their ideas to life through audio, video and digital content. A longtime broadcaster and experienced interviewer, Robyn brings a passion for storytelling, conversation and connecting with audiences across platforms.
Mia Fiona Kut, CEO and Founder, Luna Nectar
Mia Fiona Kut is the founder of Luna Nectar, a sustainable, adaptogenic haircare brand with the mission to kick the stigma of women’s hair loss. Growing up with Eastern traditional medicinal herbs to ease her health and scalp issues, she aims to share the power of adaptogens with the world.
During an 8-year stint in the film industry as a writer and director of multiple award-winning short films (including a nomination for Best Canadian Short Film at the Vancouver Asian Film Festival), Mia launched Luna Nectar, and earned the 2019 BC Business 30 Under 30 Award. Since then, she was the recipient of the 2023 Visa She’s Next Award, and is currently a nominee for the 2024 YWCA Women of Distinction in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Her all-natural, waterless innovation Moon Boost Lash & Brow Enhancing Serum (an alternative to harmful chemical-based, hormone-disrupting lash enhancers), has been named as ‘Best Vegan Lash Serum’ in Vogue and 'Top 10 Lash Serums’ in Women’s Health Magazine, and has garnered a ‘Best Hair Treatment’ nomination for the CertClean Awards, and ‘Best Haircare Innovation Award’ from BeautyMatter’s Next Awards.
She is a lover of hiking, horseback riding, tennis and exploring a growth mindset.
Katrina Ramdath, Compostable Packaging Specialist 🌱 | Owner of Core Sales Inc. 🍁
Katrina Ramdath, Ecopreneur, second-generation entrepreneur and Owner of Core Sales Inc., a Canadian family-run company specializing exclusively in certified compostable foodservice packaging.
Entrepreneurship was part of Katrina’s life from an early age. Her late father started Core Sales Inc., from the family basement, and officially joining the business after completing her studies. When her father passed away unexpectedly in 2012, Katrina stepped into leadership, navigating grief while learning to lead the company he had built.
Today, Katrina leads Core Sales into its 29th year, helping cafés, restaurants, distributors, agencies, and food brands transition from traditional plastics to practical compostable solutions. Her experience as a second-generation business owner has shaped her passion for resilience, sustainability, and supporting women entrepreneurs.
About StrikeUP
StrikeUP is a national initiative of Nventure that empowers women entrepreneurs through practical education, meaningful connections and access to opportunities that help businesses start, grow and thrive.
The StrikeUP Signature Series brings together entrepreneurs, business leaders and ecosystem partners through focused virtual events featuring expert speakers, candid conversations and facilitated networking designed to help women entrepreneurs move forward with confidence.
About The Scotiabank Women Initiative®
The Scotiabank Women Initiative® is an enterprise-wide program designed to increase economic and professional opportunities for our women clients, empowering them to succeed on their own terms. It provides equitable access to financial solutions, specialized education, and inclusive, women centric advisory services and mentorship to help people who identify as women or non-binary to pursue their best professional and financial futures. For more information, visit scotiabankwomeninitiative.com.
Join Us
Whether you're refining your business model, managing a growing team, navigating growth challenges, or preparing for your next stage of expansion, From Survival to Strategy is designed to help you step away from reactive decision-making and lead with greater confidence.
You'll leave with practical strategies, honest insights, and a network of women entrepreneurs who understand what it takes to build a business that's ready for what's next.