Understanding the challenges facing Black entrepreneurs is one thing. Creating the conditions to address them requires something more: bringing together the knowledge, expertise and relationships needed to turn research into meaningful action.
The Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (BEKH) is taking another step in that direction with the establishment of its new cross-sector Advisory Council. Bringing together leaders with experience in business, finance, technology, entrepreneurship and academia, the Council will help guide the BEKH's strategic direction and future development.
“We are excited to work with the community leaders who have generously volunteered their time and expertise to serve on the BEKH Advisory Council. Their leadership and insight will help deepen our connections across the Black entrepreneurship ecosystem and strengthen BEKH’s role as the go-to source for robust, credible data and a trusted repository of knowledge,” says John Nelson, Executive Director of the BEKH.
The Council builds on years of work by the BEKH's national network of researchers and university partners to address longstanding gaps in knowledge about Black entrepreneurship in Canada. With its national hub at Carleton University and regional hubs at universities across the country, the BEKH has brought researchers together to investigate the experiences, challenges and opportunities shaping Black-owned businesses. Through national and regional studies examining business growth, access to financing, technology adoption and other factors influencing entrepreneurial success, the network has established a stronger evidence base to inform the policies, programs and services intended to support Black entrepreneurs.
Building on this foundation, the BEKH is working to establish Canada's first National Research Panel on Black Entrepreneurship to deepen understanding of the experiences and evolving needs of Black entrepreneurs. Through initiatives such as the BEKH Solutions Lab and its community engagement activities, the Hub is also working with partners to translate research into practical solutions that address challenges identified by entrepreneurs.
Chaired by Professor Wisdom Tettey, President and Vice-Chancellor of Carleton University, the Council brings together individuals whose professional experience spans sectors that play important roles in Canada's economy. Their perspectives will help inform the BEKH's priorities and identify opportunities to engage institutions and organizations beyond its existing partnerships.
As a strategic advisory body, the Council will advise on the BEKH's long-term sustainability and help identify opportunities to connect its research and initiatives with institutions and networks whose expertise can support Black entrepreneurship.
An important consideration for the Council will be whose perspectives are missing from the BEKH's growing network and how to bring them into the conversation. This is particularly relevant as the BEKH expands its research activities, deepens community engagement and works to translate evidence into practical solutions.
For the BEKH, the Council's establishment represents an opportunity to build on the foundation created through its national research network while drawing on expertise from across Canada's business community. Bringing research, business and institutional perspectives into closer conversation can help ensure that the knowledge being generated informs the decisions and initiatives shaping the future of Black entrepreneurship in Canada.