The Brand is Female: Recent Episodes
The Brand is Female
The weekly series hosted by Eva Hartling brings you authentic stories of self-accomplishment from powerful and iconic women of all backgrounds including entrepreneurs, business leaders, media personalities and more. A podcast brought to you by TD Women Entrepreneurs!
When avid outdoor adventurers Jaime Hackett and Erin Prohaska couldn’t find a bug spray that actually worked and felt good on their skin, they decided to create their own. That’s how Bite was born — a Toronto-based brand on a mission to make bug protection clean, non-toxic, and enjoyable to use.
In this episode, the co-founders share the full story behind Bite’s creation, from the personal frustrations that sparked their idea to the uphill climb of bringing a new kind of wellness product to market. We talk about what it takes to build a purpose-led brand in a highly regulated category, the red tape of Health Canada approvals, navigating a tough retail environment, and the steep learning curve of entrepreneurship in a product-based business. Jaime and Erin open up about the unexpected roadblocks, the grind of building something from the ground up, and the relentless belief that a better solution was possible.
This is a conversation about the ups and downs of brand-building, and changing the way we think about the products we use every day — even bug spray.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Jenn Harper is the Founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty, a brand rewriting the rules of the beauty industry — and redefining what it means to lead with purpose.
In this episode of The Brand is Female, Jenn shares the incredible journey that took her from working in food service and sales to launching a mission-driven beauty brand from her kitchen table. A dream about three Indigenous girls covered in lip gloss became the spark for Cheekbone Beauty — but it was her drive, curiosity, and resilience that turned it into a nationally recognized brand rooted in sustainability and Indigenous representation.
Jenn opens up about the early days of building the brand as a side hustle, teaching herself how to make product through Google searches and YouTube videos, and navigating the beauty world without a traditional background. She also speaks candidly about the challenges of building a clean, transparent supply chain and why staying true to her values meant turning away from easy solutions.
This is a conversation about resilience, representation, and rewriting the narrative — both in beauty and in business.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
In this episode, Eva sits down with Sara Jonsdottir, Founder and CEO of Revol Cares—a company leading the charge in reimagining period care with medically recognized, toxin-free leakproof underwear.
Sara shares her journey from identifying critical gaps in women’s health and sustainability to launching an innovative product that puts safety, comfort, and dignity first. We talk about what it takes to fundraise in a space often ignored by investors, how she’s challenging long-standing taboos around menstruation, and why human-centered design is at the heart of her brand’s mission.
This conversation is for anyone who’s ever felt let down by traditional period products—and for every entrepreneur dreaming of building something that truly makes a difference.
Topics Include:
Why the period care industry needed a revolution
How Sara raised capital while educating investors on women’s health
Building stigma-free, sustainable products
Designing with empathy and user needs in mind
The future of innovation in menstrual care
Follow @RevolCares to learn more.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Today’s conversation is one we wish we didn’t have to have—but it’s one we absolutely must. In this episode, host Eva Hartling is joined by Liat Kaplan, founder and CEO of WiSP, a device she created to address a disturbing and all-too-common issue: drink spiking.
Drink spiking is more widespread than many realize. While it’s hard to find stats on this issue, recent studies show that 13% of women in the UK report having had their drinks spiked at some point in their lives. Among young adults aged 18–24, it’s 70% who have either experienced or witnessed drink spiking. Despite these alarming numbers, the vast majority of incidents go unreported, often due to fear, shame, or the belief that nothing will be done.
Liat, who has a background in strategic marketing with brands like SodaStream where she worked on Pepsi products, and Believer Meats, decided to take action. She developed WiSP—a small, reusable device that discreetly detects the presence of drugs in drinks, providing a simple yet powerful tool for personal safety which will be available for individual consumers in both the US and Canada.
In this episode, Liat shares her journey from recognizing the problem to creating a tangible solution. We discuss the challenges she faced, the technology behind WiSP, and the broader implications for women's safety.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This episode features a true pioneer in the period care space. Carinne Chambers-Saini is the Founder and CEO of DIVA, the company behind the Original DIVA Cup. What started over 20 years ago as a mother-daughter mission to bring a better, more sustainable alternative to pads and tampons has since grown into a global brand that has reshaped the menstrual care industry.
Back in 2002, Carinne and her mom Francine launched DIVA out of their basement in Kitchener, Ontario. Together, they took on an industry that wasn’t built with women’s bodies—or the planet—in mind. Their vision? Conscious, accessible, stigma-free period care for every body.
Since then, DIVA has become a household name, known not just for innovation but for pushing the conversation forward around menstrual equity, sustainability, and body confidence.
In this conversation, Carinne shares what it took to build a brand that challenged the status quo, how she continues to lead with purpose, and what’s next for a company that’s always been ahead of its time.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
In this episode, host Eva Hartling sits down with Jessica Bosman and Bryn Davis Williams, co-founders of DOUBL, a company that’s reimagining how bras are made and sold. The duo met at university and bonded over their shared passion for entrepreneurship and disruptive innovation. Noticing how little the bra industry had evolved over the years, they saw an opportunity to do things differently.
Launched in 2020, DOUBL uses AI and smartphone scanning technology to create made-to-measure bras that can be ordered entirely from home—no fittings, no guesswork, and no standard sizing. Jessica and Bryn share their journey from idea to launch, the challenges of innovating in a legacy industry, and how they’re using tech to empower women to feel more comfortable and confident in their own skin.
Tune in to hear how two founders are using innovation and empathy to reshape a daily essential.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Caroline Monnet is a multidisciplinary artist of Anishinaabe and French ancestry, based in Montreal. She has carved out her own path as an artist and filmmaker, building a practice rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems and contemporary expression. Her work explores identity, community, and the impact of colonialism—offering any creative entrepreneur or artist a powerful model of what it means to build a practice anchored in intention and vision.
Caroline brings a rich, critical perspective to her work. Her art has been exhibited globally—from the Whitney Biennial to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the National Gallery of Canada. Her films have screened at TIFF, Sundance, Berlinale, and beyond. And she’s received major accolades, including the Prix Pierre-Ayot, a Sobey Art Award nomination, and a residency with the Cannes Film Festival’s Cinefondation.
In our conversation, Caroline shares the realities of navigating the art world independently—and speaks candidly about how, as she puts it, “no one tells artists they need to be entrepreneurs too.” Her insights offer powerful takeaways not only for creatives, but for any woman building a business or forging her own path professionally.
This conversation airs this week as we get ready to debut our new podcast, Collection’elle, in a few days. This new show aims to encourage women to engage in contemporary art collecting—at a time when women are rising in influence in the art world, yet women artists remain underrepresented in collections. Collection’elle highlights the voices of women artists like Caroline, while also decoding market dynamics through conversations with gallerists, curators, and art-world insiders. Her full interview will continue there, but today, you’ll get a first listen to Caroline’s story of building a creative practice that’s deeply personal, political, and visionary.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Dallas Barnes is on a mission to transform reproductive health for individuals with ovaries. As the founder and CEO of Reya Health, a digital platform offering personalized birth control support, Dallas is helping users navigate contraception with confidence and clarity. In this episode, she shares how her own experience with birth control side effects sparked the idea for Reya—and how she turned that vision into a rapidly growing femtech startup.
We explore the key stages of launching a femtech company, what it takes to build in a space often overlooked by traditional healthcare, and how Dallas is preparing for her next fundraising round after a successful pre-seed. Tune in for an honest, inspiring conversation on innovation, impact, and championing health equity from the ground up.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, we’re re-airing a conversation with two of our favourite beauty founders from Canada. Three Ships Beauty was founded by Connie Lo and Laura Burget in 2017. What began as a kitchen experiment with just $2,000 each has grown into a thriving skincare brand known for its commitment to transparency and sustainability.
Rebranded in 2020, Three Ships Beauty is now stocked in nearly 1,000 stores across North America. With a recent $3.5 million investment led by BDC Capital’s Thrive Venture Fund, they’re set to expand their product line and team, all while continuing to disrupt the beauty industry.
Tune in and dive into Connie and Laura’s journey, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the advice they offer to all women entrepreneurs — including a few things that may surprise you when it comes to dealing with investors!
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Cathrine Delp is the Founder and CEO of Ekvi, and a rising force in Norway’s emerging femtech ecosystem.
Norway is part of a growing wave of innovation in women's health, with more founders and startups stepping up to tackle challenges ranging from menstrual health to menopause and beyond.
While the region is still catching up to countries like the UK and Sweden in terms of investment, initiatives like Femtech Studios in Oslo are helping to foster a thriving community of female-led innovation — and Cathrine is right at the heart of it.
Much like Norway, Canada’s femtech ecosystem is gaining momentum but remains underfunded compared to global leaders like the US and UK. Yet, both countries are home to passionate founders working to close the health gap and bring attention to women’s unique healthcare needs.
With a background in sociology, data-driven product leadership, and business development, Cathrine launched Ekvi with a clear mission: to create healthcare tools that truly meet women’s needs. Today, she brings both creativity and analytical insight to some of the most pressing issues in women's health — including endometriosis, and the broader gap in care.
In this conversation, Cathrine shares how she’s building technology that embraces women’s cyclical nature, driving meaningful change in a market projected to reach $60 billion globally. We dive into her journey, the power of purpose-driven innovation, and why she believes women deserve better — and how Ekvi is here to make it happen.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
In this episode, we're exploring the intersection of design, community, and sustainability with two inspiring women who are reshaping the built environment. Tina Ranieri-D’Ovidio and Hagit Waisman are the founding Principals of ward99 architects, a firm known for creating award-winning public spaces that reflect the diverse communities they serve.
With decades of experience and a shared passion for sustainable, people-centered design, Tina and Hagit are proving that architecture can be a powerful tool for connection and change. In a field where only 33% of architects in Canada are women, their leadership is not only groundbreaking—it’s helping pave the way for greater equity in the profession.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Allison Dent is an M&A and financial expert who’s passionate about helping all entrepreneurs — women included —- take control of their financial futures. We all know that starting and running a business takes vision, resilience, and a lot of hard work—but what about planning for the long-term? Whether it’s scaling your company, securing funding, or figuring out what an exit strategy should actually look like, these are questions every founder needs to think about.
Allison has spent her career guiding business owners through these big decisions, helping them build businesses that are not just successful today but set up for long-term financial security. In this conversation, she shares practical advice on how to plan ahead, avoid common financial pitfalls, and make sure the business you’ve built truly works for you. If you’ve ever wondered what you should be doing now to create more financial freedom in the future, this episode is for you.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
In this episode, we’re tackling an issue that’s holding Canada back—our entrepreneurship gap, especially when it comes to women-led businesses. Despite years of investment, progress has been painfully slow, and the numbers tell a troubling story: entrepreneurship is in decline, self-employment has dropped, and gender-based barriers are costing the economy up to $180 billion in lost potential.
To make matters worse, Canadian entrepreneurs are also navigating rising costs, supply chain disruptions, and trade barriers—including tariffs—that further limit growth. While the impact of tariffs on GDP is estimated at 2.6% annually, the entrepreneurship gap is costing us even more.
Our guest on this episode helps us unpack this: meet Marwa Abdou, Senior Research Director at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Marwa has spent her career championing financial inclusion, gender equity, and private sector growth, working with organizations like the World Bank and OECD. She’s here to break down the findings of the Chamber’s latest report, Women Entrepreneurs: Canada’s Biggest Missed Business Opportunity, and talk about what it will take to finally move the needle.
If we have the talent and resources to thrive, why are women entrepreneurs still being left behind? And what needs to happen to change that?
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Today we’re celebrating IWD with a special episode featuring a history-maker in hockey: Jessica Campbell. In July 2024, Jessica became assistant coach for the Seattle Kraken, breaking barriers in a field long dominated by men. By fall, she made history as the first woman to coach behind the bench in an NHL game.
Jessica’s coaching journey has been full of firsts—from coaching internationally in Sweden to becoming the first woman behind the bench at the men’s World Championships with Team Germany in 2021. She then joined the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds, paving her way to the NHL.
Beyond coaching, Jessica was just named a Canadian partner for L’Oréal Paris' Worth It program, recognized for her leadership, resilience, and impact in breaking barriers for women in sports.
Jessica isn’t just coaching; she’s changing the game.
Today's conversation with Jessica Campbell is brought to you by L'Oréal Paris Canada. This International Women’s Day, L'Oréal Paris is celebrating trailblazers who redefine what’s possible—like Jessica, the first full-time female assistant coach in NHL history. From coaching internationally to making history behind the bench, Jessica’s leadership is inspiring women everywhere to believe in their worth. Learn more about L'Oréal Paris’ commitment to empowerment at lorealparis.ca. Because WE’RE WORTH IT.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Kaelen Haworth is a designer and entrepreneur who has navigated the ever-changing world of fashion with creativity and adaptability. After launching her namesake brand in 2009 and earning a spot in the CFDA Incubator program, she built a reputation for effortless, modern womenswear. She later expanded into size-inclusive fashion with Second Sight and spent time in editorial and celebrity styling.
Now, after years in New York, Kaelen has moved back to Toronto—lucky us in Canada! She’s the founder of Absolutely Fabrics, a concept store that blends fashion, vintage, and creative community. In an industry where retail is tougher than ever, Kaelen has found a modern way to make it work. Her store isn’t just about selling clothes—it’s about creating an experience, hosting trunk shows, photo shoots, and designer collaborations to bring people together in a fresh, engaging way.
On top of that, she’s taken a smart and personal approach to connecting with her audience through her Substack, where she shares thoughtful takes on fashion, entrepreneurship, and the realities of running a business in today’s landscape.
Kaelen’s career has been defined by reinvention, and she’s proving that fashion retail can still thrive—if you do it differently.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This episode was recorded in Oslo, Norway, in conversation with the founder of sustainable fashion brand “As We Are Now” or AWAN, Anette Miwa Dimmen. AWAN is a modular fashion brand designed for women, by women. Born in Seoul and raised in Norway, Anette’s journey is anything but conventional. From chasing dreams of becoming a music star in London to launching groundbreaking businesses in Norway, her entrepreneurial spirit has never wavered. Today, with sustainability and inclusivity at the heart of her mission, Anette is leading AWAN’s international expansion, offering women a wardrobe designed for comfort, versatility, and confidence—no compromises.
In this conversation, we talk about Anette’s inspiring path, from navigating the challenges of scaling a direct-to-consumer brand to redefining fashion with a purpose-driven, community-first mindset. We also address the challenges of operating a fashion brand in a small country like Norway - which, for our Canadian listeners, will sound oddly familiar. Get ready for an honest, insightful conversation about resilience, innovation, and the power of creating fashion that lets women feel their best as they are now.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week we are reairing our conversation with Alexandra (Ally) Mamalider, President and the 2nd-generation leader of Organic Traditions, a Canadian superfoods brand known for its pure ingredients and unique blends. Ally will be our guest at the next instalment of The Brand is Female Conversation Series in Toronto on February 26th. Join us if you are in town by signing up here!
Taking over from her father, the brand’s original founder, Ally has spent the last several years guiding Organic Traditions through a transformation, launching new products, refreshing its mission, and now, preparing for its first round of capital fundraising. Organic Traditions is on the cusp of a new chapter as the wellness category continues to expand and the demand for functional foods grows.
Ally’s journey is a story of family succession, of taking a brand with roots in a family’s values and giving it new life to serve a modern audience. It’s an inspiring tale of navigating the challenges of family legacy while creating something distinct and impactful.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week’s guest is Roxanne Doucet, founder of Triptyque and managing director at creative agency Al Dente New York. With over a decade of experience in creative consulting and art buying, Roxanne has worked with top artists and luxury brands like Dior, Loewe, and Balenciaga. In 2022, she became visual director at Vogue Global, further cementing her role at the intersection of art and fashion. Known for her expertise in fine art and documentary photography, she champions emerging talent and impactful storytelling through global curatorial projects.
If you have ever wondered what business opportunities exist at the intersection of creativity, art and fashion, this conversation is for you!
Find out more about Roxanne’s Feel Seen initiative here. And follow her on LinkedIn here.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This is Eva writing this: hi! And welcome back. As we officially launch a new season of The Brand is Female podcast, I’m doing something a little different—the tables have turned! For this episode, I’m stepping into the guest chair on my own show.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of sitting down with incredible women and leaders, diving deep into their journeys, challenges, and triumphs. But today, it's my turn to open up. I’ll be sharing more about my own story—what inspired me to create The Brand is Female, the lessons I’ve learned along the way, and the pivotal moments that have shaped both my career and this platform.
Whether you’re a loyal listener or tuning in for the first time, I hope you’ll stay with us—because this time, I’m in the hot seat! And a special thank you to my dear friend Roxanne Doucet, Creative Director and Managing Director of Al Dente Agency, for guiding this conversation with grace and purpose.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
As we approach the end of our season, we are airing a fave from earlier in the year. In this episode, we shine a light on Whitney Geller and Yasemin Emory, co-founders of Jems, a non-toxic condom company with gender-inclusive packaging and language.
Yasemin and Whitney, who had already been operating their own design agency, noticed a gap in the market while searching for contraception options between their pregnancies. The condom aisle lacked appeal due to its outdated packaging and language – the category was targeting straight men only, with products that hadn’t been updated in decades, and left women and gay folks out of the conversation altogether. As a result, they embarked on a mission to revolutionize the industry. Jems isn't just about condoms; it's a platform for expansive education, sparking conversations on everything from sexual health to love, power, and beyond. With a commitment to simplicity and transparency, Jems is normalizing safer sex with condoms that are healthier and cater to everyone’s needs.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Dr. Talia Varley didn’t just follow a traditional path in medicine—she redefined it. Now leading corporate health strategy at Cleveland Clinic Canada, she talks about creating a groundbreaking role that helps businesses take employee health seriously. In this episode, she unpacks the "3Ms"—menstruation, maternity, and menopause—and how these often-overlooked factors impact women’s careers, workplace equity, and organizational success. From revealing the hidden costs of neglecting women’s health in the workplace to explaining why companies with more women in leadership drive radical innovation, Dr. Varley challenges us to rethink what a healthy and inclusive workplace looks like. She also shares how her time in management consulting shaped her unique approach to healthcare and why mentorship and sponsorship are critical for supporting the next generation of women leaders. Packed with fresh perspectives and actionable insights, this episode will leave you rethinking the connection between health, equity, and success.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
In this special episode of The Brand is Female, we're diving into one of the most significant yet often overlooked aspects of women’s health—menopause and its impact on skin health. Nancy Labonté, our guest, is an expert in dermatology and beauty science. She shares her personal journey and lifelong passion for skincare, starting from a childhood fascination with makeup to a career dedicated to understanding and innovating in skin care, especially regarding aging. We also cover findings from our recent study about women’s experience with perimenopause and menopause - which you can access here: https://tinyurl.com/menopause-report.
In this conversation, we explore how hormonal changes influence skin, why many beauty products fall short of truly addressing menopausal needs, and how her brand, IDC Dermo, is striving to change the industry standard by using science-backed ingredients at active concentrations. She shares insight into the 16 mechanisms of skin aging that her team has identified and discusses why transparency and authenticity in formulation are essential to helping women feel comfortable and confident in their skin.
This conversation is more than just skin deep—it’s about the evolving narrative around menopause, the importance of quality skincare as self-care, and the call for more honest, effective products in the beauty industry. Join us as we unpack the science, the myths, and the personal stories that illuminate this journey of embracing beauty and wellness through every stage of life.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Alexandra (Ally) Mamalinder, is President and the 2nd-generation leader of Organic Traditions, a Canadian superfoods brand known for its pure ingredients and unique blends. Taking over from her father, the brand’s original founder, Allie has spent the last several years guiding Organic Traditions through a transformation, launching new products, refreshing its mission, and now, preparing for its first round of capital fundraising. Organic Traditions is on the cusp of a new chapter as the wellness category continues to expand and the demand for functional foods grows.
Allie’s journey is a story of family succession, of taking a brand with roots in a family’s values and giving it new life to serve a modern audience. It’s an inspiring tale of navigating the challenges of family legacy while creating something distinct and impactful.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
We celebrate Small Business Month by re-airing an inspiring conversation from last spring with BDC President and CEO Isabelle Hudon, who has consistently shattered expectations and proven skeptics wrong throughout her impressive career in the corporate world.
In her new role at BDC since August 2021, and as the first woman to occupy the position, Isabelle has not only held jobs that many doubted were within reach but has also excelled in them, leaving a trail of achievements from her time as Ambassador of Canada to France to her leadership roles at Sun Life Financial.
Isabelle's tenure at BDC is marked by her relentless drive to put development at the forefront, significantly enhancing support for Canadian entrepreneurs, with a focus on increasing capital available to female founders. Beyond her executive success, she is a staunch advocate for women's advancement, co-founding The A Effect and earning accolades such as the Commander of the Legion of Honour for her contributions.
In this episode, Isabelle generously shares her experiences of overcoming doubt, her strategic vision for creating a more inclusive and sustainable economy, and her dedication to paving the way for the next generation of women leaders. Tune in to explore the journey of a leader who turns skepticism into true power.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
In this episode, we explore the entrepreneurial journey of Bukola Adedeji, the visionary founder behind TheBraGirl brand, who is transforming the way women think about their undergarments. Bukola’s mission is to empower women to use their bras not just as functional items, but as tools for genuine self-expression and confidence.
With a background in dressmaking and personal experience as a woman with a fuller figure, Bukola has turned a personal challenge into a thriving Calgary business. She recognized a gap in the market for bras that provide both comfort and style, particularly for women who struggle with adequate breast support. Her expertise in designing and styling specialty bras has made her a go-to authority in the lingerie space, but it’s her ability to connect with the real, everyday challenges women face that sets her apart.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Sara Happ is known as the innovator who redefined the lip care category. Her incredible brand-building story started in her kitchen, where Sara mixed sugars and oils to create her now-iconic lip scrubs. With just $6,000 in personal savings and a job at ESPN that wasn’t inspiring her as much as she had hoped, she launched her namesake brand in 2005—but the big break came when Reese Witherspoon was spotted using her products in People magazine, sparking a wave of demand that threw the brand into the spotlight.
Now sold in 22 countries and featured in over 1,500 retail locations, including Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom, but more importantly, a network of independent boutiques and studios that Sara swears by, her brand is a global leader in lip care. In this episode, Sara Happ reflects on how identifying a niche in the market and leveraging organic buzz helped grow her company without outside capital for nearly two decades. Tune in as she talks about finding your niche, perseverance, and scaling smart.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Taylor Frankel, co-founder of Nudestix, has accomplished what many beauty entrepreneurs dream of. Starting her journey in her teenage years alongside her sister Ally and their mother Jenny, a seasoned chemical engineer with experience at MAC and CoverFX, Taylor helped identify a gap in the market for simple, multi-purpose cosmetics. Together, the trio launched Nudestix in 2014, a brand that quickly skyrocketed and is now featured in over 2,500 stores globally, including beauty giants like Sephora and Ulta. With the company now valued at over $100 million, Taylor, as chief brand officer, leads the creative direction, marketing, PR, and social media strategies. Nudestix has also expanded into skincare and body care, with the successful launch of their Nudebody collection and the addition of Sofia Richie Grainge as brand ambassador and investor. Join us as we explore how Taylor and her team built this powerhouse in the beauty industry and turned Nudestix into a global sensation.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
⩔ Collective is a Montreal-based sustainable clothing brand founded by Katie Green and Kristen King, who also run the branding agency August Strategy together. The duo met a decade ago at L’Oréal. They have now merged style and eco-consciousness in their knitwear for men and women, focusing on creating “anyplace essentials” that are both versatile and environmentally responsible.
With 92 million tonnes of clothing waste ending up in landfills each year, ⩔ is tackling the issue head-on. Their innovative use of Stoll knitting machines allows them to produce garments with less than 1% textile waste, a significant improvement over traditional methods. Using certified organic and recycled materials, ⩔ is setting a new standard in sustainable fashion.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Three Ships Beauty was founded by Connie Lo and Laura Burget in 2017. What began as a kitchen experiment with just $2,000 each has grown into a thriving skincare brand known for its commitment to transparency and sustainability.
Rebranded in 2020, Three Ships Beauty is now stocked in nearly 1,000 stores across North America, including Whole Foods and Hudson’s Bay. With a recent $3.5 million investment led by BDC Capital’s Thrive Venture Fund, they’re set to expand their product line and team, all while continuing to disrupt the beauty industry.
Tune in and dive into Connie and Laura’s journey, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the advice they offer to all women entrepreneurs — including a few things that may surprise you when it comes to dealing with investors!
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Many women executives wonder what it’s like to leave the corporate workplace and start your own company. The Brand is Female Host Eva Hartling went through this when launching her company after spending almost two decades in the corporate world. This is also an experience her guest in this episode is familiar with. With a marketing background that spans almost 20 years at global organizations like Western Union and KPMG; Joycelyn David took a leap of faith when she decided to take over AVC, a communications agency based in Toronto.
Becoming the leader of an existing business had its surprises, including horrible Glassdoor reviews. Joycelyn learned quickly that it would be up to her to implement changes that would positively impact the company’s culture. A daughter of immigrant parents from the Philippines, Joycelyn David understands the hopes and struggles of newcomers and is proud to engage with and help bring multicultural communities together. Her agency’s exceptional performance demonstrates how her hard work has paid off.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Tracy Persson, a proud Indigenous entrepreneur and breast cancer survivor, has made it her mission to support women on their breast health journey.
Tracy is the founder of My Breast Day, an innovative app designed to support women pre- and post-breast cancer diagnosis. The app has gained recognition, making it to the Top 100 and Semi-Finals in the Pow Wow Pitch, an Indigenous entrepreneur competition. Tracy's work extends beyond My Breast Day; she is also the founder and previous owner of the Cozy Intentions clothing line and Soul Remedies Inc. Tracy is also dedicated to supporting her community in a variety of ways. In today's episode, we explore her path and her unwavering commitment to supporting underserved communities.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
In the fifth episode of our mini-series presented by GoodLife Fitness dedicated to the first season of the PWHL and what it represents for women in sports and beyond, we bring you the story of Manon Rhéaume, a trailblazer who shattered the ultimate glass ceiling in the world of hockey. In 1992, she made history as the first and only woman to play in an NHL game, stepping onto the ice as a goaltender for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Manon also became the first female to sign a professional hockey contract, enjoying a six-year career in the minor leagues. Her achievements on the ice also include winning Gold Medals at the 1992 and 1994 World Hockey Championships and an Olympic Silver at the 1998 Nagano Games, the first to feature women’s hockey.
Manon's journey is one of perseverance and breaking barriers. In 2022, she joined the LA Kings as a hockey operations and prospect adviser, further cementing her legacy in the sport. Throughout her career, Rhéaume encountered significant challenges and seemingly insurmountable odds, yet she remained undeterred in her pursuit of her dreams. Today, she shares her journey to inspire others to pursue their aspirations with determination and courage, both professionally and personally.
As the pioneering woman to compete in the NHL and shatter more ceilings for women in hockey (not to mention inspire generations of young women in sports), she offers not just her experiences but also vital strategies for overcoming obstacles, engaging allies, and pushing beyond comfort zones to achieve success.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, as part of our mini-series presented by GoodLife Fitness about the inaugural season of PWHL, host Eva Hartling is in conversation with two executives from the You Can Play Project: Lead for Corporate Partnerships and Pro Female Hockey Player Mandy Cronin, and Chairman David Palumbo. You Can Play's mandate is to ensure safety and inclusion for all participants in sports, with a focus on 2SLGBTQ+ athletes, coaches, and fans.
Mandy joined You Can Play last year, bringing her experience as the former GM and Goalie Coach for the Toronto Six, where she was instrumental in founding a new women's professional hockey franchise. She’s dedicated to fostering a sense of belonging in sports for everyone.
David, as Chairman, champions 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion and belonging within the sports community, driving initiatives that challenge traditional sports culture.
Today, we’ll explore how You Can Play is making a difference, the strategies Mandy and David are using to further their mission, and their thoughts on the newly formed PWHL and its impact on women and 2SLGBTQ+ athletes.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This episode, part of our mini-series dedicated to PWHL’s inaugural season presented by GoodLife Fitness, features Brianne Jenner, pro hockey player and PWHL Ottawa Captain. Brianne is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and was crowned MVP of the women’s hockey tournament at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Brianne was part of the first signings announced by the PWHL in 2023 and plays for Ottawa as part of the original six.
Originally from Oakville, Ontario, Brianne played college hockey with the Cornell Big Red and has been integral in the development of women's hockey both on and off the ice. She is on the executive committee of the PWHL Players Association, advocating for the growth and sustainability of the sport.
Beyond her impressive athletic career, Brianne is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of hockey players through her Hockey Academy in Oakville and Ottawa. She hosts her own training program, where she helps young players develop their skills. Brianne's dedication extends beyond the rink as she continually works to support her community, making her an inspiring role model and a driving force in women's hockey.
In this conversation, we dive into her journey, her vision for the future of women's hockey, and the incredible impact she's making both on and off the ice.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
In the second episode of our special PWHL mini-series presented by GoodLife Fitness, we explore the careers of two standout athletes, both Olympic Gold Medalists in women’s hockey and both professional hockey players: PWHL Ottawa Goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer and Genevieve Lacasse, Manager, Corporate Sponsorships & Sales for PWHL. In this conversation, we dive into the couple’s views on the significance of the inaugural PWHL season and what its creation means for women in sports. Join us as we discuss their journeys, triumphs, and the bond they share in the world of hockey.
Emerance Maschmeyer, known for her collegiate career at Harvard and a 29-save performance in the 2015 NCAA National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Tournament, has also made her mark internationally. She earned gold at the IIHF Women's World Championship and the Winter Olympics and now plays for Ottawa as a goalie in the Professional Women's Hockey League.
Geneviève Lacasse, a former goaltender for the Canada women's national hockey team, is a two-time Clarkson Cup winner and an Olympic and IIHF World Championships Gold Medalist. After retiring from professional hockey in September, she joined the PWHL front office, continuing her dedication to the sport.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
The first conversation in our special PWHL series, presented by GoodLife Fitness, is with Emma Maltais, a standout forward for PWHL Toronto and a key player for Canada's national women's ice hockey team.
In her debut PWHL season, Emma Maltais tallied 19 points (that’s 4 goals and 15 assists) in 24 games, tying for the scoring lead among rookies and finishing seventh overall in league scoring. Her 15 assists led all rookies and tied for the overall league lead, showcasing her exceptional playmaking abilities. Emma was instrumental in Toronto's penalty kill unit, contributing to its league-best 91.8% success rate and scoring the first-ever 'jailbreak' shorthanded goal in PWHL history. If, like us, you don’t speak hockey and are not entirely sure what that means, just know that her outstanding performance earned her a nomination for the PWHL Rookie of the Year award.
