The Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC) has appointed Victoria Lennox, MSM, as its new Chief Executive Officer, a move that marks a significant step in Canada’s drive to unlock the economic potential of women-led businesses.
Women already account for over a third of Canada’s self-employed and are expected to manage an estimated $4 trillion in wealth within the next five years. Despite this, systemic barriers such as restricted access to capital, networks, and visibility continue to limit their impact. WEOC argues that addressing these obstacles could translate into billions of dollars in GDP growth, new jobs, and increased tax revenues at a time when Canada is seeking new levers of competitiveness in a volatile global economy.
“On behalf of the WEOC Board, we are thrilled to announce Victoria Lennox as our new CEO,” said Shauna Harper, Chair of the Board of WEOC and CEO of WeBC. “Victoria is a dynamic and visionary leader—a true force to be reckoned with. As a long-time champion of women and non-binary entrepreneurs, she has consistently driven change and fostered economic growth through innovative partnerships across the private and public sectors, empowering everyone from solopreneurs to Canada’s largest corporations.”
Lennox is well known for her role as co-founder of Startup Canada, where she established the country’s first national entrepreneurship movement. Under her leadership, more than 150,000 entrepreneurs received support, with government, business, and ecosystem partners mobilised to embed entrepreneurship into Canada’s wider economic agenda.
She has also advised on policy for multiple federal departments, including ISED, PSPC, ESDC, and the Treasury Board, and has represented Canada at global events such as APEC and G8 Summits. Her international trade mission work and commitment to inclusive growth have been widely recognised, with honours including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion, and the APEC Women Icon Award.
“I am deeply grateful to join the Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada and to work alongside such an outstanding team and network of partners,” Lennox said. “I have long admired WEOC’s incredible work in building capacity, championing entrepreneurs, and shaping Canada’s women’s enterprise ecosystem. To now join this organization as CEO is both an honour and a privilege. I accepted this role because I believe this is Canada’s moment to unlock the full power of women in business. By removing the barriers that have too often held women back, we can unleash growth, create jobs, and strengthen communities. My vision is for Canada to become the leading nation in the world for women-led businesses: ambitious, values-driven, and delivering prosperity that benefits every Canadian.”
Beyond Startup Canada, Lennox has consistently been a strong advocate for women in business. She founded Oxford Women in Business while at the University of Oxford and went on to launch national initiatives such as Startup Women, the Women Entrepreneurs Podcast, and the Women Entrepreneur of the Year Award. She has also delivered programmes with global partners including Coca-Cola, hosted Women Entrepreneurs Day on Parliament Hill, and led policy roundtables on issues ranging from supplier diversity to procurement.
With Lennox stepping into the role, WEOC says it is setting the stage for Canada to position itself as a world leader in women’s enterprise. As the organisation states, when women succeed, the country as a whole stands to benefit.
