Hyperdrive Women in Business Summit 2025 Recap

All our gratitude goes to Community Futures Grande Prairie — the heart and hands behind this amazing summit.

More than 90 dynamic women entrepreneurs gathered in breathtaking Jasper, Alberta, from March 13–15, 2025, for the highly anticipated Hyperdrive Women in Business Summit. Hosted at the beautiful Forest Park Hotel, this transformative three-day event brought together women from all walks of business to learn, lead, and connect in an environment designed to fuel both professional and personal growth.

Hyperdrive’s mission is simple but powerful: to ignite the potential of women entrepreneurs through real conversations, leadership insights, and actionable strategies.

A Powerful Lineup of Speakers and Sessions

The event started on a high note Thursday afternoon as Matricia Bauer — a proud member of Treaty 8, speaker, drummer, artist, and certified guide — opened the summit with her powerful keynote, "Phoenix Rising From the Ashes."Matricia shared her moving story of resilience and rebirth following the devastating Jasper Fire in the summer of 2024. Her inspiring message, drawn from personal experience and her deep connection to nature, set a powerful tone for the summit.

Following Matricia, attendees heard from Nancy Robbins, Executive Director of Community Futures West Yellowhead. Nancy, who has called Jasper home since 1997, spoke about Disaster Preparedness and Recovery, sharing the critical stages of CFWY’s response efforts after the 2024 fire — from evacuation, re-entry, and immediate recovery, to short- and long-term rebuilding. Her insights offered real-world strategies for businesses facing unexpected challenges.

The first day wrapped up with a special networking session led by Celest Robinson, where participants enjoyed delicious appetizers and lively discussions, setting the stage for deeper connections throughout the weekend.

Friday: Energy, Purpose, and Practical Strategies

On Friday, March 14, the day started with an energetic keynote by Kimberly Lyall, who lit up the room with her session, "Purposeful: 3 Unshakeable Truths for Leading Workplaces People Want to Be!"

Afterward, a series of breakout sessions allowed attendees to dive deeper into critical topics, including:

• Effective Communication in Leadership

• AI Tools and Innovations

• Content Repurposing for Maximum Impact

• Profitability Strategies for Entrepreneurs

Each session provided practical tools and actionable takeaways to help women leaders strengthen and future-proof their businesses.

Saturday: Values, Talent, and Growth

Saturday kept the momentum alive with powerful morning sessions led by Cris Seppola and Kristen Cumming, focusing on uncovering core values and future-proofing talent strategies for modern workplaces.

The afternoon featured breakout workshops covering:

• Business Continuity Planning

• Leadership Conversations During Challenging Times

• Somatic Exercises for Personal Resilience

• Business Growth Strategies, presented by RBC

The summit concluded with the dynamic Pivot Panel featuring Rana Al-Slaa, Nita Knapp, Chyanne Smith, and Celest Robinson, moderated by Teresa Bateman. Panelists shared their real-world experiences on adapting to change, navigating business pivots, and embracing uncertainty with confidence.

Why Hyperdrive Matters

Hyperdrive isn’t just another business conference. It’s a movement — a space where women entrepreneurs are empowered to build genuine connections, sharpen their skills, and reignite their entrepreneurial spirit.

Every session challenged conventional thinking, sparked new ideas, and fueled inspiration. More importantly, every woman left with a renewed sense of purpose, confidence, and community.

Thank you to Hudson House Creative who made this video.

Facebook: Hudson House Creative Email: hudsonhousecreative@gmail.com Contact: 1 780-834-6430

Hudson House Creative Co. offers commercial photography and videography, as well as creative services to help businesses polish their business branding. Based in Beaverlodge, they are excited to help individuals in the Peace Country reach their goals!

A Heartfelt Thank You Note

🙌 A heartfelt thank you to Community Futures Grande Prairie, the driving force behind the summit, along with its dedicated partners — Community Futures Lesser Slave Lake Region, West Yellowhead, Yellowhead East, and Capital Region — for bringing this powerful event to life.

💫 To all the passionate speakers, generous sponsors, engaged attendees, and hardworking organizers.

🙏 Thank you to the town of Jasper for warmly welcoming us into your community.

🏨 To the Forest Park Hotel — your beautiful venue and incredible staff created the perfect backdrop for learning and connection.

🎉 To Jasper Event Management — your stunning decor elevated the atmosphere and made every corner feel special.

🎶 To Jasper’s Alpine Music & Jasper Photo Booths — thank you for setting the tone and capturing the fun.

📸 And to A Different Angle Photography Jasper — thank you for spending countless hours behind the lens, capturing every moment we’ll cherish for years to come.

A heartfelt thanks also goes out to the amazing partners and funders who support women in business:🤝 Business Link🤝 Futurpreneur Canada🤝 BDC – Business Development Bank of Canada

🤝 RBC- Royal Bank of Canada 🤝 Community Futures Network of Alberta (CFNA)

🤝 Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (EDP)

And to our valued regional partners:

🏞️ County of Grande Prairie 🏞️ MD of Greenview🤝 Grande Prairie Regional Innovation Network (GPRIN)

Business sponsors who helped make this event shine:💼 KMSC Law LLP💼 Meteoric Leadership Consulting💼 Candescent Property Management💼 Side Asset Management

Thank you for believing in the power of women entrepreneurs and helping make Hyperdrive 2025 a success.

We can’t wait to see what’s ahead. Until next year — let’s keep driving forward, together.