Spotlight: BDC, Canada’s Bank for entrepreneurs (and diversity!)

Doing business in today’s volatile and uncertain market not only calls for innovative and unique ideas, but also requires support, advice, and additional resources. That is exactly the type of service the Business Development Bank of Canada offers its customers. BDC, Canada’s bank for entrepreneurs, has been a strong ally for LGBTQ2+ entrepreneurs and other minority groups. Inclusion is part of BDC’s business strategy and sets a prime example of how inclusion and diversity can add value in the workplace and marketplace. Proof to point, it has been named one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for over 10 years now.

BDC leverages a diversity of backgrounds and expertise to the benefit of its employees and clients.

Laura Didyk Vice President and National Lead Women Entrepreneurs — Laura Didyk *Vice President and National Lead Women Entrepreneurs*

“Diversity is a concept that’s fiercely Canadian,” says Laura Didyk, BDC’s Calgary-based vice-president and national lead for women entrepreneurs. “We’re a nation that’s welcoming to all. And our entrepreneurial ecosystem should reflect that.”

From an entrepreneurial standpoint, she says, diversity is not only the right thing to do, it also makes good business sense. Research shows, time and time again, that companies with gender and ethnic diversity consistently deliver more innovation, higher revenues, larger profits and better employee retention.

Bobbie Racette is a lesbian woman, founder and CEO of Virtual Gurus, and a BDC client. Virtual Gurus is a two-sided marketplace freelancing platform providing services to business and entrepreneurs of all sizes. “In 2018, BDC gave us a loan which enabled us to maintain our growth during a time of uncertainty,” says Racette. In working with BDC, Virtual Guru’s received a dedicated technical representative to continue providing business support.

As an account manager with BDC, Thomas Jordan works closely with a number of growing technology companies in Alberta, including Virtual Gurus. He says that the support BDC provides to small business owners is intrinsically linked to the bank’s ongoing support of the LGBTQ2+ community.

“Helping small businesses thrive in Calgary, especially in the current economy, is at the core of what we do at BDC,” says Jordan. “For those LGBTQ2+ business owners, support is not always readily available to them. Virtual Gurus is a prime example of how we, at BDC, strive to support small businesses to help get them the support they need. We use our expertise and networks to connect our clients to resources and opportunities that might be available to them.”

As a bank that celebrates diversity, BDC understandably has a very active LGBTQ2+ employee resource group which includes members located in Calgary. As a testament of their support, BDC has also been a proud sponsor of the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce for several years now and is a new Silver Sponsor with Pride in Business this year.

If you own a small business seeking a welcoming and inclusive partner to help grow your business, look no further than the BDC. Please contact Thomas Jordan, Senior Account Manager and LGBTQ2+ Employee Resource Lead – Calgary Location, at Thomas.Jordan@bdc.ca.