International Women’s Day Feature - Interview with Kristin Kula

Celebrating women entrepreneurs on International Women’s Day — and every day!

At Prospera, we’re inspired by every one of the women entrepreneurs we work with. Our Local Business Relationship Managers are the luckiest — they get to meet with them regularly, hear how they overcome barriers and celebrate their successes. Kristin Kula is on that team. Here, she answers four questions in honour of International Women’s Day on March 8.

Q: What barriers have you overcome as a woman in the workplace?

A: When I started in commercial banking, it was a male-dominated field. Many women didn’t apply for those roles because they felt that maybe they wouldn’t be welcomed or accepted. Two other women in the department at the time convinced me I could thrive in this industry. Their mentorship — women helping women — gave me the boost I needed. That was amazing and we need more of that.

Q: What do you love best about supporting women entrepreneurs as a Local Business Relationship Manager?

A: I love giving advice and letting members know all the different avenues that are available to them. That may mean helping a woman develop her business plan. It may mean giving a business owner cash management options. It may mean offering mentorship from me or organizations like WeBC. Every day, I get to connect women at all stages of entrepreneurship in different industries to resources they didn’t know about. Seeing them have that “aha moment” as they recognize a new opportunity is the best.

Q: How do you empower and enable female business owners within your portfolio?

A: What sets Prospera apart is that when we sit down with a business owner, we take the time to listen to what makes her and her business tick. When you’re inside a business, it can be hard to see what’s missing or what areas can be strengthened. We provide that holistic perspective — and if you come to us thinking you need a specific product, we’ll ask lots of questions to make sure that’s the best solution or recommend even better ones. Also, we understand business owners are people too, so we’re determined to figure out what works for your business and your life.

Q: What’s your best advice for female entrepreneurs who are considering launching a business?

A: Don’t overthink or over analyze your business idea or business model. It doesn’t have to be perfect before you decide to go into business. You can start lean with few resources — for example, you can do a pop-up, you can sublease space, or you can work from home. Take your product to market quickly, and then treat your business plan as a living, breathing document and regularly review, reiterate and revamp. based on your experience and feedback from your customers. You can do it!