The Week Before the Pitch
If you think preparation for a three-minute pitch competition only takes three minutes to prepare, let me tell you—it doesn’t. Not even close.
The week leading up to live June 10th pitch date was one of the most intense (and rewarding) stretches I’ve ever experienced as a woman entrepreneur.
On Tuesday, June 3rd, I found out I’d made it into the Top 50 finalists in the Startup Canada Equal Slice Pitch Competition sponsored by Pizza Hut Canada. The one-day competition was being held at Googles Toronto head office the following Tuesday, June 10th.
From that moment, it was all systems go.
The Village That Showed Up
I was off Facebook at the time (I know—wild choice for someone running two businesses), so I leaned on good old-fashioned texts, phone calls, and emails. I reached out to friends, colleagues, past clients—even if I couldn’t reach everyone I wanted.
And people showed up.
First, there were my mentors: Ciara Hunt, a Google Senior Account Specialist assigned through the contest, and Kerry Ramsay, Speaker and Manager of Queen’s University WE-CAN program–and a longtime mentor and friend. Both generously shared their time and wisdom. They asked thoughtful questions helping me shape my story to resonate with the audience and most importantly, the judges.
Then there was my Mastermind Group and all the friends and business acquaintances who let me practice—over and over. I recorded myself, tweaked every sentence, and rehearsed for anyone who’d listen (sometimes more than once) and really heard their feedback.
It was humbling—and honestly a bit emotional—to see how many people were willing to lend an ear, share encouragement, or just say, “You’ve got this.”
Mindset and the Little Details
That week, I learned just how much confidence and mindset matter when you’re stepping into something big.
I decided to treat this pitch as a chance to honour my business and myself.
I got my hair cut and splurged on matching underwear and bra—because often your best confidence booster is the part no one sees. And nothing says “I’m ready to conquer the world” like secretly wearing your power outfit under your work-clothes.
Most of all, I kept reminding myself: I deserve to be in that room as much as anyone else does.
One Step at a Time
There were moments I felt completely overwhelmed. I’m not a professional speaker. I have never prepared to be in a pitch competition. I’m not a big tech startup. I’m a woman with a small-but-mighty business helping others feel safe and empowered through DIY workshops.
But every time doubt crept in, I came back to this:
- This matters—I matter.
- This is why I started Canadian Handywoman.
- This is why I tell other women it’s okay to ask for help, to prepare, and to keep showing up—even when you’d rather crawl under a blanket.
And when the time came, I knew I’d done everything I could to be ready.
Takeaway: Build Your Village
If you’re facing your own big moment, remember: you don’t have to do it alone.
Build your village, prepare as best you can, and trust that you belong. Because you absolutely do.
📌 Stay tuned: Next time, I’ll share what it felt like to step into Google Canada, stand in front of 25 judges, and pitch my heart out.
See exactly what I shared to earn $10,000 for Canadian Handywoman. Click HERE to download my pitch. I hope it gives you the little nudge you need to share your own big idea.
👉 Looking for a Speaker or Collaborator?
Sometimes you just need to talk it through If you’ve got a project in mind or a skill you’d like to build, I’d love to help you out. If you’re unsure where to start, book a free 15-minute Discovery Call and we’ll chat about your project or repair. Ready to get right to it? Book a 45-minute Confidence Call ($99) and get clear answers, a solid plan, and the know-how to move forward — no guesswork, no stress.
To read part 3, click here to check it out!
If your organization believes in empowering women, building confidence and mindset, or hands-on workshops for women—I’d love to connect. [Reach out here.]
