On Wednesday, November 13th, the John F. Wood Centre hosted its annual flagship event, the Bigger Picture Series, focusing on Indigenous Entrepreneurship. The event kicked off with a workshop led by Marissa Magneson, a Cree Métis artist, photographer, educator, and workshop facilitator. This interactive workshop offered attendees the opportunity to explore the Indigenous art forms of beadwork, dot art, and visual storytelling through the lens of Marissa’s own experiences. She shared insights from her personal and professional journey, helping attendees understand the deeper cultural significance behind these artistic practices.
Participants were also invited to create their own beadwork, with Marissa guiding them through the process in a calming and meditative environment. Many attendees expressed how the workshop helped them feel focused, grounded, and at ease, with the creative process providing both a therapeutic and educational experience. In addition to her art, Marissa spoke about her entrepreneurial journey as an Indigenous artist, sharing highlights from her past and current exhibitions, including the Faces of Canada Today exhibition at the Juno Beach Centre in Courseulles-sur-Mer, France [1].
The workshop served as a powerful opening to the evening's keynote address by Jenn Harper, Founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty.
Cheekbone Beauty, drawing inspiration from Jenn’s Indigenous roots, is committed to creating clean, sustainable, vegan, and cruelty-free cosmetics. In her keynote address, Jenn shared her personal experiences and the challenges she faced in launching a business in an already saturated market, particularly the cosmetics industry. Her talk was not only an inspiring narrative of resilience and innovation but also a candid truth of the hurdles that many entrepreneurs face when attempting to break into competitive industries.
Jenn’s message of empowerment resonated strongly with the audience, particularly the young entrepreneurs in the room. She emphasized the importance of representation in business, explaining how seeing oneself reflected in a brand or marketing campaign can build a sense of belonging and inspire confidence, especially for younger generations still in the process of discovering their self-worth. As Jenn put it, “Representation saves lives,” and it is this belief that stands at the heart of Cheekbone Beauty’s mission.
A significant portion of the attendees were young entrepreneurs, and Jenn offered them words of encouragement. She shared an inspiring message with us, that highlighted the power of youthful energy, creativity, and purpose:
"Speaking to youth about entrepreneurship is one of my greatest joys. Their energy, curiosity, and fearless approach to innovation inspire me every time. I love seeing young minds realize the power they hold to shape the future, to create, and to lead with purpose. It’s a privilege to share my journey and hopefully spark that belief that anything is possible.”
— Jenn Harper
Her keynote speech with the crowd reinforced the idea that entrepreneurship is not just about business—it’s about creating positive change, leading with integrity, and believing in one’s potential to make a difference.
