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 […]
Glain Roberts-McCabe Founder, The Roundtable Finalist, Micro Business Award presented by Diversity Institute & Magnet Export Business Portal, WEST Launched in 2007, The Roundtable is reimagining the traditional consulting firm model through an approach where participants share knowledge through group and team coaching programs. Founder Glain Roberts-McCabe designed the program to increase individual […]
Luann Baker-Johnson Founder, Lumel Studios Finalist, Micro Business Award presented by Diversity Institute & Magnet Export Business Portal, CENTRAL It took four years of struggle, perseverance, and long conversations with safety authorities for Luann Baker- Johnson to build Lumel Studios, a Yukon glass blowing and hot glass facility that offers lessons as well […]
Kathleen Quinlan Founder, Fiore Botanica Finalist, Micro Business Award presented by Diversity Institute & Magnet Export Business Portal, EAST After a life-threatening illness, over 20 years ago Kathleen Quinlan made the decision to limit her exposure to the dangerous chemicals that can be found in personal care products. This eventually led to the […]
On CBC’s Dragons’ Den, Michele Romanow fields pitches from some of Canada’s most hopeful entrepreneurs. As a serial entrepreneur herself, it’s a job she truly embodies: recognizing opportunity, and knowing how to create something magical. By Teresa Harris Michele Romanow isn’t in the business of ‘making it’ — at least not in […]
It’s our 26th year of recognizing the top women entrepreneurs in Canada — and we’re excited to be celebrating another dynamic group of business owners. Representing diverse industries and business sizes, and hailing from across the country — from the Yukon to Newfoundland — here are the 2018 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award Finalists. […]
The first year for any business owner is bound to be full of ups and downs. Co-founders of Eivey, an online marketplace for luxury, pre-worn fashion, share their best tips for surviving year one without losing it all – including your mind. Entrepreneurs and friends Maryna deLannoy and Laura Sim decided to enter […]
Jennifer Stewart’s entrepreneurial drive and self-proclaimed “overconfidence” led to her opening her own PR and government relations firm at just 25 years old. Through vision, leadership, and a whole lot of hustle, she’s built Syntax Strategic into an internationally recognized communications and business strategy firm and stands tall as one of Canada’s top communication-leaders. […]
Paige Viggiani is the Co-Founder, and lead Lash Extension Artist at Studio Eighty Seven. Before entering the beauty industry, Paige received an honours degree from York University in Communication Studies and a Diploma from Humber College in Fashion Business, and served Women of Influence as our Events and Marketing Manager. With a passion for beauty, […]
Melissa Sariffodeen is the co-founder and CEO of Ladies Learning Code, which has taught over 100,000 individuals skills in HTML, CSS, WordPress, Python, Ruby, artificial intelligence, web design, and more. Her impact was recognized with the 2017 Social Change Award at the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards — an accomplishment she humbly credits to the […]
Whether you know it as income sprinkling or income splitting, as of January 1, 2018, the rules have changed. There is still lots of uncertainty that exists surrounding the interpretation of the proposed federal legislation but here is what you need to know as a business owner. By Shauna Forret, Tax Partner, […]
by Viviana Kohon, Namita Tandon-Walsh, and Caitie Yue All entrepreneurs enjoy the independence and thrill of working for themselves and creating something new. Having partners or co-founders is an added bonus, giving you the option to consult with each other, and to ensure multiple areas of the business are covered through different […]
As the Director of the Queen’s Master of Management Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Smith School of Business, Shari Hughson interviews hundreds of entrepreneurial-minded candidates each year. About half intend to pursue careers in corporate innovation. by Shari Hughson CEOs seem to lack the confidence in their organizations’ ability to innovate. In […]
by Robin Behrstock The flexibility that comes from being self-employed is undeniable. Add to that the freedom to work from wherever you choose (including your bed) and it comes as no surprise that more and more people — especially women — are foregoing the typical office environment for the comfort and adaptability […]
As the President and CEO of Jobs in Education and Viewpoint Leadership, Rumeet works to enable opportunities in education, learning and development. She was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by WXN and have been featured in Forbes.com as a ‘Generation Entrepreneur’. Rumeet has also given two TEDx talks and addressed the […]
Women entrepreneurs represent just a small segment of business owners in Canada, but their numbers and impact are growing — and their potential is even greater. Cisco and the Business Development Bank of Canada have partnered to unlock it, using a unique internship program that’s now in its third successful year. By […]
Roz Tamblyn spent most of her adult life in a corporate environment, where she struggled with finding the perfect dress shirt — one that was perspiration-proof, didn’t gape at the bust, and allowed enough range of motion — all while still being chic and professional. Unable to find an alternative, in 2016 she launched her […]
Chanèle McFarlane is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Do Well Dress Well, a platform dedicated to bridging the gap between competence and confidence for millennial women. Through content, community and opportunities centered around personal branding, networking, style and professional development, her goal is for every woman to live confidently and remarkably. Chanèle also founded “Confidence […]
If you’re an entrepreneur, the question of how to make more money is one you probably ask yourself every week. It’s common, and I highly suggest this type of self-talk, because it means that you’re on route to helping more people and growing your business as a result. The problem is, most entrepreneurs […]
Born and raised in France, Isabelle Fish practiced law in in the US, UK and South Africa before moving to Calgary in 2002 — and changing to a career in fashion retail. Another move to Toronto a few years later led to the opening of her by-appointment fashion boutique, Rue Pigalle, where she styles clients […]
As a law student, Stephanie Ray couldn’t find work-appropriate clothing that was comfortable, affordable, and stylish enough to carry her from day to night. So she started her own fashion line, Grayes, to fill the gap. By Sarah Kelsey Stephanie Ray, the founder of Grayes clothing, had an inkling she […]
It all began when Queenie received her first Valentine in kindergarten. This sparked her love of snail mail and passion for paper goods, and queenie’s cards was created. The cute, cartoony designs are inspired by everyday life, puns and inside jokes. After experiencing continued success on her Etsy store and at events such as the […]
Recognizing the need for a marketing agency dedicated exclusively to the arts and culture sector, Laura Murray launched Laura Murray Public Relations in 2011. As the principal of what is now known as Murray Paterson Marketing Group (MPMG), Laura has built a company founded on the passion, creativity, and integrity that define the artistic process. […]
Deborah Assaly and Adriana De Luca have both been leading thriving entrepreneurial ventures since the late nineties. Brought together by the Cisco Women Entrepreneurs’ Circle initiative, we spoke to them about what has enabled their long-term success — from teamwork to technological investments — and their advice for other women looking to follow in […]
How does a young, hardworking Maritimer become one of Canada’s most powerful entrepreneurs? By turning a lifelong passion and her unique personality into a brand, and building a business around it. By Marie Moore On the wall in her office, you will find Mandy Rennehan’s slogan: Energy is everything. It’s fitting. […]
