Curriculum Vitae
Laurel Douglas is the CEO of Women’s Enterprise Centre (WEC) and an Executive Member of Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC). Under Laurel’s leadership since 2004, WEC is recognized as the go-to place for women entrepreneurs in BC and a best practice internationally. WEC provides business loans up to $150,000 Cdn, business advisory services, skills training, mentoring, resources and a supportive community to BC women who are starting or growing their own business.
Laurel spent the first 20 years of her career in the financial services and technology sectors in Canada, France, Germany and the UK. Over the years, Laurel developed a passion for empowering women to their business success. She settled in BC, Canada in the mid 90’s and embarked on a new career in economic development.
Actively volunteering her time as a board member and community leader, Laurel has served on the board of her region’s Economic Development Commission since 2003. She is a founding member of the National Taskforce on Women’s Business Growth, and co-founded the Web Alliance, a consortium of Women’s Business Networks in BC. She has served on the organizing committee for WE for SHE since 2014. Laurel also serves on the External Advisory Committee for the University of British Columbia, and is a member of the provincial Degree Quality Assessment Board.
Laurel is often asked to present on the topics of women’s leadership, entrepreneurship and access to capital. She has spoken at national and international events, including the 2015 Next Billion Conference, the 2014 Small Business Network of the Americas conference, and the 2011 APEC Summit in San Francisco.
Her contributions to women’s economic empowerment, her community and profession have resulted in many awards and honours, from the BC Economic Development Association, Small Business BC, the Professional Women’s Network, Startup Canada, The International Alliance of Women (TIAW), the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade and the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce.
Laurel possesses an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and an MBA from INSEAD in France. She resides in Kelowna, BC, Canada.