Beyond the PWHL, Emma has already had a brilliant international hockey career. She won a gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics with Team Canada and has secured multiple gold medals at the IIHF Women's World Championships. She also played a vital role in Canada's silver medal finishes at the 2023 World Championships and the World U18 Championships.
Emma’s journey to the top was not without its challenges. Growing up, she often played on all-male teams, including in the Junior league, which helped hone her skills and toughness on the ice. Emma’s achievements in both the PWHL and for Canada on the international stage underscore her talent, determination, and growing influence in women's hockey, making her an inspiring figure for athletes and fans alike. Here is our conversation.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This episode highlights a true pioneer when it comes to science-forward skincare that transforms everyday life. JJ Walsh founded Formula Fig, inspired by her rich background in the world of fashion and experiential design. She began her career working under the British editor Isabella Blow at Tatler, eventually becoming a fashion editor herself. JJ’s creative journey included writing for British Vogue and Conde Nast Traveler, later founding her own design firm to work with some of fashion’s most prominent brands. She transitioned her focus to wellness and skincare after relocating to Vancouver, establishing Formula Fig in 2019, a skincare company known for its luxurious facial bars offering high-tech facials, vitamin shots, and clean beauty products, all in an inviting and aesthetically pleasing environment.
Her mission with Formula Fig is to make expert skincare accessible through innovative, design-led experiences. Uniquely female-founded and operated, Formula Fig emphasizes community, design, and service, helping customers #GiveAFig about their skin.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This episode spotlights a fascinating succession story, featuring Andreea Crisan, who’s become a leader in the transportation industry, a space where women tend to be under-represented to say the least.
From the age of 11, Andreea worked in some capacity or another alongside her father, navigating the challenges of immigration and unemployment to ultimately see him establish Andy Transport. After her business studies, Andreea chose to eventually take over the role of CEO from her father, expanding the company’s operations and diversifying its business units. Today, Andy Transport has one of North America's Top 250 largest fleets and earned recognition as one of Canada's fastest-growing companies.
As President and CEO, Andreea carries forward a legacy of excellence and empowerment, guided by the wisdom imparted by her father. Through her example, she inspires others to embrace curiosity, embrace uncertainty, and pursue their passions with courage and conviction. There are so many amazing businesses in need of a good succession in Canada, and we hope this conversation inspires you to consider this model as an option, whether you’re a new entrepreneur looking for a fresh project, or an established one, looking for a successor.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Felicia Snyder is Co-Founder of arcana - a literal sanctuary in the hospitality industry that offers guests, specifically those living in cities, a transformative space to reconnect with nature and themselves.
Located in the woods just under two hours northwest of Toronto, arcana is a hidden retreat featuring mystical mirrored cabins that seamlessly blend with the environment year-round. Once guests book, they are given the precise location, granting access to this wellness hideaway. Each cabin includes a queen bed, kitchenette, private fire pit, sauna, and access to 15 kilometers of marked trails.
With a background in corporate leadership and growth, Felicia's journey to entrepreneurship has been nothing short of remarkable, including as a founding executive of cannabis brand Tokyo Smoke, which was acquired by Canopy Growth in 2018. Inspired by her maternity leave experience, Felicia seized the opportunity to create arcana where she not only reimagines hospitality but also champions sustainable design and responsible business practices. Her dedication to environmental preservation extends beyond the walls of arcana, as she continues to advocate for sustainable living and innovation in her community.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This special episode features an engaging conversation with Anick Beaulieu, the CEO of C2 Montréal, a premier annual event that draws over 5,000 participants from more than 60 countries and 30 industries. As C2 Montréal prepares for its 13th edition from May 21-23, 2024, this internationally acclaimed forum will spotlight entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity again. Over 100 global experts will convene for more than 40 conferences, labs, and coaching sessions, fostering transformative discussions that extend beyond the three-day experience.
Anick Beaulieu, with her entrepreneurial background, leads the C2 Montréal team in orchestrating impactful conversations and building lasting partnerships with industry leaders worldwide. Her efforts have significantly enhanced the event's global standing.
Deeply embedded in Montreal's business community, Anick is a staunch advocate for innovation and serves on the board of directors of Zú, an incubator for creative entrepreneurs founded by Cirque du Soleil's Guy Laliberté.
Tune in to hear Anick's insights on driving innovation, building international networks, and the future of entrepreneurial ecosystems.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
As we celebrate Women’s Health Week, we’re exploring the topic of sexual wellness in this episode, featuring a visionary leader, Victoria Lyons. Victoria is the founder and CEO of Slipp, a groundbreaking condom company challenging the status quo and empowering all individuals to prioritize their sexual health.
Victoria's journey into the world of sexual wellness began when she noticed a glaring gap in the market. While wandering the aisles of drugstores, she couldn't help but notice the lack of products designed with women in mind. Determined to change the narrative, Victoria embarked on a mission to create a condom brand that not only prioritizes safety but also embraces pleasure and empowerment for all.
Fueled by her passion for reproductive rights and a desire to challenge outdated norms, Victoria launched Slipp. Since then, the brand has gained momentum, sparking important conversations and shifting paradigms around safe sex. But for Victoria, Slipp is more than just a business—it's a movement towards inclusivity, education, and self-care, allowing us to redefine the conversation around condoms and sexual health.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
In this episode, we're diving into the world of holistic nutrition and entrepreneurship with a visionary in the field, Kate Taylor Martin. Kate is the founder and CEO of Nutbar, a Toronto-based healthy cafe redefining the concept of on-the-go nourishment.
Kate's journey into the realm of holistic nutrition began during her time working in PR at a Toronto hospital. Struck by the fragility of health, she embarked on a journey to explore the healing potential of food and nutrition. This passion led her to enroll in the Institute of Holistic Nutrition, where she discovered the power of superfoods. She then found her calling: to educate and inspire people to feel their best through wholesome, nourishing foods.
Fuelled by her newfound knowledge and a desire to revolutionize the coffee shop experience, Kate conceptualized Nutbar. Her vision was to replace the typical sugary, processed foods with delicious alternatives packed with nutrients and flavour. Since opening its doors in 2016, Nutbar has blossomed into a thriving enterprise, boasting multiple locations and a growing line of consumer packaged goods, including innovative products like their frozen nut milk launch.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Would you let go of your career in a cushy Government position to risk it all for your true passion? And what if you had children? Well, this is exactly what Rachel Fox did when she launched Renard & Co, a sought-after interior design company based in Toronto. Rachel has been a trailblazer in the home décor industry even before launching Renard & Co. Her vision when it comes to contemporary design caught the eye of publications like House & Home, and of several prominent homeowners in the GTA. With Renard & Company's evolution from a dynamic startup to an established industry reference, Rachel faces a new landscape of challenges and breakthroughs. This week on 'The Brand is Female,' I invite you to hear Rachel Fox share her journey and talk about the ups and downs of running a services business that still very much depends on her. If you’re a solopreneur or a founder in a creative industry, you will especially enjoy this one. Here is our conversation.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
In a bold response to the scarcity of eco-friendly menstrual products in public venues, Roxane Champagne-Duval established Alea Protection in 2022. With a passionate commitment to sustainability and ending period stigma, her company provides organic and biodegradable tampons and pads and champions a revolution in menstrual health. Alea Protection has pioneered a comprehensive solution that empowers businesses to offer these vital products to their employees, supporting new federal mandates for free menstrual access in workplaces since December last year. In this inspiring episode, we delve into how Alea’s products have entered and transformed over 400 company bathrooms across Canada, including prestigious corporate firms and government institutions. We also explore Roxane’s ongoing efforts to extend these services into educational environments, driving forward a future where menstrual health is not a privilege but a right. Join us to discover the transformative power of inclusive workplace practices and envision a future where menstrual health accessibility is universal.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Growing up, Whitney Westwood’s family retreats to their home in the South of France not only offered her a picturesque backdrop but also shaped her essence of style and comfort, marked in part by the omnipresence of linen. From an early age, Whitney was steeped in a culture of travel, design, and the art of living well, walking through the cobblestone streets of Southern Europe and basking in the atmosphere and people of Cannes and St Tropez.
It was this lifestyle—marked by its effortless elegance and joie de vivre—that inspired Whitney to launch her own lifestyle brand, Whitney Linen. Using the relaxed yet chic vibe of the Cote D’Azur as her muse, Whitney designed a collection that captures the spirit of the Riviera: casual, stylish, and deeply woven into the fabric of everyday luxury. Linen, the cornerstone of her brand, is more than just a material—it's a reminder of her sun-soaked, joyful summers and a symbol of timeless, seasonless style.
In this week’s episode, Whitney joins us to discuss how her scenic childhood and international modelling career for designers like Jean Paul Gaultier and Calvin Klein influenced her entrepreneurial journey. She'll share insights into how she captured the essence of Riviera elegance to build a brand that transcends traditional fashion seasons, making linen an everyday luxury — a stark contrast to fast fashion’s influence on global shopping patterns. Plus, Whitney reveals how embracing the lifestyle of gracious living can inspire creativity and timeless style in all aspects of life. Join us as we explore how Whitney Linen is weaving the fabric of a well-lived life, one elegant piece at a time.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
When they realized that the average garment gets worn 7 times before being tossed and the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global greenhouse emissions, Justine and Kendall Barber, co-founders of Poppy Barley, a Canadian slow fashion company focused on quality, sustainability and ethical production decided to create a new kind of luxury in fashion. And that they did — today, the brand is thriving and meeting the needs of consumers in search of responsible accessories.
Kendall has always been committed time to giving back to the community, as a member of the 1000 Women Advisory Committee for Norquest College, a board member for YWCA Edmonton, a run ambassador for Lululemon, and a supporter of Hope Mission’s Kids in Action program. She was selected as one of Avenue magazine’s 2014 Top 40 under 40 for her work at Poppy Barley, and Western Living’s list for the “Ones to Watch” round-up at the 2014 Designers of the Year Awards.
Justine’s work history, with time spent working in consulting, conflict prevention, and Alberta’s 10 Year Plan to end Homelessness, reflects her commitment to social change. She has won the Alumni Innovation award from the U of A and was named one of Western Living Designers of the Year, “Ones to Watch,” and Global Edmonton Woman of Vision.
This episode originally aired last season.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Meredith Shaw, recently appointed co-host of Breakfast Television, is a multitalented personality with a passion for inclusivity. Her diverse professional background spans broadcasting, music, and fashion, and Meredith's journey is a testament to breaking barriers and creating transformative conversations.
This week, we re-air this conversation with Meredith, where you’ll learn about her extensive career, from singer-songwriter to her life-changing role in radio, and how she's captivating audiences every morning as she wakes up the nation with her signature wit and warmth on TV.
But Meredith's impact extends beyond television: she's a fierce advocate for body positivity and inclusivity, working closely with initiatives like Girls Inc., Girl Talk, and Shoppers Drug Mart’s “Run for Women”. Her mission is to inspire people of all sizes to embrace their power and feel fabulous in their own skin - and if we’re honest, she’s quite successful at it, including through her recent Toronto Star shoot with three other prominent TV personalities, with all talking out loud about body shaming, to make a world where words can’t be used as weapons.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Isabelle Hudon has consistently shattered expectations and proven skeptics wrong throughout her impressive career in the corporate world. As the President and CEO of BDC since August 2021, the first woman to occupy the role, Isabelle has not only held jobs that many doubted were within reach but has also excelled in them, leaving a trail of achievements from her time as Ambassador of Canada to France to her leadership roles at Sun Life Financial.
Isabelle's tenure at BDC is marked by her relentless drive to put development at the forefront, significantly enhancing support for Canadian entrepreneurs, with a focus on increasing capital available to female founders. Beyond her executive success, she is a staunch advocate for women's advancement, co-founding The A Effect and earning accolades such as the Commander of the Legion of Honour for her contributions.
In this episode, Isabelle generously shares her experiences of overcoming doubt, her strategic vision for creating a more inclusive and sustainable economy, and her dedication to paving the way for the next generation of women leaders. Tune in to explore the journey of a leader who turns skepticism into true power.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, my guest is Tiffany Callender, a community developer and social entrepreneur whose work has profoundly impacted Montreal's Black community over her 16-year career. As the youngest female Executive Director of one of Quebec's oldest Black organizations, Tiffany was named among the 100 most influential people of African descent under 40 in 2020. In 2021, she spearheaded the creation of the Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE) for which she is CEO, where she set up the $160 million Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund in collaboration with Canada’s federal government. In this conversation, we discuss FACE’s impact on the Black entrepreneurial community three years later.
A passionate advocate for social equity, Tiffany has actively contributed to shaping policies to address racism and systemic discrimination, including her work with Montreal’s consultation on racism and systemic discrimination and Quebec’s Laurent Commission on protecting Black children in the Youth Protection system. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Tiffany is a devoted mother of three, an aspect of her life that inspires her career.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Kelsey Irvine is part of the mother/two-daughters trio behind Birch Babe, a Canadian skincare brand that's making waves in the natural beauty industry. Kelsey's career is a blend of creativity, commitment to sustainability, and a keen eye for storytelling. With a background in commercial advertising and documentary directing, she has a unique ability to craft content that looks good and connects on an emotional level.
Kelsey isn't just about making things look pretty; she's deeply invested in making a difference. Her work as an Oscar-nominated producer highlights her dedication to narratives that drive positive change. This passion is a perfect match for Birch Babe's ethos, which prioritizes natural and ethically sourced ingredients, waste reduction, and minimizing carbon footprints. As CEO and Head of Creative and Communications at Birch Babe, Kelsey has helped the brand grow into a leader in the natural beauty market, earning a dedicated following and a reputation for excellence.
In this episode, we delve into how Kelsey's blend of creative talent and strategic thinking and her commitment to eco-friendly practices helped shape a successful brand that stands for more than just beauty products. She also brings up her sobriety journey and commitment to living intentionally.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
In March 2020, Halifax-based Kerry Maher's world turned upside down with the closure of her restaurant. Facing uncertainty, she was inspired by her mother's question, "Now what?" Opting for action, Kerry reached out on Facebook Live, unsure if anyone would join her for a workout. Leveraging her background as a Golf Pro and Fitness Instructor, Kerry’s leap of faith sparked an incredible journey.
From her living room to her garage, Kerry has built a daily ritual where more than 200 women gather to share in gratitude and exercise. It's a narrative not just about staying fit, but about forging connections in times of isolation and transforming adversity into an opportunity for community and personal growth.
In this episode, we delve into Kerry's remarkable shift from restaurant owner to a source of hope and health for a nationwide community.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Creating a successful business is a formidable journey on its own, but what happens when you have to let go of it because your life is unravelling at the seams? This guest has a remarkable story to share, so good that we are re-airing a recent episode featuring Alli Webb, the visionary founder behind Drybar, whose iconic blowouts have graced the locks of Hollywood's elite, from Zooey Deschanel to Julia Roberts.
Alli's achievements are nothing short of astonishing. She's been celebrated in prestigious publications like Fast Company, Fortune, Marie Claire, and Inc., and she's penned a bestselling book. And she accomplished all of this before hitting forty.
But beneath the glitz and glamour, success exacted its toll. Alli found herself navigating the shattering of her marriage, the heartbreaking journey of her fourteen-year-old son, and a growing sense of emptiness in her thriving business.
Falling into the depths of depression, Alli made a pivotal decision – to sell her beloved venture and embark on a journey of self-discovery, where she would confront her raw, unfiltered truth. A few months ago, she launched a book titled “The Messy Truth."
Through embracing her authentic self, Alli discovered that life unfolds in the moments between laughter and tears and that there's beauty in every imperfect chapter. Tune in as we dive into her incredible story of resilience, reinvention, and the power of embracing vulnerability. Enjoy listening to this conversation for the first, or second time.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Robyn Wishart, a Vancouver-based personal injury lawyer, has been a force for change in the legal industry since 2001. At Wishart Brain and Spine Law LLP, she tackles complex injury and insurance cases AND challenges the industry's status quo. Wishart has leveraged her early experiences, including representing insurers like Lloyds of London, to advocate for her clients with a blend of tenacity and innovative legal strategies. Wishart brings a unique perspective to the practice of law. Her work, particularly in applying neuroscience to legal strategy, sets her apart and has made her a sought-after speaker and educator, even leading workshops at Harvard University's Ultimate Trial College—a first for a Canadian.
More than her legal achievements, Wishart is committed to creating a more inclusive and supportive workplace for women lawyers. Her firm is recognized for offering opportunities and fostering a more favourable culture for women than traditional law firms. This approach both enriches the firm and sets a new standard for the legal profession, emphasizing the importance of diversity and inclusivity in creating a successful and compassionate legal practice. Robyn's holistic approach to law underscores the importance of addressing clients’ legal and well-being needs, ensuring they focus on living full lives beyond their claims. Her leadership in promoting inclusivity and opportunities for women in law marks her as not just a legal advocate but a pioneering figure in shaping a more equitable legal landscape.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
With over 15 years of experience in the startup ecosystem and a Harvard Master’s degree, Maggie Adhami-Boynton has reshaped the luxury goods shopping experience with ShopThing. Launched in 2019, the first-of-its-kind live video marketplace in North America has made luxury goods more accessible, gaining the largest social commerce audience in the world.
Behind the scenes, as ShopThing CEO, Maggie actively fosters diversity and inclusivity in the predominantly male-dominated tech field. Her company stands out with a workforce comprising 76% women and 56% people of colour, many of whom hold leadership roles. Recognized as one of USA Today’s Top 100 Emerging Entrepreneurs of 2023, Maggie’s achievements underscore her impact as an innovative leader.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
In the United States, a mere 5% of plastic is recycled, with projections from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation suggesting that, by 2050, the oceans could contain more plastic than fish. Against this backdrop, the environmental toll of single-use plastic is increasingly recognized. In response to this challenge, Anastasia Kiku, Co-Founder of Reusables.com and BC Business’ Youth Entrepreneur of the Year for 203, has spearheaded the development of a container tracking platform designed to facilitate the shift from single-use to reusable packaging for businesses. This innovation not only mitigates environmental impact but also enhances customer loyalty and drives sales.
After relocating from Russia to Vancouver, Canada, to pursue her bachelor's degree, Anastasia delved into the environmental consequences of various industries. Her journey led her to focus on the food industry, founding Lighter Foodprint—a non-profit organization dedicated to shedding light on the emissions linked to food. Her academic endeavors extended to Denmark and Indonesia, laying the groundwork for her venture into entrepreneurship with Reusables.com. Through her company, Anastasia is dedicated to reducing waste in the food sector, aligning with her broader environmental mission.
This episode also unveils Anastasia's unique background as a professional alpine ski racer, revealing how the sport instilled in her the discipline and motivation necessary for collaborative leadership and teamwork. Join us as we explore Anastasia Kiku's multifaceted journey from athlete to environmental entrepreneur, and her commitment to pioneering sustainable solutions in the food industry.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Dana Ben David is Co-Founder and Creative Director of Healthybud, a brand reinventing the pet wellness category focusing on functional treats, meal-toppers and healthy and nutritional food for dogs. The Montreal-based company is leveraging superfoods that are usually more familiar to humans than dogs, such as ashwagandha, goji berries, or reishi medicinal mushrooms. A multi-passionate professional, Dana has an interesting background that gave her the knowledge she needed to start her company alongside her husband and their business partner. Before becoming an entrepreneur, she studied architecture, audio production, and voice acting, and as a trained vocalist and pianist, Dana also ventured into the music industry. In a tail-wagging twist on pet adoption, Healthybud unleashed an irresistible offer this last fall: a year's supply of free dog treats to anyone adopting a senior dog. That’s just one of Healthybud’s fun plays on building a community dedicated to pet wellness, a growing trend in North America.
In this episode you’ll hear about:
-Dana’s passion for branding, which she applies to Healthybud’s cheeky market positioning
-How Dana’s multihyphenate experience in the music industry taught her skills she applies as an entrepreneur
-The brand’s commitment to (re)inventing the pet wellness category with superfood, quality ingredients
-The future of the pet food & health category.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
If you’re a woman in business, you're probably well aware of the crucial role branding plays in commercial success. Often, however, the conversation around branding is dominated by male voices. Today, we're shifting the spotlight to a woman making waves in the industry. Meet Ana Andjelic, a brand executive who earned her stripes transforming brands for marketing giants such as Banana Republic and Rebecca Minkoff. She has been recognized as one of Forbes’s Most Influential CMOs, and today, she serves as the Chief Brand Officer at ESPRIT, reviving the iconic nineties brand into a modern powerhouse. With a doctorate in sociology, Ana is not just an academic but a thought leader. Her writing, speaking engagements, and advisory roles have made her a sought-after voice in branding. This episode promises to be a masterclass in brand-building, plus a fascinating look at one woman’s journey breaking glass ceilings in the marketing biz.
In this episode, you will hear about:
-How and why Ana’s mind gets captured by ideas, not role models
-Her advice on navigating one’s career path
-The essential pillars of any brand
-Ana’s take on mastering community-building and storytelling.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
The beauty market is saturated, and it takes courage and vision to launch a new brand within the industry. A few years ago, such a visionary stepped onto the scene, changing the landscape with her unique approach. Haley Bogaert, an entrepreneur with over 15 years of hands-on experience in the beauty business, known for her expertise in all things eyebrows, founded HBFace inspired by her vision for a different beauty studio experience. HBFace reflects Haley's vision: chic, fresh, and inviting. A place where beauty is more than skin deep. It's about the relationships, the feedback from loyal clients, and the community built around these spaces. Haley didn’t have it easy. She experienced personal loss early on and turned tragedy into fuel to keep going and build a brand she was passionate about. She went on to open HB Face physical locations, and she launched her own skincare and makeup line, with each product echoing her belief that beauty should be fun, effortless, and stress-free.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
In this episode, you'll hear an inspiring conversation with Leanne Citrone, a trailblazer in the hair and beauty industry turned Co-Founder of UDEA Wellness, as she shares her transformative journey and insights into holistic wellness.
Leanne's profound experience in the hair and beauty domain allowed her to connect deeply with women from diverse backgrounds. Recognizing the common thread among their stories — a shared desire for betterment, visibility, and balance amidst life's demands — she embarked on her self-discovery path to find answers.
Driven by a personal quest for vibrancy and vitality, Leanne ventured into cooking, holistic nutrition, and healthier lifestyle choices. Embracing her passion for food as a philosophy for living, she became a certified Nutritionist and Holistic Health Coach, believing in the transformative power of nourishing meals and their ability to heal and enrich our lives.
Her journey led to the co-creation of UDEA Wellness, named after the goddess of vitality. Through UDEA's visionary approach, Leanne and her team curate supplements blending cutting-edge science with herbal medicine traditions. These meticulously formulated supplements offer a harmonious fusion of clinically researched actives and organic herbs, nurturing systemic balance and vitality.
Leanne shares her inspiring journey and insights into UDEA Wellness, offering a deeper understanding of the transformative potential behind their expertly crafted supplements. She speaks about where holistic wellness meets practical nourishment, allowing women to embrace their best-self-energy-ever.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, join us on an enlightening journey with Kasey Crown and Jakki Leonardini, the visionary co-founders of WellSoul—a dynamic wellness education company designed to guide individuals toward profound healing and self-discovery.
Kasey, a Transpersonal psychotherapist and wellness educator, challenges traditional mental health paradigms, advocating for a balanced integration of scientific and spiritual perspectives. With over a decade of experience in facilitating healing for individuals and groups, she focuses on unlocking vital wisdom to help people reconnect with their true selves.
Jakki's transformative journey unfolded from her background as a high school teacher to her emergence as an intuitive energy healer. Her approach centers on empowering individuals to tap into their innate intuition and heal old wounds, allowing them to access their inner wisdom and align with their soul's purpose.
Together as co-founders of WellSoul Kasey and Jakki bring a harmonious blend of psycho-educational and experiential workshops focused on healing core wounds, navigating trauma, and transcending pain to catalyze profound life transformations.
In this conversation, you will hear more about their journey and approach, as well as find out how connecting to your inner wisdom may benefit your own life.
Learn more about WellSoul here: https://wellsoulworkshops.com/
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
In today's episode, we delve into the inspirational journey of Lexi Miles Corrin, Founder and CEO of WAXON Laser + Waxbar — an inclusive beauty and wellness brand dedicated to fostering confidence in one's skin.
For over a decade, Lexi has championed the vision of helping everyone embrace their confidence through WAXON. Beginning with the flagship location in Toronto, Ontario, she established a robust franchise platform, providing a pathway for women to realize their entrepreneurial dreams.
From this foundation, WAXON has flourished with 18 locations across Canada, embodying inclusivity and innovation. Lexi's leadership extends beyond expansion, a celebrity facial studio, further amplifying WAXON's commitment to holistic beauty and well-being.
A mother of four children, Lexi shares her insights, challenges, aspirations and pieces of advice for balancing business with family time. Discover how she continues to inspire through WAXON, creating a supportive community and fostering a sense of confidence, independence, and success.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Meet Alexis Eizinas, the creative force behind Silvering, North America's trailblazing beauty brand designed specifically for naturally silvering hair. With over 30 years in the fashion and beauty industry, including a decade as an international model, Alexis transformed her personal quest for silver hair care into an innovative brand.
Inspired by her mother's confidence in rocking silver hair during the 1980s and her own journey navigating beauty standards, Alexis is on a mission to redefine the perception of silvering hair, advocating for it to be seen as aspirational and chic. From her career as a model to her extensive background in beauty marketing, Alexis brings a wealth of experience to Silvering Beauty.
This episode unveils her remarkable transition from high-fashion model to pioneering entrepreneur, highlighting her dedication to reshaping beauty ideals and empowering women to embrace their natural elegance. Tune in to explore the captivating narrative of Silvering and Alexis Eizinas' visionary journey in redefining beauty standards.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Welcome back to The Brand Is Female Podcast! In this episode, our host Eva Hartling unravel the extraordinary journey of Vivian McCormick, the innovative mind behind Wilet, a pioneering Canadian retailer revered for its exquisite 100% European linen bedding and home essentials.
Beyond the realms of commerce, Vivian's narrative embodies resilience and transformation. A former lawyer turned community-builder and trusted advisor, her entrepreneurial spirit thrives in reshaping the landscape of rest and comfort.
Vivian's vision for Wilet resonates with clarity—to solve rest-related challenges and cultivate a leading lifestyle brand centered on rejuvenation. Throughout this insightful conversation, she shares invaluable insights garnered from her journey, emphasizing the significance of goal-setting, strategic partnerships, and transparent communication.
Join us as Vivian unravels the secrets behind Wilet's success, digging into her transition from a legal career to visionary entrepreneurship, her dedication to supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs, and her passion for fostering community and candid conversations, ranging from business intricacies to the art of folding a fitted sheet.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
In this week's episode, we explore the riveting journey of Alli Webb, the brilliant mind behind Drybar, a venture that skyrocketed to success, gracing the tresses of celebrities like Zooey Deschanel, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Julia Roberts.
Amidst the accolades from Fast Company, Fortune, Marie Claire, and Inc., and a bestselling book, Alli faced the unseen challenges of her personal life. As her marriage unraveled, her son entered rehab, and her once-thriving business lost its luster, Alli found herself navigating the depths of depression.
In this raw and insightful conversation, she opens up about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, the toll success can take on personal life, and the transformative power of embracing one's messy truth – the title of her new book, launching today, November 14.
Join us as Alli shares her candid perspective on reinventing life, finding purpose beyond success, and navigating the tumultuous journey between laughter and tears. This episode is a testament to resilience, vulnerability, and the beauty found in embracing the messy truths that shape our lives. Tune in to discover the authentic and inspiring story of Alli Webb.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
MMH Blockchain Group CEO Emma Todd's pioneering role as a woman of colour on two publicly traded boards in Canada in 2022 marks a significant milestone in the tech industry.
As a board member of the Canadian Blockchain Consortium (CBC), Emma has collaborated with major global financial institutions, including JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, and HSBC. Her impactful speeches at venues like the Parliament in Ottawa and the United Nations Headquarters, along with recognition in prestigious publications, underscore her influential contributions.
In this episode, Emma shares her insights and experiences, offering advice on resilience and determination in pursuing one's goals. Her story serves as an inspiration, showcasing the power of perseverance and fearlessly charting new paths in the ever-evolving world of blockchain.
Tune in to be inspired by Emma Todd's remarkable journey and her unwavering commitment to breaking barriers in the tech industry.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
In this special episode, we're privileged to host two extraordinary guests whose bold pursuit of artistic expression and activism has resonated globally. Both members of the renowned Russian art collective, protest group, and punk band, Pussy Riot, Masha Alyokhina and Diana Burkot have fearlessly ignited discussions and taken a stand for freedom, justice, and unbridled creativity in the face of adversity.
Masha Alyokhina, having faced severe repercussions for her political activism, endured almost two years in prison followed by 18 months under house arrest. Escaping Russia when her house arrest threatened another prison sentence, her resilience and commitment to creative dissent are truly remarkable.
Diana Burkot, a collaborator in Pussy Riot's performances, has stood at the forefront of their courageous artistic expressions, vehemently questioning the status quo and advocating for change, using music as an outlet.
Pussy Riot's performances have not only been provocative but have also served as potent instruments for societal transformation, often bearing a high personal cost.
In this enlightening conversation, Masha and Diana open up about their experiences, discussing their unyielding commitment to art, feminist activism, and their vision for a world where creativity and justice coexist harmoniously. Currently in Montreal for the exhibit "Velvet Terrorism: Pussy Riot's Russia" at the Musée d'art contemporain, their dialogue sheds light on their courage, resilience, and the transformative power of feminist art.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Meredith Shaw, the new host of Breakfast Television, is a trailblazer with a passion for inclusivity.
With a diverse background spanning broadcasting, music, and fashion, Meredith's journey is a testament to breaking barriers and creating transformative conversations.
In this episode, we delve into Meredith's multifaceted career, from her time as a singer-songwriter to her pivotal role in radio. Discover how she's captivating audiences every morning as she wakes up the nation with her signature wit and warmth on Breakfast Television. We'll also share the exciting moment when she graced the stage at the prestigious CAFA Awards to present a coveted award.
But Meredith's impact extends beyond television. She's a fierce advocate for body positivity and inclusivity, working closely with initiatives like Girls Inc., Girl Talk, and Shoppers Drug Mart’s “Run for Women.” Her mission is to inspire people of all sizes to embrace their power and feel fabulous in their own skin.
Join us for an empowering conversation with Meredith Shaw, where we explore her incredible journey, unwavering commitment to self-love, and the transformative message she's spreading. Get ready to be uplifted and inspired by a true trailblazer who's changing the game.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Lara Murphy is the Owner and President of Ryan Murphy Construction Inc. in Calgary, which proudly stands as the only female-owned commercial construction firm in the city.
Lara’s cooperative approach has played a pivotal role in its rapid growth and national recognition. With a track record of managing multi-million-dollar projects in corporate, commercial, health care, and residential construction, her leadership is all about transparency and effective communication. Publications like Canadian Business and the Globe and Mail have highlighted RMC's achievements, marking it as one of the country's fastest-growing companies.
