(Vancouver) 8 May 2019: Today, Megan MacKay, 4th year student at Western University, was named the 2019 HSBC Woman Entrepreneurial Leader of the Year by student leadership development organization, Enactus Canada, and long-time program partner, HSBC Bank Canada.
Megan restarted her Enactus team, three years ago, growing its membership to 50 members in that short time. Demonstrating her entrepreneurial spirit, she also co-founded a social enterprise that provides employment for at-risk individuals to upcycle lightly used mobility devices
The HSBC Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Awards Program is designed to recognize, celebrate and honour female university and college students who exemplify success and inspire their peers, community and country through entrepreneurial leadership. The program has been running for nine years and engaged hundreds of female leaders across the country. The award presentation took place at the 2019 Enactus Canada National Exposition, in Vancouver.
“At HSBC, we strive to create an environment where diversity thrives and we are proud of our record in this area,” said Kim Flood, Senior Vice President and Head of Communications, HSBC Bank Canada. “The HSBC Woman Entrepreneurial Leader of the Year Award and Women’s Forum we support through Enactus are an extension of our commitment to supporting the next generation of strong female leaders in Canada.”
In recognition of the national award, Megan and the Enactus team at Western University will receive 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.
Megan, along with the top 50 award applicants, have also been invited to attend the exclusive HSBC Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Forum held at the 2019 Enactus Canada National Exposition. This forum inspires open dialogue, builds leadership aptitude and establishes connections amongst generations of top entrepreneurial female leaders.
The following five students were also named as finalists for the award, receiving a $1,000 bursary and $2,500 project grant:
- Sara Baxter from Acadia University who launched a project aimed at teaching children entrepreneurial skills and helping them launch their own micro-businesses.
- Lisa Duff from College of the North Atlantic – St. John’s founded Material Motive, a social enterprise that works with seniors to create an apparel brand by designing multiple different products made completely from textile waste.
- Katie Gillespie from Memorial University of Newfoundland who founded Remote CTRL, a project that works with youth in rural communities, training them on digital marketing skills and pairing them with local small businesses to put them to use.
- Shilpa Lakshmy from Simon Fraser University who successfully scaled three of her teams social enterprises, expanding their impact and reach.
- Marissa Vettoretti from Wilfrid Laurier University – Waterloo who founded of EarthSuds, a social enterprise that aims to eliminate the use of plastic toiletry bottles in hotels – all while employing adults with developmental disabilities.
The 2019 Enactus Canada National Exposition unites 1,500 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.
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 3,400 post-secondary students led 275 community empowerment projects and business ventures last year in communities coast to coast, positively impacting over 28,000 lives. As a global network of 37 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, is the leading international bank in the country. We help companies and individuals across Canada to do business and manage their finances internationally through three global business lines: Commercial Banking, Global Banking and Markets, and Retail Banking and Wealth Management. The HSBC Group is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services groups with assets of US$2,558bn at 31 December 2018. Linked by advanced technology, the HSBC Group serves customers worldwide across 66 countries and territories in Europe, Asia, North and Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa.
Media inquiries:
HSBC Bank Canada
Sharon Wilks
416-868-3878
sharon_wilks@hsbc.ca