Money Moves, In Partnership with RBC: The National Standard on Equity
Money Moves, in Partnership with RBC: The National Standard on Equity, brought together Black women professionals from across the country for a day of honest conversation and clear strategy.
As part of this year’s gathering, we proudly awarded $1,500 Rising Star Grants to three emerging Black women entrepreneurs and business owners across Canada, recognizing their leadership, vision, and community-rooted impact.
Congratulations to Olivia Saïzonou - Founder of Liv & Celebrate (Central), Roseline Sarah Kapongo - Founder of Flourish Marketing (West), and Mariah Pelley-Smith - Founder of MIBV Media - Mariah International Business & Vitality (Atlantic). These founders are building boldly and reminding us what it looks like to resource the future.
Their wins set the tone for the day. From pay to power to being positioned for leadership, every moment of The National Standard on Equity pointed back to one question: how do we move forward with clarity and power?
With gratitude to our founding partner, RBC
This moment was made possible with the support of our founding partner, RBC. Their continued investment in equity, leadership, and Black women marketers helped bring this national conversation to elevate, educate, and accelerate economic inclusion.
That commitment was made tangible through the voice of Jessica Grey, RBC’s Global Supplier Inclusion Lead, who shared what meaningful partnership looks like. She reminded us that “inclusion should be in your budgets, not just your brochures” and urged the room to “build relationships before you need them.” Her words reflected the kind of accountability and action needed to move equity in real terms.
Belief, Value, and the Boldness to Ask Bigger
Jully Black set the tone early,“You don’t get what you ask for, you get what you believe.” Her session moved beyond surface-level motivation, challenging us to do the work of belief in action.
She then introduced us to “millionaire math”, where she walked us through the numbers behind an $83K month. Not to overwhelm, but to demystify. If the math doesn’t make sense, the goal won’t either. Jully reminded us to protect our joy and hold onto our softness, even in rooms that try to harden us.
“Calling is what you’re made for. Career is what you’re paid for.”
Negotiation, Power, and Playing the Long Game
Melanie Isaac-Taitt delivered a masterclass in executive-level leadership. She spoke with clarity and conviction about how we show up when it’s time to ask for more. “Negotiation doesn’t end when you sign the offer.” That line landed hard. She pushed attendees to think beyond the contract. What happens after you get the seat? Are you positioned to lead, or just to deliver?
She also encouraged us to “play your hand, not your head.” A nod to trusting your lived experience and stepping into decision-making spaces with strategy, not self-doubt.
Beyond the Numbers
The Honourable Marci Ien brought the conversation back to truth. “Numbers don’t always tell the story,” she said, reminding us that what gets measured isn’t always what matters.
Sometimes visibility looks like data. Sometimes it looks like silence as self-preservation. Her words were a needed reminder that even in the metrics-drive world we navigate, the unseen labour and quiet resistance still count.
Breaking out From Coast to Coast
Moderated by Kathy-Ann Grizzle (Executive Director, Canadian Black Standard) and Lisa-Jane Hayfron (Members Experience Chair), the breakout sessions allowed attendees to dig deeper. Each room was led by powerhouse community partners:
Nataizya Mukwavi (Founder, Black Women Connect Vancouver)
Lushwana Anderson-Stewart (Director of Strategic Growth & Operations, Black Talent Initiative)
Deyra Jaye Fontaine (Inclusive Marketing Strategist, DEI Advisor, Steering Committee Member at POCAM)
Nicole Jackson (Director of Marketing & Communications, Tribe Network)
Each room created space to dig deeper. From building sponsor relationships to making sure your work translates into real business outcomes, the dialogue was layered, sharp, and grounded in lived experience.
If you weren’t able to attend, you can still connect with some of the vendors and community partners who helped shape the day. Tap in and show your support.
Meet the Vendors Who Helped Power the Movement
Dom Productions – Monique Hutson
Because Perfect Doesn’t Exist, Sweetie.
