(TORONTO) May 12, 2022: Samantha Gardner, student at the University of Alberta, was named 2022 HSBC Women’s Entrepreneurial Leader by Canada’s largest student leadership development organization, Enactus Canada, and long-time program partner, HSBC Bank Canada.

Samantha Gardner serves as the VP of Marketing for her Enactus team at the University of Alberta. An entrepreneur at heart, she has co-founded a non-profit which won $30,000 from the Centre for Aging and Brain Health to support and connect seniors in isolation with students needing volunteer hours. She also works with the School of Business at UofA to market a new certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She is keen to advance women in business and leadership positions and demonstrates this through her volunteer work for the Female Laboratory of Innovative Knowledge and has co-founded a new campus club for Women in Leadership.

The HSBC Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership award is designed to recognize, celebrate and honour women university and college students who exemplify success and inspire their peers, community and country through entrepreneurial leadership. The program has been running for more than 10 years and has engaged hundreds of women leaders across the country. The award announcement took place at the 2022 Enactus Canada National Exposition today.

“We are elated to empower the female leaders of the future through our partnership with Enactus,” says Erin Rogers, Head of Marketing, HSBC Bank Canada.“ I wish to congratulate all the nominees and the 2022 HSBC Woman Entrepreneurial Leader of the Year, Samantha Gardner.”

In recognition of the national award, Gardner and the Enactus team at the University of Alberta will receive a $2,500 bursary and a $5,000 project grant to be used in the development and delivery of an initiative focused on the advancement of women in their community.

The top 50 award applicants were also invited to participate in the HSBC Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Forum held as part of the 2022 Enactus Canada National Exposition. This forum inspires open dialogue, builds leadership aptitude and establishes connections amongst generations of top entrepreneurial women leaders.

The following five students were also recipients of the HSBC Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership award and will receive a $1,000 bursary and $2,500 project grant for their Enactus teams:

  • Trisha Kumar, University of the Fraser Valley
  • Charmila Chand, Sheridan College
  • Lauren Carroll, Wilfrid Laurier University
  • Madeline Bristol, Saint Mary’s University
  • Morgan Roulston, Dalhousie University

The Enactus Canada National Exposition unites hundreds of delegates including the country’s brightest university and college students, academic professionals and top Canadian CEOs to enable progress by supporting entrepreneurial action through competition, recognition and education.

For competition updates and results, visit nationals.enactus.ca.

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ABOUT ENACTUS CANADA: Enactus Canada, a national charity and the country’s largest post-secondary experiential learning platform, is shaping entrepreneurial leaders who are passionate about advancing the economic, social and environmental health of Canada. Guided by academic advisors and business experts, more than 3,000 post-secondary students led 232 community empowerment projects and business ventures last year in communities coast to coast, directly impacting over 21,000 lives.

As a global network of 35 countries, Enactus uses the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world. For more information, visit enactus.ca.

About HSBC Bank Canada: HSBC Bank Canada, a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc (‘HSBC Group’), is the leading international bank in the country. We help companies and individuals across Canada to do business and manage their finances here and internationally through four businesses: Commercial Banking, Wealth and Personal Banking, Global Banking, and Markets and Securities Services. HSBC Group has committed to becoming net-zero in its operations and financed emissions and is working with our customers to accelerate the transition to a low carbon economy.

HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of HSBC Bank Canada, is headquartered in London. HSBC serves customers worldwide from offices in 64 countries and territories in its geographical regions: Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America, and Middle East and North Africa. With assets of US$3,022bn at 31 March 2022, HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organizations.

For more information visit www.hsbc.ca or follow us on Twitter: @HSBC_CA or Facebook: @HSBCCanada

Media Inquiries:
Jennifer Falzon
VP, Programs & Marketing
Enactus Canada
jen@enactus.ca | 416.315.2099