Kara Thorvaldson (she/her) represents the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub as a Program Manager, co-leading WEKH’s strategy through creating initiatives that drive an inclusive Innovation and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Alberta. She is an Indigenous woman from Treaty 1 territory (MB), with family roots within Sagkeeng First Nation and the Red River Métis, but now lives as a guest on the traditional lands of the peoples of Treaty 7. Kara graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honors) from the I.H. Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba, where she pursued a double major in Marketing and International Business, and was fortunate to spend a year of her degree studying at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Previous to her current role at WEKH, Kara worked as the National Program Coordinator at WEKH’s Indigenous women's entrepreneurship Hub - Mikwam Makwa Ikwe, which is housed at the University of Manitoba. In this role, Kara supported various research and innovation projects, and co-created programming alongside organizations such as the Indigenous LIFT Collective and the Indigenous Innovation Initiative (I3). Outside of her roles at WEKH, Kara has worked to support organizations such as the National Aboriginal Trust Officers Association (NATOA) and The Fireweed Fellowship in various capacities. Kara takes great pride in her personal roles as a daughter, sister, friend, partner, and a provider for her rescue pup, Smokie.