Arlene Dickinson is one of Canada’s most successful — and recognizable — entrepreneurs. Best known for her role as a Dragon on the multi-award-winning television series Dragons’ Den, she built her fortune with Venture Communications, and just a few years ago, launched District Ventures — an accelerator, venture fund, and communications firm focused on turning […]
Victoria Sopik and Jennifer Nashmi Co-founders, Kids and Company Winners, Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship, CENTRAL When Victoria Sopik and Jennifer Nashmi cofounded Kids & Company in 2002, their aim was to disrupt the traditional way childcare had been offered by launching as an emergency back-up centre. Their success came after a crucial […]
We are currently in Singapore attending the 10th annual Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network Summit, a three-day event dedicated to analyzing, celebrating and improving women’s entrepreneurship around the globe. This year the summit has brought together over 150 women founders, CEOs, dignitaries, professionals and Dell Leaders to explore the theme ‘Share. Inspire. Transform.’ Today, Dell has […]
Marjorie Dixon knew from a young age that she wanted to get into reproductive medicine. It was her experience running a cycle monitoring centre — and going through three rounds of IVF herself — that led her to open her own holistic clinic, Anova Fertility and Reproductive Health. A recent winner of the RBC Momentum […]
Karen is not only CEO of MIMOSA Diagnostics, but she is also a single parent of an infant, a surgeon-scientist at St. Mike’s, an Assistant Professor of Surgery, and also sits on the Scientific Advisory Board of Diabetic Foot Canada. On the business side, she and her business partner, Dr. General Leung, have invented and […]
Glain Roberts-McCabe left her secure, six-figure job at a consulting firm to pursue her idea for a group-based approach to leadership coaching. Ten years later, and The Roundtable has grown into an award-winning consultancy with a proven track record of fostering success. By Karen van Kampen In 2007, 39-year-old Glain Roberts-McCabe […]
Marly Broudie is the Founder and President of SocialEyes Communications Inc., a digital marketing and business development consulting firm based in Toronto. Marly’s career started in 2011 at a downtown litigation firm as a legal assistant. There, she transitioned into Business Development and Marketing where she honed her skills in social media marketing, content creation […]
Joanna Griffiths launched Knix Wear when she became aware of a need in the market for underwear that could handle “little leaks.” She solved that problem, and for the next five years focused on building a brand that helped women get over their insecurities and facilitate conversations. The strategy paid off. Not only is Knix […]
Women Who Rock President and CEO, Elena Mayer, and Deborah Breckels, Chief Operations Officer lead their organization with the goal of igniting curiosity amongst women about mining and its importance for the Canadian economy, helping those in the industry forge successful careers, collaborating with stakeholders who share common challenges, and communicating success stories to help make the mining industry […]
Gone are the days of needing a well-organized file cabinet, a stack of business cards, and pre-printed contracts to show how prepped you are for business success. Today’s brands need to be organized, connected and producing no matter if they are in the office, working from home, have a team, doing it solo or working […]
Running your business from home comes with many advantages, but there’s a few things you need to consider before you set up shop. From the interior design to the insurance — here are four tips for getting started. When it comes to setting up a new business, many entrepreneurs run it from home during […]
Stonz was launched in 2004 by Lisa Will after she discovered a need for simple yet functional outdoor gear designed specifically for kids. Beginning with the Stonz Bootie, over the years Lisa has continued to grow the product line, guided by customer feedback and her own experience and needs while raising two children. With the […]
With the high failure rate of startups, what can entrepreneurs do to drive towards success? Dr. Yolande Chan, professor of information technology management at Smith School of Business, Queen’s University, offers four suggestions for using digital innovation to help your company grow. By Hailey Eisen When Dr. Yolande Chan began her academic […]
Melanie Normandin Vice President, Arctic Consultants Inc. Finalist, Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship, EAST Arctic Consultants has been meeting the procurement needs of remote communities in Nunavik and Nunavut since 1984. Melanie Normandin took over the family business with her husband in 2009, and now works not only to ensure the day-to-day runs […]