Beyond her remarkable career, Lara is a passionate public speaker and advocate for women in business. She dedicates her time to volunteering for non-profit organizations, serving as the Calgary YWCA’s board chair and a board member of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, among others.
In this episode, Lara shares her journey through the construction industry, her commitment to community engagement, and valuable insights into leadership and entrepreneurship. Don't miss this enlightening conversation with Lara Murphy.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Meet Vivian Risi, a trailblazer in the real estate industry who has been forging her path since the early days of her career.
At just 18, Vivian entered the male-dominated world of real estate, facing skepticism and doubt. But she refused to yield to stereotypes, embarking on a journey where 'giving up' was never an option. Today, she is President and Broker of one North America's largest real estate brokerages.
In this episode, we uncover Vivian's impressive story, one marked by resilience, determination, and the unwavering pursuit of her dreams. Vivian's journey parallels the challenges many young founders face when navigating the rapid growth of their companies. She's no stranger to adversity and the complexities of leadership.
In this captivating conversation with Vivian Risi, she shares her journey, her leadership philosophy grounded in authenticity and listening, and her unwavering commitment to empowering others to overcome their obstacles and achieve their dreams. Vivian's story is a testament to the heights women can reach with vision, determination, and an unshakable belief in themselves.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Britt Barkwell and Alia Bissett have impressive careers on their own in fashion. With over two decades of experience combined, they both noticed a gap in the market for shirting-first brands that were classically cool and accessible. Keen on carving out their viewpoint in that niche market, they came up with T.Line, a foundational wardrobe essentials brand that offers elevated and effortless style.
Inspired by the standards set up for men's shirting, the brand was created locally, with all products designed and made in Canada – proving that it is possible to succeed in a saturated and competitive market, such as fashion.
This week's conversation with Britt and Alia is inspiring and eye-opening for anyone looking to start their own business with a twist on classic products and offers.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Carly Moir is the dynamic founder and creative director of White Canvas Design, a thriving creative agency based in the picturesque Langley, BC. Carly's journey from being a solo freelancer in 2012 to now leading a team of 14 talented women is nothing short of impressive.
White Canvas Design is more than just a design agency; it's a hub of creativity, specializing in web design, graphic design, and social media marketing, committed to partnering with impact-driven companies across various industries and sizes. If you've ever wondered how to scale your business after starting as a solopreneur, this conversation is a must-listen.
Carly opens up about the highs and lows of building a services-based business, providing invaluable insights and advice to fellow female founders aspiring to grow their companies. Her passion for gender equity and her advocacy for women and mothers in the workplace shine through in every word. Recognized for her outstanding contributions, Carly Moir received the prestigious BIV's Forty Under 40 award in 2022, and her agency, White Canvas Design, was honoured as the Langley Business of the Year by the Langley Chamber of Commerce in the same year.
But there's more to Carly than her impressive career. A former Junior National Team and SFU varsity softball athlete, she now finds joy in coaching her daughter's U7 softball team in her spare time, demonstrating that success in business can coexist with a fulfilling personal life. Join us for this captivating conversation with Carly Moir as we delve into her journey of growth, empowerment, and creativity and discover how you, too, can scale your business to new heights while championing gender equity and work-life balance.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Elise Loehnen has an impressive career as a writer. Host of the famous "Pulling the Thread" podcast, she has co-written twelve books, five of which were New York Times bestsellers. She was the Chief Content Officer of goop, and she co-hosted The goop Podcast and The goop Lab on Netflix. Before that, she was the editorial projects director of Condé Nast Traveler.
In her latest book, “On Our Best Behavior”, she explores the ancient rules women unwittingly follow to be considered “good,” revealing how the Seven Deadly Sins still control and distort our lives and inspiring us to reach a more balanced, spiritually complete way to live.
In this week's conversation, Elise and our host, Eva Hartling, talk about her professional journey, which led to discovering just “what she wanted to be doing” — and how she connected with her voice in the process. They also discuss what leads women to feel like they are rarely “good enough” and their take on how to change that.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
September 28th is International Safe Abortion Day, a global day of action dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of safe and legal abortion care and access to it. In Canada, one in three women will have an abortion in their lifetime, and abortion is one of the most common healthcare needs in our country.
While most women in the country support the right to choose and access abortion, there still exist knowledge gaps on the subject. For example, six in every ten Canadian women can't differentiate between medication abortion and the Plan B pill. This data was obtained through a national online Ipsos survey commissioned by Linepharma International to understand the current knowledge of abortion methods, preferences, and availabilities of options in Canada. The results underscore the importance of destigmatizing conversations about abortion once and for all.
To acknowledge the importance of International Safe Abortion Day, Linepharma International invited our host Eva Hartling to speak with two experts on the subject. She is joined by Dr. Konia Trouton, a Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Practice at UBC and a Clinical Associate at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, and Rachel Cairns, a performer, writer and creator of Aborsh, a popular podcast on abortion in Canada. In this conversation, we aim to shed some light on the role and benefits of reproductive and sexual education for women and the path to lifting stigmas surrounding abortion and reproductive rights in the country — ensuring that all can access safe abortion care.
For more on abortion options in Canada, visit: http://myabortionoptions.ca/
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
After graduating from Memorial University of Newfoundland with a Master’s degree in Gender Studies, Dr. Judit Lovas worked for the local government as a policy and program development specialist for years.
In March 2020, Judit launched her coaching and consulting business, and ever since, she has been working with clients from SMEs to large organizations internationally, helping them implement business practices that support DEI.
Being a dual Hungarian-Canadian citizen, Judit has a unique perspective and vast interest in helping employers and employees successfully integrate diverse talent into the workforce. She shares her inspiring journey, her struggles pivoting her career in a new country, and her vision of the importance of DEI policies in business.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Diane Lanctôt knew early on she’d be involved in the family business, but what she didn’t expect was that this transition wouldn’t be 100% smooth. She acquired the sporting goods company Lactôt back from her father, Raymond Lactôt, and initiated a complete remodel, making it a growing industry leader.
Diane, now a seasoned entrepreneur from Montreal, has received many recognitions over the years, including Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young. She has been a proud YPO member since 1992, is the President and Owner of Canadian Hat 1918 and Harricana, and is a teacher for the MBA program at HEC Montreal.
In this conversation, you will hear Diane’s insights on being a long-time, successful entrepreneur, including the tough lessons that come with that kind of experience.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
You probably heard of Vitruvi. Run by Sara Panton, Co-Founder and CEO, the brand is one of the largest aromatherapy companies, offering luxury essential oil blends and diffusers. Its products are in more than 300 stores in Canada, the United States and Australia, and it's the first essential oil brand to be stocked by retail giants Nordstrom and Sephora.
Sara’s background in health, her travels around the world, and her fascination for how traditional botanicals can be used in modern ways were the foundation for what has become the number-one aromatherapy brand in the country. Vitruvi was launched in Vancouver alongside Sara's brother, Sean, while she was attending med school. They started with nothing more than a website on essential oils, which grew into a thriving business amidst the expanding wellness segment.
Sara's passion is helping women transform the simple moments of their days into experiences that elevate their well-being. Her hope is always the same: to help women take care of themselves so they can take on the world.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Have you ever entered a room and thought "Wow, a lot of interesting people out here, I'd love to network with ALL of them?". Exactly - no one ever thinks that way. However, in order to succeed in business and in life, networking is really important, as is understanding what your next move should be. And, for that, we have Ursula Morgan.
Ursula is a C-suite executive and advisor, part of the 2% statistic of women leaders who have attracted investment from the VC establishment. She is known for generating scalable revenue businesses and top-producing teams, and most recently, her focus in the ESG and hospitality sectors, after an impressive career in publishing and tech.
So, If you’ve ever found yourself wondering what your next career move should be, you’ll enjoy this week's conversation with Ursula.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Technology and healthcare can walk side by side to uncover new paths of innovation, but also to broaden access. That's Helen Stevenson's goal. Founder and CEO of Reformulary Group Inc., she created a company at the intersection of healthcare and tech aiming to make drug plans more affordable for more Canadians.
Former Assistant Deputy Minister of Health and Executive Officer of Ontario Public Drug Programs. Helen built Reformulary based on a formidable data asset, providing innovative and valuable insights to healthcare stakeholders.
Through its proprietary evidence-based drug list that offers valuable, comparative drug information, the company helps save money for organizations’ health benefit plans. And, in 2018, Helen was named by MaRS Discovery District as one of eight Canadian female founders who have a relentless pursuit of success in science and tech.
If you’re interested in hearing more about a Canadian woman entrepreneur who is paving the way in tech and healthcare, this episode is for you!
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Ciro Muiruri is the embodiment of resilience. Growing up in one of the toughest slums in Kenya as an AIDS orphan, she survived an attempted homicide and lived through the abduction of her young daughter. And even with everything against her, she embraced the mission of building schools and bringing quality education for young children in her community even after leaving her home country 7 years ago, when she came to Canada as an asylum seeker.
Now, she is the Founder of Pendo International Projects and sits on the board of the Sojourn House refugee shelter, which housed her as a newcomer. Ciro believes that education has shaped the trajectory of her life, and she hopes to give back by offering the same opportunities to other children like her. That's why she founded Pendo, a Canadian charity that provides affordable early childhood care and education to children below the age of 6 in Kenya.
Help build Pendo School by making a donation at: https://www.pendointl.org/causes
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
You could say Anne Miner has the unique ability to see possibilities. She is a serial entrepreneur, a skilled facilitator, a trusted CEO advisor, and a sought-after coach. She has led executive teams through change, small and large, and she excels at bringing clarity and vision as well as a strategic framework for implementation.
Anne helps people and companies realize their full potential through collaborative and continuous improvement through her work with The Dunvegan Group, an organization that specializes in business retention.
She is also an international speaker, author of several books on Customer Relationships and Customer Experience, and, in her commitment to supporting fellow women in business, she is Chair of the Toronto Chapter of the International Women’s Forum.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
In today’s tight labour market, organizations increasingly rely on recruitment experts. Daniela Correia banked on this high-growth segment to build her own recruitment business from scratch, leveraging her background in HR and her experience working with large organizations.
Today she is a sought-after recruiter and, along with her all-female team, she advocates for equal opportunity and diversity in the hospitality market. In this week's episode, she reinforces the importance of having a growth mindset in alignment with her company culture and investing in her niche, while reflecting on the value of advocating for women in the workplace.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
When Justine and Kendall Barber realized that the average garment gets worn 7 times before being tossed, and the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global greenhouse emissions, the sisters and co-founders of Poppy Barley, a Canadian slow fashion company focused on quality, sustainability and ethical production decided to create a new kind of luxury in fashion. And that they did — today, the brand is thriving and meeting the needs of consumers in search of responsible accessories.
Both Kendall and Justine have impressive trajectories - from committing to give back to their community and being a Top 40 Under 40, to taking part in Alberta's 10-Year Plan to end Homelessness and named one Western Living Designers of the Year -, and Poppy Barley is the result of those amazing forces combined.
Focused on quality products meant "to be worn on repeat" and fair prices, this Certified B Corporation is rethinking the footwear industry to ensure a better future.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Graydon Moffat had multiple careers before launching Graydon Skincare. When she started her journey as a plant-based chef and yoga teacher, Graydon, known as “The Skin Chef”, learned that beauty is connected to wellness. This explains the super-powered superfoods you’ll find in Graydon Skincare formulas alongside proven skincare active ingredients.
The philosophy of Graydon and her female-led team is that looking good and feeling good about the products you use should not be mutually exclusive. From sustainably-driven packaging to ingredient transparency backed by third-party verifications, Graydon helps people shop their values while delighting beauty enthusiasts of all skin types and tones who enjoy high-quality skincare at an accessible price.
Graydon has also spoken out about ageism in the female entrepreneurship space, highlighting how young founders have a different experience than more mature women entrepreneurs. In this inspiring talk, she shares her knowledge and secrets to creating a successful value-driven business.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
With 15 years of experience in the hospitality business, Jacqueline Nicosia brought her flair for curated dining experiences and excellent food to Toronto with the opening of two restaurants, which she co-founded with her husband, chef Rob Marotta.
Being a woman entrepreneur in the food space, Jacqueline experienced and witnessed first-hand the challenges of sexism that persist in the industry, and, today, her goal is to create opportunities and help break glass ceilings so that more women in hospitality can reach leadership roles.
If you love food and are passionate about gender equity in the food and hospitality industry, this episode is for you. Jacqueline shares her love for Italian cuisine, her journey opening not one but two successful restaurants, ARDO and DOVA, and the barriers she had to overcome being a woman entrepreneur.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Michelle Faber learned to optimize her own mental health through yoga and mindfulness as a young adult, and when she saw signs of anxiety in her son, she began sharing her favourite practices with him. Seeing how much his emotional control and overall happiness improved inspired her to create a company that would help other children in the same way, and in 2019 she founded Little Yogis Academy.
Little Yogis aims to improve physical, mental, and emotional health through wellness classes and workshops for everyone within the school and childcare community, including students, school administrators, teachers and parents. Serving close to 300 schools in two countries already, Little Yogis has adopted a franchising model to ensure growth and reach as many kids and schools as possible.
In this episode, you’ll hear about Michelle’s approach to growing her company, building storytelling and brand pillars that amplify her dedication to mindfulness, and developing a business model that is scalable as a franchise.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Vera Milan Gervais, an author, speaker, and award-winning serial entrepreneur who is committed to helping women develop the confidence to show up and succeed in business. Vera Milan Gervais has successfully built a number of businesses throughout her career. She is currently Co-Founder and Executive VP of HealthConnect Inc, a company that manages medical information services, as well as customer care and health education programs on behalf of companies in various industries. But Vera’s latest project, her signature Wordz We Wear program, explores how labels shape who we are and who we can become. Through her mentorship services, Vera helps women let go of limiting beliefs and tap into their full potential. Vera’s experience as an entrepreneur, writer, marketer and strategic consultant has shaped her perspective on success and well-being. Before she turned 18, a birth defect resulted in four major surgeries and left her with a leg length difference, scoliosis and osteoarthritis. Vera is an avid hiker, gardener, traveller, photographer and an accomplished businesswoman. In my exchange with Vera, you’ll hear her insights and words of wisdom — sure to inspire any woman in the workplace, especially entrepreneurs building new ventures from the ground up.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Allison McNamara, founder of MARA, a prestige line of algae-infused skincare that became an instant favourite, selling out at retailers such as Sephora, Credo Beauty, Bluemercury and The Detox Market. Before launching MARA, Allison was a television host, producer and fashion & beauty journalist for outlets like POPSUGAR, Refinery 29, Who What Wear and Entertainment Tonight. Growing up in California, Allison has always been inspired by the sea. She spent two years developing the MARA exclusive algae blend, which has been clinically designed to plump, firm and smooth, with ingredients harvested through wild collecting in France and Ireland. MARA's first-to-market, award-winning formulas are made from algae, transformative actives, superfoods, adaptogens and mega hydrators. In this episode, find out how Allison built a successful skincare brand starting with only one product.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Knoxx, the New York-based creative director for the brand DVMNPIGEON. Knoxx is redefining the rules of streetwear — traditionally a space for straight men — through her identity as a masculine-presenting woman who is part of the LGBTQ2S+ community. In 2011, Knoxx created DVMNPIGEON with the hopes of representing girls like herself, typically left out of the streetwear industry. She caught her big break after being casted in HBO Max’s The Hype, a streetwear design competition show, where she quickly made a name for herself thanks to her raw persona and impeccable design talent. She was a stranger to entrepreneurship but knew she had to make a space for women of colour like herself.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Marissa Goldstein, founder and owner of Toronto-based Daughter, a wine bar that focuses on farm-to-table dishes to accompany a curated selection of unique wines. Marissa did not follow a straight path into the restaurant business. Before opening Daughter, she gave up a career in real estate to move to New York. There, she enrolled in the International Culinary Center and later learned the ropes at Loring Place in Greenwich Village and Blue Hill Stone Barns in upstate New York—which is where she fell in love with farm cooking. Lucky for us, she came back to Toronto. In this conversation, you will hear about Marissa’s journey connecting with her true passion, and turning it into a successful business.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Nadine Artemis, Founder of the celebrated, and cult-status natural skincare brand, Living Libations. Nadine Artemis created a line of all-natural skincare before the category became a trend. Her line of products, for which she sources the best raw ingredients from across the planet, has received rave reviews in leading publications from The New York Times to Elle, People and Vogue. Having been described by Alanis Morissette as "a true-sense visionary,” Nadine is still dedicated today to crafting elegant formulations and healing creations from rare botanicals and she plans on doing so until she is at least 120! Her concept of Renegade Beauty supports effortlessness and inspires people to rethink conventional notions of beauty and wellness. Nadine has chosen to grow the brand organically (pun intended) over time, and continues to be extremely selective about the retailers she works with, favouring a small batch and limited release approach, always placing her connection to customers, and to Mother Nature, first.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Jane Riddell, President of GoodLife Fitness. With over 40 years of experience, Jane has worked in various roles within GoodLife and its parent company, from selling memberships to C-suite. As a member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, Jane is committed to creating inclusive environments and supports diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. She has played a key role in shaping the company's culture at GoodLife Fitness, and ensuring decisions align with its core values. She believes that people are the heart of any business and actively shares her knowledge and experiences for personal and professional development. Recognized for her contributions, she has been named one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women and one of the Most Influential Women in Sport and Physical Activity. Beyond her professional life, Jane is passionate about animal welfare and serves as a board member for Golden Rescue, an organization dedicated to rescuing and re-homing Golden Retrievers. She holds a bachelor's degree in anthropology and a master's degree in physical education from Western University, where she excelled as a varsity athlete and captain of the basketball team.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Anna Sinclair, a former actor and performer who had to pause her career when she became pregnant. That’s when she started her business, Total Mom, which serves a community of mom entrepreneurs through its programs and partnerships, including Total Mom Pitch, where entrepreneurs across Canada can apply for $50,000 in grants and services. As the Founder and CEO of Total Mom Inc., Anna is dedicated to offering a professional community network to help women founders start and grow their businesses while juggling motherhood. She is also the Founder of the Canadian Women Entrepreneurs Gala, which recognizes and honours leading companies' influential programs, campaigns, and CSR initiatives that have paved the way for a more equal and diverse ecosystem for women in business.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, host Eva Hartling speaks with Melody Adhami, the “Queen of Apps.” Melody launched Ontario’s first private testing operation during Covid, with labs that conducted over 350,000 COVID tests for individuals and companies. Her latest tech venture is also in health, supporting women's fertility journey. Melody had quit her steady job working on brands like Dove, Hellmann's and Lipton to launch Plastic Mobile, a company that focuses on the emerging world of mobile apps. After a successful exit, she co-founded FH Health, Ontario's first private testing operation that helps businesses keep their workforces safe. FH Health became a leader in the Covid response with 20 clinics that provided individuals and clients such as Amazon, Apple, Netflix and BMO with a sense of relief and safety. Melody’s latest venture, Pollin, is based on a fertility-focused technology platform to power a full suite of person-centric reproductive health services. As an influential leader in tech and a recognized voice in the industry, Melody also spearheads an executive women’s dinner, bringing together top female executives to discuss how to get more women into more senior leadership roles. In 2017 she was awarded Canada’s Top 40 under 40, followed by recognition as one of Canada’s Top 100 Powerful Women in both 2018 and 2019 in the Tech and Trailblazer categories.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Emily O’Brien, founder of Comeback Snacks. Emily’s unlikely journey into the popcorn business began in 2018 while serving time at a federal prison for drug smuggling. Despite being behind bars, she managed to produce a product and support its launch, making it a successful business. Emily transformed an obstacle into an opportunity. The idea for a popcorn brand came to her while watching the 2018 Super Bowl when she was enjoying the flavoured popcorn her fellow inmates had created. Emily used her network outside of prison to conduct market research on the popcorn industry. A few months later, her brand became a viable business, with approval from Correctional Service Canada. When Emily was released from custody in December 2018, she was ready to take her business to the next level, and today, Comeback Snacks line of products is available in close to 1,000 stores throughout Canada. Where possible, Comeback Snacks hires people with criminal backgrounds or helps them find work through their partners. As well, the company aims to provide a portion of profits to organizations focused on reintegration programs and prison reform.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Dans le cadre de ses fonctions, Yolande accompagne Radio-Canada dans ses projets liés à l'inclusion et la diversité, en plus de développer et renforcer les liens de Radio-Canada avec les communautés et l'industrie. Elle contribue aussi à l'atteinte des objectifs de recrutement et de promotion en matière de diversité.
Cette conversation a lieu juste au moment où nous publions un rapport spécial sur l'équité entre les sexes en milieu de travail, en collaboration avec nos partenaires à Randstad Canada.
Dans le monde d'aujourd'hui, où la pénurie de talents, le vieillissement de la population et un contexte commercial post-pandémique axé sur la technologie et où les frontières se sont effacées, il n'est pas surprenant que la création d'un environnement de travail inclusif, équitable et accessible produise de meilleurs résultats en termes de performance et d'engagement. Mais les entreprises mettent-elles vraiment en pratique ce qu'elles prêchent ? Pour les femmes canadiennes, la situation n'est pas aussi brillante que les entreprises pourraient le laisser croire. Selon une étude nationale menée par Randstad Canada, les femmes estiment que le rythme du changement est lent. Malgré une sensibilisation accrue à l'équité, les femmes disent qu'on ne leur offre toujours pas les mêmes opportunités qu'aux hommes.
Dans cette conversation avec Yolande James, nous explorons comment et pourquoi la mise en œuvre de l'équité entre les sexes garantit une culture du travail où chacun peut s'épanouir, et où les femmes peuvent sentir que les éléments appropriés sont en place pour une expérience positive qui soutient leur croissance. Pour en savoir plus sur notre rapport sur l'égalité des sexes, consultez le site thebrandisfemale.com.
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling is having a special conversation about gender equity in the workplace, and her guest is Yolande James, Executive Director, Diversity and Inclusion, for French-language broadcaster Radio-Canada. A lawyer and mediator, Yolande James became the first Black woman elected to Quebec’s National Assembly in 2004, and the first person from the Black community appointed to a Government of Quebec cabinet position when she was named Minister of Immigration and Cultural Communities in 2007. In her role, Yolande leads Radio-Canada’s inclusion and engagement initiatives, providing support and guidance to departments and teams on their diversity and inclusion projects. She also helps the public broadcaster achieve its diversity recruitment, promotion and development targets. This conversation takes place just as we release a special report about gender equity in the workplace, along with our partners at Randstad Canada. In today’s world, where talent scarcity, an aging population, and a borderless, tech-driven, post-pandemic business context make up our reality, it comes as no surprise that building an inclusive, equitable and accessible working environment yields better results in terms of performance and engagement. But do companies really practice what they preach? For Canadian women, things are not as glossy as companies might make them appear. According to national research conducted by Randstad Canada, women feel the pace of change is slow. Despite increased awareness around equity, women say they still aren’t offered the same opportunities as men. In this conversation with Yolande James, we explore how and why implementing gender equity ensures a work culture where everyone can thrive, and where women can feel like the proper elements are in place for a positive experience that supports their growth. For more about our report on gender equity, head to thebrandisfemale.com.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Bojana Sentaler, Founder and CEO of SENTALER, a Canadian luxury outerwear brand with impressive growth and a celebrity cult following. Bojana’s designs have been worn by the likes of Kate Middleton, Jennifer Lopez, Halle Berry, Heidi Klum, Gigi Hadid and more. Bojana moved to Toronto from Serbia when she was still a child. She knew she had an interest in style and design early on, but chose to study marketing and finance instead. After graduating from university, a chance encounter with Karl Lagerfeld while on a work trip led her to reconnect with her interest in fashion. Finding herself in Peru, Bojana discovered alpaca, which inspired her to create high-end outerwear. In 2009, SENTALER was launched, and the brand was quickly picked up by major department stores throughout North America, from Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and Holt Renfrew. Editors and celebrities alike endorsed the brand and in 2021, Bojana opened the SENTALER Atelier, a retail store in the heart of Yorkville, Toronto, where she launched her first men’s collection, SENTALER MEN. A true visionary, Bojana built her business from the ground up, and applied perseverance and resourcefulness to create a brand that stands out and has demonstrated its worth in an overcrowded fashion industry.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Taneka Clarke-Powell, Founder and Designer of Slayedbyten. Taneka began making her own clothes at home while in her last year of law school. When people on the street started asking her who had designed her outfits, she knew there was a business there. Taneka applied her corporate background and skills to the launch of her new business. Fast forward to six years later, Taneka’s company, Slayedbyten, is a thriving operation with six employees, a physical store location, garments sold worldwide, and appearances at Vancouver and Paris Fashion Week. Taneka designs for her couture label and leads the company’s strategy and growth, all while being a present mom of four kids.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with April Pride, Founder of cannabis brand Van der Pop, which April sold to the world’s largest cannabis company, Canopy Growth, in 2018. Following her successful exit, April launched Of Like Minds, which develops brands for women who are changing their lives thanks to altered states of consciousness — a topic April also explores as host of The High Guide podcast. A serial entrepreneur who has been developing brands and products for 20 years, April now invests exclusively in women entrepreneurs and innovative businesses that serve women consumers. April is also a brand consultant in the legal cannabis space. In this conversation we explore the challenges and opportunities that exist for women in the cannabis space, and we talk about what business is starting to enter the field of psychedelics, an area April is exploring through Of Like Minds.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Valerie Pringle, former host of CTV’s Canada AM and CBC’s Midday and host of several television series, breaking glass ceilings for women in television, and paving the way for a new generation of women in the media. She is a member of the Order of Canada, awarded for her work in broadcasting and philanthropy, and one of Canada’s most respected television broadcasters of the last 50 years.
When Valerie took a pause from her broadcast career, she engaged with the non-profit world, championing HIV research and the end of stigma for CANFAR (The Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research) and led efforts to build the Trans Canada Trail, working for over two decades to see it come to life. In her current role as Chair of CAMH (the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation), Valerie continues to advocate for the treatment of mental illness.
Recently, Valerie decided to come out of “semi-retirement” to become Host and Producer of CANADA FILES, an interview series broadcast on PBS Network, featuring discussions with prominent and successful Canadians. Valerie is an inspiration for all women working in front or behind the screen.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Tanya Taylor — Founder, Creative Director and CEO of the independent, New York-based fashion label by the same name, which you may very well have spotted at retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, or on celebrities like Lady Gaga, Michelle Obama, Beyonce and more. Hailing from Toronto, Tanya launched her brand in 2012 after graduating from the Parsons School of Design. At the time, the line was described as “the fashion girl’s answer to Lilly Pulitzer.” In 2017, the brand started offering sizes up to a 22, and still focuses on size inclusivity to this day. Tanya Taylor quickly became a fashion editors’ favourite, and celebrity buy-in followed. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to start a fashion house from scratch, and what it takes to keep it going and growing in a highly competitive and ever-changing market, you’ll enjoy hearing Tanya’s journey.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Kristen Gale, CEO of THE TEN SPOT®, Canada’s largest and fastest growing beauty bar and retail company. Kristen is the recipient of multiple awards, including Top 40 under 40, Growth 500’s fastest growing companies by Canadian Business and Maclean’s, and PROFIT 500’s fastest growing companies in Canada for numerous years.Over 15 years ago, Kristen saw an opportunity to close the gap existing in the beauty market between lower-end nail shops, and the expensive and often over-the-top spas. She dreamed up an offering that combined the efficiency of the former, with the service excellence of the latter. Kristen successfully targeted the demographic of women aged 18 to 65 with a goal to deliver what all busy women want: a one-stop-shop for getting all of our beauty maintenance services in one “spot”. Today, the rest is history: THE TEN SPOT® is now a successful network of beautifully designed studios, both company-owned and franchised, in which customers receive a range of exceptional nail, waxing, eyebrow + eyelash, as well as facial services, and where teams receive a living wage and commissions, benefits, exceptional training, and ongoing educational opportunities.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Today, on the podcast, to highlight International Women’s Day, host Eva Hartling speaks with Peggy Whitson, the NASA astronaut who has achieved the most days in space for any man or woman in the world. With a total of 665 days in space, Whitson also holds the record for the oldest woman spacewalker and the most spacewalks by a woman. Whitson is a biochemistry researcher and retired NASA astronaut; she is a consultant for Axiom Space, the company building the next International Space Station for which she has been selected to be commander of Axiom Mission 2, the second all-private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, set to launch in May of this year. On her next space mission, she will become the first female commander of a private space mission, adding to her accomplishment as the first female commander of the ISS, the only woman to serve as ISS commander twice, and the first woman, nonmilitary chief of NASA’s Astronaut Office. Peggy was recognized as TIME 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2018. Please note this episode was recorded before the Ax-2 mission was announced.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, Eva Hartling speaks with Anie Rouleau,Founder andCEO of The Unscented Company, a line of natural, unscented home and body care products that is redefining the notion of clean. As a Certified B Corp, The Unscented Company has been recognized by leading wellness giants from Goop to Whole Foods, and has made it twice onto The Globe and Mail’s list of fastest-growing Canadian companies. Anie Rouleau is an ambassador and pioneer of the B Corp movement in North America’s cleaning products industry and shares her vision of sustainable business by focusing on local sourcing, ethical and female-led management, as well as equal opportunity employment, making her a true changemaker in the business community. In this conversation, you’ll hear why Anie believes a company cannot exist without purpose, and how building a network of die-hard supporters and allies can be easier than we think.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Jaime Leverton, CEO of Hut 8 Mining Corp., a digital asset miner launched in 2018, and one of North America’s oldest and largest companies in the crypto mining space with more self-mined bitcoin than any crypto miner or publicly-traded company. Over the past 20 plus years, Jaime has been the driving force behind the operational evolution of some of the most important technology companies, with leadership roles at BlackBerry, Bell Canada, National Bank and IBM Canada. A community leader and changemaker, she is committed to closing the tech gap and increasing leadership opportunities for women in technology. In this conversation, we talk about what it means to be one of the only women at the helm of a cryptocurrency company, and how Jaime has paved her way to leadership since the start of her career.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Kate Swanson, a lawyer and entrepreneur and more recently, the founder and CEO of ENSEMBL, a design-forward, modern housewares brand that has disrupted its category and received accolades from the likes of Architectural Digest. With her strong business acumen and background in corporate law, Kate literally bootstrapped ENSEMBL from concept to launch. Before launching her own company, Kate worked as legal counsel and head of policy at FAIR Canada, an organization dedicated to protecting minority investor rights and addressing corporate governance matters of public interest, and worked for a leading global law firm. Kate’s legal experience advising on both transactional and governance matters helped prepare her for her jump to entrepreneurship. If you’re interested in purchasing ENSEMBL for yourself, check out getensembl.com and use code FEMALE15 for 15% off your purchase.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Jan Frolic, a social entrepreneur who has spent the last decade working in gender diversity, equity, and inclusion. Formerly an executive at Women of Influence, Jan is now applying her experience and learnings to her new global education company. Jan’s new venture, Captains & Poets, is a global education platform for Kindergarten to Grade 12. It empowers young people with an inner compass for navigating the world around them, and fosters a sense of connection and belonging and a positive sense of agency in the world.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, Eva Hartling speaks with Jen Govier, founder of HUX, an underwear brand with the mission to end the dreaded camel toe, and provide women with a level of comfort never matched before. When founder Jen caught sight of her camel toe while working out, her own embarrassment put her on a mission to solve this problem for all women. After searching the market Jen realized that the perfect camel toe concealing underwear just didn’t exist. HUX is the evolution in women’s undies, proudly designed in Canada with a patent pending. HUX is proud to have been recognized as TechAlliance Limitless People’s Choice Award winner honouring a standout entrepreneur in the innovation space. To build her brand, Jen has drawn from her experience as a Senior Regional Manager at TD Wealth Financial Planning, a position where she leads a team of passionate and dedicated Financial Planners.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Welcome to a new season of The Brand is Female podcast! This week, host Eva Hartling welcomes Marilyne Gagné, Founder and President of Dermapure, Canada’s leading network of high-end aesthetic medicine clinics. Marilyne launched Dermapure 13 years ago, growing the brand from a single clinic in Sherbrooke, Quebec to a network of 68 clinics coast to coast, partly through a recent merger. An industry pioneer who leads by example, Marilyne is aiming to redefine industry standards, challenging how we approach non-surgical practices and how these services get promoted to women, all the while favouring responsibility and education, around her concept of “gym for the skin”. Marilyne Gagné founded Dermapure in 2009, drawing from her significant experience in the non-surgical aesthetic medicine market. Marilyne’s venture, along with her partners, has attracted the attention of power players including L’Oreal and the LVMH-backed L Catterton Fund, who have both invested in Dermapure’s recent partnership.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week on the podcast, we are re-airing our episode with Ara Katz, co-founder and co-CEO of Seed Health. Seed Health pioneers applications of microbes for our health and is known for their probiotic products for gut health.
