Michelle Okere, MBA, CFRE is a distinguished Métis-Cree leader with roots in the Red River Settlement in Manitoba and Fort Belknap Indian Reserve in Montana. Michelle currently serves as the Executive Director of The Indigenous Prosperity Foundation (IPF). In this video from season 3 episode 8 of Katy Hansell: The Impact Whisperer® podcast, Michelle Okere shares how IPF is helping Indigenous women, youth, and early stage entrepreneurs access financial literacy, mentorship, grants, and capital across Canada.

The conversation also goes deep on colonial barriers to wealth creation, why economic reconciliation is a rights issue, and how Indigenous-led design creates stronger programs and stronger communities.

We discuss Michelle’s personal path, the founding and scaling of IPF, and the practical ways the organization works with Indigenous Financial Institutions, mentors, and community partners to support entrepreneurs from idea to investment readiness.

Creator/ Host Katy Hansell, aka The Impact Whisperer®, is a globally recognized (Top 10), award-winning expert impact coach, strategic advisor to founders, and Board Director, known for guiding 500+ organizations across 3 continents to make the impact they care about.

Key topics:

In this episode, Michelle explains how her passion for Indigenous entrepreneurship led to her role as executive director of the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation.

She shares how her upbringing as Métis-Cree in Saskatchewan shaped her leadership style, resilience, and understanding of unequal opportunity.

We discuss the long-term economic effects of colonial policies, including land dispossession, disenfranchisement, and barriers to home ownership and wealth transfer.

Michelle breaks down why economic reconciliation is not charity, but a rights issue and a major economic opportunity for Canada.

She outlines the main barriers Indigenous women and youth face in business: capital access, networks, mentorship, digital infrastructure, and culturally relevant support.

We talk about how Indigenous entrepreneurs often lead with community, seven-generation thinking, food security, language revitalization, and stewardship rather than profit alone.

Michelle describes how IPF was built from scratch, including early-stage infrastructure gaps, fundraising, and the significance of an early grant from Mastercard Foundation.

She explains IPF’s role in the ecosystem alongside NACCA and Indigenous Financial Institutions, especially around capacity building and loan readiness.

We discuss the Walking Together tour, which gathers direct community input from elders, nation representatives, and entrepreneurs.

Michelle shares how IPF's "Launchpad" program combines self-directed learning, Indigenous mentors, cohorts, grant funding, and pitch readiness.

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction to Michelle Okere

(03:22) Michelle's Moment of Impact

(06:52) Growing Up in Saskatchewan: Experiences That Shaped Michelle's Leadership

(12:34) How Colonialism Still Shapes Indigenous Economic Opportunity Today

(15:59) The Barriers Facing Indigenous Women & Youth Entrepreneurs in Canada

(19:10) Why Community Impact & Sustainability Are Built Into Indigenous Business

(25:06) How Indigenous Financial Institutions Are Breaking Down Barriers to Capital

(30:37) Inside the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation & IPF "Launchpad" program

(38:24) Money Smarts: Teaching Financial Literacy Through an Indigenous Worldview

(49:15) Michelle's Leadership Lessons From Building an Organization From Scratch

(57:15) How You Can Support Indigenous Entrepreneurs

(01:00:30) What Gives Michelle Hope

(01:01:58) Closing Thoughts