Alissa Assu is a mother to Ember and Charlie. She embodies patience and compassion, balancing her roles as a supportive partner for the National Indigenous Renal Transplant Research Project: BRIDGE, and as an entrepreneur. Together with her partner Cody Assu, she runs three Indigenous companies: Bear Essential Oils, RavenSong Soap & Candle, and West Coast Wildflowers.

Alissa spent much of her career working as a frontline worker across various Indigenous community sectors. She contributed to organizations such as the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, the Urban Native Youth Association, and Gathering our Voices. These Indigenous-led social service organizations promote, develop, and deliver accessible programs and services to support Indigenous peoples living in urban areas and away from home. With over 15 years of frontline experience, Alissa has built leadership skills, compassion, and a deep understanding of vulnerability. Transitioning from frontline roles to leadership positions, she has worked to demystify negative Indigenous perceptions and integrate Indigenous values and conversations at the highest levels of business. 

This journey has been an integral part of her mission and story, leading up to co-founding a fourth business – Empower Women Canada – with three incredible allies.

Sharon Bond-Hogg, a proud member of the Nooaitch First Nation, was born and raised in Merritt, British Columbia. Living in the Okanagan since 1989 and making the community of Westbank her home. Alongside her husband, Darren Hogg, she is the visionary force behind Kekuli Café, a groundbreaking Indigenous fast-casual food and coffee franchise that is becoming a beacon for communities across Canada. Sharon’s twenty-year journey is marked by a rich tapestry of accomplishments and a steadfast commitment to Indigenous entrepreneurship.

Graduating with an Executive MBA from the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University in 2023, Sharon is the owner and CEO of Kekuli Café Properties Inc. Her passion for creating spaces that celebrate Indigenous culture and cuisine is reflected in Kekuli Café’s mission: providing communities with a place to gather, celebrate, and savour Indigenous foods, particularly the beloved Bannock, accompanied by their delicious Spirit Bear coffee.

Under Sharon and Darren’s leadership, Kekuli Café has become Canada’s first Indigenous fast-casual food franchise. The duo expanded the franchise to Merritt, British Columbia, and Kamloops, BC, with a new business model introduced at Okanagan College in 2022.

Sharon and her dedicated Kekuli Krue have received numerous accolades, including the 2009 ANTCO Indigenous Woman in Business of the Year, the 2010 BC Achievement Indigenous Business of the Year, and the 2020 National Aboriginal Capital Corporation Businesswoman of the Year.

Sharon’s diverse passions include recipe creation, baking, and cooking, as well as sponsoring her baseball team, the Bannock Slappers. As a respected figure in the restaurant industry, she enthusiastically shares her knowledge in business strategy, mentorships, social media, customer service, and business start-up and development. Sharon Bond is a successful entrepreneur and a dedicated advocate for woman and youth in business.

Beyond entrepreneurship, Sharon is deeply involved in promoting Indigenous tourism and economic development, serving on the Indigenous Tourism BC Board of Directors and WFN Economic Development Commission Board. She also contributes her expertise to the NVIT Board of Education for her community Nooaitch Indian Band, Kelowna Women in Business Board, and has mentored many young entrepreneurs through the Futurepreneur Canada mentorship program.

Patrice Mousseau is the Founder and CEO of Satya Organic, and a member of Fort William First Nation. Patrice’s daughter, Esme, was diagnosed with eczema at 8 months old and prescribed a topical steroid. Desperate to find a steroid-free solution for her child, Patrice, a former broadcast journalist, utilized her research skills and dug into traditional medicine, medical research, and academic studies to find something to help her little girl. Patrice then gathered the best organic ingredients possible, bought a $15 crockpot off of Facebook, and started experimenting—and eventually, success! Satya Organic was born—a botanically based balm that would clear Esme’s eczema up in just two days.

Today, Satya’s product line has expanded and is sold in thousands of stores, including in Hong Kong, the USA, and across Canada. Satya is also the first Indigenous brand on the shelf at Shoppers Drug Mart and is sold in over 1100 of their stores across the country.