Sheridan EDGE hosts sixth annual ACBN Legacy Symposium for Black entrepreneurs

Over one hundred Black entrepreneurs, business leaders and professionals gathered for the sixth annual Legacy Symposium at Sheridan's Hazel McCallion Campus on March 29.  

Presented by the Afro-Caribbean Business Network (ACBN) in partnership with Sheridan EDGE Entrepreneurship hub for a fifth year, this year's event focused on the theme of 'Building Wealth Through Franchising.'  

Dr. Janet Morrison, President and Vice-Chancellor at Sheridan, and ACBN Co-founder and Executive Director Ryan Knight (Accounting '12) offered welcome remarks, setting the stage for insightful discussions on wealth-building opportunities and entrepreneurial success in the Black community.

In his remarks, Trevor McPherson, Ex-Officio President & CEO of the Mississauga Board of Trade, addressed the recent U.S. trade tariffs and their impact while emphasizing the resilience of the Mississauga business community.  

The program continued with an engaging fireside-style interview featuring serial entrepreneur Brian Scudamore, founder and CEO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK? and a judge on Season 19 of Dragon’s Den. Scudamore shared insights on building his businesses, the lessons he learned along the way, and offered practical advice for entrepreneurs.

The session was followed by an audience Q&A with Knight. 

Founders from Sheridan EDGE’s Rise program participated as speakers at the Legacy Symposium. Allison Williams, founder of The Black Women Collective, spoke about the systemic barriers Black women face in business, while Michelle Buckland, founder of EMBRACE 2 Learn Inc., shared insights on creating accessible, inclusive cultures with a focus on the intersectionality within the Black community. Rise coach Fatima Gould also facilitated a breakout session. 

“ACBN works tirelessly to champion and increase the visibility of Black entrepreneurs in southern Ontario. Sheridan EDGE is proud to be a long-time collaborator in this effort, amplifying the support available to the Black community,” said Noreen Javed, Interim Director, Entrepreneurship and Changemaking.  

The Symposium also offered Sheridan students a chance to volunteer and network. A ‘Mentor-Mentee Matching’ initiative paired students with entrepreneurs, with students gaining insights into launching a business, enjoying hands-on learning and building new connections. 

“Our partnership with Sheridan EDGE means the Legacy Symposium is now a long-term movement to empower Black business owners with the resources they need to create generational wealth –  this year we welcomed Black Sheridan students to learn about growing a business – and helping a new generation of equity-seeking entrepreneurs to flourish,” said Knight, who delivered the closing remarks. 

ACBN and Sheridan EDGE have also successfully offered a first-of-its-kind certificate course Black Founders in Clean Technology in collaboration with Continuing and Professional Studies and Pilon School of Business. The course ran for two years and was successfully completed last year. 

More information on ACBN, its support for Black business owners and upcoming events can be accessed here.