Mandy Farmer President and CEO, Accent Inns Inc. Finalist, Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship, WEST When Mandy Farmer’s father started Accent Inns Inc. in 1987, he didn’t plan on having any of his children go into the business. But Mandy took over as president and CEO in 2008, bringing with her an innovative, […]
Elen Steinberg President and CEO, SPP Marketing Services Inc. Finalist, TELUS Trailblazer Award, CENTRAL SPP Marketing Services Inc. (SPP) had already been in operation as a promotions and experiential marketing agency for ten years when founder Elen Steinberg saw her winning opportunity: creating an innovative program using Canadian airports for marketing credit cards […]
Caroline Roberts President and CEO, Thoth Technology Inc. Finalist, TELUS Trailblazer Award, CENTRAL When Caroline Roberts co-founded Thoth Technology in 2001, she saw a market opportunity in Canada’s vibrant space sector, providing services to validate equipment for spaceflight. The space and defense company now has three divisions — Space Tracking and Navigation, Space […]
Toni Desrosiers Founder and CEO, Abeego Finalist, TELUS Trailblazer Award, CENTRAL In 2008, Toni Desrosiers was looking for a natural way to store her food — and ended up discovering a way to disrupt the fully mature, billion-dollar industry of plastic wrap. Through extensive experimentation (and looking to lemon peels, cheese rinds and […]
Heather Modlin Provincial Director, Key Assets Newfoundland and Labrador Finalist, Social Change Award, EAST Heather Modlin established Key Assets Newfoundland and Labrador (KANL) in 2009 to provide therapeutic family-based care (foster care). Their mandate has since expanded; in partnership with government, KANL offers residential care and support services to young people and families […]
Latha Sukumar Executive Director, MCIS Language Solutions Finalist, Social Change Award, CENTRAL When MCIS Language Solutions was incorporated as a non-profit in 1995, its mandate was to provide interpretation services for victims of domestic violence in Scarborough. Latha Sukumar was hired as Executive Director in 1996, expanding the mission to improving access to […]
Ching Tien Founder and President, Educating Rural Girls in China Finalist, Social Change Award, WEST As the founder of Educating Girls of Rural China (EGRC), Ching Tien’s deepest belief is that educated women have educated children — so providing education opportunities to women has a long lasting ripple effect and is a fundamental […]
Jennifer Hamilton CEO, Oxygen Yoga & Fitness Finalist, RBC Momentum Award, CENTRAL When Jen Hamilton opened her first Oxygen Yoga and Fitness location, her goal was to create an environment where any person could come, regardless of age, gender or level of fitness, to channel their energy and focus back on themselves. Their […]
Francine Brûlé Founder, Les enfants terribles brasserie Finalist, RBC Momentum Award, EAST Brasserie Les Enfants Terribles is a family-run restaurant group guided by a “just like home’’ concept, with a welcoming atmosphere and a menu featuring local products and unique spins on more traditional dishes. Francine Brûlé opened her first location at 53 […]
Marjorie Dixon Founder, Anova Fertility Finalist, RBC Momentum Award, CENTRAL Founded in 2016, Anova Fertility and Reproductive Health is committed to making the right to family accessible to everyone. As a doctor in reproductive medicine who had been through the system for assisted fertility personally, Marjorie Dixon saw inequality for different segments of […]
Joanna Griffiths Founder and CEO, Knix Finalist, Staples Start-Up Award, CENTRAL Knix is a direct-to-consumer women’s intimate apparel company that is reinventing intimates for real life. Having launched in 2013 with leak proof and absorbent underwear, their assortment now includes comfortable wire-free bras and tanks, t-shirts that block sweat, loungewear, a line for […]
Jennifer Denouden President and CEO, Avana Homes Finalist, Staples Start-Up Award, WEST When Jennifer Denouden first started in real estate investing, she was looking to replace her income as a Private Banker so that she could spend more time with her children. Just over four years later, the Avana Group has built or […]
Ella Choi Founder, Playtime Pediatric Dentistry Finalist, Staples Start-Up Award, WEST Before starting her own clinic, pediatric dentist Ella Choi had worked at three different dental offices, learning a lot about how the business should be run. In 2015, she founded Playtime Pediatric Dentistry to bring her own vision to life: a nurturing […]
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