Podcast: Cathy Bennett And Rhiannon Davies Of Sandpiper Ventures
Cathy and Rhiannon are two of the founders of Sandpiper Ventures, which provides investment capital and mentorship to Atlantic Canadian companies led by women. It was named Sandpiper because the migratory bird is known for taking the lead and establishing and defending its territory, and because the venture capital firm wants to help women entrepreneurs soar with their growing businesses.
“There’s wonderful symbolism around the sandpiper that’s about growth and soaring and achieving great heights,” said Rhiannon. “If you walked along the shores of New Brunswick when they’re around, they are very communicative and collaborative and team-oriented creatures as well. But the thing that cinched the deal for us was that sandpipers are matriarchal creatures in that the women of the sandpiper species are out in the world creating and growing and being entrepreneurs, and the males are sitting home on the nest.”
On this week’s Huddle “Home Office” podcast, host Mark Leger chats with Cathy and Rhiannon about their entrepreneurial backgrounds – Rhiannon has been a leading executive with large global companies, and Cathy an owner of several businesses over a 30-year period and former finance minister in Newfoundland. Then they dig into the work of Sandpiper and its $20-million investment fund and mentoring program for companies led by women in Atlantic Canada.
Listen to Mark’s conversation with Rhiannon and Cathy in the player above, or on your preferred podcast platform.