Author(s)/Auteur(s): Wendy Cukier (Toronto Metropolitan University), Tania Saba (Universite de Montreal), Suzanne Gagnon (University of Manitoba) & Tomke Augustin (University of Manitoba)

Informed by a critical ecological model, and SSHRC partnership grant project, this workshop will examine barriers and enablers to an inclusive innovation ecosystem at different macro, meso, and micro levels. This research is organized around three levels: 1) Macro Issues / Societal factors explore the ways in which entrepreneurship is framed, and entrepreneurial stereotypes in traditional and digital media in Canada.; 2) Meso Issues / Organizational Processes to understand how different organizations in the ecosystem (educational institutions, funders and financiers, intermediaries and incubators) consider the needs and support women and diverse entrepreneurs; and 3) Individual Issues to reconsider the ways we understand the experiences of diverse entrepreneurs, their motivations, perceptions, needs, and behaviors.