At Seed Health, Ara wears many hats from fundraising, design thinking, brand, insights and more, and she is at the helm of the company’s work when it comes to science, communication and storytelling. It was Ara’s breastfeeding experience that led her to explore the importance and impact of microbes.
Ara was a fellow at the MIT Media Lab’s Centre for Future Storytelling and was listed in Marie Claire’s “The New Guard: The 50 Most Influential Women in America”, as well as Business Insider’s “Silicon Alley Top 100” and “36 Rockstar Women in NYC Tech.” She is also the author of A Kids Book About Your Microbiome.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, we are re-airing our episode with professional women's ice hockey player for the Toronto Six, Saroya Tinker.
Saroya is a Yale graduate; she played for the Yale Bulldogs during the entirety of her collegiate eligibility where she was recognised for her physical, shutdown style of play.
Saroya is passionate about educating others and uses her social media platforms to encourage and share resources for other women in sports. She now runs a mentorship program and is committed to educating and providing a positive impact to inspire young women to pursue careers in sports.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Jeri Ann Willis, co-founder of The Observatory, Edmonton’s leading destination for independent, luxury eyewear. Jerri Ann purchased her first optical retail space in downtown Edmonton in 1976 at the age of 23, and today, 46 years later, she is still going strong. Listen to the conversation to hear about what makes a retail operation a success in today’s highly-digital world, why giving back to our community is key, and find out why taking over a business as part of an owner’s succession plan may be the right choice if you’re an entrepreneur looking for a new business idea.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Jacqueline Prehogan, Chief Brand Officer and co-founder of Open Farm, a premium and ethically sourced pet food brand, and founder & CEO of Canada Pooch, a leading pet apparel & accessories company. At Open Farm and at Canada Pooch, Jacqueline has worked hard on creating and maintaining a company culture and brand mission stemming from robust core values, with a focus on sustainability, animal welfare and transparency. She is also a firm believer in the importance of strategy first. An accomplished leader and asset to her community, Jacqueline was recognized as a winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Emerging Entrepreneur category in 2015. In this episode, we talk about a leader’s role in shaping internal culture and inspiring a sense of community and accountability for our teams.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Ashley Mielke, Registered Psychologist and Founder and CEO of The Grief and Trauma Healing Centre in Alberta. Ashley founded her company at the age of 26, after the tragic death of her father by suicide. It was the purpose she found through her healing that inspired the ‘WHY’ behind The Grief and Trauma Healing Centre, which is on a mission to steward grieving people on the pathway to healing. Ashley and the Centre’s hope for the world is that every single human being will have the tools to deal with loss and no one will ever grieve alone again. Ashley was named one of Edify’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2021 for her contributions to the field of psychology. Today, Ashley is also a business consultant, philanthropist, second-year Doctor of Psychology student at California Southern University, a wife, mother, and a passionate hockey player and coach. I hope you will enjoy this conversation about letting purpose lead business.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Los Angeles-based Allison Conrad, an entrepreneur and operator focused on consumer brands and e-commerce. With a BA from Duke University and an MBA from Stanford University, she’s run fashion and beauty brands as well as consulting and advising tech-enabled consumer companies. A couple years ago, Allison started wondering why there were not more solutions targeting hair ageing, specifically hair turning grey. After conversations with her hairdresser, who is now her business partner, Allison launched Arey, which she trademarked as the wrinkle cream of hair care. In this episode you’ll hear about her fascinating journey launching her own brand. If you’re interested in learning more about Arey, visit areygrey.com , and yes, they do ship to Canada in addition to the US!
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week on the podcast, we are re-airing a recent favourite episode featuring Catherine Choi, Founder of SoYoung. Stay tuned for a new episode next Tuesday!
In this episode, we talk about how lessons from our own personal growth journey can transpire into business, and the importance of believing in our own worth despite challenges.
Over 20 years ago, Catherine Choi overcame a drug addiction. This experience is what propelled her to launch SoYoung, a thoughtfully-made lifestyle goods company with the mission to make personal wellness sustainable. After living many years believing she was not capable, with an overwhelming feeling of unworthiness, Catherine set out to prove to herself she could tap into her own potential and pursue a greater vision.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week on the podcast, we’re talking about the importance of considering insurance when looking at our overall financial planning. Host Eva Hartling speaks with Davina Boulineau, Vice President, TD Insurance, Private Client Advice. Davina has spent more than two decades across North America building and nurturing relationships for Private Insurance clients, and at TD, she is a tireless advocate for mentorship and diversity and inclusion. A trailblazer, Davina has built a new, specialized and highly successful division within TD Insurance with ambitious growth plans to better protect consumers. In this conversation, Davina reminds us of the importance of mentorship, encouraging others to shine, seeking different perspectives and never settling for less. And of course, we talk about what kind of insurance needs we should be considering.
Thank you to TD Insurance Private Client Advice for their support of today’s episode. For a bespoke and unparalleled experience to help protect your lifestyle, visit www.tdinsurance.com/privateclientadvice and book an appointment with an advisor today.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Ara Katz, co-founder and co-CEO of Seed Health, a company that is pioneering applications of microbes for our health, and known for their probiotic products for gut health. It was Ara’s breastfeeding experience that led her to explore the importance and impact of microbes. At Seed Health, she wears many hats from fundraising, design thinking, brand, insights and more, and she is at the helm of the company’s work when it comes to science communication and storytelling.
Ara was a fellow at the MIT Media Lab’s Centre for Future Storytelling and was listed in Marie Claire’s “The New Guard: The 50 Most Influential Women in America”, as well as Business Insider’s “Silicon Alley Top 100” and “36 Rockstar Women in NYC Tech”. She is also the author of A Kids Book About Your Microbiome.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Rachael Newton, an entrepreneur, innovator, and the founder of period care brand, nixit. Rachael is on a mission to destigmatize, and help evolve the conversation around periods. She launched the brand in 2019 with a revolutionary, suction-free menstrual cup and today uses nixit’s platform as an educational tool for all things menstrual health. Rachael began her career as a lawyer and worked for an investment bank for nine years before deciding to take the entrepreneurial journey.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week on the podcast, we’re talking with an entrepreneur who is setting out to revolutionize the way we consume beauty products. Host Eva Hartling speaks with Jayme Jenkins, Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer for beauty brand Everist. Along with her co-founder Jessica Stevenson, Jayme was focused on creating a product with a reduced environmental impact, both in terms of product ingredients and packaging. The two launched Everist following a career spent at leading global beauty brands.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Aujourd'hui, nous diffusons un épisode spécial du balado The Brand is Female comme le 26 septembre marque la Journée mondiale de la contraception. Au Canada, la moitié des grossesses sont encore non planifiées et une femme sur 6 n'utilise pas de contraception. Nous savons à quel point les grossesses non planifiées peuvent avoir un impact sur la vie des femmes, et nous croyons qu’il est primordial de permettre à toutes les femmes de faire les choix qui leur conviennent. Dans cet épisode, l'animatrice Eva Hartling discute avec trois expertes en matière de contraception, d'éducation sexuelle et de grossesses non planifiées au Canada. Vous entendrez les obstétriciennes-gynécologues Dre Diane Francoeur (aussi directrice générale de la Société des obstétriciens et gynécologues du Canada) et Dre Geneviève Roy, ainsi que Frédérique Chabot, directrice de la promotion de la santé à Action Canada. Cet épisode vous est présenté par la Société des obstétriciens et gynécologues du Canada. Notre partenaire de saison est TD Canada, Femmes en entreprise.
This is part 2 of a special episode of The Brand is Female podcast highlighting World Contraception Day on September 26th.
Host Eva Hartling speaks with three experts regarding contraception, sexual education and unplanned pregnancies in Canada. You will hear from Dr. Diane Francoeur, Ob/Gyn and General Director at The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, Dr. Ashley Waddington, Family Planning Specialist and Assistant Professor of Ob/Gyn at Queen’s University, and Frederique Chabot, Director of Domestic Health Promotion at Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights.
In Canada, half of pregnancies are still reported as unplanned, and one woman out of six does not use contraception. Unplanned pregnancies can have a lasting impact on women’s lives, and here at TBIF, we support women being able to make a choice.
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This episode is brought to you by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. Visit sexandu.ca and itsaplan.ca for information about sexual and reproductive health.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Today, we’re airing a special episode of The Brand is Female podcast as September 26th marks World Contraception Day.
In part 1 of this episode, host Eva Hartling speaks with three experts regarding contraception, sexual education and unplanned pregnancies in Canada. You will hear from Dr. Diane Francoeur, Ob/Gyn and General Director at The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, Dr. Ashley Waddington, Family Planning Specialist and Assistant Professor of Ob/Gyn at Queen’s University, and Frederique Chabot, Director of Health Promotion at Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights.
In Canada, half of pregnancies are still reported as unplanned, and one woman out of six does not use contraception. Unplanned pregnancies can have a lasting impact on women’s lives, and here at TBIF, we support women being able to make a choice.
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This episode is brought to you by The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. Visit sexandu.ca and itsaplan.ca for information about sexual and reproductive health.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Rachelle Demosthene, President and Owner at Pouvoir Des Fleurs. Rachelle left a cushy corporate job to take over the reins of her favourite Montreal-based flower shop called “Le Pouvoir des Fleurs,” which translates into “Flowers’ Power.” A few years later, her business is thriving and she is now looking at expanding. We talk about how simple it can be to follow one’s dream of a new career path, but also how much hard work it actually requires to make a career transition successful.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week on the podcast, we talk about the impact negative self-image can have on our lives, especially where children, and young women are concerned. Host Eva Hartling speaks with Margot Denommé, a criminal lawyer with over 20 years of experience. During her time in court, she witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of poor choices made by young people with low self-esteem. As a mother of two girls, Margot was struck by the unrealistic and distorted images of “beauty” perpetuated by social media which inspired her to write children's stories that bolster confidence by teaching children to be strong, kind, inclusive, and unique. Margot now brings this content directly to schools and community groups throughout Canada and the US.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Isabelle Menard, TD’s Region Head, Quebec and Atlantic for Private Wealth Management. We talk about women and financial literacy when it comes to building and managing wealth, as well as the reality of being a woman executive in the banking industry. Isabelle has built a successful career over the past two decades, at TD and other institutions, and her and her team are dedicated to always support women better when it comes to managing their investment. Isabelle is a champion for women within and outside her organization, including through her participation in the exclusive International Women's Forum.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Catherine Choi, Founder of SoYoung.
In this episode, we talk about how lessons from our own personal growth journey can transpire into business, and the importance of believing in our own worth despite challenges.
Over 20 years ago, Catherine Choi overcame a drug addiction. This experience is what propelled her to launch SoYoung, a thoughtfully-made lifestyle goods company with the mission to make personal wellness sustainable. After living many years believing she was not capable, with an overwhelming feeling of unworthiness, Catherine set out to prove to herself she could tap into her own potential and pursue a greater vision.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Alicia Rose, Senior Manager in Strategy and Social Impact at TD. We talk about aligning purpose, passion and one’s life work, as well as the best way for business owners to integrate values, culture and giving back to their business activities. Alicia Rose calls herself an INtrapreneur. She has had a lifelong passion for social impact, working with organizations such as Business and Arts, Pathways to Education, and Harbourfront Centre. She spent over 15 years in the nonprofit sector before joining TD Bank Group in 2018. Today in her role as Senior Manager, Strategy and Social Impact, Global Corporate Citizenship, she oversees the TD United Way Employee Giving Campaign and the TD Ready Challenge which is a North American innovation fund providing $10M of grants to charitable organizations. She has served on boards such as Literature for Life, School for Social Entrepreneurs Ontario and currently sits on the board of Soulpepper Theatre Company and JAYU, an organization that tells human rights stories through the arts.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Tiffani Young, Founder of Natural Butter Bar Cosmetics. The brand was created from Tiffani’s own personal hair journey and out of a desire to help people learn how to use high quality natural ingredients in their self-care hair routine. What started as a homemade product soon turned into a thriving business. Today, Tiffani’s line has grown to include products for both hair and skin all made from ethically-sourced and fair trade ingredients. Tiffani is now partnered with Dalhousie University for the launch of an all-natural new line of hair products and soaps.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Tiffany Callender, the CEO of FACE, a national Black-led non-profit organization focused on providing resources and information to the Black community across Canada with the aim of accelerating wealth creation for Canadians of African descent.
In partnership with the Canadian Government, FACE created a Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund to help Black business owners with access to capital investments, working capital, or additional business resources for expansion, including a focus on supporting Black female founders.
Tiffany Callender has spent her 16 year career developing and implementing programs to support Montreal’s Black community; as well, she has presented recommendations for policy change to public institutions, including as a signatory for Montreal’s consultation on racism and systemic discrimination; and Quebec’s commission on the overrepresentation of Black children in the Youth Protection. She regularly presents sensitivity and equity training to private institutions.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks withKim Tarlo and Cait Patrick, the co-founders of Darling Mimosa.Kim is an award-winning marketer and creative director with over 15 years experience leading brand work in Canada, US, and UK. She is also the Executive Creative Director and Partner at Mint, a creative agency in Toronto. Cait Patrickis an entrepreneur and co-founder of Homestead Bakery Inc., an award- winning bakery, roastery, and cafe. The two partnered to create the Darling Beverage Company which now offers one of the only women-owned alcohol beverage found at the LCBO.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Sonia Virk, co-founder and partner of Virk Viyas & Associate Lawyers. Sonia was born in India and lost her mother when she was four-years-old. She and her three siblings were raised by their dad and she went to boarding school starting at age 5. Sonia obtained her first law degree in India and after deciding to immigrate to Canada, she pursued her second law degree. After some time spent working in a number of law firms, Sonia realized she wanted to launch her own. In this conversation, you’ll hear about the path she has carved for herself, including her work on a number of boards and non-profits, and how she chooses to speak up in the face of sexism and racism.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Lauren Barker, CEO of Uresta, a bladder support solution to stop urinary leaks.
After graduating from the Ivey School of Business, Lauren started her career in investment banking, where she invested in private businesses throughout North America. Lauren’s career then brought her to a leading Canadian technology start-up in business operations. Lauren joined Uresta as CFO in 2020 and was subsequently promoted to CEO following the retirement of former Uresta CEO, Carol Chapman. Lauren is passionate about destigmatizing Stress Urinary Incontinence—or SUI— and empowering women to live their lives leak-free.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Nuria Madrenas, the Founder and Principal Curator of Tacit, a platform dedicated to the sale of artwork entirely created by women artists. As an artist herself, Nuria recognized a gap in the market to provide female artists with a dedicated resource to sell their work and achieve discoverability. Nuria is devoted to supporting female artists in a way that encourages women to take pride in merging creativity and commerce. Nuria applies her expertise in communications to amplify Tacit's mission and enhance the reach of female artists globally.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, host Eva Hartling speaks with Elynn Lorimer, CEO at Spatial Research and Design, a creative, multifaceted team of researchers, designers, and strategists who share a deep curiosity about human behaviour and are passionate about ensuring technology improves our lives. Elynn is a trailblazer in the tech industry with over 20 years of experience in digital product design and development, working in senior executive roles for large public companies such as Travelocity, Standard Chartered Bank, Bell and Nokia. She is a true believer in placing the user at the heart of the design process and combining art and science for great experiences that deliver business value.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, Eva speaks with Stacey Madge, President and Country Manager at Visa Canada and trailblazer in the banking world. Stacey climbed up the ladder quickly and demonstrated her leadership in an industry where women tend to be underrepresented at the senior executive level. Stacey dedicates her time and energy to building programs that benefit women within and outside her workplace, including Visa Canada’s She’s Next Grant Program in partnership with IFundWomen.
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This episode was brought to you in part by Visa Canada, a long-time supporter of women-owned small businesses. Visit ifundwomen.com/visa-canada to learn more about the She’s Next Grant Program and on Instagram @visaca to support the recipients.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, Eva speaks with Jolene Livingston, Founder and Principal Consultant of Bespoke Social Profit Solutions, a woman-led, majority-female consulting firm. Jolene and her team specialize in helping charitable organizations increase their reach and impact by providing guidance in strategy, fundraising, and communications. She believes that the future of the charitable sector is in moving from a non-profit to social profit mindset – where we reward organizations that are thinking big and creating major impact, even if they need to spend some money to get there. Jolene is working to change the conversation in the sector among funders and donors while helping her clients develop and execute the bold ideas that keep their communities thriving.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, we are re-sharing our episode with Carmen Sandor, founder and CEO of Green Owl Vodka, one of the only female-owned and -led spirits sold at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. Green Owl is Canada’s first sipping vodka infused with green tea extract from Japan. Carmen started her career as a reporter for CTV News and TSN. She then switched gears and started working as a portfolio manager for RPIA, a Toronto-based investment management firm and was the youngest person to be promoted to Vice President at the firm. Last May, she honed in on her financial industry expertise, her entrepreneurial spirit and her passion for clean ingredients to launch Green Owl Vodka in May 2021. Carmen graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism and Sociology, and was a former professional tennis player and captain of the Penn State varsity women’s tennis team.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, Eva Hartling speaks with Kate Milne, a Specialist in Healthy Aging and Workplace Wellbeing as well as a women’s health-in-aging researcher. Her company, Cardea Health Consulting, is a health promotion firm focused on a lifespan approach to health. Kate specializes in helping clients to support, retain, and recruit midlife and older team members by using an age-friendly and equity lens in wellbeing programs.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, Eva Hartling speaks with Shauna Levy, Founder and CEO of MADGE AND MERCER MODERN APOTHECARY, the first premium wellness brand within the cannabis space, designed for women aged 40 and older. Prior to her new venture, Shauna co-founded IDS Toronto, North America’s largest design fair, The Yoga Conference, and Expo for Design, Innovation and Technology (EDIT), in addition to being the former President and CEO of Design Exchange in Toronto. During her time at the helm of Design Exchange (DX), Shauna partnered with international organizations including the United Nations Development Programme, governments and global brands. She has directed exhibits featuring Canadian and international designers and celebrated personalities, among them Pharrell Williams, Christian Louboutin, David Suzuki and Bruce Mau. Within all of her roles, she ensured that a platform was created for emerging Canadian talent. Motivated by her own personal journey with chronic pain and anxiety as well as the other women she met along the way dealing with similar challenges, Shauna founded MADGE AND MERCER MODERN APOTHECARY, a premium women’s wellness brand.
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This episode of the Brand is Female is brought to you by the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management’s One-Year Executive MBA Program. Visit www.rotmanemba.com to find out about the program and sign up for a webinar to learn more.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, Eva Hartling speaks with Emily Silverman, Founder and CEO at Arnold Street Media. Emily launched Arnold Street Media fuelled by her industry expertise and the opportunity she saw ahead. She recognized a growing need for commercial creative content in an ever-evolving digital space and paired her talents in digital media with business development. With that, Arnold Street Media began an impressive journey towards expansion and growth. As a CEO, Emily has and continues to mentor women to achieve success in business.
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This episode of the Brand is Female is brought to you by the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management’s One-Year Executive MBA Program. Visit www.rotmanemba.com to find out about the program and sign up for a webinar to learn more.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week on the podcast, Eva Hartling talks with Joella Hogan, Owner and Operator of The Yukon Soaps Company. Joella comes from a long line of strong, vibrant, Indigenous women. Her matriarchs are teachers, healers, bush women, social advocates, and cultural leaders. She credits them for knowing how to make things happen. Through her line of hand-crafted soaps, she works to embody elements of each of the special talents shared by her family and community. Through her work with The Yukon Soaps Company, she is reconnecting with her community, elders, land, and language, and she uses local plants in her formulations, in addition to employing local youth.
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This episode of the Brand is Female is brought to you by the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management’s One-Year Executive MBA Program. Visit www.rotmanemba.com to find out about the program and sign up for a webinar to learn more.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, Eva Hartling welcomes Dr. Bimpe Ayeni, a board-certified Canadian plastic surgeon and founder of men’s skincare line BLAIR + JACK. With an Ivy-league education from Yale University to Columbia University and Harvard University, international training at Oxford University in England, and award-winning research, Dr. Ayeni is dedicated to helping people find their inner happiness with solutions that help them feel their best. She heads the division of Plastic Surgery at Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket, Ontario, where she specializes in breast and abdominal surgery. When she’s not helping women reach their highest level of confidence, she can be found doing the same for men with her skincare line BLAIR + JACK.
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This episode of the Brand is Female is brought to you by the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management’s One-Year Executive MBA Program. Visit www.rotmanemba.com to find out about the program and sign up for a webinar to learn more.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, on the podcast, Eva Hartling welcomes Kate Bouchard, CEO and Founder of Loba, an innovative new pill/supplement organizer that both looks great and makes your life easier. Kate conceived Loba after experiencing health challenges herself and starting a naturopathic treatment plan which included taking a number of supplements. Uninspired by options available on the market, she set out to create her own. Her goal with Loba is to create new daily rituals and support others on their path to wellness.
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This episode of the Brand is Female is brought to you by the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management’s One-Year Executive MBA Program. Visit www.rotmanemba.com to find out about the program and sign up for a webinar to learn more.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, Eva Hartling speaks with Sammy Kronick, owner of BEATBOX, a Boutique Boxing studio in Toronto. Sammy grew up in Toronto and started building companies in the health and wellness industry, always with a focus on women in fitness. Launching her first company while still in university, she travelled to schools across Canada and led group fitness events and provided female students with personalized workout guides. After graduating from Queen’s, she had the idea of starting her own Boutique Boxing Studio after seeing the increasing boxing trend in the American fitness industry. Now two years later, BEATBOX is back in full force after weathering the pandemic.
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This episode of the Brand is Female is brought to you by the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management’s One-Year Executive MBA Program. Visit www.rotmanemba.com to find out about the program and sign up for a webinar to learn more.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, Eva Hartling speaks with Samantha Estoesta, Manager, Equity in Innovation and Programs at TD. Samantha is a poet, an equity advocate, a design thinking facilitator, and a mother. With a Masters in Intercultural Communications and over a decade of experience in equity, diversity, and inclusion advocacy, she centers her efforts on creating experiences that elicit a sense of belonging.
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This episode of the Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank Group. TD offers highly personalized digital experiences that empower customers to make confident financial decisions. Visit td.com to learn more.
This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, we welcome Carmen Sandor, founder and CEO of Green Owl Vodka, one of the only female-owned and -led spirits sold at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. Green Owl is Canada’s first sipping vodka infused with green tea extract from Japan. Carmen started her career as a reporter for CTV News and TSN. She then switched gears and started working as a portfolio manager for RPIA, a Toronto-based investment management firm and was the youngest person to be promoted to Vice President at the firm. Last May, she honed in on her financial industry expertise, her entrepreneurial spirit and her passion for clean ingredients to launch Green Owl Vodka in May 2021. Carmen graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism and Sociology, and was a former professional tennis player and captain of the Penn State varsity women’s tennis team.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, host Eva Hartling speaks with Lacey Norton and Elizabeth Davey, the founders of the Vancouver-based brand HIRRS, a performance-based bodywear line that has been designed for a woman’s movement. The name HIRSS was chosen because it represents the fluidity of gender associated with being a woman in modern times—a combination of hers and his. The brand offers designs that bridge the gap between sport and lingerie and rather than focusing on making women feel objectified when wearing their pieces, as is the case with many brands of undergarment, they aimed to create pieces that make women feel strong and self-confident. They are committed to offering options for a variety of sizes and body shapes. Here is the conversation.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Au balado The Brand is Female, Eva Hartling parle à des femmes inspirantes du monde entrepreneurial, des affaires ou autre domaine connexe. Cette semaine à l’occasion de la Journée Internationale des Femmes, nous vous offrons une entrevue en français avec Elizabeth Coulombe la co-fondatrice de Tero, une entreprise innovante québécoise fabriquant un produit qui transforme presque tous les déchets alimentaires en engrais naturel. Avec Elizabeth, on discute de son parcours entrepreneurial, de la possibilité de jumeler responsabilité environnementale et succès en affaires, et des valeurs qu’elle a choisi d’incorporer à la mission de Tero.
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Cette saison de notre balado vous est présentée par @td_canada Femmes en Enterprise. La TD est fière de soutenir les femmes entrepreneurs et de les aider à réussir et à croître grâce à son programme d'ateliers éducatifs, de financement et de mentorat ! Découvrez comment vous pouvez bénéficier de leur soutien ! Visitez : TBIF : thebrandisfemale.com // TD Femmes en Entreprise : td.com/ca/fr/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //. Suivez-nous sur Instagram : instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, host Eva Hartling talks about women in business and financing with Nancy King, Associate VP at TD Bank, who has been with TD Business Banking for over 14 years. Nancy was born to immigrant parents who instilled within her a strong work ethic and entrepreneurial values at an early age. Today Nancy heads TD Small Business Banking and the Business Bank's Segments Group including Women in Enterprise. We talked about the influence parents and other role models can have on us, the best way of supporting women in business and in the workplace, as well as common challenges faced by women entrepreneurs today.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, host Eva Hartling interviews Heather Marshall, a Canadian author who has just published her debut novel, Looking for Jane. A historical novel set between 1960s and present-day Toronto, it follows a group of inspiring women who dared to fight for their own rights, united by an underground abortion network known only by its code name: Jane. Heather holds a Master’s degrees in Canadian history and political science, and she worked in politics and communications before transitioning full time to her true passion, storytelling. At a time where women’s rights are still under attack, we’re excited to see untold-until-now women’s stories that have shaped history.
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week my guest is Mungi Ngomane, Social Justice Advocate and Author of the book Everyday Ubuntu, inspired by the lessons from the South African philosophy and way of life. Mungi is the grand-daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, anti-apartheid and Human Rights Activist who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his efforts in resolving and ending apartheid in South Africa. In this exchange Mungi and I spoke about grief, because she lost her grandfather earlier this year. Grief is a topic we often leave out when it’s time to speak about mental health or wellness, and it is something we all experience - whether it’s caused by the loss of a loved one, or the grief we feel when something ends or is taken away in our lives. I hope you find this exchange helpful and comforting. Here is our conversation.
Whether wellness means sports, rest, mental health or all of the above to you, we’re thrilled to partner with Athleta, a purpose-driven brand whose mission is to ignite the limitless potential of women and girls and is designed for women by women. The brand offers clothing in sizes XXS to 3X -- empowering all women to lead active lifestyles with confidence. Athleta’s dedication to uncompromising product perfection means their clothing is beautiful, technical and sustainable and supports women and girls who are on the move. Shop Athleta at athleta.gapcanada.ca, visit Athleta at Vancouver’s Park Royal or Toronto’s Yorkdale Mall, and follow them on Instagram @athleta. #Athleta #PowerofShe
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, host Eva Hartling speaks with Monica Ruffo, founder of Well Told Health. A serial entrepreneur with passion for health and wellness, Monica enjoyed a prolific career in the advertising agency world when she received a diagnosis of aggressive breast cancer. Throughout her 18 months of cancer treatment, she put her passion for health and wellness to work on herself, researching every aspect of her lifestyle and treatment options and advocating strongly for both traditional and natural treatments. As a result, she fared extremely well both during and after cancer treatment, and uncovered what she felt was a huge gap in the market. The more digging she did, the more she realized that most “natural health” products are not natural at all. As she continued her quest to better understand natural health products, she successfully completed a Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University and decided to found Well Told Health.
Whether wellness means sports, rest, mental health or all of the above to you, we’re thrilled to partner with Athleta, a purpose-driven brand whose mission is to ignite the limitless potential of women and girls and is designed for women by women. The brand offers clothing in sizes XXS to 3X -- empowering all women to lead active lifestyles with confidence. Athleta’s dedication to uncompromising product perfection means their clothing is beautiful, technical and sustainable and supports women and girls who are on the move. Shop Athleta at athleta.gapcanada.ca, visit Athleta at Vancouver’s Park Royal or Toronto’s Yorkdale Mall, and follow them on Instagram @athleta. #Athleta #PowerofShe
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, host Eva Hartling speaks with Saroya Tinker, a professional women's ice hockey player for Toronto Six. A graduate of Yale University where she played on the Varsity Women's Ice Hockey team, Saroya has found a passion for educating others and using her social media platforms to encourage and share resources for other women in sports. She now runs a mentorship program and is committed to educating and providing a positive impact to inspire young women to pursue careers in sports.
Whether wellness means sports, rest, mental health or all of the above to you, we’re thrilled to partner with Athleta, a purpose-driven brand whose mission is to ignite the limitless potential of women and girls and is designed for women by women. The brand offers clothing in sizes XXS to 3X -- empowering all women to lead active lifestyles with confidence. Athleta’s dedication to uncompromising product perfection means their clothing is beautiful, technical and sustainable and supports women and girls who are on the move. Shop Athleta at athleta.gapcanada.ca, visit Athleta at Vancouver’s Park Royal or Toronto’s Yorkdale Mall, and follow them on Instagram @athleta. #Athleta #PowerofShe
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, my guests are Jen Murtagh and Sonja Baikogli Foley, the founders of Maturn, the platform they created to shift the narrative and support systems around maternity leave in Canada, so that more working mothers can continue to advance in their careers and retain positions of leadership with greater support from employers, partners, and like-minded mothers along the way.
