Chapter 5: Social Entrepreneurship and Addressing SDGs Through Women’s Empowerment: A Case Study of She-EO

Despite social and economic advancement for women in many areas, there is still insufficient progress on structural issues at the root of gender inequality. Legal discrimination, unfair social norms and attitudes, and unequal political participation, all of these impede achievement of Sustainable Development Goal#5: Gender Equality. Additionally, removing barriers to entrepreneurship for women facilitates growth of social entrepreneurs who contribute to all Sustainable Development Goals. An integrated strategy to advance women’s entrepreneurship requires interventions at the macro, meso, and micro level. Through a case study of a Canadian social enterprise, SheEO, this chapter seeks to explore the immense potential of supporting women’s entrepreneurship to support the Sustainable Development Goals. SheEO offers an innovative business support model grounded in women-centred networks providing funding, advice, and networks to women-owned and women-led organizations, empowering them to make changes in their communities and across the globe. SheEO is primarily furthering the goal of Gender Equality by leveling the playing field for diverse women entrepreneurs at the same time by prioritizing social impact as an outcome for all ventures it is considering the SDGs.