Advancing Women’s Entrepreneurship In Canada

Milena Radakovic, President, Nexus Exhibits, discusses being named as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network.

Radakovic talks about her background, her passion for entrepreneurship and for advancing the cause of more women entrepreneurs, the challenges women face and her efforts to help others.

Full video: https://youtu.be/QLqUMHBNKxk

PRESS RELEASE

Calgary, October 19th, 2022 – Calgary entrepreneur and social change maker, Milena Radakovic, has been named Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Winner for her work advancing women’s entrepreneurship in Alberta and across the country. Radakovic’s win in the Canadian Tire Community Impact category was announced today by the Women’s
Executive Network (WXN).

“Being recognized as a WXN Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winner is important to me because it’s an opportunity to send a message to other female leaders that ceilings are shattering and possibilities are endless,” says Radakovic.

Shattering ceilings and creating possibilities for women in business has been Radakovic’s passion for as long as she can remember.

In 1979, Radakovic came to Canada as an immigrant from Russia. She worked her way up in corporate marketing and today owns, Nexus Exhibits in Calgary, one of Western Canada’s most successful trade show displays companies. Having seen first-hand the barriers that women in business face, including access to financing and obstacles to growing their business in external markets, Milena is passionate about supporting women entrepreneurship. She helped start the Calgary chapter of Women in Leadership (WIL), is past board member of Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT), and currently sits on the Global committee of Entrepreneurs Organization (EO).

In 2019, she was appointed Canadian Ambassador of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO), the world’s largest grassroots movement dedicated to educating, supporting and empowering women in business. Celebrated at the United Nations and in 144 countries and 65 universities internationally, Radakovic was responsible for bringing the first
Canadian-based WEDO-sanctioned Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Summit to Calgary in 2019.

November 17th, 2022 will mark the 4th annual Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Summit in Calgary, an event which has spread across the country (with simultaneous events taking place in Calgary, Winnipeg and Toronto) and, under Milena’s leadership, has created a legacy of national education scholarships to support a new generation of female entrepreneurs. Each
event will will feature prominent speakers, business leaders, and change makers, and will offer a community of support for women entrepreneurs and students in Alberta and across Canada.

“I believe that to truly achieve our full economic potential, we need women to reach theirs,”says Radakovic. “Focused and supportive education resources for existing and aspiring women entrepreneurs will put us on the right path to achieve this.”

Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, after this year’s event, WEDO Canada will have granted almost $60,000 in scholarships to aspiring female students and entrepreneurs. WEDO Canada continues to seek sponsorship support to help achieve their goal of granting $1 million in scholarships over the next 25 years to make a lasting impact for women entrepreneurs and the
economy.

As a Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Winner, Radakovic will join a legacy that includes some of Canada’s most iconic female leaders, including The Honourable Rona Ambrose, former leader of Canada’s Official Opposition in the House of Commons; The Honourable Dr. Jean Augustine, the first African-Canadian woman elected to the House of
Commons; Michele Romanow, tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist; and Susan Aglukark, award-winning musician.

“This year’s winners truly inspire us in the way they lead from a place of truth. They make Canada a better place by unabashedly following their passions and purposes without apologies, excuses or hesitation,” said Sherri Stevens, Owner and CEO of WXN. “Their bravery, grit, focus and strength shine not only in their own accomplishments, but also in the way they show future generations what’s possible.”

The Top 100 Awards span the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, with the winners selected by WXN’s Diversity Council of Canada.

For more information on WEDO Canada and the 2022 Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Summit
including the event taking place in Calgary on November 17th visit www.wedocanada.com.

About Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO)
WEDO is the world’s largest grassroots movement and mission dedicated to celebrating, supporting and empowering women worldwide. Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization. (WEDO) is an international non-governmental volunteer organization. Launched in 2013, WED works globally to empower women and girls to become active participants in the economy by igniting a network of women leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to initiate start-ups, drive economic expansion, and advance communities around the world. The WEDO Canada chapter started in 2019 when Milena Radakovic was appointed as Canadian Ambassador.

About WXN
Women’s Executive Network (WXN), a member-based organization, is North America’s #1 and only organization that meaningfully propels and celebrates the advancement of professional women at all levels, in all sectors, and of all ages. WXN delivers this advancement through training, events, mentoring, networking, and award and recognition programs for members and partners. WXN operates in Canada and the U.S.