Whether wellness means sports, rest, mental health or all of the above to you, we’re thrilled to partner with Athleta, a purpose-driven brand whose mission is to ignite the limitless potential of women and girls and is designed for women by women. The brand offers clothing in sizes XXS to 3X -- empowering all women to lead active lifestyles with confidence. Athleta’s dedication to uncompromising product perfection means their clothing is beautiful, technical and sustainable and supports women and girls who are on the move. Shop Athleta at athleta.gapcanada.ca, visit Athleta at Vancouver’s Park Royal or Toronto’s Yorkdale Mall, and follow them on Instagram @athleta. #Athleta #PowerofShe
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
The New Year is here and our resolutions are too. But focusing on our self-care and wellness should always be the focus, no matter the time of year. That’s why we’re happy to introduce a special series on The Brand is Female podcast. Presented by Athleta, these conversations feature women who embody different aspects of wellness — from sports to mental health and more — and by the same token, who empower women and girls.
Our first guest on this series this week is Jane Wang, a serial health tech entrepreneur, University Professor, Cancer research fundraiser, and Founder/CEO of Optimity, a popular wellness app that rewards users for integrating healthy habits into their lifestyle to reach their health and financial goals.
Whether wellness means sports, rest, mental health or all of the above to you, we’re thrilled to partner with Athleta, a purpose-driven brand whose mission is to ignite the limitless potential of women and girls and is designed for women by women. The brand offers clothing in sizes XXS to 3X -- empowering all women to lead active lifestyles with confidence. Athleta’s dedication to uncompromising product perfection means their clothing is beautiful, technical and sustainable and supports women and girls who are on the move. Shop Athleta at athleta.gapcanada.ca, visit Athleta at Vancouver’s Park Royal or Toronto’s Yorkdale Mall, and follow them on Instagram @athleta. #Athleta #PowerofShe
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This season of our podcast is brought to you by @td_canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
We welcome Pulitzer-Prize winner and New York Times bestseller author, Dana Canedy. This episode of The Brand is Female is brought to you by Sony Pictures Entertainment Canada and their latest film, A Journal for Jordan, based on a memoir by Dana Canedy, directed by Denzel Washington. A Journal for Jordan is a powerful recollection of love and family, telling the story of First Sergeant Charles Monroe King, played by Michael B. Jordan, who, while deployed in Iraq, keeps a journal of love and advice for his infant son. Back home, then-Senior New York Times Editor Dana Canedy, played by Chanté Adams, revisits the story of her life-altering relationship with King, and his enduring devotion to her and their child. You can catch A Journal for Jordan exclusively in movie theatres this Holiday season, and support work created by a woman author. In this conversation, learn about Journalist, Author and Publishing Executive Dana Canedy’s fascinating career ascension, and the life events that led to her writing A Journal for Jordan.
This episode of The Brand is Female is also brought to you by L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth grant award program. Do you know a Canadian woman who passionately volunteers her time and energy to help people in her community? Recognize her dedication with a nomination for the 2022 Women of Worth — a philanthropic program which recognizes the achievements of ten non-profit leaders from across Canada who are making meaningful change addressing some of society’s most pressing issues. Each woman will receive a $10,000 donation to their cause and be celebrated during a gala on International Women’s Day.
Head to lorealparis.ca/en-ca/women-of-worth by December 23rd.
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This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week on the podcast, Eva Hartling welcomes Jennifer Abbott, a Sundance and Genie Award-winning Canadian filmmaker best known as the co-director and editor of the acclaimed documentary THE CORPORATION. Last year, she released THE MAGNITUDE OF ALL THINGS, a new film which explores how we face and accept the reality of climate catastrophe while cementing our determination to engage in the only thing we can now do – resist. It’s been met with critical praise and has garnered over 10 awards around the world, from South Korea, to Italy, France, California and Canada.
This episode of The Brand is Female is brought to you by L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth grant award program. Do you know a Canadian woman who passionately volunteers her time and energy to help people in her community? Recognize her dedication with a nomination for the 2022 Women of Worth — a philanthropic program which recognizes the achievements of ten non-profit leaders from across Canada who are making meaningful change addressing some of society’s most pressing issues. Each woman will receive a $10,000 donation to their cause and be celebrated during a gala on International Women’s Day. Head to lorealparis.ca/en-ca/women-of-worth by December 23rd.
Instagram: @lorealparis
Facebook: facebook.com/lorealpariscanada
Website: lorealparis.ca/en-ca/women-of-worth
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This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Carmen Liu is the founder of UK-based Carmen Liu Lingerie, the first lingerie company offering products designed specifically for the needs of the LGBTQ2S+, trans and non-binary community. Carmen, a trans woman herself, created the brand out of frustration for the lack of options for trans people when it comes to lingerie, and to push the social binaries of femininity to higher bounds.
This episode of The Brand is Female is brought to you by L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth grant award program. Do you know a Canadian woman who passionately volunteers her time and energy to help people in her community? Recognize her dedication with a nomination for the 2022 Women of Worth — a philanthropic program which recognizes the achievements of ten non-profit leaders from across Canada who are making meaningful change addressing some of society’s most pressing issues. Each woman will receive a $10,000 donation to their cause and be celebrated during a gala on International Women’s Day. Head to lorealparis.ca/en-ca/women-of-worth by December 23rd.
Instagram: @lorealparis
Facebook: facebook.com/lorealpariscanada
Website: lorealparis.ca/en-ca/women-of-worth
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This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week’s episode features Vancouver-based Entrepreneur Nisha Grewal, the founder of Ambari Beauty, a line that’s captured the attention of retailers such as Neiman Marcus, and A-listers including Kourtney Kardashian and her lifestyle platform Poosh. In creating Ambari, Nisha was inspired by her Indian upbringing which she credits for her use and knowledge of natural ingredients to tackle beauty challenges. Today her potent beauty products including Ambari’s famous Evening Serum or famed Hydrator Cream are international best sellers — not bad for a first time Beauty Brand Founder!
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This episode is brought to you by Goodfood. Goodfood makes it ultra easy to try new food and flavours with same-day delivery. Choose between their restaurant-quality meal kits, ready-to-eat foods and quality grocery selection which gives you access to fun and healthy meals whenever you want. Visit makegoodfood.ca to learn more about how to get farm-fresh ingredients and chef designed meals, delivered to your door, fast.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week’s episode is a delicious conversation with Jordana Rebner, the VP in culinary development at Goodfood — a Canadian online grocery, home meal and meal kit company. Unsure of what kind of career Jordana wanted to pursue after her studies, she enrolled in cooking school, and the rest is history. She carved her way through a typically male-dominated industry and earned her stripes in fast-paced restaurants and in food manufacturing. Enticed by an exciting new formula on the market, she then took a leap of faith and transitioned into a new role at Goodfood. Jordana is now responsible for creating all of the delicious recipes Goodfood has to offer today. In her new role of VP in culinary development, Jordana quickly overcame the unique challenges of the job; this included identifying what kind of recipes Goodfood members liked, working within produce availability and seasonality constraints and creating menus with exciting levels of flavour and variety.
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This episode is brought to you by Goodfood. Goodfood makes it ultra easy to try new food and flavours with same-day delivery. Choose between their restaurant-quality meal kits, ready-to-eat foods and quality grocery selection which gives you access to fun and healthy meals whenever you want. Visit makegoodfood.ca to learn more about how to get farm-fresh ingredients and chef designed meals, delivered to your door, fast.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
In this week’s episode, you’ll meet Emma Gilchrist, Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of The Narwhal, a pioneer of non-profit journalism in Canada, focused on the coverage of environmental issues. Emma is a reporter, editor and public speaker who started her journalism career more than 15 years ago and went on to launch The Narwhal along with co-founder Carol Linnitt in 2018. She earned a journalism degree from Mount Royal University in Calgary and worked as a reporter and editor in Canada and the U.K., including time at the Calgary Sun and Calgary Herald. It is there that she created a weekly environmental column and website called The Green Guide, which won multiple awards, and ultimately inspired her to create a standalone publication dedicated to the environment. In 2017, Emma was recognized by Canada’s Clean50 for building a “powerhouse environmental investigative journalism outlet.” Welcome to the first episode of our new series, The Politics is Female, where our guests address relevant political issues anchored in current societal conversations.
This episode is brought to you by Goodfood. Goodfood makes it ultra easy to try new food and flavours with same day delivery. Choose between their restaurant quality meal kits, ready-to-eat foods and quality grocery selection which gives you access to fun and healthy meals whenever you want. Visit makegoodfood.ca to learn more about how to get farm-fresh ingredients and chef designed meals, delivered to your door, fast.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Visit:
TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com //
TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Giving space to others, does not take away from the space you have carved out for yourself. This week's guest on the podcast is Zoe Krislock, CEO of @MiniLuxe, a company that's set out to redefine the nail industry, for its employees, and for its clients. MiniLuxe has set ethical and fair work standards for its workers, including bonuses and benefits such as healthcare. Their goal is to become one of the largest employers and educators within the beauty and self-care workforce. Leading these efforts is Zoe, an experienced senior executive and leader who has spent her career driving brand expansion and retail growth for giants such as Nike, Nordstrom, and Gap. Over the course of her career, she has also established a track record of developing top female talent. As MiniLuxe CEO, she combines her capabilities as both brand custodian and operating executive with a passion for women-led, purpose-driven business. Listen to this episode to hear about her journey to MiniLuxe, the sometimes challenging lessons she learned along the way, as well as how and why the company is transforming the nail industry. And watch out, Canada — they're coming to town!
Thank you to our partners at MiniLuxe for their support of this episode of the podcast. MiniLuxe is on a mission to change the nail-care industry by providing self-care for everyone, and clean products with purpose.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Visit:
TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com //
TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, host Eva Hartling is joined by Mia Nielsen, Director of Art Toronto, Canada’s annual art fair. Running October 29 through November 8, Art Toronto is playing it big after a year of no in-person events due to Covid. With 10 days of art online and in-person, from Vancouver to Halifax, along with global conversations— the fair is responding to the moment, including a commitment to reflecting the true diversity of artists from our country, as well as gender representation. Leading this excitement is Mia, who has been a producer and curator of art and design spaces for over 20 years. This is a conversation you won't want to miss.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Visit:
TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com //
TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
In this bonus episode of the podcast, we welcome back two very special guests. MJ DeCoteau is the founder of Rethink Breast Cancer, and Michelle Audoin is an educator who was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2017. The two joined forces with Rethink to create Uncovered: A Breast Recognition Project, which shares the stories and images of Black women while skiing a light on how women of colour often see their needs overlooked and underrepresented in the cancer care community.
Listen to this conversation to hear what brought the duo together, and how this very important partnership came to be. This episode is full of behind the scenes moments, as well as insightful reflections on why the Uncovered campaign was so important.
Rethink Breast Cancer aims to empower, educate, and support all young people impacted by breast cancer. In this series, we will be discussing and re-thinking the narrative around breast cancer in today’s world. As part of this series, you will meet women who are making a difference as leading changemakers in the community. Everyone on the Rethink Breast Cancer team is focused on offering relevant and accessible spaces for the new generation of young people affected by breast cancer, and we are so happy we can share their knowledge on this platform.
Thanks to our partners at Rethink Breast Cancer for their support of this episode of The Brand is Female.
Rethink Breast Cancer is celebrating 20 years of fostering safe and inclusive spaces, and together, the mission is to empower, connect, educate and rethink our conversations around breast cancer and be of support to those impacted. Please visit www.rethinkbreastcancer.com to find out more.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Visit:
TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com //
TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
This week, host Eva Hartling continues the witch series with a very special guest. This episode features Artist and Photographer Frances F Denny. Frances' work investigates female identities. Her recently published book is titled “Major Arcana: Portraits of Witches in America,” which documents a diverse group of people who identify as witches. This book is an exploration of contemporary witchery told through striking photographs and short, inspiring texts written by the subjects themselves. Her work from this book is also on display at “The Salem Witch Trials: Reckoning and Reclaiming,” an exhibition at the Peabody Essex Museum,
Frances herself is a descendant of one of the Salem trial judges, and of Mary Bliss Parsons, accused of witchcraft in 1674 and acquitted by a court in Boston. In this conversation, the duo explore what it means to be a witch and to practice witchcraft - in yesteryears, as well as today, in 2021. The two also explore what makes the witch such a unique female archetype.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Visit:
TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com //
TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and behind it is a reality that affects women first and foremost - directly and indirectly. That’s why we're proud to share that we have partnered with Rethink Breast Cancer for a special series on The Brand is Female podcast today and in the coming weeks.
Today's guest is Michelle Audoin. Michelle happily wears the hats of wife and mom to two wonderful kids, home baker and doggy mama. She was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2017. Prior to her diagnosis, Michelle worked for almost 2 decades as a passionate educator in Toronto. She brings an equity lens to Rethink’s MBC Advisory Board and as a member of Rethink’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group. Michelle has been involved in numerous advocacy and awareness campaigns for breast cancer and MBC. Specifically she’s participated in Rethink’s Queen’s Park Advocacy Day and MBC campaigns, was featured in the MCB Time 2020 video, and has written a blog for Rethink about being a young woman with MBC. Most recently, Michelle is proud to have partnered with Rethink to create Uncovered: A Breast Recognition Project. This resource shares the stories and images of Black, Indigenous and women of colour and it shines a light on how women of colour often see their needs overlooked and underrepresented in the cancer care community.
Listen to this episode to hear why representation matters and all about her journey from diagnosis to bringing forth change within the breast cancer industry.
Rethink Breast Cancer aims to empower, educate, and support all young people impacted by breast cancer. In this series, we will be discussing and re-thinking the narrative around breast cancer in today’s world. As part of this series, you will meet women who are making a difference as leading changemakers in the community. Everyone on the Rethink Breast Cancer team is focused on offering relevant and accessible spaces for the new generation of young people affected by breast cancer, and we are so happy we can share their knowledge on this platform.
Thanks to our partners at Rethink Breast Cancer for their support of this episode of The Brand is Female.
Rethink Breast Cancer is celebrating 20 years of fostering safe and inclusive spaces, and together, the mission is to empower, connect, educate and rethink our conversations around breast cancer and be of support to those impacted. Please visit www.rethinkbreastcancer.com to find out more.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and behind it is a reality that affects women first and foremost - directly and indirectly. That’s why we're proud to share that we have partnered with Rethink Breast Cancer for a special series on The Brand is Female podcast today and in the coming weeks.
Today's guest is MJ DeCoteau, MJ is the Founder and Executive Director at Rethink Breast Cancer. She is responsible for the overall direction, management, fundraising strategy and creative vision of an increasingly bigger and bolder Rethink. While she’s won numerous “trailblazer” awards for her work at Rethink and is known for modernizing the breast cancer campaign, MJ is also a cat-loving, Jane Austen-reading, ’40s musical-watcher. She loves winter snuggled up at home with her husband and daughter, but always the adventurer has an Arctic expedition on her bucket list.
Rethink Breast Cancer aims to empower, educate, and support all young people impacted by breast cancer. In this series, we will be discussing and re-thinking the narrative around breast cancer in today’s world. As part of this series, you will meet women who are making a difference as leading changemakers in the community. Everyone on the Rethink Breast Cancer team is focused on offering relevant and accessible spaces for the new generation of young people affected by breast cancer, and we are so happy we can share their knowledge on this platform.
Thanks to our partners at Rethink Breast Cancer for their support of this episode of The Brand is Female.
Rethink Breast Cancer is celebrating 20 years of fostering safe and inclusive spaces, and together, the mission is to empower, connect, educate and rethink our conversations around breast cancer and be of support to those impacted. Please visit www.rethinkbreastcancer.com to find out more.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Today’s guest is Shelby Taylor, founder and CEO of Chickapea, the all-organic, high-protein, plant-based pasta, sold in 3,000 stores across North America. Shelby is an entrepreneur on a mission to create good for the world through nutritious food that’s not only good for you but also does not harm the planet. She also happens to be part of the rare 2% of women to receive funding, having just closed $9.3M in financing in her last round, having just closed $9.3M in financing in her last round, with $16M raised overall.
In 2019, Chickapea was ranked in the top 10% of all Certified B Corps on the planet—a clear reflection of Shelby’s commitment to meeting the highest standards of social and environmental impact— not bad for an entrepreneur who began only 6 years ago. Chickpea is also a certified women-owned business, something especially important to Shelby.
Don’t miss this episode to hear Shelby and host Eva Hartling discuss this fascinating journey, along with why she’s so passionate about helping other women succeed.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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With October right around the corner, we have a very special episode of the podcast. Recently, host Eva Hartling has become fascinated by witches. You may be familiar with the common historical depictions of witches, riding on broomsticks, or being burned at the stake, but we're going to explore a more modern definition; that is, a woman who stepped into her own power. These days, witch-hunting looks a bit different, but it's just as harmful as it always has been because in our society there is still nothing scarier than a woman realizing how powerful she is or she can be.
With one month until Halloween, and the autumn solstice just behind us, this is the perfect time of year to amplify and celebrate the work done by some of our favorite witches. In today's episode, you'll meet Cardsy B also known as Rebecca “Bex” Szymczak. Bex is our very own Tarot expert at The Brand is Female— a New York City-based Tarot Reader who picked up her first deck of tarot cards at age eleven.
Listen to this episode to hear what it means to be an actual witch and all sorts of witchy things. Don't forget to check out her podcast Hex and the City if you haven't already, new episodes every Sunday!
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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This week's guest is Julia Gamolina, Director of Strategy for Trahan Architects in New York City, as well as the Founder and Editor of Madame Architect, an online publication focusing on the women who advance the practice of architecture. Julia is dedicated to the build environment and the visibility of women who work in it. Her writing has also been featured in Fast Company, A Women's Thing, and the Architect's Newspaper. Earlier this year, she was named one of Apartment Therapy's Design Changemakers, and she's been honoured as one of Professional Women in Construction's "20 Under 40". Julia received her Bachelor of Architecture at Cornell, graduating with a Charles Goodwin Sands Memorial Medal for exceptional merit in the thesis of architecture.
In this conversation, Julia and host Eva Hartling discuss representation, gender bias in the workplace, and how to build a different type of environment where women can thrive.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Patrice Mousseau is the Founder and CEO of Satya Organic Skin Care. She is a member of Fort William First Nation and a former journalist, and her journey to becoming a conscious entrepreneur stemmed from the development of her own homemade treatment for her young daughter’s eczema. This treatment was based on traditional medicine and scientific innovation. With a successful natural formula in hand without the use of steroids, Patrice went on to launch Satya.
The word Satya means “higher truth” in Sanskrit. The brand is certified carbon neutral with the Coastal First Nations’ Great Bear Rainforest initiative. As well, Patrice ensures she provides her staff of women, all single moms like her, a living wage and great working conditions. Listen to this episode to hear all about what brought her here, and how her passion translates to her company.
For 10% off your order of Satya organic skincare products, head to satya.ca and use code The Brand is Female at checkout.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Zoe Whittall is a Canadian Poet, Novelist, TV Writer, and today's guest on the podcast. Her last novel “The Best Kind of People” was a national bestseller and a finalist for the Giller Prize, and is currently being adapted for a limited series by director Sarah Polley. Zoe was also awarded a Canadian Screen Award for her work on “The Baroness von Sketch Show” in addition to contributing to Schitt's Creek. She has has now just published her new novel “The Spectacular”, a story that captures three generations of very different women, who struggle to build an authentic life in the absence of traditional family and marital structures. In her book, Zoe explores sexuality, gender, and the weight of reproductive freedoms.
Listen to this episode to hear how Zoe got where she is today, the inspiration behind her books, and why stories about motherhood, womanhood and sexual & reproductive freedoms are so important and relevant today.
Thank you to our partners at HarperCollins for their support of today’s episode!
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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This week, host Eva Hartling is joined by Laura Kraber, Co-Founder of Fluide, a gender-inclusive beauty start-up that offers a line of affordable, high-quality, non-toxic cosmetics. Fluide’s mission is to increase the visibility of trans, non-binary, and gender-fluid individuals while promoting a new definition of beauty. The root of this being healthy self-expression and a positive self-image. Founded by Laura and her partner Isabella Giancarlo in 2018, the Brooklyn-based brand donates a portion of sales to LGBTQ non-profits. Fluide also looks to pay tribute to the importance of safe spaces for the LGBTQ community by naming colourful lip and nail shades after queer spaces around the globe. Listen to this episode to hear why this message is so important to Laura, and what it's like to run a brand with such a cult following.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Courage >> comfort. This week, Maggie Hewitt joins host Eva Hartling to talk about finding purpose and doing good. Maggie is the founder of sustainable and circular fashion brand Maggie Marilyn. Having grown up on the New Zealand coast, Maggie has always had an interest in protecting our natural world. When she set out to create her own fashion line, she knew she wanted to build a company rooted in principles of circularity. For Maggie, circularity is not just a buzzword— she takes this concept the whole way, from recyclable clothing to repair services for the brand's items. Her company champions transparency and change in an industry whose harmful practices have been destroying our planet for decades. Maggie has even gone so far as to make the tough decision to forego agreements with wholesalers in favour of selling direct to consumers, in order to ensure every aspect of her supply chain would have as low an impact as possible. As a result, Maggie Marilyn has met both commercial and editorial success. Listen to this episode to find out what inspires and drives Maggie as a citizen and a business owner!
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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This week’s guest thinks plastic water bottles should be history. Nicole Doucet is the CEO and Co-Founder of Open Water, a bottled water company that uses aluminum packaging as a more sustainable alternative to single-use plastic bottles. Ten years ago, while still in university and after watching a documentary on plastic pollution, Nicole and her Co-Founder, Jess Page, were inspired to disrupt the bottled water industry with an approach that puts circularity at the forefront. As we continue to face the climate crisis and its very real impact, Nicole and her partner are raising awareness on pollution caused by single-use plastic bottled water — which is, unfortunately, still the industry standard, with the world’s leading consumer goods companies continuing to sell water bottled in harmful plastic. Listen to this episode to find out how Nicole set out to create Open Water to offer a more environmentally and health-friendly solution for drinking water.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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This week, host Eva Hartling is joined by Misty Koefod. Alongside her wife Kristen, Missy co-founded the famed cocktail mixers and spiked seltzers brand 18.21 Bitters — which got its name from the 18th Amendment that enacted prohibition and the 21st which repealed it. Missy found her way to 18.21 after a career in hospitality, followed by a stint as an attorney, when a fight with cancer made her rethink her life’s priorities. Today, Missy and Kristin’s brand has been celebrated by bar owners, cocktail aficionados as well as International media conglomerates, from GQ, Vogue, Vanity Fair and more. 18.21 is available in 48 states, 6 countries, and counting. But what's most important is 18.21's commitment to fair practices and built on a strong purpose and values. Listen to this episode to hear about her road to 18.21, the fundraising round that just led to over $100,000 from just a dozen of investors through crowdfunding, what she really thinks about working in the hospitality/alcohol industry, and about her personal commitment to social justice and how that translates into their company's values
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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This week, host Eva Hartling is joined by Nana aba Duncan. Nana aba is a Canadian Journalist who was recently appointed as Associate Professor and the Inaugural Carty Chair in Journalism, Diversity and Inclusion Studies at Carleton University. You may know her from her gigs as guest host of q, an arts and culture show on CBC Radio, and As It Happens, one of the network's most popular radio titles. She has also guest-hosted CBC Toronto's leading weekday morning radio show Metro Morning, the city's afternoon radio show Here & Now, and the Canada-wide Saturday radio show Day 6.
After winning the International Development and Research Centre’s international journalism award, Nana aba headed back to her birthplace of Ghana, where she reported with Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and moved on to produce human rights stories and help establish the radio division of Journalists for Human Rights.
In this conversation, Eva speaks to Nana Aba about racial and gender representation in media and what improvements are needed to achieve equity in the industry — a goal she gets to tackle in her new role at Carleton University.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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In case you missed it, this week, we’re re-airing one of our season’s most popular episodes again! Meet Koa Beck, acclaimed author of the best-selling book ‘White Feminism: From the Suffragettes to influencers and Who They Leave Behind,' published in January. Koa is the former editor-in-chief of Jezebel, previously the executive director of Vogue.com and senior features editor at Marie Claire.com. To add to her impressive resumé, in 2019, Koa was was awarded the Joan Shorenstein Fellowship at the Harvard Kennedy School, and she published an academic paper entitled “Self-Optimization in the Face of Patriarchy: How Mainstream Women’s Media Facilitates White Feminism.” This became her jumping-off point and inspiration in writing White Feminism. In this eye-opening episode, Koa and Eva Hartling, discuss her book, and the way our society has commodified feminism and continues to systemically shut out women of colour.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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This week, host Eva Hartling is joined by Hannah Alper, a Canadian Activist, Blogger, and Motivational Speaker who addresses issues such as the environment, anti-bullying, and social justice. Hannah writes for HuffPost, has given a TED Talk, and published a book called Momentus: Small Acts, Big Change. This would already be pretty impressive on its own, but Hannah has accomplished all this incredible work at just 18 years old. Tune in to our conversation to hear about why Hannah thinks no gesture is too small when one sets out to change the world.
This episode is brought to you by GLAD and the #GLADForChange initiative. Join the movement and make a goal to collect at least 50 pieces of litter this summer in your neighbourhood.
To take part in the GLAD for Change program, download the ‘One Piece a Day’ app to log the waste you have collected and see the national impact our efforts have had!
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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In case you missed it, we’re airing one of our season’s most popular episodes again! Soraya Chemaly is an award-winning journalist and author whose writing appears regularly in media around the world. Her work centres around defining what it means to be a woman in a world built by men. Her narrative skill, careful research, and humorous tone have been described by the New Yorker as "relentless and revelatory." In her book, Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women’s Anger, Soraya uses these skills to offer a critical look at the social construction of anger and its effects on women's lives. Soraya and host Eva Hartling share an invigorating conversation about why women should be angry, the 'steps backward' we have taken when it comes to gender equity, which has now been further amplified by the impact of the pandemic, and the many other nuances of living in the 'boxes' that society has created for women.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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This week, host Eva Hartling is joined by Maayan Ziv, activist, photographer and founder of AccessNow, a connected, global platform with information on accessibility. Through mapping as many places around the world as possible, and with the help of users’ reviews and feedback, AccessNow makes it possible to locate spots that offer accessible resources to visitors, clients and guests. Living with muscular dystrophy herself, Maayan knows firsthand the limitations and stigma experienced by people who live with disabilities. In this interview, Maayan shares her thoughts on a path to greater inclusivity, her views on the impact COVID has had on people with disabilities, and her hopes for our future.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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For a written transcript of this podcast interview, visit: www.thebrandisfemale.com/podcast/season4episode37
If you've ever thought your voice couldn't have impact, this episode is for you. Saron Gebresellassi is a Toronto-based lawyer, activist and entrepreneur who has amassed a reputation as a daring human rights advocate. Throughout her career, Saron has been at the forefront of several high profile cases, including a $1-million lawsuit against Starbucks, representing a barista who was forced to work with her alleged assaulter, defending Black Lives Matters protesters in Toronto, and her work with thousands of Haitian migrants trying to cross into Canada. Saron joined the race for Toronto Mayor in the 2018 elections and made it to 4th place, and today she continues to represent and fight for those facing injustice.
Listen to this episode to hear all about the work she has done, and continues to bring change, as well as why she will not apologize for her activism.
This season of the Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Women Entrepreneurs.
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The Brand is Female Studios just launched a new podcast called Maple Popcorn, and this episode features a conversation our host, Marriska Fernandes, had with Canadian Indigenous filmmakers Tracey Deer and Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers.
In this episode of Maple Popcorn, the two women bravely sharing their vulnerabilities, addressing both their careers and the personal struggles they continue to experience as Indigenous women in Canada. Tracey was born and raised in the Mohawk community of Kahnawake, Quebec. She is an award-winning television director and filmmaker, and her television show Mohawk Girls was nominated for four Canadian Screen Awards. Her recent coming-of-age feature-length film Beans debuted at TIFF and screened at the Berlin Film Festival, and picked up the John Dunning Best First Feature Film Award and Best Motion Picture at this year’s Canadian Screen Awards. Elle-Máijá is a member of the Kainai First Nation (Blood Tribe, Blackfoot Confederacy) as well as Sámi from Norway. In 2020, Elle-Máijá and co-director Katherine Hepburn won the Canadian Screen Award for Directorial Achievement and Best Original Screenplay for The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open. Her recent documentary Kímmapiiyipitssini – the Meaning of Empathy, won her the Colin Low Award for Best Canadian Director.
Tune in to this episode and hear the duo discuss the importance of truth in their filmmaking, and the duty they feel they have to tell stories that reflect their communities’ unique experiences.
Trigger warning: this episode was recorded just a few days after the tragic discovery of a mass grave containing children’s remains at the site of a former Residential School in Kamloops, British Columbia.
Maple Popcorn is a podcast hosted by Marriska Fernandes, produced by The Brand is Female and powered by Telefilm Canada.
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Have you ever wondered where your jeans come from, or where they’ll end up once you’re done with them? This week's guest did the research for you. Maxine Bédat is the Executive Director of New Standard Institute, and an author of a freshly-released book, Unraveled: the life and death of a garment, published by Penguin. Maxine is passionate about environment conservation and uses her platforms to urge the fashion industry to make changes to its business in order to preserve our planet.
Listen to this episode to hear about Maxine's role at NSI, where she works with scientists and citizens to make the fashion industry more sustainable, ethical, and equitable; to learn more about her book, which chronicles the entire lifecycle of a pair of jeans, from the manufacturing of its yarn all the way to the landfill where it ends up; and to expose the broken system that is our global supply chains, as well as the fractures in our relationships to each other, to ourselves, and to the planet.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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You’ve heard of farm-to-table, but have you heard of farm-to-closet? This week, host Eva Hartling is joined by Christy Baskauskas, founder of the California-based clothing brand Christy Dawn. Christy has made it her mission to integrate regenerative farming into her supply chain, partnering with a small cotton grower in India focused on responsible farming practices. After all, our skin is the largest organ in our body, why wouldn’t we care about the way we cover it, the same way we care about the food we eat?
