Post Contributed By: Saliou Sako, Bilingual Contract Administrator, Johnston Group and Leadership Winnipeg Class of 2020-21

Hearing Francine speak about her upbringing, where she came from and overcame in war torn Congo, to settling in Canada was very inspiring. I was born in Cote d’Ivoire (West Africa), who has also endured its own civil war in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, being able to grow up in the United States then coming to Canada and becoming a Canadian citizen, I feel that her perseverance is a great example of all people of Africa that have left to pursue a better life and achieve their dreams.

Francine started her business, Queenfidence Cosmetics, as a means to show women that they are beautiful on the inside without the use of makeup and to look at themselves to achieve their goals and dreams. Queenfidence Cosmetics was meant to empower people through makeup, start a new standard of beauty, a makeup line that is inclusive, for all different skin tones and complexions.

Francine created Black Owned Manitoba as a means to find local black owned businesses to support and amplify. She wanted to create a platform for the Winnipeg black business community, to empower them and push their businesses to consumers so that black owned businesses can be sustained for years and decades to come. The online directory was meant for non-black allies to come and support local black owned businesses, instead of the big name retailers. Supporting black owned businesses is not because they are black but because they offer amazing services and products and this online platform has been a great launchpad for the local and Manitoba wide black owned businesses.

Leadership Winnipeg is supported by:

Vision Partners:

Canada Life
IG Wealth Management
The Winnipeg Foundation
Johnston Group
Winnipeg Regional Health Authority

Proud Partner:

Assiniboine CU

Proud Supporters:

Asper School of Business
Boston Pizza
Honest Agency
Wawanesa Insurance