Success Stories at WBH

Hear from some of our current and past program participants about their experiences, challenges, and successes in starting and running their very own businesses.

Shakirat Akintunde-Owoseni Founder, Tasty Bites Bookah

Tasty Bites Bookah was founded by Shakirat Akintunde-Owoseni, whose passion for sharing authentic Nigerian cuisine and creating a sense of home through food and pastries inspired her to turn a small dream into a growing catering business. Today, Tasty Bites Bookah serves the Saskatoon community through catering, community events, and a consistent weekly presence at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market and Gather Local Market. One of Shakirat’s proudest milestones has been emerging as the second runner-up in the WBH’s Dream to Reality Pitch Competition, an achievement that affirmed her vision, resilience, and commitment to quality.

Building a business in a new country presented Shakirat with significant challenges, from learning the local market and establishing credibility to navigating limited resources. She has tackled these challenges through consistency, continuous learning, mentorship, and embracing opportunities to showcase her food and connect with the community. The Women’s Business Hub (WBH) has played a key role in Shakirat’s entrepreneurial journey, providing mentorship, business education, access to markets, networking opportunities, and the confidence and platform to present her business through the pitch competition.

The support and encouragement she received through WBH have strengthened her confidence as an entrepreneur and equipped her with valuable tools, knowledge, and connections to help Tasty Bites Bookah grow.

Danielle “Dee” Buenaventura Founder, Dee Bee Shoppe

Danielle “Dee” Buenaventura, Founder of Dee Bee Shoppe, began her small business journey with custom gifts and printed t-shirts. As she listened to her clients and responded to their evolving needs, her offerings naturally expanded to include air-filled balloon styling and décor, live concessions, and exciting party entertainment for a wide range of celebrations. Today, Dee Bee Shoppe is also proudly working with corporate clients and local businesses to bring memorable experiences to special events and brand activations.

According to Dee, The Women’s Business Hub (WBH) has played an important role in her growth, both personally and professionally. Through WBH’s programs and classes, she has gained new skills, strengthened her confidence, and learned how to apply what she learns directly to her business. Just as importantly, WBH has provided Danielle with a welcoming and supportive community where she can ask questions, access valuable resources, seek advice, and build meaningful connections.

Danielle is grateful to the WBH for being a source of knowledge, encouragement, and connection throughout her business journey. With the skills, confidence, and community she has gained, she continues to grow Dee Bee Shoppe into a versatile events and entertainment business that helps clients celebrate, connect, and create memorable experiences.

Chikako Ogawa Founder, Studio Kokoro

Chikako Ogawa, Founder of Studio Kokoro, creates meaningful experiences that connect people with Japanese culture through art. Through ink performances and community events, she shares aspects of Japanese culture that cannot always be expressed through words alone. Her work has recently expanded into new areas, including the development of team-building programs for companies, creating new opportunities to bring her artistic skills and cultural experiences into professional settings.

One of Chikako’s biggest challenges has been building a sustainable business while staying true to her creativity and artistic voice. She has worked to find a balance between growing the business and remaining authentic to her creative vision. The Women’s Business Hub (WBH) has played a key role in helping her navigate that journey, providing her with a strong foundation in business and a broader perspective on how to turn her creative ideas into reality. Through WBH, Chikako has also connected with like-minded entrepreneurs, expanding her professional network and gaining a supportive community that has contributed to her growth.

Today, Chikako is excited about the growing opportunities to bring her skills, creativity, and cultural experiences to communities and businesses through meaningful and engaging experiences. With the knowledge, confidence, and connections gained through WBH, she continues to build Studio Kokoro while creating innovative ways for people to connect with Japanese culture through art.

Audrey Adèle-Rose

Audrey Adèle-Rose was born and raised in Metropolitan France of parents from the islands of France. Her business idea is a concept that offers a joyful physical and mental experience, combining dances from five different countries with various meditation methods. She is passionate about dance, languages and travelling.

Kiela Caudillo

Kiela Caudillo is originally from Mexico. She came to Saskatoon in 2012 to pursue a Master’s degree in Plant Science at the University of Saskatchewan. Kiela is planning to open a Mexican food factory for the production of gluten-free corn tortillas, a nutritious flatbread consumed mostly in Central and South America. She hopes that she can bring a good food alternative to Saskatchewan that everyone can enjoy, and at the same time connect her Mexican culture to World culture.

Marcia Chirisa

Marcia Chirisa, originally from Zimbabwe, is the founder of Cast Iron Kitchen. Her recipe developer blessed her with four beautiful children. At Cast Iron Kitchen she caters to busy families, providing wholesome homemade meals, snacks and desserts. Let her bring soul food to your table! Besides cooking, she is passionate about helping people, especially women and children, and loves to travel and study home designs.

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Noha Elkobrosy

Noha loves cooking, baking and cake decoration. When she arrived in this country she learned how to cook the dishes of many different cultures and she began to create her own recipes, with encouraging feedback. She has also engaged in event planning and decorating for different kinds of celebrations — birthdays, baby showers, bridal showers and graduations. She ran her own business making and decorating cakes for three years in Saskatoon and then two years in Calgary, and she returned to Saskatoon with the ambition of launching an expanded business using a commercial kitchen.

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Rania Khiralla

Rania’s business features cake decorating for weddings, birthdays, and all kinds of events, as well as producing cookies, cupcakes, and cake pops. She is also a chocolatier who works from scratch to make bonbons, barks and multiple varieties of chocolates in different flavours, shapes and colours. If that’s not enough, she is a caterer, serving finger foods like mini pizzas and different types of pastries.

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Saida Sultan

Saida Sultan is from Bangladesh. Her business idea is to produce modest clothing and accessories for Muslim men, women and children. Her passion is to provide clothes that are high-quality, modest and affordable for Muslim communities in all cultures.

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Tetiana Mrozova

Tetiana Morozova’s business idea is to produce baked goods and desserts that are free of gluten, dairy products and refined sugar. She uses the best recipes and high-quality ingredients to create healthy food that tastes delectable. Her greatest passion is cooking, but she also loves travelling and yoga classes. As well, she participates in a Ukrainian choir and a dance group.

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Xinlan Li

Xinlan Li is from Shenzhen, China. Her business idea is to build a business of family daycare. She is passionate about many things especially at education and how to raise kids to meet the requirement for the future.