Christy Dawn now leases land from existing farmers, while working with local partners to rework and restore the land. She and her team do this by using traditional practices that work in harmony with the Earth, similar to how it was done prior to the emergence of industrialization when intensive chemical practices became the norm. Listen to this episode to hear Christy's experience, and the launch of her company's new collection, fully made of garments they literally grew themselves — proving that it is possible to reinvent our broken system and focus on healing the planet while caring for humans.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Today’s guest is Shelby Taylor, founder and CEO of Chickapea, the all-organic, high-protein, plant-based pasta, sold in 3,000 stores across North America. Shelby is an entrepreneur on a mission to create good for the world through nutritious food that’s not only good for you but also does not harm the planet. She also happens to be part of the rare 2% of women to receive funding, having just closed $9.3M in financing in her last round, having just closed $9.3M in financing in her last round, with $16M raised overall.
In 2019, Chickapea was ranked in the top 10% of all Certified B Corps on the planet—a clear reflection of Shelby’s commitment to meeting the highest standards of social and environmental impact— not bad for an entrepreneur who began only 6 years ago. Chickpea is also a certified women-owned business, something especially important to Shelby.
Don’t miss this episode to hear Shelby and host Eva Hartling discuss this fascinating journey, along with why she’s so passionate about helping other women succeed.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Nikki Sanchez is an Indigenous Advocate of Pipil and Irish/Scottish heritage with a mission to raise awareness for the climate crisis, which she does by addressing the way environment conservation intersects with decolonization, with racial and gender inclusivity, and with our society’s mental health.
Nikki holds a Master's degree in Indigenous Governance and is pursuing a Ph.D. with research focused on Indigenous ontology. She uses her vast knowledge and research as a contributor to various publications on topics like sustainability, gender and racial bias, decolonization and more. As a testament to her accomplishments, she was crowned “Queen of Green” by the David Suzuki Foundation in recognition of her environmental journalism, however, in this episode, you will hear her explain to host Eva Hartling what is wrong with that title. To add to her impressive resumé, Nikki is also part of the team behind VICELAND’s series “RISE” focused on global Indigenous resurgence; she is a TEDx speaker, and she has been a wilderness guide and environmental educator in the Nuu-chah-nulth territory of Clayoquot Sound for over 10 years. If you've ever felt hopeless in the future of our world, it's people like Nikki who are, and will continue to be integral in guiding us towards a brighter future. Hear all this and more in this important episode.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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More than a year into the pandemic, we know it is women who are bearing the brunt of COVID-19's impact. Around the world, women are disproportionally affected by job loss, increased responsibilities around childcare, domestic violence, health and overall economic inequities—not to mention continued systemic gender and racial bias.
Mother’s Day is a couple of days away, so host Eva Hartling wanted to ask the question: how will it be different this year? One of the biggest changes being faced is also the most heartbreaking: in the US, it’s estimated that 40,000 young people have lost a parent due to the pandemic; meaning the celebration will have a whole different meaning to so many individuals.
So what has changed for moms? This episode features a panel of incredible and accomplished women who weigh in on whether we should be pessimistic or optimistic about the issues and opportunities mothers are facing in a post-COVID-19 world. On this panel, you will hear Penny Abeywardena, New York City’s Commissioner for International Affairs, and an advocate for social justice, who is mom to a young boy; Carrie Ellen Phillips, co-founder of communications agency BPCM, a sustainability educator & advocate passionate about the circular economy, environmental impact and soil health, and a mom to two young girls and two boys; as well as Dr. Oxiris Barbot, pediatrician and Public Healthcare expert who is the former Health Commissioner for the City of New York, and a godmother and aunt.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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This week, host Eva Hartling is joined by guests Michelle Bilodeau and Karen Cleveland, authors of ‘The New Wedding Book: a Guide to Ditching All the Rules’, which offers readers an alternative to wedding planning, based on the extensive list of antiquated customs that are so often tied to the big day. Michelle is a Canadian editor and writer, known for contributing on topics including fashion, lifestyle, green beauty, and cannabis; additionally, she’s recently made the decision to go back to school and study Psychology. Karen Cleveland is an established Communications and Marketing professional who currently works for the CAMH Foundation in Toronto.
The co-authors came up with the idea for their book after getting hitched themselves, realizing the insane pressure that is placed on women on their way down the altar. Can you believe that in 2021, we are still embracing the same traditions that were developed in the Victorian era? Letting go of all we've learned as feminists in favour of a long-expired code of conduct: from rules about what to wear, to 'slimming down' to fit into a dress that's just a size too small, and having a patriarchal figure walk us down the aisle. Dare we also ask the question… why get married in the first place when there are so many options for women today? We no longer rely on matrimony to access things like a bank account and credit card, the right to vote or own a business — not to mention the many who are left behind by the myth of the all-white perfect wedding including BIPOC, non-binary people, and same-sex couples. You’ll hear answers to all this and more in this episode - including a discussion about weddings’ close cousin, the big D-I-V-O-R-C-E, rates of which have been skyrocketing during the pandemic.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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This week, host Eva Hartling is joined by Stephany Lapierre, Founder, and CEO of Canadian tech company Tealbook, which offers an innovative B2B platform for procurement and supplier intelligence management that leverages machine learning and AI. Tealbook has experienced rapid growth and caught the attention of investors early on, in addition to having become a favourite among Fortune 500 companies.
Stephany has won several awards for her innovative approach and has received recognition as a successful female tech entrepreneur. In this enlightening conversation, Stephany shares her vision for success — a combination of finding the right talent to bring on her team so she is not a ‘lone ranger’ trying to do it all, and the right champions who can offer support at different stages of growth in addition to advising her for her own personal development as an entrepreneur.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Dr. Britt Wray, PhD is a globally renowned expert on Climate Crisis Dread, studying the link between mental health and the eco-crisis. Between her newsletter, aptly named Gen Dread, her broadcasting gigs, and the books she's published, Britt is an authority on staying sane while facing the climate crisis. In this episode, Britt and host Eva Hartling cover the intersection of feminism and climate issues, how the pandemic has effectively reprogrammed the DNA of our global consciousness, and how racial and health inequities have been amplified by the pandemic; revealing how broken our system truly is.
Want to hear more from Britt? Tune into BBC podcast's Tomorrow's World, where she co-hosts alongside Ellie Cosgrave. No stranger to science broadcasting, her resume also includes hosting CBC Radio’s national science show: Quirks and Quarks. Her production credits include the likes of numerous other programs for CBC, NPR, and celebrated podcasts such as Love and Radio. Britt is an Associate Partner at Dare Disrupt and is currently directing an interactive documentary series with the National Film Board of Canada. She has also hosted with CBC The Nature of Things on a feature TV documentary, The Nature of Invention.
This episode was originally aired on February 16, 2021
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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This episode features Carrie Ellen Phillips, and it originally aired August 18, 2020. In honour of Earth Day, we’re bringing back this important conversation about sustainability — all aspects of it — and the changes that need to take place in our world, both from a consumers’ standpoint, as well as from the brands that are manufacturing the products we consume. Carrie is absolutely passionate about sustainability (although she’d prefer we use the word ‘impact’), the circular economy and most of all, about helping companies carve out a new model for lasting change. She is the co-founder of BPCM, one of the world’s leading fashion PR agencies with offices in New York, Los Angeles and London, in addition to being a Sustainability Educator and an Advisor to Closed Loop Fashion, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and a Lecturer & Advisor to the Bard Center for Environmental Policy.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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“We judge women criminals more harshly. Women get judged twice: once for being a criminal and once for being a woman."
When you hear the names Anna Sorokin or Elizabeth Holmes, what comes to mind? Does it ever strike you as interesting that society has such a fascination with women con artists? That their trials inspire countless magazine articles, TV series, and even podcasts? Enter Tori Telfer, author of the book ‘Confident Women’ published by Harper Perennial, a collection of vignettes about some of the world’s most infamous female con artists. Released earlier this year as a sequel to ‘Lady Killers', her first book which the New York Times described as a "thrilling character study of the most diabolically complex, fascinating female psychopaths in history”, which was also published in Brazil, Poland, the UK, Spain, and Korea.
Tori graduated magna cum laude from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts in creative writing. After college, she worked in children's publishing and taught before going freelance. She is also the host of three podcasts about women who break the law: Criminal Broads on the Lit Hub Radio network, Red Flags on Investigation Discovery, and Why Women Kill, on CBS All Access. On this episode, host Eva Hartling catches up with Tori to discuss what makes women con artists unique, what draws other women to fantasize about emulating some of these criminals’ confidence, how gender bias affects the way women who commit crimes are perceived, and the continued high rates of incarceration for women in America.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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"At work, I see the orders from my male bosses as suggestions; and from my women superiors, as orders. And it doesn’t matter who ranks up to who in the organization. If you’re a man who’s always known privilege, then what you tell me is a suggestion. Especially if what you’re telling me is to do more, and do better, and be more creative and productive and give, and give, and give."
Meet Chris Bergeron, Vice President, Content Experience at Ad agency Cossette. She was formerly, the Editor-in-Chief of Montreal’s iconic VOIR cultural weekly before she transitioned to the world of advertising several years ago. Chris is also a trans woman whose first novel, 'Valide,' was just published and is available in bookstores in her native French. In this novel, Chris explores her trans identity, using a futuristic science fiction thriller as backdrop. In this conversation, Chris and host Eva Hartling explore what it means to be trans in today’s world as well as the lack of recognition for trans women in the feminist movement; Chris also shares how she deals with gender politics in the workplace and her wish for a world with less hate and more tolerance.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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This week's guest on The Brand is Female podcast is Dr. Juveria Zaheer, a Clinician Scientist whose research focuses on suicide, gender, and culture. Her path to mental health was rooted in her interest in hearing people’s stories -- she even tells her two young daughters that she is a 'doctor for feelings'. She is a passionate champion for her patients and for her female colleagues in medicine and science. She is currently leading the first-ever study in the retention of women scientists in the mental health space, where she believes that representation and role models that ‘look like us’ are the key to inspiring more young women to choose a career in science. Dr. Zaheer works with the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research in the Emergency Department at CAMH. She is also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto.
This episode, along with several more this month, is presented in partnership with CAMH and womenmind™, a community of philanthropists and thought leaders tackling the unique gender issues that underrepresented people face when it comes to their mental health. Women’s mental health is a challenge on two main fronts: first, we experience depression, anxiety, and trauma to a greater extent than men, and next, women in science face biases as they work to advance their careers. An initiative like womenmind™ is critical to address the gender inequities we face in this area. Find out more about CAMH and womenmind™.
If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, they can call 1-833-456-4566. If they require immediate care, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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“I’ve had some very rough times in life. When tragedy or anything gets, you go in and you want to blame everybody else. You don’t look at it for what it is: it’s a teacher. If you sit back, relax and get rid of the fear, and let the universe help you, you’ll be amazed at what happens.”
This week's guest on The Brand is Female is Nancy Smithers, founder of Nova Scotia Organics, a line of USDA certified organic vitamins, supplements, snacks, and smoothies located on the Eastern shore of Nova Scotia, where Nancy grew up. As a seventh-generation Nova Scotian, Nancy's love affair with herbs started early in life. When she couldn’t find high-quality organic products on the market, she took matters into her own hands and pursued natural health courses from Alberta’s Wild Rose College. With the help of an herbalist friend, she began combing through the natural terrain around her home, eventually crafting herbs into tinctures in her own kitchen. Nancy grew a flourishing company that now looks like a 30,000 square foot manufacturing facility, certified to produce the highest quality, and purest organic supplements possible. Her products are distributed around the world, even amassing a cult following in Japan. As President, Nancy uses her 25 years of business, herbal and organic expertise to promote her products and the causes related to organic production effectively. 'Organic' is no marketing buzzword to her; it’s her way of life and her company’s reason for success. Listen to this episode to see why Nancy has been nationally celebrated as a role model for entrepreneurs, an advocate of academic research, and a dedicated champion of organic agriculture and production.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Sandi is a dedicated philanthropist, supporter of Canadian arts and culture, and a champion for the advancement of women in sport. These passions, skills, and beliefs are matched with a wealth of knowledge and expertise gained from her successful career in banking.
Like many Canadians, Sandi has been directly impacted by mental illness, which inspired her to dedicate her time and resources to various mental health initiatives. Since joining the board at CAMH Foundation, Sandi has headed various initiatives to help raise significant funds for the organization’s important mission. Sandi and her family’s support have been instrumental in setting up the womenmind initiative. With a $5-million gift from Sandi and Jim Treliving and family, CAMH is one giant leap closer to delivering on their goal of closing the gender gap in mental health.
This episode, along with several more this month, is presented in partnership with CAMH and womenmind™, a community of philanthropists and thought leaders tackling the unique gender issues that underrepresented people face when it comes to their mental health. Women’s mental health is a challenge on two main fronts: first, we experience depression, anxiety, and trauma to a greater extent than men, and next, women in science face biases as they work to advance their careers. An initiative like womenmind™ is critical to address the gender inequities we face in this area. Find out more about CAMH and womenmind™.
If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, they can call 1-833-456-4566. If they require immediate care, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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As a recognized thought leader on gender equality, diversity, and inclusion, Deborah has dedicated her career to driving social change. Prior to joining CAMH, Deborah was President & CEO of Catalyst, a global non-profit that helps build workplaces that work for women. Deborah began her career in the public sector, where her early work focused on employment equity, anti-racism, and LGBTQ2+ rights. She went on to become a consultant and practice leader with global professional service firms. There, she championed initiatives to mentor women. Additionally, Deborah worked in the Nova Scotia government and stood as a candidate for elected office. Listen to this episode to hear about Deborah expertly mixes her passion, strategic vision, and entrepreneurial spirit to lead the CAMH Foundation and transform how Canadians understand and address mental illness, in the workplace and in society.
This episode, along with several more this month, is presented in partnership with CAMH and womenmind™, a community of philanthropists and thought leaders tackling the unique gender issues that underrepresented people face when it comes to their mental health. Women’s mental health is a challenge on two main fronts: first, we experience depression, anxiety, and trauma to a greater extent than men, and next, women in science face biases as they work to advance their careers. An initiative like womenmind™ is critical to address the gender inequities we face in this area. Find out more about CAMH and womenmind™.
If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, they can call 1-833-456-4566. If they require immediate care, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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"Power has been so successful at denigrating women. It’s a specific pattern of patriarchy in terms of taking us away from one another. So what happens to you is something incredibly shameful that you must carry alone; an NDA may be put in front of you, and the threats are always personal. They threaten your economic security. The fact that you’re violated and you’re met with threats indicates what they’re afraid of."
This week's guest on The Brand is Female is Koa Beck, acclaimed author of the best-selling book ‘White Feminism: From the Suffragettes to influencers and Who They Leave Behind,' published in January. Koa is the former editor-in-chief of Jezebel, previously the executive director of Vogue.com, and senior features editor at MarieClaire.com. To add to her impressive resumé, in 2019, Koa was was awarded the Joan Shorenstein Fellowship at the Harvard Kennedy School, and she published an academic paper entitled “Self-Optimization in the Face of Patriarchy: How Mainstream Women’s Media Facilitates White Feminism.” This became her jumping-off point and inspiration in writing White Feminist. In this eye-opening episode, Koa and Eva Hartling, discuss her book, and how our society has commodified feminism and continues to systemically shut out women of colour.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing, and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Would you be brave enough to share your own struggles with mental health, if it meant helping just one other person? Meet Carole Dagher, VP of Legal at Loblaw Group of Companies in Toronto, as well as mental health patient at CAMH. Through her own journey, Carole has become a mental health advocate for the organization. Born and raised in Lebanon, she came to Canada at the age of 13. She started her law career practicing in the Capital Markets group at a top-tier New York law firm, then spending over a decade in progressively senior legal roles in the financial services industry. Carole’s mental health journey started when she was diagnosed with post-partum after the birth of her daughter, and you will hear her tell the rest of her story in this interview. Trigger warning: please be advised this episode includes discussions of mental distress and trauma.
This episode, along with several more this month, is presented in partnership with CAMH and womenmind™, a community of philanthropists and thought leaders tackling the unique gender issues that underrepresented people face when it comes to their mental health. Women’s mental health is a challenge on two main fronts: first, we experience depression, anxiety, and trauma to a greater extent than men, and next, women in science face biases as they work to advance their careers. An initiative like womenmind™ is critical to address the gender inequities we face in this area. Find out more about CAMH and womenmind™.
If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, they can call 1-833-456-4566. If they require immediate care, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Hajer Nakua is a mental health researcher and advocate for Muslim women in STEM. She uses her online platforms to share the latest research about mental health and neuroscience with her North American and Middle Eastern followers, in both English and Arabic. Currently a Ph.D. candidate studying neuroscience, her research uses brain imaging technology to get a better understanding of mental health and psychiatric conditions in patients. Through her research, Hajer hopes to uncover biological markers specific to different mental illnesses to help with treatment and diagnosis. Hajer is especially interested in the special attributes that make each of us unique, including as it relates to our brain and mental illness. You can feel the passion that Hajer has for her work in this fascinating conversation with host Eva Hartling.
This episode, along with several more this month, is presented in partnership with CAMH and womenmind™, a community of philanthropists and thought leaders tackling the unique gender issues that underrepresented people face when it comes to their mental health. Women’s mental health is a challenge on two main fronts: first, we experience depression, anxiety, and trauma to a greater extent than men, and next, women in science face biases as they work to advance their careers. An initiative like womenmind™ is critical to address the gender inequities we face in this area. Find out more about CAMH and womenmind™.
If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, they can call 1-833-456-4566. If they require immediate care, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Soraya Chemaly is an award-winning journalist and author whose writing appears regularly in media around the world. Her work centres around defining what it means to be a woman in a world built by men. Her narrative skill, careful research, and humorous tone have been described by the New Yorker as "relentless and revelatory." In her book, Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women’s Anger, Soraya uses these skills to offer a critical look at the social construction of anger and its effects on women's lives. Soraya and host Eva Hartling share an invigorating conversation about why women should be angry, the 'steps backward' we have taken when it comes to gender equity, which has now been further amplified by the impact of the pandemic, and the many other nuances of living in the 'boxes' that society has created for women.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Have you met the woman behind the vegan shoe? Meet Tina Bhojwani, co-founder and CEO of fashion brand AERA. A high-powered fashion executive for over 2 decades, her resume includes leadership roles at global fashion brands like Donna Karan, Theory and Dolce & Gabbana. Over the course of her tenure in the industry, she came to recognize the need for change as both a business imperative and a human one. That's why she created sustainable footwear brand AERA. The company's mission is to address environmental and social challenges, with a goal to redefine what we know as the status-quo. In this episode, you'll hear Tina and host Eva Hartling discuss challenges she faces as a pioneer for eco-friendly materials, how her human approach is shaking up the luxury space and what this strategy can mean in terms of impact on the planet.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Dr. Britt Wray, PhD and post-doctoral fellow, is a globally-renowned expert on Climate Crisis Dread, studying the link between mental health and the eco-crisis. Between her newsletter, aptly named Gen Dread, her broadcasting gigs, and her books (both published and soon to be published), Dr. Wray is an authority on staying sane while facing the climate crisis. In this episode, Britt and host Eva Hartling cover the intersection of feminism and climate issues, how the pandemic has effectively reprogrammed the DNA of our global consciousness, and how racial and health inequities have been amplified by the pandemic; revealing how broken our system truly is.
Want to hear more from Britt? Tune into BBC podcast's Tomorrow's World, where she co-hosts alongside Ellie Cosgrave. No stranger to science broadcasting, her resume also includes hosting CBC Radio’s national science show: Quirks and Quarks. Her production credits include the likes of numerous other programs for CBC, NPR, and celebrated podcasts such as Love and Radio. Britt is an Associate Partner at Dare Disrupt and is currently directing an interactive documentary series with the National Film Board of Canada. She has also hosted with CBC The Nature of Things on a feature TV documentary, The Nature of Invention.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
————
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TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //
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Erin Beatty is a well-known name in the fashion world. You may know her from the former globally successful womenswear label Suno, but do you know what really transpired after the brand’s closure? Picture this, it’s 2016, Donald Trump has just been elected President of the United States, and you’re still healing from the emotional strain of dealing with the broken system that is the fashion industry. Erin found herself at an all-time low, trying to figure out what was next and how she could contribute to the world of fashion in a meaningful way. That’s when she turned her focus to vintage garments, and her new fashion line, Rentrayage, was born.
In this episode, host Eva Hartling and Erin discuss the challenges facing today’s fashion and lifestyle businesses, the pressure placed on women founders to not only be in the spotlight, but to be content creators- 24/7, and why she chose a slower life; a decision that took her from the bustling streets of Manhattan to the quiet countryside in Connecticut.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Dr Cara Miller has held several roles in the fields of leadership, organizational change, spiritual and adult development. She has taught at the University of San Diego and for Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education; and while today she does less teaching and more consulting and coaching, she is an expert when it comes to helping leaders unlock their full potential, in the workplace and as humans in general. In this episode, Dr Miller addresses today’s often toxic corporate culture (something host Eva Hartling knows a thing or two about) and speaks of obstacles women specifically can overcome, by shifting their mindset to access the opportunities ahead of them. If you’ve wondered about what’s wrong with today’s work culture, or asked yourself how you can be a conscious leader, this episode is for you.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Marissa Freed is the President of FREED and FREED, a Canadian garment manufacturer founded over 100 years ago. Since taking over the reins from her father, Marissa has made FREED evolve to offer an array of new products — their teddy coat has been quite the editorial favourite these past few winters, among other pieces. When facing the start of the Covid pandemic, Marissa led her team through a pivot (forgive us the use of the dreaded word) and literally started to produce PPE, including masks, for frontline workers as well as consumers. Marissa wanted to be able to give back to the community and decided to partner with Indigo Arrows, a Winnnipeg-based Anishinaabe design company. The two brands created a limited edition mask collaboration, with a portion of profits benefiting an organization offering support to Indigenous communities.
Listen to Marissa’s journey as an entrepreneur and as a mom; even though she didn’t imagine she’d follow in her father’s footsteps one day and take over the reins of the family’s business, she’s definitely putting her mark on the the FREED brand today.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Sinead Bovell made the transition from Fashion Model to Futurist, Speaker, Youth Tech Leader and Founder of WAYE, a platform that aims to bridge the gap between young entrepreneurs and the digital future. She has spoken on this topic at the UN, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on technology and the future and she’s guest-lectured at pretty impressive establishments including Cornell University, on topics ranging from entrepreneurship to the future of work. Sinead is Canadian but now calls New York City home.
Sinead spoke to host Eva Hartling about the future and what opportunities lie ahead for young women while addressing the obstacles we still need to overcome.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Anne Martel is the co-founder of Element AI, a Montreal-based AI startup that was deemed an almost overnight success—it was backed by some of the world’s biggest AI companies and it raised hundreds of millions of dollars from the likes of Microsoft and Intel, among others.
In the fall of 2020, it was announced that Element AI had been sold to an IT services company, making it Anne’s second successful exit as an entrepreneur.
The Brand is Female Host Eva Hartling speaks to Anne about what it’s like to be one of the elusive women in tech, about how the tech and the investment industries are evolving to make space for female leaders and about what still makes it so challenging for women in the startup space.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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The Brand is Female is starting the year with the one and only Penny Abeywardena, New York City’s Commissioner for International Affairs. In her role, Penny acts as the ambassador for the largest city administration in North America. But what makes her story so fascinating is the fact that she’s overcome major hurdles along her journey. Penny came to the US as an undocumented immigrant from Sri Lanka and put herself through an Ivy League education, paving the way to impressive professional opportunities. Prior to joining the City of New York, Penny worked on Women’s Rights for the Clinton Global Initiative; she’s also been an advisor to the Biden-Harris Policy Committee. She is an advocate against domestic violence, inspired by her own experience; and is a champion of sustainability and human rights. Penny and her work have been recognized by global leaders, from the UN to the World Economic Forum.
In this episode, learn more about Penny’s journey, find out what keeps her motivated and driven to have impact, and what she hopes changes after January 20, 2021.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Chloe Songer is the co-founder of Thousand Fell, the New York-based sneaker company which offers a line of biodegradable shoes to promote circularity, with the goal of changing how footwear is both produced and consumed.
Before coming up with the idea of Thousand Fell in 2018, Chloe spent time in retailer Gap’s Rotational Management Program program, learning about innovative ways to create fabrics. She saw firsthand how companies manufacture their goods and how technology has become so advanced that there is no reason to make products that don’t prioritize sustainability anymore.
Chloe speaks to host Eva Hartling about the benefits of working for big players early in one’s career, the power of networking and the reality of raising capital as a female founder.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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H.E. Dr. Amel Karboul is an author, politician, business leader and overall changemaker, who today serves as CEO of The Education Outcomes Fund, a UNICEF hosted trust fund that supports governments to help improve the education and skills of children and youth across the world.
She was the first woman in history to occupy Tunisia’s Minister of Tourism position and co-led the country’s transition after the Arab Spring, leading to Tunisia obtaining the Nobel Peace prize in 2015. Prior to becoming a politician, Amel held a number of leadership positions in the corporate, political and not-for-profit sectors for over 25 years including The Maghreb Economic Forum, Mercedes-Benz, DaimlerChrysler and the Boston Consulting Group. She recently published the 2nd edition of her book, Coffin Corner, outlining a new leadership culture in line with dynamics of the 21st century.
In this episode, Amel speaks to host Eva Hartling about her impressive professional journey; she covers the tough lessons she learned along the way, including the harsh reality of being an agent of change and the obstacles women face when reaching any levels of power or success.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Dianna Cohen is the founder of Crown Affair, a revolutionary haircare brand that launched less than a year ago — pre-Covid — and was met with almost instant commercial and editorial success. This fact will come as no surprise to you when you hear about Dianna’s impressive resume, including her being part of Forbes’ 30 under 30, class of 2019. She is a graduate of unicorn start-ups Into the Gloss (a little beauty brand better known today as Glossier); Spring, the e-commerce mobile app and Tamara Mellon; in addition to having consulted with Away, Harry’s, Outdoor Voices, The Wing, and more.
Host Eva Hartling spoke with Dianna about what it means to be part of that generation of young women who are breaking the glass ceiling and showing us what is achievable with a strong vision, confidence and a close connection to your audience.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Better known as an actress, writer and producer who, incidentally, still dreams of appearing on a Broadway stage, Abigail Spencer began her acting career while still in high school in her Florida hometown. She’s since spent over two decades in film and TV, with roles in Oz The Great and Powerful, Mad Men, Grey’s Anatomy, Suits, Chasing Mavericks, Rectify, Timeless and, most recently, Reprisal. Known for gifting her on-set crew with florals over the years, Abigail had been dreaming up a secret project. As Covid lockdown came into effect and production came to a halt in Hollywood, she decided to act… and County Line Florals was born. Driving across Southern California onboard Betty, the vintage VW truck refurbished as a florista’s delivery vehicle, Abigail and her crew have been delivering joy in the form of floral bouquets for the past few months.
In this conversation, the actress speaks to host Eva Hartling about the ups-and-downs of finding herself as her acting career was taking off; how losing her father, pro surfer Yancy Spencer III on Valentine’s Day (“the day of flowers”) gave her strength to carve out her own path; and her ongoing quest to keep creating and connecting with people. In her new role as an entrepreneur, Abigail has been enjoying the “distance from the world of acting”, but she is hard at work on a few production projets and plans on continuing to make the most of a blooming, multi-hyphenate career.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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This week’s episode features a conversation with Eva Barboni, Founder and CEO of Atalanta, a consultancy that helps women candidates and candidates with a platform built around the advancement of women’s rights get elected around the world. Atalanta aims to help shape public opinion, raise awareness of global issues, and mobilise communities and funding for initiatives that help make the world a better place.
After her experience working on political campaigns in the US and globally, Eva was challenged to think about what her dream job would be. She imagined a company just like Atalanta, and within a short while, she had gone ahead and made it happen. This is a conversation about making our professional dreams come true and about overcoming the limits we often impose ourselves as women.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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This week’s episode features a conversation with Janice Engel and Carlisle Vandervoort, director and producer of the award-winning documentary ‘Raise Hell: The Life & Times of Molly Ivins” being released in the UK just in time for the upcoming US elections. Molly Ivins, a columnist, was dubbed “six feet of Texas trouble”. She took on the ‘Good Old Boy’ corruption wherever she found it—most notably through her razor sharp attacks against President Bush, father and son. Her wit left both left-wing and right-wing laughing, and wanting more of her writing. Molly knew the Bill of Rights was in danger, and she said at the time: "Polarizing people is a good way to win an election and a good way to wreck a country." Her words could not ring more true today.
Janice and Carlisle share the story behind making their documentary about Molly, from knowing instantly this was the subject to go forward with to trying to raise funds to make a movie about a progressive journalist in the pre-Trump era. They talk about the passion needed to bring such a project to fruition, and share the lessons they’ve drawn from Molly’s wisdom and life journey.
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Vanessa Barboni Hallik left a successful career in finance to launch her own brand of sustainable luxury garments, Another Tomorrow, with every decision guided by a value system based on three pillars: human, animal, and environmental welfare. Launching just before Covid hit with a direct-to-consumer model and one wholesale partner already secured— none other than Moda Operandi—Vanessa kept her sight on her goals and forged ahead.
Listen to her conversation with Eva Hartling to find out what inspired the riskiest move of her life, her career pivot from finance to fashion, and why she thinks the way we make clothing can be a pathway to activism.
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Myriam Maguire is the Co-founder and Creative Director of Maguire, a design-led footwear brand that got its start in Montreal. In this conversation, Myriam shares her advice around challenging the boy’s club, risk-taking and going after your entrepreneurial dreams.
After graduating from Cordwainers College in London, UK and interning for established names such as Jonathan Saunders, then later working for fashion brands including Aldo where she learned the industry’s ropes, Myriam made the decision to launch her own brand focused on style and with the goal of providing affordable yet quality products. Inspired by brands that provide transparency on their cost structure, Myriam created Maguire with e-comm operations and a first boutique in Montreal, later to open a second boutique in Toronto.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Our guest this week is Sage Paul, Founding Member and Creative Director of Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto. An urban Denesuliné tskwe and a member of English River First Nation, she is an award-winning artist and designer as well as a recognized leader of Indigenous fashion, craft and textiles. Her work centres around family, sovereignty and resistance for balance.
Sage is getting ready for the next (virtual) edition of Indigenous Fashion Week and she spoke to Eva Hartling about the need for better representation in the industry and a potential collaboration model that can help do good (she recently led a collaboration with Canadian retailer Simon’s). She also shared her desire to honour the knowledge passed down from previous generations and her support for the generation coming up, her ‘little sisters’ who she wants to help empower.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Laura Nezri was focused on raising her family until she founded Maison Tess, based on an idea that came to her after she searched high and low for the perfect stylish bedding for her own home and realized there was a gap in the market.
Cue in her new venture, focused on beautiful sheets made of oeko-certified natural fibres including cotton and linen, sourced in Europe from ethical agriculture and marketed from Canada,.
Maison Tess, despite being focused on one specific category in homewares and using a direct-to-consumer channel only, saw rapid success and sustained growth.
