Sitting on a grass field at Kitsilano Beach on a Saturday, Ardelis Yeung confessed to a group of Novus members why she had yet to join their weekly meetups, where builders co-work, demo, and make new connections. These take place in private spaces — empty offices, condo amenity rooms, and even apartments offered by their network — which the group turns into innovation hubs on weekends. That day was their first social, open to anyone in Vancouver's tech and innovation scene. When the community advocate and content and design strategist explained that she didn’t attend their other events because she wasn’t developing anything, they encouraged her to come anyway, insisting that “community building is still building.”

“I love that everyone is so supportive and so respectful, even though they know who I am and what I don't do,” Yeung tells the Vancouver Tech Journal about attending Novus as a creator who doesn’t have a technical background. “They're so welcoming. It is so beautiful that I can be in this space and flourish. If I need help with anything, people don't hesitate to offer. I could literally just lean over [and ask].”

After being part of Novus for a few months, Yeung was asked another question by co-founder Leejoo Hwang that would change how her weekends looked: why were there so few women compared to men attending? “He said, ‘Everyone is welcome here — it doesn't matter what your gender or sexuality is — I just don't know why the ratio is so low,’” Yeung recounts. The two mulled over possibilities before eventually deciding to explore, hopefully, a solution — creating a space designed specifically for females. Named Women of Novus, the initiative launched in September, with Yeung and fellow member Olena Vasylkova co-hosting. It has since grown beyond what the pair had anticipated, and Yeung is now preparing for their next event on January 25.

Like the original series, Women of Novus meetups take place on Saturdays in private spaces. They begin with introductions and any updates about what attendees are developing. Co-working follows for the next two hours, and the day wraps up with demos where presenters can ask for honest feedback and be challenged with questions. What’s always encouraged is celebrating wins — no matter how small — while selling anything like services or products is strictly prohibited.

What Women of Novus did differently before its first event was consult other female-led communities. By sharing their experiences of attending similar meetups, they identified a need to refine their language. This involved emphasizing not only an inclusive but also a safe space to share their experiences, being open to individuals from any industry, and clarifying that its members aren’t exclusively founders. The community also includes advocates, employees of startups at various stages, and researchers focused on real-world applications.

What attendees also found impactful was the example set by Yeung and Vasylkova. Some of the things the co-hosts heard were being overlooked at other events included welcoming members as soon as they stepped through the door, making introductions that didn’t center on their title or merit, and facilitating and participating in discussions that went beyond surface-level topics — like strategies to optimize one’s menstrual cycle for better productivity.

“Unlike other events, Women of Novus offers a safe, non-judgmental, and empowering environment where participants are encouraged to openly share their journeys, discuss their projects, and seek constructive feedback on challenges,” shares Lynda Li, an event attendee and co-founder of Volentia Translation, a non-profit providing free healthcare and legal interpretation and translation services to immigrants, newcomers, and those with low English-language proficiency. 

Li adds: “The emphasis on active listening, curiosity, and connection allows participants to bond over shared experiences navigating the tech world. In a space where accomplishments are often prioritized over personal connection, Women of Novus highlights that it’s through the reciprocity of vulnerability [...] that people are empowered to find connection and community. I strongly believe that vulnerability is a bridge that connects us, and it’s through these connections that collaboration and innovation truly thrive.”

While Women of Novus will soon host its third event, it has already made an impact in ways Yeung didn’t expect to happen so quickly. It has created opportunities to share knowledge and experiences from one generation to another, across those who are aspiring, budding, or established in their fields — even those in high school. Members have also started meeting between events to discuss ideas for growing the community, like regular co-working sessions.

“There were several who shared that Women of Novus was exactly what they were looking for, and one mentioned it’s what they needed that day,” says Yeung. “If I can impact one person, that's more than enough. But to have a room full of women say these things is extremely rewarding [...] It's beyond the network effects, right? It trickles, carries on, and continues just from one event. I think it's not an exaggeration to say that it's life-changing. Friendships and support networks are coming out of this.”

What Women of Novus is especially proud of, beyond the difference it’s creating for members, is addressing a misconception. That’s the belief that there are few female builders in Vancouver’s tech community, which, Yeung says, is the result of a number of factors, such as the lack of representation of women in traditional media, social media, panels, and in-person events.

“In theory, we know that they exist,” she highlights. “We know that they're out there. But when we are able to see them, see that they have a platform, and see that they're in the same room as me — when I otherwise may have never crossed paths with [them] — that is very strengthening to see, like, 'Hey, we're here.' I think for others to see it, for us all to be together, it's really encouraging.”

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