cbee women

Leading. Innovating. Influencing. Transforming.

Resource Centre

Knowledge, Tools, and Practical Solutions for Advancing Black Women’s Leadership, Economic Prosperity, and Systems Change.

Overview

Turning Knowledge Into Action

At CBEE Women, we believe that meaningful change happens when people and organizations have access to practical, evidence-based resources that help them move from intention to implementation.

The CBEE Women Resource Centre is a comprehensive digital knowledge hub designed to equip individuals, employers, entrepreneurs, governments, educators, researchers, and community organizations with the tools they need to create more equitable opportunities and stronger outcomes.

Whether you are an emerging leader, an entrepreneur seeking funding, an employer building a more inclusive workplace, or a policymaker looking for evidence-based recommendations, our resources are designed to support informed decision-making and sustainable impact.

Our Resource Centre combines:

Practical toolkits

Research and publications

Policy guidance

Templates and frameworks

Funding information

Best practice guides

Learning resources

Together, these resources help individuals and institutions build capacity, strengthen leadership, and create lasting systems change.

Our Vision

To become Canada’s leading digital resource hub for Black women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation, governance, and economic empowerment.

Who the Resource Centre Serves

Our resources are designed for:

Black women professionals.

Entrepreneurs and business owners

Employers and HR professionals

Corporate leaders

Board members and nonprofit leaders

Government agencies

Researchers and academics

Students and emerging leaders

Community organizations

Funders and philanthropic organizations

Featured Resources

1. Leadership Toolkit

Helping Black Women Lead with Confidence, Purpose, and Impact

The Leadership Toolkit provides practical guidance for women at every stage of their leadership journey—from emerging professionals to executives and board leaders.

It combines leadership theory with practical tools that can be immediately applied in workplaces, businesses, community organizations, and public service.

What's Included

Leadership Development Framework

Helping participants:

  • Understand different leadership styles.
  • Build authentic leadership.
  • Develop strategic thinking.
  • Strengthen decision-making.

Executive Presence Guide

Topics include:

  • Communication.
  • Confidence.
  • Influence.
  • Professional visibility.
  • Personal leadership brand.

Career Advancement Strategies

Resources on:

  • Promotion readiness.
  • Leadership planning.
  • Sponsorship.
  • Networking.

Leadership Self-Assessment

Interactive tools to evaluate:

  • Leadership strengths.
  • Development priorities.
  • Growth opportunities.

Ideal Users

  • Emerging leaders.
  • Mid-career professionals.
  • Executives.
  • Community leaders.
  • Entrepreneurs.

2. Employer Toolkit

Building Inclusive Workplaces That Attract, Develop, and Retain Diverse Talent

The Employer Toolkit provides practical guidance for organizations committed to building equitable and high-performing workplaces.
Rather than focusing solely on diversity statements, the toolkit offers practical actions organizations can implement.

Topics Include

Inclusive Recruitment

Resources for:

  • Inclusive job descriptions.
  • Bias-aware hiring.
  • Candidate outreach.
  • Fair interview practices.

Leadership Development

Guidance on:

  • Succession planning.
  • Sponsorship.
  • Mentorship.
  • Leadership pipelines.

Inclusive Workplace Culture

Including:

  • Psychological safety.
  • Employee engagement.
  • Belonging.
  • Team inclusion.

Workplace Measurement Tools

Helping organizations monitor:

  • Representation.
  • Retention.
  • Advancement.
  • Employee experience.

Ideal Users

  • HR professionals.
  • Executives.
  • Managers.
  • Boards.
  • Public sector employers.

3. Board Toolkit

Preparing Effective and Inclusive Board Leaders

Strong governance creates stronger organizations.
The Board Toolkit supports professionals preparing for board service and organizations seeking to strengthen governance practices.

Topics Include

Governance Fundamentals

Covering:

  • Roles and responsibilities.
  • Fiduciary duties.
  • Ethical governance.
  • Strategic oversight.

Board Readiness Checklist

Helping individuals prepare:

  • Board biographies.
  • Governance experience.
  • Interview preparation.
  • Networking strategies.

Inclusive Governance Guide

Supporting organizations to:

  • Expand board diversity.
  • Improve recruitment.
  • Strengthen governance effectiveness.

Board Meeting Resources

Templates including:

  • Meeting agendas.
  • Governance calendars.
  • Committee structures.

Ideal Users

  • Future board members.
  • Nonprofit organizations.
  • Corporate boards.
  • Governance committees.

4. Funding Directory

Connecting Women and Organizations to Financial Opportunities

Access to funding remains one of the greatest barriers facing many Black women entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and community initiatives.
The Funding Directory provides regularly updated information about funding opportunities from public, private, and philanthropic sources.

Categories

Government Funding

Programs supporting:

  • Entrepreneurship.
  • Innovation.
  • Workforce development.
  • Community initiatives.

Foundation Grants

Funding opportunities from:

  • Canadian foundations.
  • Corporate foundations.
  • International funders.

Business Financing

Resources on:

  • Loans.
  • Investment programs.
  • Venture capital.
  • Microfinance.

