Shannon Pestun: Standing Up for Indigenous Peoples’ Economic Success
Had you asked Shannon Pestun when she was younger where she saw herself in the future, it would be unlikely that she would say she’d be on the front lines of accelerating inclusive economic transformation and economic reconciliation. But trailblazers seldom see the paths they’re meant to trail; those paths are often revealed by enduring hardship.
In this article, we discuss an Indigenous woman leader pioneering change in the finance industry and advocating for – Shannon Pestun, the co-host of The Finance Cafe Podcast and co-founder of The Finance Cafe, which is synonymous with advocacy for economic equality and sustainability. Her commitment to these causes and her accomplishments as a businesswoman and proud Cree Métis woman have earned her the respect of many. She is now a respected authority on women’s entrepreneurship and a highly sought-after financial consultant in Canada.
Shannon’s many accolades and achievements have earned her the recognition of Indigenous-SME Magazine as the Business Woman of the Month for this month’s edition. We wish her a bright future and success in all her upcoming projects.
From financially fearful to empowered
Shannon Pestun’s path to becoming a top financial consultant is inspirational and motivating, proving that life experience is a valuable teacher. By the time she was 16, she had left home, dropped out of high school, battled depression, and worked at two minimum-wage retail jobs. At the age of 20, thanks to the support of her boss, she returned to the classroom, completing her high school diploma and then continuing to complete her business degree.
Despite being told she was terrible at math and was encouraged to pursue a career in the arts, Shannon had a heart for seeing numbers as stories, and she became one of Canada’s leading financial gurus. Shannon’s expertise in business and finance is well admired and valued in her roles as CEO of Pestun Consulting and Senior Advisor for the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub. She served on Canada’s expert group for women entrepreneurs and was one of seven women nominated to the position. She was also an early leader in establishing one of the country’s first women’s banking strategies.
She does more than just financial consulting. Shannon is dedicated to supporting Indigenous economic prosperity and well-being using an Indigenous-centred approach to generating regional economic development. She created Canada’s first community-funded grant for Indigenous women studying entrepreneurship in 2020 with the Gifting Circle Bursary, which has raised nearly $200,000
Creative Management and Acknowledgment
It should be noted that Shannon has received several distinctions for her creative leadership. Thanks to her innovative financing methods and solutions that question the status quo, she has become a respected figure in education, government, business, and the media on issues pertaining to inclusive economic transformation. The UN Women pilot chapter SHEInnovates Alberta named her a SHEInnovator in 2018. The year after, she was a finalist for the Women in Finance—Canada’s Diversity Ambassador of the Year award. She was also the only Indigenous woman appointed to Canada’s women entrepreneurship strategy expert panel. Most recently, she was invited by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon and Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General to share her views on economic reconciliation.
Today, Shannon has started two ventures, Pestun Consulting Inc. and The Finance Cafe. She is a Senior Advisor to Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub. Her work is vital in developing research, initiatives and policies accelerating women’s entrepreneurship. In addition to promoting economic development, her goals include creating a sustainable and inclusive economy so that everyone may reap its advantages. She is actively involved in many projects encouraging women entrepreneurs, demonstrating her dedication to education and mentoring. Shannon is committed to empowering women and removing the historical bias that has kept them from fully participating in the workforce.
The Finance Cafe: A Force for Positive Change
Shannon co-founded The Finance Cafe and co-hosts The Finance Cafe Podcast, a platform where she shares her wisdom and experience in finance. This podcast educates and encourages women entrepreneurs through inspiring tales, helpful tips, and practical financial guidance. Shannon empowers women to take charge of their financial destinies and demystifies money via The FInance Cafe, which reaches a broad audience.
All in all, Shannon Pestun should be named Business Woman of the Month—Indigenous because of her efforts to promote an equitable and sustainable economy. Many are inspired and impacted by her creative approach to finance, her devotion to Indigenous economic progress, and her position as a mentor and leader. A more equal and inclusive future for everyone is at the heart of Shannon’s work, which goes beyond just financial achievement.
Check out The Finance Cafe’s official website to learn about Shannon’s latest and upcoming podcasts; click here.
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