Three initiatives within McGill Desautels, the Laidley Centre for Business Ethics and Equity (LCBEE), the Desautels EDI Team and the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Initiative (E&I) joined forces to co-host She Builds: Stories of Immigrant Women Entrepreneurs on March 19, 2026.
The event opened with a screening of How She Dares by McGill alumna and Vietnamese-Canadian filmmaker Zoonie Nguyen (BEng’89). The film traces Nguyen’s extraordinary journey from war refugee to corporate leader and global advocate for women entrepreneurs, a deeply empowering story that set the tone for the discussions that followed.
Building on the themes of the film, the event transitioned into a panel conversation featuring Nguyen alongside fellow women entrepreneurs, who reflected on their experiences building businesses in Canada.
Moderated by Joy Bennett, Director of Engagement at Desautels, the discussion began with a powerful reframing of what entrepreneurship looks like today. “When we talk about entrepreneurs, we often spotlight outliers: tech founders, beauty moguls, global brands,” Bennett noted, “but the reality is very different.” Nearly 43% of entrepreneurs worldwide are women, most of whom lead small, locally rooted ventures often shaped by necessity rather than opportunity. Hearing directly from panelists who embody that reality gave the event a grounded, relatable quality that resonated with the audience.
The panel brought together three women whose paths reflect the diversity of immigrant entrepreneurship in Canada. After graduating from McGill and working as an engineer, Nguyen went on to establish a capacity-building company for female entrepreneurs. Hala Scandar is the Co-founder and CEO of a sustainable fashion and home decor company which preserves traditional crafts. Shauna Callender (BSW'98, MSW'03, Grad Cert in HR'11) harnessed her master's in social work from McGill to build a company which offers consulting and coaching to keynote speakers, to help them find power through their stories. Together, the panelists offered diverse perspectives on resilience, purpose and community-building through entrepreneurship.
She Builds was attended by over 75 audience members, who reflected the event’s intersectional focus. Participants included members of women’s groups, immigrant communities, entrepreneurs, Vietnamese organizations and academia.
As the event concluded, Nguyen encouraged audience members to share their stories, no matter how small, because “by doing so,” she said, “you may give courage to people who need to hear it.”
In many ways, her words came to life in real time. The energy in the room was palpable: business cards were exchanged, connections were formed, and lively conversations unfolded as attendees shared ideas and found inspiration in one another’s stories.
As conversations continued beyond the formal program, one message remained clear: when stories are shared, communities grow stronger.
Learn more about the How She Dares film.
Photo (left to right): Joy Bennett, Shauna Callender, Hala Scandar and Zoonie Nguyen.
Laidley Centre for Business Ethics and Equity (LCBEE)
The centre is McGill University’s central hub supporting ethical decision-making in business through teaching, academic research and community engagement.
The Laidley Centre looks forward to facilitating more connections and conversations that center ethics and equity.