Scholarships and Fellowships

Supporting:

  • Students.
  • Researchers.
  • Emerging leaders.

Additional Features

  • Funding calendar.
  • Eligibility guides.
  • Application tips.
  • Proposal-writing resources.

5. Research Library

A Knowledge Hub for Evidence-Based Decision Making

The Research Library brings together CBEE Women publications and selected external resources related to Black women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, economic participation, innovation, and equity.

Library Categories

Including:

  • Leadership.
  • Employment.
  • Entrepreneurship.
  • Artificial Intelligence.
  • STEM.
  • Procurement.
  • Gender equity.
  • Policy.
  • Community development.

Research Formats

  • Research papers.
  • Journal articles.
  • Data summaries.
  • Policy analyses.
  • Infographics.

Ideal Users

  • Researchers.
  • Policymakers.
  • Students.
  • Employers.
  • Community organizations.

6. Reports

Tracking Progress and Measuring Impact

CBEE Women publishes reports that provide insights into emerging trends, community priorities, and organizational impact.

Report Categories

Including:

Annual Reports

Highlighting:

  • Organizational achievements.
  • Financial accountability.
  • Strategic progress.

State of Black Women Reports

Examining:

  • Leadership.
  • Employment.
  • Entrepreneurship.
  • Economic participation.

Economic Outlook Reports

Exploring:

  • Labour market trends.
  • Business growth.
  • Innovation opportunities.

Impact Reports

Measuring:

  • Program outcomes.
  • Institutional change.
  • Community impact.

7. Templates

Practical Tools to Support Leadership, Governance, and Organizational Excellence

Templates save time, improve consistency, and help organizations adopt best practices.
The Resource Centre provides customizable templates for individuals and organizations.

Available Templates

Leadership Development Plan

Helping participants:

  • Set goals.
  • Track progress.
  • Build leadership capacity.

Board Application Package

Including:

  • Board résumé template.
  • Governance profile.
  • Cover letter.

Strategic Planning Template

Supporting organizations in developing:

  • Vision.
  • Goals.
  • Performance indicators.

Mentorship Agreement

Helping mentors and mentees establish:

  • Expectations.
  • Goals.
  • Meeting schedules.

Project Planning Templates

Including:

  • Work plans.
  • Risk registers.
  • Stakeholder maps.
  • Evaluation frameworks.

8. Policy Guides

Helping Organizations Translate Equity Into Action

Policy Guides provide practical recommendations for organizations seeking to improve governance, workplace inclusion, and institutional effectiveness.

Guide Topics

Inclusive Hiring Policy Guide

Helping employers develop:

  • Fair recruitment practices.
  • Inclusive selection processes.
  • Equitable onboarding.

Gender Equity Guide

Supporting:

  • Workplace equity.
  • Career advancement.
  • Leadership development.

Supplier Diversity Guide

Helping organizations:

  • Expand procurement opportunities.
  • Strengthen supplier inclusion.
  • Measure supplier diversity.

AI Ethics Guide

Supporting organizations to:

  • Develop responsible AI practices.
  • Reduce algorithmic bias.
  • Improve technology governance.

Board Diversity Guide

Helping organizations:

  • Recruit diverse directors.
  • Improve governance practices.
  • Strengthen board effectiveness.

Digital Learning Centre

Webinars

Learn from experts and practitioners through interactive online sessions.

Self-paced learning modules

Flexible learning modules you can complete at your own pace.

Downloadable workbooks

Practical workbooks to help turn knowledge into action.

Video tutorials

Short, practical videos covering key topics and skills.

Leadership masterclasses

Deeper learning experiences focused on leadership and professional growth.

Expert interviews

Insights and perspectives from experienced leaders and experts.

Resource collections

Curated resources organized around specific needs and goals.

Featured Resource Collections

For Emerging Leaders

  • Leadership Toolkit
  • Mentorship Guide
  • Executive Presence Workbook

For Entrepreneurs

  • Funding Directory
  • Business Planning Templates
  • Procurement Guide

For Employers

  • Employer Toolkit
  • Inclusive HR Guide
  • Pay Equity Resources

For Board Members

  • Board Toolkit
  • Governance Templates
  • Board Diversity Guide

For Policymakers

  • Research Library
  • Policy Briefs
  • Systems Change Reports

Our Resource Development Principles

Every CBEE Women resource is designed to be:

  • Evidence-informed.
  • Practical and action-oriented.
  • Accessible and inclusive.
  • Community-informed.
  • Professionally developed.
  • Regularly updated.
  • Scalable across sectors.

Download. Learn. Apply. Share.

Whether you are leading an organization, growing a business, shaping public policy, or advancing your own leadership journey, the CBEE Women Resource Centre provides the knowledge and tools to help you create meaningful impact.

CBEE Women Resource Centre Vision

Knowledge creates confidence. Tools create action. Evidence creates change.

The CBEE Women Resource Centre exists to ensure that Black women and the institutions that serve them have access to the practical resources needed to build stronger leaders, more inclusive workplaces, thriving businesses, and equitable communities.

When knowledge is shared, opportunity expands. When organizations have the right tools, systems improve. When communities learn together, lasting transformation becomes possible.

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