Breaking Barriers, Building Legacies, and Transforming Women Entrepreneurship

‍Eleanor Beaton still remembers her mother’s words, wisdom born from experience that understood the delicate balance between financial dependency and personal agency. This message was forever etched in her memory and ignited during a seemingly ordinary drive to basketball practice in junior high.

Her mother, who had transitioned from a successful teacher and family breadwinner in Fiji to a stay-at-home mom in Canada after her father became a professor, shared her insights into the subtle shifts in financial dynamics, even within a loving marriage. That conversation became a catalyst, igniting a legacy that would uplift and empower millions of women entrepreneurs.

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Roots of resilience

Beaton’s story begins with roots that stretch across continents—from Fiji to Canadian entrepreneurship. She descends from the eldest brother of the last king of Fiji and carries the blood of Welsh coal miners and Danish Vikings. “Advising leaders has been in my blood for generations,” she explains. “I am also descended from Welsh coal miners and Danish Vikings, which means I’m humble, hardworking, and fierce as hell.”

Her mother’s influence extended beyond financial wisdom. “Growing up in rural Nova Scotia in the 1980s, I remember watching her walk into so many spaces where people stared at her because of her Afro because she was Black,” Beaton recalls. “She demonstrated through her example how to remain confident and proud of myself even when I might not look like I belong.” This potent combination of ancestral wisdom and unwavering determination defines her approach to business transformation.

Forging an unconventional path

“When I started my first business in 2003, being an entrepreneur wasn’t cool,” Beaton reflects on her early days after graduating from the University of King’s College. As traditional journalism jobs were disappearing, she took an unconventional path by launching Eleanor Beaton and Company Communications. Her entrepreneurial journey began with support from the Black Business Initiative (BBI), which provided her with her first $5,000 business loan, helping establish her business credit and laying the foundation for future growth. “People thought I was underemployed. I felt misunderstood,” she says. “But I was thrilled with every contract I landed.” This experience navigating the often-unsupportive landscape for women in business would inform her approach to helping others overcome barriers.

Building a global impact

Today, as the founder of Safi Media and recipient of the prestigious BBPA Harry Jerome Professional Excellence Award, Beaton is revolutionizing women’s approach to business growth. Her mission is bold yet clear: to double the number of women entrepreneurs who sustainably scale past $1 million by 2030. Through her globally acclaimed podcast, Power + Presence + Position, which ranks in the top 0.5 per cent globally, she delivers practical strategies for growth that have transformed countless businesses.

Beaton’s commitment to community growth extends beyond her business. She served nine years on the BBI board, concluding as vice chair, and has collaborated with organizations like the Black Business Professional Association. Her recent speaking engagement at Tribe Network’s conference further demonstrates her dedication to fostering entrepreneurial success. Safi Media itself stands as a testament to breaking geographic boundaries, generating over 80 per cent of its revenue from exports. This success becomes a blueprint for clients seeking to expand beyond traditional markets. Such international perspective is crucial in today’s interconnected world, and it’s a lesson Eleanor imparts to her clients daily.

The power of transformation

Beaton’s impact is powerfully demonstrated through both statistics and stories. Her programs have reached over 25,000 women entrepreneurs, with 15 per cent of graduates achieving seven-figure revenues - far exceeding the global average of 1 per cent. In a recent case study, 22 women entrepreneurs using her frameworks achieved an average 579 per cent growth in month-over-month sales, collectively generating $1.09 million in just 30 days.

Working with Beaton, Dr. Karen Wilson transformed her Los Angeles-based psychotherapy practice while launching an innovative tech startup. Her practice experienced a 30 per cent increase in gross income and a staggering 210 per cent jump in net operating income. Her tech startup, ChildNEXUS connects neurodiverse families with specialists, and experienced a 92 per cent year-over-year increase in gross income.

“I’ve never been in business to make money,” Dr. Wilson shares. “My goal was to have an impact in the space. And I am able to do that on a bigger scale because of being in The Incubator.” Under Beaton’s guidance, Dr. Wilson grew from having one employee to employing three additional clinicians, while freeing up 30 per cent of her time to focus on her startup. Her success caught the attention of the Black Ambition Prize, and she was named a Founder of Change by the American Express 100 for 100 program and included in Forbes Next 1000 upstart entrepreneurs.

Breaking through sales barriers

Eleanor’s most significant contribution to breaking barriers might be her practical approach to what she identifies as the biggest obstacle holding women back: sales. Her “Five Points of Contact” strategy, which encourages entrepreneurs to connect with five potential clients daily, has become a cornerstone of her teaching. “Many women entrepreneurs struggle to scale their service businesses because they are stuck trading dollars for hours,” she explains. “The most important thing for any entrepreneur to understand is that sales solve everything. When you have robust sales happening in your company, all other problems can be solved.”

Building a community of risk-takers

“When I talk to women entrepreneurs, I often hear the same thing - they’re afraid to take big risks,” Beaton shares. “I get it. In entrepreneurship, there’s so much uncertainty. The only thing you can be certain about is your work ethic and commitment.”

This understanding comes from her own journey, where she remembers the early days of doubt, when people questioned her decision to start a business. Now, she’s creating the support system she wished she had. Through Safi Media’s programs, women entrepreneurs find a community where they can be vulnerable about their challenges while remaining ambitious about their goals.

“Seeing women having more transparent conversations about ambition and entrepreneurship fuels my optimism,” she says. Through her podcast Power + Presence + Position, Beaton brings these conversations to life, sitting down with women business leaders who share their real stories—not just the successes, but the struggles and pivotal decisions that shaped their journey. These aren’t just inspirational tales; they’re practical guides filled with actionable strategies for sales, marketing, and leadership.

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“We talk about everything - from closing big sales to dealing with imposter syndrome,” she explains. “These are the conversations women entrepreneurs need to hear. It’s about showing them what’s possible when you have the right support and strategies.”

A legacy in motion

In a world that has often marginalized women’s economic potential, Eleanor Beaton stands as a testament to what’s possible when passion meets strategy. Her work goes beyond the realms of traditional entrepreneurship; it’s about fostering an environment where women feel empowered to rewrite the rules, innovate, and lead. With every step she takes in her professional journey, she is redefining what it means to be a successful entrepreneur.

Beaton’s journey has paved the way for generations of women who will follow suit, proving that the sky is the limit when ambition is matched with determination and community support.

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