Creating Mejuri: Noura Sakkijha's Journey to Canadian Business Success

Invest Ottawa's Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) is hosting an IWM 2025 event at Bayview Yards!

Join us for an inspiring afternoon event featuring Noura Sakkijha, Co-founder and CEO of Mejuri, as she shares her remarkable journey of transforming the fine jewelry industry and redefining entrepreneurship in Canada.

Growing up in Jordan as a third-generation jeweller, Noura noticed that traditional high-end jewelry brands often targeted men, encouraging them to buy luxury jewelry for women. Determined to rewrite this narrative, Noura co-founded Mejuri in 2015 with a mission: to empower women to buy jewelry for themselves. Under her leadership, Mejuri has not only turned fine jewelry into an everyday occasion but has also raised over $40 million, growing into a globally recognized brand. Her pieces have been worn by celebrities such as Selena Gomez, Lizzo, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Oprah.

For our keynote fireside chat, Noura will be interviewed by Karen Greve Young, CEO of Futurpreneur Canada. Together, they'll explore Noura’s entrepreneurial journey, discussing actionable insights and strategies that have fueled her success while addressing the challenges of building a sustainable and impactful business.

This event is an opportunity to learn, connect, and discuss the real victories and hurdles in entrepreneurship and e-commerce. Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere with great food and refreshments.

All are welcome, and it's all free! If you can't make it in person, our team will share the virtual event link just before March 31st.

Agenda

Noon – Networking and Refreshments at Bayview Yards

12:50 PM – Event Kickoff

Welcome remarks from Sonya Shorey, President & CEO of Invest Ottawa.

An introduction by a local Ottawa business owner!

1:00 PM – Keynote Fireside Chat

Noura Sakkijha, Co-founder & CEO of Mejuri and Karen Greve Young, the CEO of Futurpreneur Canada, will take the stage!

1:45 PM – Audience Q & A

1:55 PM – Closing Remarks & Prize Giveaway

2:00 PM – Networking

More About Our Speakers

Noura Sakkijha

Noura Sakkijha is the Co-Founder and CEO of Mejuri, a fine jewelry brand revolutionizing the industry by introducing handcrafted, everyday jewelry without traditional retail markups. Her bold approach to entrepreneurship has challenged industry norms and empowered women to celebrate their individuality through jewelry.

Visit the Mejuri website to learn more: https://mejuri.com/ca/en/company/about-us

Karen Greve Young

Karen Greve Young is the Chief Executive Officer of Futurpreneur, Canada’s only national organization dedicated to supporting young entrepreneurs. Futurpreneur’s unique model combines loan funding with mentorship, and startup resources to support the success of young entrepreneurs. Since 1996, Futurpreneur has helped more than 18,700 young entrepreneurs launch businesses in every Canadian province and territory. 

Prior to joining Futurpreneur in 2018, Karen was the Vice President, Corporate Development & Partnerships at MaRS Discovery District, a global innovation hub based in Toronto. As a global citizen, Karen has lived and worked for global organizations in San Francisco, New York, and London, UK. She also co-authored a book with her mother about their shared experience through her mother’s ovarian cancer journey, and today, she is chair of the Ovarian Cancer Canada Board of Directors. 

Karen holds an MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business and a BA in Economics from Harvard University. 

Get your questions ready! After the fireside chat, we’ll open the floor for audience Q&A.

#IWM2025 #AccelerateAction

Special Thank You

We are incredibly grateful to the BDC Capital's Thrive Venture Fund for their generous support as our title sponsor for IWM 2025 and their unwavering commitment to our shared goals and community.

Important Event Details

If you are joining us in person, we are delighted to share the following information on transportation to our innovation hub and the support available upon your arrival.

• Cycling: Located beside the Ottawa River Pathway and many other routes, Bayview Yards is easily accessible via bicycle. We offer ample bike racks at the front and back of our building throughout all seasons.

• Parking: 50 spaces along Bayview Station Road offer 2 hours of free parking, and 27 spaces along Stonehurst and Burnside offer 1 hour of free parking.

• Transit: Bayview Yards is 600m away from Bayview Station, which serves multiple routes. It is also the O-Train stop.

• Driving: 50 spaces along Bayview Station Road offer 2HR free parking, and 27 spaces along Stonehurst and Burnside offer 1HR free parking.

• Parking: Complimentary parking is available onsite.

• Inclusive & Accessible: Should you have any specific mobility requirements, please contact Audrey Willsey at awillsey@investottawa.ca. Our team will be pleased to work with you to make all the arrangements required for a great experience.

By registering for this event, you accept that:

• You may be photographed or video recorded as we capture special moments during this event and share memories with our community via our website and social media.

• You will receive event-related emails and an invitation to subscribe to our mailing list.

Register Now

If you're an aspiring or current small business owner who wants to build or expand your business through online sales, this is the place to be on March 31, 2025.

Join us in person or stream the event online.

All are welcome, and it's all free! If you can't make it in person, our team will share the virtual event link just before March 31st.