Women entrepreneurs share insights at Estevan Lunch and Learn – DiscoverEstevan.com

Women Entrepreneurs Saskatchewan (WESK), Community Futures Sunrise, and the Estevan Chamber of Commerce hosted a Lunch and Learn yesterday, bringing together female entrepreneurs for networking and insightful conversation.

Panelists Trina Battersby, founder of Prairie Pathways, and Brady Friess, founder of Encompass Fitness, shared their experiences, with Estevan Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Merissa Scarlett moderating.

Battersby, who started her holistic care business in 2017, discussed how her background in social work and life coaching influenced her entrepreneurial path. She stressed the importance of balancing business challenges with community connections. Friess, who grew up in an entrepreneurial family, talked about the challenges of starting a fitness business in a male-dominated field.

Scarlett asked about the challenges rural entrepreneurs face, with both speakers noting the difficulties of finding resources and balancing personal life with work. They also spoke about their businesses’ growth, with Battersby expanding into new areas like sports team programs and Friess focusing on preparing her business for the online market. Despite these challenges, both panelists encouraged attendees to take the leap into entrepreneurship, stressing that believing in oneself is key to success.

The panelists also highlighted the importance of networking and community support in building successful businesses. Friess reflected on the experience, noting, “It’s such an amazing experience to be able to share. I think Estevan has so many incredible women, and it would be amazing to see even more women grow and open businesses.”

Battersby echoed this sentiment, saying, “The energy in the room is just incredible. I think there’s so much power in women, and to be able to share our stories of business and network with each other is just awesome.”

“I think that there is a demand, I think, for just actually connecting more women leaders in the community together and giving them spaces to safely connect and be themselves and talk about the things that are unique to them,” said Scarlett.  

Adding that it was great for the chamber to hear how local businesses have helped one another, and emphasized the importance of providing more events for all business owners to connect. “As a chamber, providing more opportunities for networking only makes our community stronger and helps attract more businesses to the region,” she said.

Jessica Pegg, program and growth manager for WESK, spoke about creating more camaraderie and collaboration to close the gender entrepreneurship gap. She highlighted support services like business advising and mentorship and emphasized WESK’s outreach to rural communities, noting, “We’re always welcoming men in the community to come and support as well.”

The event underscored the importance of resilience, networking, and community support in overcoming the challenges of entrepreneurship, particularly in rural areas like Estevan.