Meet Lesley Kelley, RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Social Change — National Impact Finalist

Lesley Kelly is co-founder of the Do More Agriculture Foundation and a 2025 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards finalist, leading efforts to champion mental health in Canada’s agricultural sector. A grain farmer, speaker, and advocate, Lesley combines her passion for agriculture with a deep commitment to community, raising awareness, reducing stigma, and creating spaces where farmers feel seen, supported, and heard.

Through her platform, High Heels and Canola Fields, Lesley shares stories from the farm and beyond, inspiring national conversations about mental health and fostering industry-wide change. She has also launched Martin Munchies, a snack line using barley from her family farm, further blending entrepreneurship with her prairie roots.

From managing day-to-day farm operations to advocating for systemic change, Lesley’s work reflects a belief in resilience, collaboration, and the power of connection. Meet Lesley and learn more about the woman transforming mental health in agriculture across Canada.

I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur when… 

I realized I could build something meaningful (whether it was the farm, High Heels & Canola Fields, a snack food venture, or Do More Agriculture) that combined purpose, passion, and impact. 

Entrepreneurship is made for me because… 

I’m driven by change, energized by challenges, and willing to take risks that lead to real solutions.

The impact I hope to make through my work is… 

To create a culture in agriculture where mental health is openly talked about, supported, and prioritized. 

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned on my entrepreneurial journey is…

You don’t have to do it all alone; building community is just as important as building a business. 

My proudest accomplishment is… 

Co-founding the Do More Agriculture Foundation and helping change how mental health is viewed and supported across Canadian farms. 

The biggest risk I took that paid off was… 

Sharing my family’s mental health story publicly at a time when few in agriculture were talking about it. 

My biggest setback has been… 

Facing stigma and judgment early on when advocating for mental health in a space that wasn’t ready for it. 

I overcame it by… 

Staying grounded in my purpose, leaning on a supportive community, and remembering that my work could impact countless lives, including my own children’s futures. 

The best advice I’ve received as an entrepreneur was… 

From my dad: success isn’t measured by how much land you farm or the equipment you drive; it’s measured by how you treat others and yourself. 

I surprise people when I tell them… 

I spend my time both behind a combine on our grain farm and on stages around the world speaking about farming and mental health. 

If I had an extra hour in the day, I would use it to… 

Spend more time with my kids and family. After losing my dad and mother-in-law recently, I’ve been reminded that every moment together truly counts. 

If you Googled me, you still wouldn’t know… 

That I’m naturally quiet, that public speaking terrifies me, and that I often need time to recharge after big events. 

The future excites me because… 

There’s a growing movement in agriculture to prioritize people as much as productivity—and I get to be part of that change.

Connect with Lesley Kelly on LinkedIn.