Laura teaches us that it’s never too late to act on our entrepreneurial vision, and insists on the importance of never feeling guilty as women who juggle business and family life!
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Jo Notkin has turned a passion for food into a career, although she used to have a completely different job, working in the jewelry industry and later in textile design.
Leveraging her creativity and knack for business, Jo runs one of Montreal’s most successful catering companies, Zoe Ford. She was also selected as a contestant on the last season of TopChef Canada, where she made it through 6 episodes out of 8. If you’ve had the chance to try Jo’s carrot cake or any other item from the Zoe Ford Deli, you know how talented she is! Listen for great advice on starting your business as a second or third career, and the importance of doing what you love, always your own way.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Melanie Ellezam created Olmsted Outerwear with the desire to do things differently. By committing to a sustainable supply chain and manufacturing process, Melanie established a brand anchored in “slow fashion” where products are conceived with the good of the planet in mind, as well as the good of the humans making them, and of the humans wearing them.
Melanie found inspiration in the work of Frederick Law Olmsted, the American landscape architect and mastermind responsible for the creation of Central Park in New York City, and Mount Royal Park in Montreal. Aligning with Olmsted’s approach to letting nature run its course, and a vision for the long term vs the short term, Melanie has kept her eyes on the goal and has overcome the challenges that come with building a brand that is challenging the status quo.
She spoke to Eva Hartling about her journey, what she’s learned along the way as well as her wish for the future of humanity and the responsibilities she thinks entrepreneurs have.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Olmsted Outerwear: olmstedouterwear.com
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This week, we’re taking a deep dive into sustainability — all aspects of it — and the changes that need to take place in our world, both from a consumers’ standpoint, as well as from the brands that are manufacturing the products we consume. Our guest, Carrie Ellen Phillips, is absolutely passionate about sustainability, the circular economy and most of all, about helping companies carve out a new model for lasting change.
Carrie is the co-founder of BPCM, one of the world’s leading fashion PR agencies with offices in New York, Los Angeles and London, as well as a Sustainability Educator.
We spoke to Carrie about her personal journey and her path as a woman entrepreneur; how she views the challenges ahead and how Covid and Black Lives Matter have influenced our views as consumers and as humans. Carrie also shared with us the roadmap she recommends for companies looking to pivot to a sustainable positioning.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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BPCM: sadebaron.com
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Rachel Lambo founded body skincare brand Sade Baron with her mom after some convincing. While the brand has been a side hustle, it took off organically, pun intended — all Sade Baron products are all high-quality and vegan, packed with nutrient-rich superfoods that are good for both our skin and our planet. Today, retailers such as The Detox Market carry the brand and it’s become a favourite among beauty editors.
We spoke to Rachel about the challenges of launching a brand in a saturated market; the benefits of running a purpose-driven brand and what her hopes are for Black-owned brands today and tomorrow.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Sade Baron: sadebaron.com
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Chantal Carter has revolutionized the underwear industry by introducing nude undergarments that actually match everyone’s skin tone, including BIWOC’s. In an industry that is known for being traditional and having few disruptors, Chantal and her brand, Love & Nudes, are true trailblazers.
In this episode, we speak with Chantal about the inspiration behind Love & Nudes, how the fashion industry still has a long way to go to reflect real diversity, and her journey as a Black female founder.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Love & Nudes: loveandnudes.com
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As women, we often have a complicated relationship with food. From the society we live in where diet culture and pressures around body image and “health” are pervasive to our own struggles with figuring out what is right for our body. We know nutrition is a key element when it comes to our health, affecting everything from our immune and reproductive systems to our energy levels— even our hair and skin.
In this episode, we speak with Bianca Osbourne who has turned a passion for food and cooking into a successful career (when we recorded this episode Bianca was starting production on her very own TV cooking show!). Bianca spoke to us about what food means to her, how nutrition plays a role in her personal approach to wellness (she starts every day with a fresh squeezed celery juice, and swears by perfectly foam-topped oat milk lattes which are great for skin) and she talks about making it as a professional chef and on-air cooking expert.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
This episode is presented by Jamieson Vitamins. Use the code thebrandisfemale to receive 20% off your order at jamiesonvitamins.com and keep an eye on our Instagram page where 3 of you will have a chance to win supplements from the Jamieson Women’s Health collection! From now until July 31st, every time the Jamieson campaign hashtag #HereForHerHealth is used, 50 cents will be donated to the Canadian Women’s Foundation. Connect with Jamieson on Instagram: @jamiesoncanada.
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This episode features a conversation with Elizabeth Cabral, Founder and Creative Director of Purpose & Perspective, a platform that promotes mindful consumption and sustainable practices for the fashion industry.
Fuelled by a global pandemic and a racial justice crisis, consumers are demanding more of the brands and companies they shop from. We are witnessing the rise of global consciousness, but we know green-washing, pink-washing and Black-washing are still prevalent. Three years after the foundation of Purpose & Perspective, we speak to Liz about what’s changed, and what still needs to happen to truly see companies align with purpose and social values. .
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
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Purpose & Perspective: purposeandperspective.co
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This episode features an interview with Afiya Francisco, Style Expert for on-air and print media and the Founder of The Style House.
Afiya has built an impressive career in fashion and lifestyle in the past decade— she appears as a regular contributor on Canada’s leading TV networks and collaborates with publications and brands on style content. In this convo with The Brand is Female, Afiya talks about her professional milestones and she also shares her guidance on addressing the complex question of racism with our children, our friends and family, and the best way of stepping up for Black entrepreneurs and Black-owned brands in our communities. For more content by Afiya, we highly recommend checking out her Kitchen Talk series on race, over at The Style House.
To support Black-owned brands, check out this list of Afiya’s current faves:
Love and Nudes
Okoko Cosmetics
Brother Vellies
Omi Woods
Petits Genoux
Goodee
Saint Lyon
Bôhten Eyeglasses
Pretty Denim
Sade Baron
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
This episode features an interview with Elizabeth Vazquez, CEO and Co-Founder of WEConnect International, and Marie Muldowney, Managing Director at the Canadian Securities Institute and Moody's Analytics.
Through the Council on Scaling Women-Owned Businesses, WeConnect, along with their partners Moodys and TD, worked on a report that was just released this week, called HOW TO REBUILD GLOBAL BUSINESS FOR GOOD. In light of the devastating impact COVID had on the global economy and local communities, the report addresses why it is critical to be connecting access to markets with access to capital for women-owned businesses.
Elizabeth and Marie spoke to The Brand is Female about the obstacles faced by women entrepreneurs across the world, preventing them from achieving their full potential. We talked about how women entrepreneurs can shift strategies in the tail of the Covid pandemic; Elizabeth and Marie also shared some of the concrete solutions that have been put forward in the Council’s report to be on the path to more inclusive business strategies, which will in turn create lasting change for the global economy.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
This episode features an interview with Kassandra Churcher, former Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies and the current Assistant Director for Post-Secondary Education services for the Inuit in Nunavut.
Our last podcast featured an interview with Nontombi Naomi Tutu and Mungi Ngomane who spoke about racial injustice and systemic racism in today’s America. While the current movement of protest stems from events that have taken place in the US - police brutality, oppression and injustice - we would be wrong to assume that Canada is faring much better when it comes to systemic racism. We spoke about the issues from a Canadian standpoint with Kassandra Churcher, an advocate for education and women’s issues whose work has been focused on supporting oppressed minorities in Canadian communities, from incarcerated women through her work at the Elizabeth Fry Societies and through her involvement with Aboriginal communities in Northern Quebec. Kassandra also shared her recommendations for the best way to support minorities and help fight racism in our everyday lives.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
This episode was recorded in the midst of a racial crisis in North America. To discuss the issue, we called on two inspiring black women leaders: Nontombi Naomi Tutu, the Canon missioner for Racial and Economic equity at the Cathedral of All Souls in Asheville, North Carolina along with her daughter Mungi Ngomane, author of the book Everyday Ubuntu, and Business Operations Manager for Outvote.
Inspired by the wisdom and action of their father and grandfather, Archbishop Desmond Tutu whose work was instrumental in dismantling Apartheid in South Africa, both women have made the defense of human rights and racial justice a central element in their lives.
The Brand is Female host Eva Hartling spoke to Naomi and Mungi about their point of view on the current situation in the US; the struggles black women continue to face in North America; what allyship looks like in the current context and what changes still need to take place as the fight against racism and racial injustice continues in today’s America.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
Four years ago, Karen Marshall and Tina Barkley founded Fleurs de villes — a unique, experiential concept that brings luxury floral installations to cities around the world. Karen’s background in international publishing and Tina’s experience as a lifestyle expert and serial entrepreneur helped propel the brand’s unique vision.
Connecting with world class talent in each location they launch in, Fleurs de villes works with top local florists, designers, growers and nurseries, to create stunning and memorable displays of art that draw attention and create engagement.
Fleurs de villes quickly garnered international attention and the brand has exhibited in London, UK, Chicago, New York, LA, Toronto, Vancouver just to name a few. Partnerships have been created with the London Portrait Gallery, five-star hotels and the world’s leading shopping destinations, among others.
Eva Hartling chatted with Fleurs de villes founders Tina and Karen about the challenges of starting a business from the ground up and the importance of keeping a positive outlook… as well as the opportunities available to business owners amidst our new reality post-Covid lockdown.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
Alison Gordon was known as one of the only women CEOs leading a publicly-traded cannabis company until she left her position at 48North to the surprise of many last March; with the announcement of her departure made through a company press release.
In this interview, Alison and The Brand is Female’s host Eva Hartling talked about the reality of the still very prevalent glass ceiling in today’s corporate world, the achievements and headway Alison was able to make in the male-dominated cannabis industry, and they discussed the changes that are needed in order for women executives to have true equity when it comes to leadership and power in today’s business community.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
In this special series we speak to inspiring women role models from different backgrounds who share their views and advice for dealing with the period of anxiety and uncertainty we currently find ourselves in due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this week’s podcast we’re talking about women and wealth with expert Ingrid Macintosh, who holds an impressive role at TD Bank Group as VP Wealth & Head of Sales Enablement, Communications & Digital Strategy.
Banking on three decades of experience in the investment industry, Ingrid shares her thoughts on how women can take control of their finances, a role we often shy away from for various reasons. We also discussed the specific challenges we’re currently facing with our personal investment strategy due to the impact of COVID-19 on global markets.
Ingrid has had an impressive track record, being part of a small group of women to hold a senior executive position within wealth management at a large financial institution.
In our conversation, you’ll also hear Ingrid talk about the fact that women are expected to control 50% of the financial wealth in Canada by 2026, and the shift this means for how the financing industry approaches women clients!
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
In this special series we speak to inspiring women role models from different backgrounds who share their views and advice for dealing with the period of anxiety and uncertainty we currently find ourselves in due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This episode features an interview with Megan Tregunno, Vice President, Philanthropy at CAMH, Canada's largest mental health teaching hospital.
Megan Tregunno has spent the last decade working in the healthcare sector, heading fundraising strategies for some of Canada’s leading health organizations, including Women’s College Hospital. In this conversation, we speak about CAMH’s new play to support healthcare workers with mental health services, and talked about mental health issues that are surfacing during these difficult times, including those specific to women.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
In this special series we speak to inspiring women role models from different backgrounds who share their views and advice for dealing with the period of anxiety and uncertainty we currently find ourselves in due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chantal Pitre is at the helm of the Women Entrepreneurs program at TD Bank. Earlier this year and under Chantal’s leadership, TD launched a new platform that aims to support women entrepreneurs across Canada, offering them specific resources and connecting them with industry partners, of which The Brand is Female is part of.
In this episode we speak to Chantal about the measures available to entrepreneurs to help them get through the challenges brought on by Covid-19. We spoke to Canada’s Small Business Minister Mary Ng earlier this week — catch our latest pod here — where she covered the Government initiatives available to business owners. In this conversation, Chantal walks us through the best way for entrepreneurs to work with their bankers for support during these tough times.
The following resources were mentioned by Chantal during our podcast, they are available for women entrepreneurs offering them various support programs:
https://reseaudesfemmesdaffairesduquebec.blogspot.com/
https://eequebec.com/
https://weconnectinternational.org/en/academy/webinar-calendar
https://wbecanada.ca/events/
https://fwe.ca/mentor-program
https://www.thebigpush.ca/
http://www.futurpreneur.ca/en/landing-pages/side-hustle/
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
In this special series we speak to inspiring women role models from different backgrounds who share their views and advice for dealing with the period of anxiety and uncertainty we currently find ourselves in due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister Ng was elected as MP for the riding of Markham-Thornhill in April 2017. She was named Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade in 2019. With 20 years of experience in the areas of education, women’s leadership, job creation, and entrepreneurship, she is also responsible for the Federal Government’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy.
We spoke to Minister Ng about the measures put in place by the Trudeau government to support Canadian businesses affected by Covid-19 and we discussed what this means for women entrepreneurs specifically. Minister Ng shared insights and advice for female founders on how to maximize resiliency and innovation in a time of crisis.
She also addressed what additional measures will be available for companies who until now did not qualify for part of the government’s relief plan which we welcome as great news for women at the helm of a startup and all entrepreneurs who started their business less than a year ago!
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
In this special series we speak to inspiring women role models from different backgrounds who share their views and advice for dealing with the period of anxiety and uncertainty we currently find ourselves in due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This episode features an interview with Jakki Leonardini, celebrated Energy Healer, Certified Life Coach and Co-Founder of WellSoul Workshops.
Jakki’s spiritual awakening took place when she supported a friend going through a terminal illness. As she turned her focus inward to begin her own wellness journey, her intuitive clarity and vocation as a healer emerged. Since then, Jakki has studied with internationally renowned spiritual teacher and author Denise Linn. She also trained for several years in techniques developed at the Berkeley Psychic Institute in California.
Utilizing energy healing techniques that work with the ancient Indian chakra system, Jakki facilitates a healing process that brings us down a path of clarity, purpose, balance, creativity, health, and prosperity.
Jakki’s work has been highlighted in Goop, among others; she is also the co-founder of WellSoul Workshops along with psychotherapist Kasey Crown, who was a recent guest on the podcast too.
Given that we are all currently experiencing trauma — literally at a global level — and because this triggers fear and anxiety in most of us, we immediately turned to Jakki for her helpful insights and advice to help us get through this difficult time and understand how we can activate our own healing process.
A link to Jakki’s grounding meditation is available here.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
In this special series we speak to inspiring women role models from different backgrounds who share their views and advice for dealing with the period of anxiety and uncertainty we currently find ourselves in due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Carly Stein discovered bee propolis, a natural substance bees make that contains compounds which support immunity while on a trip to Italy in 2012. She realized there wasn't a brand selling wellness products with this kind of superfood ingredient back in the U.S. The idea stuck, and four years later she left a trading job at Goldman Sachs to launch Beekeeper's Naturals. Its propolis throat spray is now one of the top 5 cold and flu products on Amazon, and the company has expanded its product line to include supplements for focus and honey infused with superfoods like bee pollen.
In Carly’s words, Beekeepers’ is on a mission to reinvent the medicine cabinet - and save the bees while they’re at it. In these times where immunity, health and the planet’s survival are especially hot topics, Beekeeper’s and Carly’s ethos is more relevant than ever.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
In this special series we speak to inspiring women role models from different backgrounds who share their views and advice for dealing with the period of anxiety and uncertainty we currently find ourselves in due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stephanie Kersta opened the meditation studio Hoame with her business partner Carolyn Plater a little over a year ago. In this time that triggers a lot of dark feelings for people, Stephanie shared her advice for getting through it all; she also discussed how she is adapting to the situation as a business owner. In this interview you will find tips on reducing stress, managing sleep and boosting your immune system.
Stephanie is a registered psychotherapist who holds a Masters in Psychology. She pursued additional certifications, including post-grad studies in Addictions and Mental Health Counselling, and she has incorporated additional evidence-based holistic practices to her training; she is now certified in Applied Mindfulness Meditation, Stress Reduction, Cognitive Therapy, and Mindful Eating.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
In this special series we speak to inspiring women role models from different backgrounds who share their views and advice for dealing with the period of anxiety and uncertainty we currently find ourselves in due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fitness expert and celebrity trainer Lauren Boggi is the founder of Studio LB. She is a 20-year industry veteran who has gained notoriety across the US and beyond, appearing in The New York Times, People, Vogue, SHAPE, Fitness Magazine, and Forbes just to name a few. After years running her fitness studio in Philadelphia followed by a move to Los Angeles with her family, Lauren has taken her practice to the digital world through Studio LB. She specializes in workouts that are offered through online subscriptions so her clients can benefit from her services from home, or anywhere they find themselves. She also works on custom fitness solutions and offers one-on-one support to the LB Studio community to help clients achieve their personal goals.
In this interview, Lauren shares ways to stay active during this period where we’re all being asked to self-isolate as well as other tips she's applying to deal with the feelings of anxiety we are all experiencing, including for parents with young kids at home.
If you would like to try Studio LB's workouts, Lauren is offering The Brand is Female listeners a special discount: use code THEBRANDISFEMALE at checkout for 50% off on a one-month subscription. Sign up here!
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
In this special series we speak to inspiring women role models from different backgrounds who share their views and advice for dealing with the period of anxiety and uncertainty we currently find ourselves in due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first guest on our special feature, Kasey Crown is a psychotherapist, wellness educator and writer. Her work challenges old mental health paradigms and suggests instead that true well-being lies in our ability to balance scientific and spiritual perspectives. For more than a decade, she has served as a facilitator of the healing process for adult individuals, couples and groups, working to upend trauma, transform emotional injury, repair relationship and unlock vital wisdom to connect people with who they truly are. Along with her business partner Jakki Leonardini, Kasey is the co-creator of WellSoul, educational and experiential workshops which draw from the fields of interpersonal neurobiology, spiritual psychology and energy medicine. Kasey and Jakki have gathered quite a cult following based on the WellSoul formula and the positive impact it has on participants, including receiving accolades from Goop, among others.
In this interview, Kasey provides perspective and shares practical advice on how to deal with the anxiety and fear many of us are experiencing during this pandemic. We hope Kasey’s advice can be useful to you!
Kasey was generous enough to share an 8-minute grounding meditation for our listeners, download it here. She recommends doing this meditation several times a day.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
One could easily say Mungi Ngomane grew up with activism and social justice in her blood. The granddaughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mungi realized at a young age she wanted to help make the world a better place. Graduating in International Studies and Diplomacy, her time has been spent between South Africa, the UK and North America, where she has been working in Middle East conflict resolution and for the advancement of women and girls for some of the world's leading advocacy and NGO organizations. In her book released a few months ago, Mungi has shared the wisdom around Ubuntu, South African philosophy which teaches us that our common humanity and our connection to each other is key to living a better life. Discover Mungi’s journey and find out how Ubuntu can make a difference in your life, too!
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
Coly Den Haan has always been involved with the hospitality industry, working at a number of famous local spots after she moved from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles, including Fred Segal’s Mauro’s Cafe, Farfalla and Barney Greengrass. She eventually decided to give entrepreneurship a go and opened The Must in downtown LA, and later Perch, with both spots garnering accolades and becoming go-to destinations on everyone’s list. Coly became an accredited sommelier and after a few years in the restaurant biz, she decided it was time to switch over to wine. Coly set out to focus exclusively on selling the work of women winemakers from around the globe. This was during Hillary Clinton's campaign, when, in Coly’s words “everyone thought the next POTUS would be a woman”. Hillary didn’t make it (and the rest is sadly, history) but Vinovore was born… and it generated instant success! Discover Coley’s journey in our interview; if you like wine, this episode is definitely for you.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
SheEO Founder Vicki Saunders describes herself as an entrepreneur, mentor and advisor to the next generation of changemakers. Through her experience running several ventures in Europe, Toronto and Silicon Valley, Vicki realized that fundamental change was needed in order to see the barriers preventing women entrepreneurs to tap into financing resources and overall support be lifted. To help make that change happen, Vicki went on to create SheEO in 2015, a concept which she sums up as #radicalgenerosity, allowing activators from around the world to invest a small amount of money into a fund that goes on to benefit female founders who have a project that helps make our world a better place, a brilliant idea which has already seen over $4 million raised globally and over 73 female-led ventures supported.
Learn more about Vicki’s journey and what inspired her to create a platform in support of women in business.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!
In 2012, Montreal native Florence Gagnon created a platform to provide resources to the lesbian and queer communities, LezSpreadTheWord, the first bilingual website of its kind in Canada. Two years later, she launched the FÉMININ/FÉMININ fiction series, along with director Chloé Robichaud, a filmmaker known for several award-winning productions including Sarah Préfère la Course and Boundaries. The series went on to win two Gemini Awards in Quebec, and several international prizes. In 2016, she published the first issue of LSTW magazine, a bilingual Canadian publication, now distributed nationally as well as across the US and Europe, including London and Stockholm, and MoMA PS1 in New York. Tegan and Sara as well as Lena Waithe have been featured on its cover, among other high-profile personalities. Florence has been an advocate for the representation of the lesbian and queer community — and womxn in general — throughout her journey.
Listen to our conversation where we talk about gender equity, including the challenges all wxmen face when it comes to representation in mainstream media, and find out how LSTW is aiming two help change the narrative around inclusion.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support.
A true globetrotter who has lived around the world before settling in Toronto, Elle AyoubZadeh launched Zvelle in 2015 for women who are global citizen themselves. She wanted to create a brand known for its quality — but not while selling at unattainable prices; and she wanted to lead a company that would be aligned with the social values that matter to her as a founder. Her line of shoes and handbags are timeless and well-made so that you won’t throw them out after just one season; a great way of aiming for sustainability when it comes to fashion. She personally works with all her suppliers to make sure the best materials and the best craftsmen are behind her designs. Discover her journey building a brand from the ground up!
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support.
This podcast was recorded at Hoame, our favourite meditation studio in Toronto.
Jennifer Brodeur, or JB Skin Guru as she is called on Instagram is well known for the celebrity clientele she services, with devotees who include Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama and Gwyneth Paltrow. Now if these women come back to her you know her facials and products are next level. But Jennifer’s real superpower is her passion for wellness, health and improving women’s skin everywhere, which she relates to helping women feel empowered — all through a holistic approach to beauty. We’re completely here for this, of course. Her book, La Peau et ses secrets, or “The Skin and its secrets” is just about to launch in French (English version coming soon, she promised) and in it you’ll have access to Jennifer’s secrets and tips for natural beauty and amazing skin, which she has perfected over her 20-year career. Listen to our conversation with Jennifer and discover her unique journey - there may even be a few health and skincare tips in there!
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support.
This bonus episode features an interview with Chantal Pitre who heads TD’s brand new Women Entrepreneurs program as well as Camille Beaudoin from UN Women. Listen to a conversation about the challenges faced by women in business, especially as it relates to banking and financing and learn more about WE EMPOWER — an initiative from UN Women, the European Union and the ILO as well as the #FlexForEmpowerment campaign which seek to promote gender equality and women empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and community.
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support.
The New York-based duo has been getting buzz in part because of its famous family connections, namely Neely and Chloe’s aunt, Tory Burch. But the two sisters have built an empire all of their own: Neely & Chloe is a successful line of affordable yet sustainable bags, footwear and accessories that aims to fill the void between fast fashion and luxury without sacrificing quality. You can find their designs in retailers across the US, over 150 at this point including Anthropologie, in addition to their own e-commerce boutique. Neely and Chloe’s success has been fuelled by their authentic approach with their consumer base, or what they call “the founder effect”, as well as the appeal of their wide range of products, with something to fit women’s various lifestyles, no matter their age.
Listen to Neely and Chloe’s journey and discover what they’ve learned along the way!
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support.
Connie Lo and Laura Burget are the co-founders of Niu Body, a natural skincare brand they launched in 2017 after being frustrated with the lack of clean beauty options on the market. Starting their company at 23 and with just $4,000 in their pockets, their grit and determination has definitely paid off as today the brand can be found in over 350 retailers across North America, including The Bay in Canada and Kohls in the US. Listen to Connie and Laura’s story of growth as well as the lessons they learned along the way!
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support.
Our first guest of the third season of The Brand is Female is Salima Visram, founder of Samara, a brand of vegan leather goods based in Toronto, founded in 2017. The company is a favourite among influencers and fashion editors and it grew to sell over 70,000 vegan bags last year which were shipped to more than 22 countries. Made of 100% cruelty-free materials, Samara is a spin-off which also helps fund Salima’s first business venture, Soular Backpack, a not-for-profit she created with the goal of providing solar-battery backpacks to children in East Africa, so that they could do their homework at night without needing access to kerosene, an expense their families can’t always afford. Soular Backpack drew attention from the likes of Disney and actress Lupita Nyong’o who both became involved. Originally from Kenya herself, Salima has always had the goal of making our world better through her business concepts.
Find out how Salima applies sustainability principles to her company’s strategy and how she’s building a brand based on the belief that we should live in a world where fashion can do good, not just look good!
This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support.
This week, our guest is Stephanie Kersta, co-founder of Hoame, The Brand is Female’s favourite meditation studio in downtown Toronto. Stephanie is a registered psychotherapist who holds a Masters in Psychology. She pursued additional certifications, including post-grad studies in Addictions and Mental Health Counselling, and she has incorporated additional evidence-based holistic practices to her training; she is now certified in Applied Mindfulness Meditation, Stress Reduction, Cognitive Therapy, and Mindful Eating. Stephanie opened the meditation studio Hoame with her business partner Carolyn Plater a little over a year ago.
One of the things Stephanie specializes in is sleep therapy, and we thought she’d be the perfect interview to end the year with, as we all need support with our sleeping habits, especially this time of year! It can also be a difficult time for anxiety overall, and we asked Steph to share a few tips. If you’re finding yourself triggered or wondering how to get the best rest in the middle of the Holiday break; this episode is for you!
Mary Alice Malone is the founder of New-York and London-based Malone Souliers.
Mary Alice’s eponymous brand of elevated women’s shoes was founded in 2014 in London, and quickly rose to become a leading name in International luxury footwear. Picked up by leading e-comm fashion retailers such as Net-a-Porter and Matches shortly after the brand was launched, Malone started appearing on every cool girl’s feet. Launching in the UK first, the brand won over customers in the Middle East and Europe, then North America.
Mary Alice Malone was born and raised in the heart of the Pennsylvania countryside. Passionate about horse riding, Mary Alice didn’t expect she’d become a footwear designer one day, but she was always interested in craftsmanship and the process of designing objects.
She later honed her craft at the London College of Fashion, further refining her skills at a number of renowned ateliers, before launching her own brand.
Mary Alice took a short break from leading Malone when she became pregnant with her first child, leaving co-founder Roy Luwort in charge; but she came back, determined to continue to lead Malone’s love story with customers across the world, and carry on the brand’s expansion.
Listen to our interview with Mary Alice where we talk about the obstacles she has faced breaking through footwear glass ceilings — after all, luxury women’s footwear is traditionally designed mostly by men for some odd reason… and discover the many lessons she has learned along the way.
Tracy Moore is the award-nominated host of Cityline, the longest running lifestyle program for women in Canada. She is the first black woman at the helm of a Canadian lifestyle TV show and has broken multiple glass ceilings throughout her career in media!
Listen to our interview and hear about the obstacles she has faced and the risks she has taken (hint: they all paid off!) and learn about her impressive journey to unlocking her own potential.
Tracy started her career as a reporter and anchor in the early 2000s, working in various Canadian TV networks and making her way up the ladder. While she initially was dreaming of becoming the new Diane Sawyer, Tracy moved on to obtain one of the most coveted spots in lifestyle TV with her headlining gig on Canadian show Cityline which is also broadcast in 70 million American homes daily.
Tracy has garnered several awards over the years, among them: Brilliant Minded Woman Award for Community Service, Canadian Screen Award Best Host nominee, Gemini Best Host nominee and the BBPA Media Award. Tracy is also a proud mom of two.
Our interview was recorded at Hoame, Toronto’s favourite meditation space.
Sabrina Maddeaux is a Toronto-based journalist specializing in fashion, lifestyle, beauty and more… she is the current Society editor and arts/style columnist for the National Post; she also contributes to a number of other publications in addition to being a style and beauty expert on the air for shows such as CityLine. Sabrina has carved her own path in the current, challenging media landscape and has managed to come out ahead!
Listen to Sabrina discuss the challenges that come with being a woman in media, the state of publishing in 2019 including the pressures that come from brands and advertisers… and hear her explain why it matters to be able to share more women’s voices and women’s stories.
Jacqueline Leung is the Founder and CEO of Pressed News, a digital media company that makes the news easy to understand. With a daily email newsletter, online explainers, and social media community, Pressed brings its subscribers a recap of world issues straight to their mailbox every morning, always from a Canadian perspective - and minus the bias.
Before launching Pressed, Jacqueline spent several years in marketing in different industries, including sports, food, and media. She came to realize she wasn’t getting access to Canadian news in a way that made sense for her, and she set out to fix the issue.
Listen to her journey as she starting building a different kind of media company and discover some of her tips for dealing with adversity (including going to therapy once a week!), career challenges and get her advice on what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur.
This episode was recorded at Hoame, Toronto’s favourite meditation and wellness studio.
This week, in keeping with our theme of women in the arts following Art Toronto held at the end of October, our guest is Maryam Keyhani.
There are several words that can be used to describe Maryam — she is a painter, sculptor, designer, wife, mother, surrealist and hat enthusiast. She spends her time between Toronto and Berlin, and for anyone who follows her on social media, she appears to live in an absolutely enchanted world where her, her children and her friends partake in the joy of dressing up with Maryam’s creations which on an average day can include brocade, feathers, ruffles, embroidery, bows, lace, silk, outrageously puffy sleeves, balloon skirts and dresses that look like they belong to another era… and of course, the fabulous, extravagant hats which have become her signature.
These days, we can safely refer to Maryam as a hat maker. She has earned attention from media in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, including recent praise for her escapades in millinery in Vogue.
Designer, journalist and past TBIF podcast guest Mosha Lundstrom recently used the following words to describe her own experience wearing one of Maryam’s creations:
“I can’t even describe how transformative your hats are to wear. Crowds part, people treat you like you are way more important than you often feel, and you, in turn, carry yourself totally differently. And so a new hat habit is formed.”
Listen to our host Eva Hartling’s conversation with Maryam for a glimpse inside the artists’s wonderful, imaginary world and to hear the story of what has inspired her to start making hats, thus allowing anyone who wishes to join in to rediscover the importance of play, as an escape and a respite from the harsh realities of life.
Art Toronto, Canada’s international contemporary and modern art fair, is being held this weekend, and to highlight this important event we sat down with a few women artists for a special showcase.
The art industry continues to be marked by inequality: as of the first half of 2018, there were only 5 women on Artnet’s list of the 100 best-selling artists at auction. The number of women on this list has fluctuated between just 2 and 6 since 2013. Overall, 96.1% of artworks sold at auction are by male artists.
