BDC announces marketing scholarships for Indigenous Peoples
December 12, 2022, Montréal, QC – BDC, the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs, is sponsoring six Indigenous scholarships for Jelly Academy’s Digital Marketing Bootcamp. The scholarships are available for Indigenous students and entrepreneurs who are interested in digital marketing as a career path or new skill, but do not have the resources required for the course.
“Education and upskilling are critical to meeting the rapidly changing needs of increasingly digital workplaces,” said Annie Marsolais, Chief Marketing Officer, BDC. “At BDC, we are always on the lookout for great talent and committed to improving diversity and inclusion in our workforce. We hope these scholarships will open doors to professional growth and new opportunities for Indigenous Peoples.”
Jelly Academy’s Digital Marketing Bootcamp provides the foundational knowledge required to create and measure a successful digital marketing strategy. It’s ideal for people with limited experience in digital marketing, or for smaller companies without a dedicated marketing team. The six-week program starts in February 2023. To learn more and apply, visit Jelly Academy’s scholarship page.
“Effective digital marketing is now essential for businesses and brands to compete in today’s marketplace,” said Darian Kovacs, CEO, Jelly Academy. “We are pleased to partner with BDC to help more Indigenous Peoples launch a career in digital marketing and bring more Indigenous voices to this fast-growing industry."
Less than half (44%) of Indigenous youth (age 18-24) have completed high school, compared to 88% for non-Indigenous Canadian youth1. In addition, access to technology, reliable internet, and post-secondary education is often limited, creating a negative ripple effect for individuals and their communities that can become a pattern impacting future generations.
BDC has a long history of working with Indigenous entrepreneurs. It is committed to taking actions towards reconciliation and being a more inclusive place to work in, and work with. This includes collaborating with partners to increase financial support and resources (such as the Indigenous Growth Fund), improving recruitment strategies and employee onboarding, and employee learning such as the 4 Seasons of Reconcilation training which provides education on Indigenous history, culture, and how to support truth and reconciliation in Canada. BDC is also offering the 4 Seasons training for free to Canadian entrepreneurs.
About BDC
As Canada’s bank for entrepreneurs, BDC is a partner of choice for all entrepreneurs looking to access the financing and advice they need to build their businesses and tackle the big challenges of our time. Our investment arm, BDC Capital, offers a wide range of risk capital solutions to help grow the country’s most innovative firms. We are one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers and Canada’s Best Diversity Employers. For more information on BDC’s products and services and to consult free tools, templates and articles, visit bdc.ca or join BDC on social media.
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