Episode #261: Finding the Right Support with Chris McMartin

Sep 21, 2023

One of the most challenging parts of entrepreneurship is the feeling of isolation. As entrepreneurs (and especially as women and mompreneurs!), we may often feel as though no one understands us. While well-meaning loved ones may be on the sidelines cheering us on, we can still feel alone in our day-to-day decision-making. Having a community and network that really gets where you’re coming from, what you’re struggling with, and how to support you is absolutely priceless!

My guest for this episode of The Business of Thinking Big is Chris McMartin, the National Small Business Lead for The Scotiabank Women Initiative®. Chris joined the bank in 2008 as a Financial Advisor before progressing to the role of Small Business Advisor, where she fell in love with helping small business owners! In 2021, she began leading the Scotiabank Women Initiative® Small Business Strategy, helping women overcome the challenges they face on their path to success when starting, sustaining, and growing a business.

In other words, Chris is the PERFECT guest to talk about this episode’s topic!

In this conversation, Chris and I take a DEEP dive into the different types of support that can smooth the path of entrepreneurship and help you confidently grow as a leader. We chat about mentorship, money, and MamaCon — you won’t want to miss it!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

The underappreciated benefits of mentorship and the unique approach of the Scotiabank Women Initiative® Mentor Program
Why peer support is important on a practical and an emotional level
A valuable resource that can help you find access to capital to fund your growth

Guest bio: Christianne McMartin leads the Scotiabank Women Initiative® Small Business Strategy across Canada. She leads many national events and partnerships such as the MasterClass Series, The IWD: She Shoots She Scores, StrikeUP Virtual Conference, and the mentorship program. She currently sits on the National Allyship Council, is a Stream Lead for the Women in Leadership Employee Resource Group, and is a participant on the Employee Pulse Committee. She participates as a mentor for StartUp Canada Women.

Timestamps:

00:33 Meet Chris McMartin

02:26 MamaCon & finding support

07:28 Mentorship

12:09 Expert matchmaking

13:12 Peer support

16:18 Emotional support

22:19 Financial support

27:03 Small Business Advisors & Mamapreneur Fund

30:04 Networking

Links mentioned:

Chris McMartin