The top three museums in the world — the British Museum, the Louvre, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art —have never had female directors.
Women are still behind men in directors positions in at museums with budgets over $15M, holding 30% of art museum director positions and earning 75¢ for every dollar earned by male directors.
Our first guest part of our Art Toronto showcase is Janet Werner, a Winnipeg-born, Montreal-based painter. Janet’s work is presented at Art Toronto and she has a solo show opening at the start of November at the Musee d’art contemporain de Montreal.
Janet studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore and went on to attend Yale University where she received her Masters of Fine Arts. She taught painting and drawing at the University of Saskatchewan and started teaching at Concordia University when she moved to Montreal in 1999.
Janet is known for her impressive, large scale fictional portraits of women. She has been focusing on the genre since 1997 — through her work, she explores themes of subjectivity and desire by producing composites of found images, mostly gathered from fashion magazines.
Listen to Janet discuss her journey, her sources of inspiration as well as the challenges she’s faced as a Canadian visual artist with our podcast host Eva Hartling!
Jeanne Beker is a Canadian journalist, media personality, and fashion entrepreneur. But more than all of this, she is an icon and a trailblazer, who has deeply influenced Canadian broadcasting, and the Canadian fashion industry overall.
Jeanne started her career as an actress, but moved into radio and then TV. She became host of Fashion Television (FT), which aired for 27 years and had viewers in more than 130 countries. Jeanne has been editor-in-chief of two magazines and she has published five books, including her 2010 autobiography, Finding Myself in Fashion. Jeanne has been a contributing editor of The Toronto Star, The Kit, and a columnist for Metro, as well as a style columnist for The Globe and Mail and Post City magazine, in addition to writing for several lifestyle publications. She has launched her own clothing line, Edit by Jeanne Beker, and was named Style Editor of The Shopping Channel. Her many awards include her appointment to the Order of Canada in 2014 for her support of the Canadian fashion industry and a Canadian Screen Achievement Award for the role she played in changing the way Canadians watch television.
Throughout her life, Jeanne carved her own path, opened doors and broke through glass ceilings, paving the way for women in media, publishing and fashion after her… listen to her conversation with Eva Hartling and discover her inspiring journey.
Ruby Brown is the founder of Montreal-based Ruby Brown Perfume House.
Ruby fell in love with perfume when she was working as a model in Paris and visited the town of Grasse. After studying the art of perfumery and coming back home to take entrepreneurship classes, she decided to launch her own company in 2012, first by offering custom perfume workshops, and eventually creating her own branded products.
Ruby has since partnered with Simons, Tristan and other large retail brands for product collaborations which include scented candles, custom-made perfumes and more. The future definitely looks and smells rosy… listen to Ruby’s conversation with Eva Hartling where she shares her journey to building Canada’s only luxury perfume house.
Kimberley Newport-Mimran is a fashion legend in Canada. She is President and Design Director of Pink Tartan, the womenswear brand that she founded in 2002 and which has since grown into an international brand known for understated luxury and sophisticated sportswear. At Toronto Fashion Week this year Kim presented a brand new collection of evening wear, or “Canadian couture” as she called it, under the label Kim Newport, which was received with great acclaim.
The Brand is Female’s Eva Hartling discussed Kim’s earlier years building a career in fashion (including a stint at now defunct Caban aka the greatest home store in Canadian history!), where her inspiration comes from, the secret to keeping a fashion line alive and successful for 17 years, the obstacles she faced along the way and how she stays grounded… which translates into lots of meals at home with husband Joe Mimran and her children.
Fashion Week recently wrapped up in Toronto, and we recorded a special episode of the Brand is Female at an event held by Canadian outerwear brand Sentaler in honour of their partnership with SickKids, The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
The Brand is Female’s Eva Hartling hosted a panel with the brand’s founder, Bojana Sentaler, Molly Fitzpatrick, chair of the Scrubs event held every year for Sick Kids, and Donna Bishop, host of FashionTalks podcast and fashion reporter for CBC.
Bojana, Molly, Donna and Eva discussed corporate responsibility and the best way of aligning a brand’s fundraising efforts with its DNA, what personal and brand philanthropy should be about, they talked about what women should do more of… and the always hot topic of finding balance (hint: Donna Bishop called it “the worst word to have ever been put on women”).
Learn more about Bojana Sentaler’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility as the brand gets ready to celebrate its 10th anniversary!
This is Fashion Week season; Toronto Fashion Week wrapped up this week and New York is in full swing. To celebrate the many talented women in the field of fashion and design, we’re kicking off season 2 with an interview featuring Katie Kolondiski, founder and creative director of Silk Laundry, a wonderful line of silk slip dresses, camisoles, blouses and more.
Silk Laundry began as a side project five years ago with just four pieces, which Katie launched when she was living in Australia. Within the first year, the brand was carried in 60 stores. Today, the brand counts three stores (two are in Australia) and a staff of 17. Katie opened a Silk Laundry shop in Montreal after deciding to move back to Canada to be closer to her family and now works out of an office space above the shop. The brand has received accolades from the fashion community, and stars including Chrissy Teigen have been flocking to the brand’s popular slips.
Caroline Torti is an internationally renowned creative director and dance choreographer. Originally from Toronto, Caroline has seen her work take her around the globe. Among other productions, you would have seen her choreography work on ‘So You Think You Can Dance Canada’ and ‘Hysterica’ – the LA dance performance choreographed by Mandy Moore.
If you’ve ever wondered what career path is available to you as a creative or artist, look no further for inspiration. Taking her expert skills in contemporary jazz and other dance genres, Caroline has built a career for herself, directing her own features or being called to take part in leading dance productions, either for film or for the stage, around the world.
But, as we all know, a career as a professional dancer comes with its unique set of pressure and challenges. Listen to Caroline’s journey as she’s carved a unique path for herself.
We recorded this episode at the beautiful Hoame — visit Toronto’s favourite meditation studio and get inspired to design your own selfcare routine!
Dr Andrea Gelinas is not a regular dentist, she’s a cool dentist. After an appointment at her clinic, I have in fact been convinced that a visit at the dentist can be enjoyable. Dr Gelinas’ office is on Dundas West in Toronto, and after years practicing at other clinics in the US and Canada she decided she wanted to launch her dream dental office, and break from tradition with a swanky space that has nothing to do with the beige medical offices we are used to. It starts with beautiful decor and amazing customer experience, but it’s more than that. Dr Gelinas even recommended acupuncture as a way of dealing with my teeth-grinding problem, something I never expected a dentist to do. We often overlook dental health as part of our self-care routine and Dr Gelinas is here to remind us of why it matters. Listen to her story and to what made her want to carve her own unconventional path!
We recorded this episode at the beautiful Hoame — visit Toronto’s favourite meditation studio and get inspired to design your own selfcare routine!
This week we’re traveling to the UK, and our guest is Hayley Menzies, a London-based Womenswear designer whose latest collection of powerful, eccentric knit and silk prints for Summer 2019 can be found at Harrods, Liberty’s and an array of cool concept stores and e-comm shops. A few years earlier, Hayley’s company was facing bankruptcy, and after sitting with her CFO, she pleaded for the chance to design just one more collection, to see if she could turn things around… and boy, did she. Her latest collection has been seen on celebs around the world, picked up by leading retailers and she’s now expanding her Notting Hill showroom and team to meet the needs of her rapidly growing business.
Hayleystudied fashion design and styling at The London College of Fashion, moved on to spend time modelling and later, became an events planner working with prestigious clients including British royalty, Van Cleef and Arpels, The Royal Opera House and The Financial Times. Hayley eventually set up her own fashion label in 2010, after having discovered a scarf in Bangkok that she imported and sold on a stall in London’s Portobello Market.
Emily Ramshaw is the Canadian Lead for Bumble, the dating and networking app that is helping reshape gender dynamics and create a safe space for women online. Emily has an impressive track record in publishing, going from an internship at Flare in Toronto (where she became Assistant Fashion Director) and eventually moving to New York and joining the all-star team at The Coveteur.
Today Emily is passionate about spreading Bumble’s message of ending misogyny and promoting equality online. Emily and I chatted about her professional journey, the complexity of the online world and social media and its impact on today’s society, especially for younger women -- and the role that a platform like Bumble can play in changing gender dynamics. We also discussed the usual, you know, leadership, feminism and finding balance in our insanely busy lives…
My conversation with Emily was recorded at Hoame, The Brand is Female’s favourite meditation and wellness space in Downtown Toronto.
Noura Sakkijha is CEO and co-founder of Mejuri, a brand which has been disrupting the jewelry industry through its direct to consumer approach and its focus on entry price points — launching the existence of the “demi-fine” category in jewelry. Noura has been a complete visionary, turning away from her background as an engineer to imagining and then launching a jewelry brand that caters to self-purchasing women specifically, offering items that are often based on crowd-sourced designs and always at appealing prices. The company has grown rapidly, thanks in part to an injection of capital from VC investors, with the last round famously raised by Noura while she was pregnant with twins of a sizeable 23-million dollar investment. The future is bright for Mejuri — listen to Noura tell us about her vision of leadership, how she juggles being a mom and a CEO, and what’s next for her, and Mejuri.
Thank you to Hoame, The Brand is Female’s favourite meditation and mindfulness space in the heart of downtown Toronto, where we recorded this episode of our podcast with Noura.
Caroline Issa is CEO of London-based TANK Group, and fashion director for TANK Magazine. Also known for being a fixture on the international fashion week circuit (and being a street style photographer’s favourite), the Montreal native describes herself as “a businesswoman who loves fashion”. Caroline is a former management consultant who has lived around the world; she eventually left her position to join the magazine startup that was TANK around 17 years ago… and she has not looked back since. She has definitely left her mark on the fashion industry, from collabs with the world’s leading brands including a collection designed with retail giant Nordstrom… to work done through TANK’s creative agency, where her team and her have worked on advertising campaigns for a number of major brands, from Mulberry to DeBeers and Monica Vinader. They also create digital content for several retail and fashion clients, including Hugo Boss and Lane Crawford. In 2007 Caroline launched Becauselondon.com — a digital magazine of which she is editor-in-chief.
Caroline’s motto “Feel the fear and do it anyway” has always inspired her life decisions — find how why and how. In just a few days Caroline will be launching a brand new fashion collaboration (hint: her love of prints will be leveraged in this one) so make sure to follow us on Instagram as well as @carolineissa to get the scoop!
Support for this episode of The Brand is Female comes from Bumble Bizz, where you can network at your own pace, on your own terms. You’ll find Bumble in the Apple app store and Android market!
Michèle and Véronik Bastien are the co-founders of PEPPERMINT Cycling Co., a Quebec-based company launched 4 years ago which has disrupted the cycling apparel industry by offering a line that targets women specifically. Today the company sells its designs across Canada, both in stores and through e-commerce, and is on the way to capture new markets internationally.
Being avid cyclists themselves, the sister duo was motivated by the strong desire to create a brand that is an expression of style, leadership, inclusion and freedom. Find out how the Peppermint co-founders took on a traditionally made-dominated industry and came out ahead.
Support for this episode of The Brand is Female comes from Bumble Bizz, where you can network at your own pace, on your own terms. You’ll find Bumble in the Apple app store and Android market!
Meghan Hull Jacquin is a Partner at Howie, Sacks and Henry, a Toronto-based personal injury law firm. Forget what you know about personal injury lawyers because Meghan is a true modern day superwoman, fighting for social justice and going against large insurance companies and corporations to defend the rights of her clients who, more often than not, are women. She has led several high-profile cases and is known among her peers as a fearless advocate who will go the extra mile for the victims she represents. Meghan also gives back through her involvement with Shelter Movers, a pan-Canadian organization founded by her husband, Marc Jacquin, whose mission is to help women who are leaving an abusive household by taking care of their move while they transition to a shelter.
In this interview, Meghan and host Eva Hartling spoke about Meghan’s path in a male-dominated industry, the harassment and bullying that she expected would be par for the course — but she also raises what we are often afraid to talk about openly, which is the agressive competitiveness that can exist among women in the workplace. Meghan has chosen to turn negative into positive and she advocates for more mentorship and more support between women, something she puts into action day after day.
Mosha Lundstrom Halbert is a Fashion Editor as well as the co-founder of Therma Kota, an outerwear brand she launched with her sister, Sophie Lundstrom Halbert, with help from their mom, Linda Lundstrom. Based in Miami, Florida, Mosha has lived in New York City and Toronto and has worked at prestigious titles including WWD, Footwear News, Flare, Elle and Fashion Television. She has also served as the associate fashion director at Hudson’s Bay Company and Lord & Taylor. She is a contributor to VOGUE and The Business of Fashion and appears on-air regularly on CBC's Q and CityLine. Mosha decided to join the other side of the fashion industry, this time as an entrepreneur, and launched Therma Kota in 2017. Today, the outerwear brand, thanks to its scandi-chic lines and versatility, has attracted the eyes of editors and savvy consumers globally.
Eva Hartling sat down with Mosha just before the Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards Gala in Toronto; Mosha served as one of CAFA’s jury members this year . Listen to Mosha talk about her start in the world of fashion, what made her want to become an entrepreneur and what inspires and challenges her on a daily basis!
On Thursday this week, CAFA, the Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards, will host their sixth annual red-carpet Awards Gala, a unique evening that unites Canadian talent and fashion leaders from all over the world.
To highlight CAFA and its impact in the life of Canadian fashion talent, many of them women, we are showcasing a series of interviews with CAFA nominees and award winners.
In this bonus episode our host Eva Hartling speaks with Jessica Bedard, an Ottawa-based shoe designer who is nominated for the Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent, Accessories at CAFA 2019. Jessica designs beautiful footwear that is handmade in Italy, inspired by traditional European craftsmanship. Jessica had a career before becoming a designer, but even as a late bloomer, her designs have been winning clients over in Asia, Europe and North America and her shoes have been worn by the likes of Sophie Trudeau, Gigi Hadid and Carrie Underwood.
Listen to Jessica share her journey as an emerging designer and find out what keeps her motivated and grounded on a daily basis.
Our interview took place at the Broadview Hotel in Toronto.
On Thursday this week, CAFA, the Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards, will host their sixth annual red-carpet Awards Gala, a unique evening that unite Canadian talent and fashion leaders from all over the world.
To highlight CAFA and its impact in the life of Canadian fashion talent, many of them women, we will be showcasing a series of interviews with CAFA nominees and award winners.
To kick things off, Eva Hartling spoke with the one and only Judith Maria Bradley, who is nominated for Model of the Year at this year’s Gala. Judith is 74, and as a member of the CAFA organizing committee recently told her, there has never been a nominee over the age of 30 in that category. What is also surprising is that Judith only recently started modelling, in her late 60s. But what is truly inspiring is Judith’s absolute love for life. She believes that life is magic, and after speaking with her for this interview, we believe she herself is pure magic. She has never followed conventional rules, and the word conventional simply does not belong in her vocabulary. One could say models in their 60s and 70s are having a moment, with the likes of Linda Rodin and Iris Apfel in the ranks; and Judith is definitely part of that movement. She’s appeared in magazines (in Canada, the US and Europe); ad campaigns (including being casted for an Adidas campaign) and is a street style star with an active social media presence. But her real accomplishment is in proving to the world, and to women everywhere, that being a woman after 40, 50 or 60 does not mean taking a backseat, and that a career — including one usually reserved to twenty-somethings — is possible for anyone who dreams it. Now if only we could have more Judiths in the world…
This episode was recorded at Hoame, Toronto’s leading meditation and wellness space.
Camilla Fayed opened Farmacy when she realized there was a shortage of restaurants offering plant-based, locally-grown & organic options in London. Three years later her Notting Hill restaurant is still packed every day; she’s also launched her first book and is now taking Farmacy stateside to NYC.
Camilla may be the daughter of former Harrods owner, Mohamed Al-Fayed, but she has built her very own empire, focusing on a healthy, sustainable and non-toxic approach to nutrition.
Listen to Camilla's journey to opening her first restaurant (and making the choice to have it be a vegan address in a city where that's a rare occurence) and hear about what is behind her decision to focus on sustainable, locally-farmed, plant-based and organic food options.
This interview is a bonus episode in French.
Melanie Blanchette is the co-owner of popular Montreal eateries Bouillon Bilk and Cadet. She and her business partner Francois Nadon opened their first restaurant in 2011 in a neighbourhood that was far from being known for white tablecloths and fine dining, with virtually no budget and no business experience. Almost overnight, it became known as one of the best food addresses in the city.
A few years later, the power duo opened a second address a few doors down and named it ‘Cadet’ in homage to the army surplus store the space used to house. Today, both restaurants are filled with regulars night after night, offering the perfect setting for a pre or post-theatre or concert dinner. The opening of Bouillon Bilk played a key role in the revitalization of Montreal’s Quartier des spectacles, an area that was known for homelessness and decrepit buildings just a few years earlier. Bouillon Bilk and Cadet now enjoy a fantastic reputation both in their city and globally, having received multiple accolades for the superior dining experience they offer.
Listen to Melanie’s empowering and inspiring entrepreneurial journey!
Poet and Activist Najwa Zebian and Global Restaurant Entrepreneur Janet Zuccarini came together for an evening of conversation moderated by Eva Hartling, where they spoke of their journey to unlocking their own potential.
This podcast is a live recording of the event 'In Conversation with The Brand is Female' which took place at Hoame in Toronto on May 14, 2019. Najwa and Zebian shared their life experiences with the audience, including the obstacles they faced on their path to becoming their true self. Although from different backgrounds, Najwa and Janet share common experiences - they have both overcome the difficult challenges that life threw at them on their path to growth and finding their own, powerful voice.
Tara Downs has found success as a young gallery owner on the highly competitive art scene in New York City and has built amazing credibility for her career and gallery within the industry. She is known for her unbelievable instinct in finding emerging artists with a unique point of view.
Tara grew up in Canada and launched her own gallery called ‘Tomorrow’ in Toronto in 2011, then moved to Berlin to be director of the Tanya Leighton art gallery until she came back to Canada and decided to take a chance and move to New York City, a decision she calls ‘the most spontaneous’ she ever took. Shortly after, Tara opened her own space in New York’s Lower East Side, and later merged spaces with her partner Alex Ross to open Downs and Ross, now located on the Bowery.
Tara spoke to Eva Hartling about her experience building her business, the challenges that come with being a woman on the art scene in Toronto, Berlin and New York, and shared what keeps her going and grounded.
Julietta Dexter is the Founder and CEO of The Communications Store, London’s leading agency specializing in fashion, luxury, beauty and lifestyle PR Julietta founded TCS 25 years ago, and her clients have included global and UK top brands, among them Net-a-porter, Burberry, the House of Versace, McQueen, Anya Hindmarch, Emilia Wickstead, Charlotte Tillbury, Goop, Glossier and more. Julietta and her team have played a huge role in launching and supporting growth for these brands and others. TCS recently expanded across the pond and now has offices in New York and Los Angeles. Over the years, Julietta has mentored and helped developed generations of PR professionals; she is known as an inspirational leader who puts human qualities at the top of the list— she is deeply respected and admired by anyone who has crossed her path.
Julietta and host Eva Hartling spoke about the reality of being a woman at the helm of a business and the challenges that come with the job (don’t miss her sharing how she deals with mansplaining and bullies). We also spoke about career and personal growth, leadership, finding balance in life, and how success has nothing to do with money in the bank.
Vicky Milner is the co-founder and President of CAFA, the Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards. CAFA celebrates outstanding achievement and emerging talent in the Canadian fashion industry.
Prior to co-founding CAFA, Vicky worked in a number of industries including fashion retail, music, entertainment, and nonprofit management. She set out to create CAFA six years ago when she realized there was a gap in the market. The platform she helped create has since recognized and awarded the country’s top established and emerging talent, making CAFA the leading Canadian recognition in the field of fashion.
We’re now a month away from CAFA 2019 and we sat down with Vicky to talk about her vision for the awards, the state of Canada’s fashion industry, how we can do our part to support local designers and what it means for one’s personal balance to be a busy mom running a successful fashion award platform.
In honour of 420 and Earth Day taking place over this long weekend, we are celebrating with a bonus episode featuring the only woman to be CEO of a publicly-traded cannabis company: Alison Gordon from 48North.
Alison considers 48North to be more than just a licensed cannabis producer in Canada; she sees the company as a wellness organization, bringing the benefits of cannabinoids to consumers everywhere. Listen to Eva Hartling's conversation with a woman who is definitely shattering glass ceilings.
Today is April 20, yes, that means 420. Given that Canada has recently legalized cannabis, we are celebrating with highlighting women who are doing amazing things in this growing sector, pun intended. Now, it’s important to note that the cannabis industry is still male-dominated — if you’ve attended any industry events or panels, you’ll usually notice a lineup of white men on stage.
Because we want to see that change, this weekend we are featuring interviews with inspiring women in the industry - in this episode you’ll hear from Sarah Gillin, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Olli Brands, a new player in the cannabis industry that focuses on CBD-infused healthy, accessible and natural edibles.
Olli Brands products are about to hit market and include everything from teas to chocolates and other delicious treats. The interview was done a little while ago and you’ll hear Sarah talk about the facility they plan on building - the good news is that construction has now taken place and Olli is just about ready to be available to consumers.
Shannon Hamblin is a scriptwriter, director and producer based in Los Angeles. Shannon co-wrote what was named the 3rd best X-Files episode of all times (that would be season 11 episode 7!).
She has been working closely with Glen Morgan (Executive Producer of the X-Files) since 2013 when he discovered a feature script she wrote. Shannon worked with Morgan as writers/showrunner's assistant on Amazon's series "LORE". Prior to that, she produced two feature films after working several years in production.
She is now wrapping up post-production on her debut short film "Texas 2 Step" which she wrote, directed, and produced; it’s planned to be released in the fall of 2019.
Shannon spoke to host Eva Hartling about the realities of being a female writer/director/producer in Hollywood; how she finally found her voice as a director working on her latest film… and about her definition of success, which she sums up with the following: “Success is not a place that you end up at; it’s not a hotel that you check into. It’s a long, bumpy winding road that never ends. There is no place at the end of it.”
Visit Shannon’s website if you’d like to know more about her and all of her exciting projects!
Brooke G., (known as @everydayexpert on Instagram) runs the Heal Hive, a platform for wellness and health advocacy which focuses on evidence-based holistic healing. Based in California, Brooke is a survivor of Lyme disease; an illness which almost claimed her life and which she cured using bee venom therapy. Today Brooke runs Heal Hive retreats to help individuals suffering from Lyme disease and other chronic illness. Brooke’s mantra? “Test, don’t guess”.
Brooke now also uses bee venom as a fertility treatment, after research has proven how effective the protocol is to increase fertility and reverse hormone depletion. In her own words, “bees may be small but they sure are mighty”.
Stephanie Kersta and Carolyn Plater founded Hoame, a meditation and mindfulness space in downtown Toronto that offers dark and light rooms (where meditation workshops take place), a salt cave, an infrared sauna and more. Both founders are psychotherapists who specialize in treating addiction; they dreamed the concept for Hoame after recognizing that our modern stress-filled lifestyle was to blame for the mental health crisis our society faced today and wanted to create a space where taking care of yourself is accepted and celebrated.
Stephanie and Carolyn spoke to host Eva Hartling about their experience as clinical psychologists, their path to turning their dream for Hoame into a reality and shared their tips for mindful living.
The Brand is Female can enjoy a free 30 or 60-minute class at Hoame using code FEMALELEADS100.
Michelle Bilodeau is a Canadian journalist and Green Beauty Expert. She honed her editorial skills working at some of Canada’s leading lifestyle magazines including Flare and Fashion. Today she makes regular appearances on CTV and CBC, and she collaborates with different publications to provide her expertise on all things green. You can also follow her blog, The-Eco-Edit.com. Michelle realized early on that what we put on our skin can have an effect on our health. She became very aware of this when her father was diagnosed with Leukaemia, an environmental disease, in 2010.
In this episode, Michelle shared some of her incredible knowledge in the field of green beauty as well as giving advice on brands she swears by. Visit us on Instagram to see a list of products recommended by Michelle.
Tiffany Sorya is the founder and CEO of Novel Education Group, a homeschooling and tutoring organization based in Los Angeles. Tiffany’s innovative business model has attracted a number of celebrities including Kris Jenner and Dr. Dre thanks to her focus on exploring youth’s creative side while balancing demanding, non-traditional schedules and academic work. She’s had quite the star-studded clientele with Kylie and Kendall Jenner as well as Hailey Baldwin among her past students.
Tiffany sees her role as helping the younger generation find value and meaning in an education system that can seem bland and standardized. She aims to enrich the lives of the new generation with the true value of knowledge.
She spoke to Eva Hartling about her approach to “making smart stylish again”; the powerful role that teachers have; and how she thinks the new generation of young women is growing up believing that anything is achievable when they put their mind to it.
Our guest this week is Michèle Maheux, outgoing Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Known as the “unsung hero” of what has become one of the global film circuit’s most important festivals, TIFF’s “number two” spent 30 years in leadership roles within the organization and was instrumental in its development, often working behind the scenes. Michèle championed women, both within and outside TIFF, putting a spotlight on women filmmakers and mentoring the next generation of film industry leaders. Listen to her interview where she tells Eva Hartling about her journey in the film industry, the changes she’s seen happen for women over the years — including those brought on by #MeToo; the importance of doing ‘what makes you happy’ and how you learn as much from the bad bosses as you do from the good ones.
Our guest on this 8th episode of The Brand is Female is Cheryl Hickey, Host of Entertainment Tonight Canada where she has been greeting more than half a million viewers every night since 2005. Cheryl has had an amazing track record on Canadian television; she is also an entrepreneur and was just named ambassador for John Frieda Hair Products.
Cheryl spoke to Eva Hartling about her journey to making it to the top, never taking ‘no’ for an answer; dealing with obstacles and challenges along the way and finding her self-confidence and balance with the support of family and loved ones.
Our guest on this 7th episode of The Brand is Female is Victoria Radford, Celebrity Makeup Artist and founder of Radford, a beauty and skincare brand. She is also co-owner of Radford Studio, a beauty studio in the heart of Yorkville in Toronto, Canada.
Victoria spoke to Eva Hartling about her accidental start in the world of beauty; one of her first big breaks as Fergie’s makeup artist; her distaste for social media and her philosophy on beauty today — “the dish will never be as good as the ingredients” which sums up Radford’s new motto “Beauty is within” perfectly.
Our guest on this 6th episode of The Brand is Female is Canadian style powerhouse Erica Wark, Celebrity Stylist, Fashion Expert and TV Personality. Erica makes frequent appearances on Canadian television including CTV’s The Social and Your Morning; she’s dressed an impressive roster of Canadian and American actors and actresses and is highly regarded as a subject matter expert on all things fashion.
Erica spoke to Eva Hartling about carving her own path in the highly competitive world of fashion and styling; what she feels is missing in the industry to make fashion more accessible to all (including diversity when it comes to models and clothes that can fit every size); and the boost of self-confidence that can come from choosing the right clothes and accessories.
Our guest on this 5th episode of The Brand is Female is fierce female entrepreneur Sophie Boulanger, CEO and founder of BonLook, the Canadian answer to Warby Parker launched in 2010 with a disruptive direct-to-consumer business model for prescription eyewear frames and lenses. BonLook now operates more than 30 stores across Canada (their goal is to get to 50 by 2020) and has caught the attention of investors who have rewarded the Montreal-based company with substantial capital support.
Sophie speaks to Host Eva Hartling about her journey as an entrepreneur, the BonLook story, the obstacles she encountered on her entrepreneurial journey and shares what she thinks of being a leader. If you’re passionate about consumer goods and stories of business growth, you’ll love this show.
Our fourth episode of The Brand is Female features global (and self-made) restaurateur Janet Zuccarini, who started with one restaurant in Toronto and grew her business to include 8 companies today.
Janet owns the Gusto 54 Global Restaurant Group and is the mastermind behind Toronto’s well-known eateries Trattoria Nervosa (her first restaurant), Gusto 101, Kiin, Pai and Chubby’s; she also opened Italian restaurant Felix in LA in 2017 which Esquire Magazine deemed "America's Best New Restaurant” — no small feat for a restaurant owner from Toronto. She speaks to Host Eva Hartling about the challenges she has faced throughout her career, what has kept her motivated to continue building her empire and how she stays grounded and balanced despite her demanding schedule (hint: it includes daily meditation and a hot meal!).
Voici un épisode bonus de The Brand is Female réalisé en français avec Mélanie Joly, Ministre des langues officielles, du tourisme et de la francophonie du Canada. Mélanie Joly avait 36 ans lorsqu’elle a été élue représentante parlementaire, et 34 ans lorsqu’elle s’est présentée comme candidate à la mairie de Montréal. Femme inspirante, Mélanie est une leader née qui ne s’est jamais laissée abattre par les obstacles rencontrés sur son parcours, en affaires ou en politique. Cette entrevue a été réalisée au Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, là où Mélanie a fondé le premier comité de jeunes philanthropes en soutien à l’organisation il y a plus de dix ans. En conversation avec Eva Hartling, fondatrice de The Female Leads, Mélanie y retrace ses débuts en politique, et s’entretient au sujet du leadership (le sien et celui de son patron, Justin Trudeau, premier ministre du Canada), de la question du doute, des changements dans sa vie alors qu’elle débute la quarantaine et de ce qui l’attend au cours des prochaines années, dans sa vie personnelle et professionnelle.
Melanie Joly was 34 when she ran for mayor in Montreal's municipal elections (she came in close second at the polls) and was 36 when she was elected to the House of Commons and named Minister of Heritage Canada by Justin Trudeau. She is a born leader and visionary who is not afraid of tackling difficult issues. In this episode of The Brand is Female she speaks to Host Eva Hartling about what got her inspired to start a career in politics, how she relies on her intuition as a guiding force today, her views on leadership... and her boss’ leadership style (that would be the Prime Minister of Canada!) and how being a young woman in politics—or in a boardroom—comes with its own set of challenges.
Caitlin Cronenberg, 34, is a Toronto-based celebrity photographer and director whose editorial work has appeared on the cover of Vogue, W Magazine, Variety and more. She has photographed Hollywood’s leading actors and actresses and is a fixture on TIFF’s red carpet every year. In 2016 she shot the album cover for Drake's "Views" which became a viral sensation. Caitlin’s most recent book, “The Endings” was released in September 2018; it is a beautiful collection of photographs and stories about love, heartbreak and loss. Actresses Julianne Moore, Keira Knightley, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sofia Boutella, Nina Dobrev, Tessa Thompson and more appear in “The Endings”, a collaboration with Art Director Jessica Ennis. In this first episode of The Brand is Female, Caitlin talks about the early days of her career as a photographer, what keeps her motivated, how becoming a mom to her son Wolfy, now 3, has shaped who she is today (including her secret baking skills!) and she tells us about her experience working on “The Endings” — a labour of love that was 7 years in the making.