Dom Productions, a creative content marketing agency based in Toronto, is led by Monique Hutson, also known as Dom Daddy. What began as a creative experiment: shooting music videos for friends, turned into a calling. After years of freelancing and navigating microaggressions in the corporate media space, Monique built something that centers BIPOC stories and creators.
At Dom Productions, authenticity in media is the goal, not perfection. Their now-signature phrase “Perfect doesn’t exist, sweetie” says it all. They specialize in photography and video production that captures texture, vulnerability, and real connection, not just polished content.
Their 1,200 sq. ft. studio, The Stu, is a creative playground designed to uplift BIPOC entrepreneurs and women-led brands.
Find out more about them here:
Edify Studios – Chelsea Williams
Built on Purpose. Grounded in Creativity.
Edify Studios is a content production company in Toronto founded by Chelsea Williams. The idea came to her in a conversation with a friend in early 2020. As they reflected on legacy and pivots, Chelsea saw clearly the potential for a production company that would house her content, both existing and future.
After prayer and thoughtful reflection, she got confirmation. Despite challenges, fears, and setbacks, Chelsea moved forward with vision and courage. On January 28, 2022, she officially launched Edify Studios, knowing it would create significant impact.
As a content production company, what sets them apart is what they stand for:
Purposeful: Everything is done with intention.
Creative: They’re innovators and visionaries.
Authentic: They stay true to their voice and content.
Collaborative: Teamwork and partnerships are the foundation.
Edify Studios brought that same energy into the room: intentional, innovative, and collaborative storytelling.
Show your support and give them a follow:
Visibility Creative – Najah Dowdie
True Visibility Comes From Alignment.
When it comes to branding and design, most agencies focus on aesthetics. But Visibility Creative focuses on something more meaningful: alignment.
Visibility Creative is a Black-Owned, full-service agency run by Najah Dowdie. From graphic design and brand strategy to interior styling and event branding, Najah curates not just visuals, but deep, intentional experiences.
With 18 years of experience in corporate and nonprofit spaces, including Bell Mobility, Najah saw how many brands struggled to tell their stories with clarity and culture. That’s when Visibility Creative was born.
The agency’s mission is simple: brand alignment and storytelling through design. Najah helped shape a full identity for Beautifully Minded, a Toronto-based group supporting Black caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s. From their website to branded environments, her designs didn’t just look good, they felt right.
Najah also runs “Najah Curates,” a reflection and resource space for other creatives to find alignment and clarity. Because for her, design is storytelling.
Explore more about Visibility Creative:
Rise Integrated Sports + Entertainment
Building Inclusive and Sustainable Brand Connections.
Rise Integrated Sports & Entertainment stands as a premier, full-service strategic marketing agency specializing in the sports and entertainment sectors. Built on the bedrock of diversity, equity, and inclusion, they seamlessly integrate these values as an integral business imperative.
Rise is a strategic marketing agency with a difference. Their distinction lies in their mission: connecting brands and diverse communities through inclusive, sustainable partnerships and impact-driven storytelling.
Their work creates spaces where equity meets strategy and inclusion drives visibility. Whether it’s through experiential marketing or strategic consultation, they make sure that both brands and communities win.
Get a peek:
Woe Lotta Hair - Jah & AJ
Restoring Dignity Through Haircare.
Say "NO" to salon waits and "YES" to Woe Lotta Hair! This mobile hair company, based in Toronto, caters to clients with accessibility limitations and fast-paced lifestyles. But their mission goes far beyond convenience.
After surviving a traumatic brain injury in a 2021 car accident, founder Jah discovered a deeper calling: to restore confidence and dignity through hairstyling. Alongside her longtime collaborator AJ, she co-founded Woe Lotta Hair, a mobile service rooted in integrity, empathy, and empowerment.
Woe Lotta Hair is both changing how we access haircare and bridging gaps in the Black hair industry with:
Accountability systems for stylists
Discounts for seniors, students, and clients with medical needs
A money-back guarantee
Flexible rescheduling policies
Their nonprofit arm, Woe Lotta Heart Foundation, extends free services to shelters, hospitals, and other vulnerable spaces, turning every appointment into an opportunity for care and visibility.
Take a look:
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