“I do business with my heart as much as I do with my head, both personally and professionally.” — Ursula Burns, former CEO of Xerox
International Women’s Day on March 8, carries the Give to Gain theme for 2026, urging generosity through partnerships and support to advance women entrepreneurs. Staff Shop, as a female and Indigenous-led business, embodies this by delivering certified diverse supplier value to clients nationwide and beyond.
Give to Gain: Women Entrepreneurs
Supporting women via resources, mentoring, or staffing partnerships multiplies opportunities across Canada’s economy.
Women-led SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) fuel growth with innovation and reliable talent solutions.
For our founder and CEO, Jennifer Ménard-Shand, the responsibility to showcase the value of a women-led business is not something she takes lightly.
“I’ve been entrusted with a platform, and I want to use it to open doors much wider than the ones that were opened for me,” said Ménard-Shand.
Why Partner with Women-Led?
- Economic power: Majority women-owned SMEs now represent 17.8% of all Canadian SMEs and generate more than $90 billion in annual revenues, employing close to one million people, making women-led firms stable, high-impact partners in critical supply chains.
- Innovation edge: Businesses majority‑owned by women show the highest innovation rate in Canada at 38%, significantly outperforming firms with no women ownership at 25.6%, with growing presence in capital‑intensive sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and industrial services.
- Agility and collaboration: Women entrepreneurs increasingly operate in SMEs, which are described as the “engine of Canada’s economy,” with most private‑sector jobs in Canada coming from SMEs rather than large corporations, this SME footprint supports faster decision‑making, collaborative work with client HR teams, and more adaptive staffing solutions.
- Servant leadership advantage: Canadian research on women’s entrepreneurship and the federal Women Entrepreneurship Strategy highlights the role of inclusive ecosystems – financing, mentorship, and networks – in helping women‑owned firms grow, which aligns closely with a servant leadership model focused on listening, empowering teams, and customizing solutions to support long‑term client retention and workforce stability. As Jennifer Ménard-Shand says, “We’ve proven you can build a successful business without losing your values or your identity.”
Staff Shop hopes to become a shining example to other women and minority groups in our communities. “As a First Nation Ojibwe and French-Canadian woman, I’ve seen how transformative it is when someone finally sees themselves reflected in leadership,” said Ménard‑Shand. Representation, however, is only the beginning. When leadership reflects the diversity of clients and communities, decision-making becomes more empathetic, creative, and grounded in lived experience. That translates into smarter hiring practices, deeper client relationships, and solutions that balance profit with purpose. Female-led teams tend to lead with humility, empathy, and accountability – traits that build trust, drive retention, and deliver long-term value for clients who partner with them.
Policy Backing in Canada
- The federal Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) has helped women entrepreneurs access programs and services more than 316,700 times since launch, including over 26,000 affordable loans and support for more than 26,400 women entrepreneurs through the WES loan program and related initiatives.
- WES ecosystem funding has helped at least 110,600 women entrepreneurs since 2018, including thousands who have accessed supplier‑diversity and exporting opportunities—clear evidence that governments and corporates are prioritizing women‑owned suppliers.
- Recent updates highlight that women‑owned businesses generate over $90 billion in sales revenue across Canada and account for more than 865,000–1,000,000 jobs, underscoring that choosing women‑led vendors is a material, not symbolic, contribution to Canada’s economic growth.
- The proportion of businesses majority‑owned by women has continued to increase, reaching about 19% of private sector firms (including SMEs and larger businesses), while women now account for almost 40% of self‑employed Canadians—showing strong growth potential for clients that align early with women‑led suppliers.
Our 2026 Battle Cry: WHO, not How.
Forget working harder in 2026, focus on WHO, not How. Surround yourself with the right people, partners, and leaders who share your values. This unlocks innovation, freedom, and growth you can’t achieve alone.
The right partners don’t just fill roles; they fuel innovation, strengthen leadership, and scale growth beyond solo efforts.
Like a web, each connection – clients, talent, communities – powers the whole. Small and medium businesses prove it: stable revenue, agile teams, and policy-backed momentum.
Build your people with us: clients win exponential results through diverse, community-driven staffing.
As a women-led business, we know that adding female leaders and mentors to your roster brings fresh perspectives, higher innovation, and stronger retention to your team.
This is why our team is choosing WHO, not How this year.
Client Testimonials
We’ve got the stats to back our model, but don’t just take our word for it. See what our clients say.
Susan Wiggins, Ontario Professional Planners Institute:
“Through an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion lens, COO Alison Hernández spearheaded updates to our Employee Policy manual, Employment Agreements, Job Descriptions, Interview Protocols, and SOPs.”
Teresa Gelmo, Director of Sales and Marketing for Christopher Woods:
“Staff Shop’s administrative and service staff are an extension of our core values, which are to provide stellar customer service that our clients are accustomed to…”
Helen & Shine, Canadian Special Events:
“Grateful for your team’s effort, flexibility, and energy—we’d collaborate again!”
Jessica,YSpace, York University:
“Excellent service from Chantal’s team; on-site staff ensured smooth events. Highly recommend.”
Join Us or Hire Us
If your organization is ready to combine data‑driven hiring with inclusive, Servant Leadership‑driven support, we’d love to talk. Contact Staff Shop today to Join Us or Hire Us!
Staff Shop’s leaders, Jennifer Ménard-Shand and Alison “Ali” Hernández are building something they hope will last for generations to come. Be part of this organization that we are all so proud of!
And keep the conversation going by posting this on LinkedIn to spark a conversation about women‑owned suppliers this International Women’s Day!
Certified Diverse Supplier
- Women Business Enterprises Canada Council (WBE Canada – representing women-owned businesses)
- WeConnect International (Women Owned) – a global network that connects women-owned businesses to qualified buyers internationally
- Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC – representing Aboriginal and visible minority-owned businesses)
- Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB – connecting Indigenous businesses with Corporate Canada)
“It takes courage and strength to be empathetic, and I’m very proudly an empathetic and compassionate leader.” — Jacinda Ardern
