About Empower'em · Federally incorporated nonprofit
Built by women of colour, for women of colour.
We started Empower'em because we knew what it costs to navigate rooms that weren't built for us, so we decided to build something different. We're women of colour-run and federally incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, based in Ottawa.
What we stand for
Intentional. Community-built. Unapologetically for us.
Our vision
“A future where women of colour have what they need to thrive. What they once needed, they're proud to pass forward.”
Our mission
“We mentor, connect, and stand behind women of colour as they grow into their power, personally, professionally, and together.”
By us, for us
Every program, event, and resource is designed and delivered by women of colour. That changes what's possible in the room.
Holistic by design
Personal, professional, and collective growth aren't separate things. We hold all three together because that's how real life actually works.
Strength-forward
Women of colour don't come here because something is broken. They come because they know they can go further with the right people around them.
We invest in our own economy
When we hire facilitators, photographers, caterers, or designers, we prioritize women of colour-owned businesses. Supporting our community means supporting its economy too.
Land acknowledgment
The land we're on.
Empower'em exists because most of our community, and many of us on our own team, came to this country as immigrants. That makes it important to us to know whose territory we're actually standing on.
We do this work on the traditional, ancestral, and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation, in what is now called Ottawa. This land was cared for and called home by the Algonquin Anishinaabeg from time immemorial, and it remains unceded.
Indigenous peoples aren't part of this land's past. They're part of its present, with a living relationship to it that continues today.
Where it started
It started with one workshop.
In 2013, a room of Muslim immigrant women gathered in Ottawa for a workshop called ‘Embracing Your Identity.’ What happened there showed us how much opens up when women of colour have a space built for them.
In 2021, that became Our Way Forward, our flagship mentorship program. Six cohorts later, 182 mentees and 98 mentors across 8 provinces, speaking 28 languages, have been part of it, with a federally incorporated structure to carry it forward.
What we keep seeing
Talent isn't what's scarce. Being seen is.
In every cohort, we meet women holding together teams, households, and entire networks of care, often without anyone noticing. They already know what they're capable of. What changes things is someone willing to vouch for them, open the door, and put them forward for the role, the platform, the seat, before anyone else was going to.
If you've ever been the most capable person in the room and no one noticed, you're in the right place.
The power is already yours. We're here to make sure the rest of the world sees it too.
The team
The women who keep this running.
We're a small team, and every one of us shows up because we care deeply about this work. We pour ourselves into the community we're building, and we're glad you're part of it.
Nayaelah Siddiqui
Founder, Executive Director
Brings the team together and keeps the organization growing: content, grants, strategic vision, and a bit of everything.
Kathy Fu
Program Manager
Makes sure programming runs smoothly, from timelines and coordination to the continuous improvement that keeps things getting better round over round.
Shaza Asif
Resource and Content Lead
Creates the materials and communications that shape the participant experience from the first email to the final session.
Fariba Sharmin
Community and Inclusion Lead
Shapes our community voice, social presence, and the spaces where members feel most at home.
Hiba Chikhaoui
Event and Resource Coordinator
Coordinates events and resources so every touchpoint feels considered and nothing falls through the cracks.
Morgan McKeen
Social Media Coordinator
Keeps our community connected and our stories reaching further across our social channels.
Board of Directors
The people guiding our direction.
Karishma Chopra
Chair
Karishma holds a BSc in Biopharmaceutical Sciences and an MSc in Chemistry from the University of Ottawa, along with a Graduate Certificate in Regulatory Affairs. She brings sharp critical thinking and leadership to our Board as Chair, alongside a lifelong love of creativity, from art to DIY to interior design.
Odile Burume
Treasurer
Odile is a human capital consultant who builds people-centred solutions to complex organizational challenges. She's driven by work that makes a real difference, especially for communities that have historically been left out of opportunity. Her commitment runs deep. She volunteered with a non-profit in Tanzania, where she helped empower women entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and build financial independence. Today, she continues to champion meaningful pathways for women of colour to lead, thrive, and succeed.
Samiyah Khan
Secretary
A family physician practicing in the Hamilton region, Samiyah has been part of Empower'em for years, first as a graphic designer, then as president and mentor. She's passionate about women's empowerment and minority rights, and now serves as Secretary on our Board of Directors.
Who makes this possible
Facilitators and WOC-owned businesses we work with.
These are the people and businesses who help make Empower'em possible, and we want you to know their names, not just ours.
Timeless Bites
Halal custom baking. Has brought something warm and intentional to every Empower'em gathering. @timeless_bites
Komal Minhas
Entrepreneur, speaker, and advocate. A WOC-owned business we're proud to spotlight.
Ground and Grow Somatics
Somatics and nervous-system support for healing and resilience.
Adrianne Yiu
Practitioner and partner we're proud to spotlight.
Katherine Cheng
Photographer who captures the heart of Empower'em gatherings. @katherinekycheng
We're building a directory of WOC-owned businesses. If that's you, reach out and let us know.
Organizations that have supported us
None of this happens alone.
These organizations have supported Empower'em at different points along the way. We're grateful to every one of them.
Safety and confidentiality
This only works as a safe community, so we build safety in from the start.
All mentorship sessions and peer support spaces are confidential. We don't share what you say in community spaces without your permission.
Our mentors are not clinically trained mental health professionals. If you're navigating something that needs that kind of support, these resources are a starting place.
Talk Suicide Canada
1-833-456-4566Distress Centre Ottawa
613-238-3311Across Boundaries
416-787-3007Black Mental Health Canada (Breathe Crisis Line)
1-800-917-0272Black Youth Helpline
416-285-9944Caribbean African Canadian Social Services (CACSS)
416-740-1056Fem'aide
1-877-336-2433Funding and transparency
Who makes OWF possible.
Our Way Forward is funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation's Youth Opportunities Fund. The program is completely free for all participants because of this support.
Beyond the program, Empower'em has been supported by organizations like the Pathy Fellowship and Youth Ottawa.
Empower'em is a federally incorporated nonprofit under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act. We're actively working toward national program access and seeking partners who believe in what we're building.
Organization details
Legal name: Empower'em Inc.
Status: Federally incorporated nonprofit
Corporation No.: 1807212-4
Registered address: Maclaren street, Ottawa, ON K2P0L4
Our 100+ alumni are part of this forever.
Sign in to the member portal to stay connected.
Sign in to the portalWe're building a community for women of colour across Canada, beyond Our Way Forward. Join the waitlist to hear first when the portal opens.