Joanie Metivier’s career started with a passion for wine, one that soon became rather irrational. Now a sommelier, wine writer and the first women to acquire her Whisky Ambassador title in Quebec, Joanie accumulated the accreditations including Certified CMS, WSET level 3 with distinction and ISG all while managing her personal blog dedicated to wine […]
We often hear how entrepreneurs made it big — but how did they first get that little idea off the ground? We asked the five recipients of the Ones to Watch Award presented by Freshco.ca, a category added this year to the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards. These stellar new business owners have all […]
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 […]
When Heather Stewart took over at BBE Expediting — a supply chain service provider and logistics company serving the Canadian North — she knew she needed to diversify the “feast or famine” business. So they developed the GoBox app to enable carriers to bid live on shipping jobs, with the expectation it would be used […]
By Merilfor Toneatto The empowerment of professional women is at the forefront of our cultural conversation, ignited by movements that bring gender pay equity and workplace sexual harassment to the forefront. Women’s economic empowerment is not just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do. Closing the gender pay gap can […]
As the Chair of the Scotiabank Alliance for Mental Health (SAMH), Karen Jordan is helping to deliver the message that mental health issues can impact us all — either directly or through a family member, friend or colleague. She’s also working to reduce the stigma around getting help, and making sure everyone at Scotiabank (and […]
Allison Dore started her career in the entertainment industry as an actor. It wasn’t until her older brother, renowned comedian Jon Dore, encouraged her to try stand-up that she got introduced to the world of comedy. Eventually she started a podcast, and in six months, after completing 100 episodes, was offered a spot on SiriusXM’s […]
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 […]
Jacqueline Dupuis is the executive director of the Vancouver International Film Festival, also known as VIFF. Since joining the organization over six years ago, she has played a major role in transforming the event into an internationally recognized celebration of screen-based and immersive storytelling that acts as a catalyst for creators’ development. Prior to leading […]
If Mandy Rennehan’s entrepreneurial success story doesn’t inspire you to get up and get moving towards your goals, we suggest you check your pulse. The Blue-Collar CEO of Freshco.ca, a boutique construction firm that dubs itself “The Fun Company,” Mandy is an award-winning entrepreneur who started with nothing on the East Coast of Canada and […]
The Canadian art market contributes to thousands of jobs in creative employment annually, bringing millions of dollars into the economy. At the same time, the industry is fraught with stigma and buying art is seen as a luxury few can afford. However, RBC Canadian Entrepreneur Award-winning entrepreneur Geneviève Lévesque noticed a market: those who appreciate […]
Holly Ransom is the CEO of Emergent, a specialized consulting firm focused on building the capacity of organizations to execute change. At just 28 years old, she is one of the world’s most highly regarded thought leaders, asking the tough questions to reveal the emerging trends and challenges affecting businesses and working professionals today. […]
There’s a difference between bragging and self-advocacy. Here’s why you need to know how to do the latter, and some tips for getting started. By Dana Rubin When I talk to my female clients about the skills of thought leadership, there’s one question I hear over and over: “I don’t like to […]
Gemma Sheehan became the #1 ranked Ontario female MMA fighter at the age of 21, after ten years in the sport, attaining a record of 5 -1 and a Pan Am gold medal in Brazilian jiu jitsu. After a change of values and concerns about brain trauma, Gemma changed gears and quit professional fighting to […]
As an Integration Consultant for Disney in Orlando, Emily Chambers helps develop forecasting models and algorithms to keep the magic running smoothly — like her latest gig, ensuring Frozen on Broadway is a success. How did she get her dream job, bringing her passion for statistics to the happiest place on earth? Taking advantage of […]
For women, getting ahead can sometimes come with negative consequences. A recent survey points to successful employees being attacked, criticized, and ostracized too often at work. Here’s what organizations can do when their tallest poppies are being cut down. By Rumeet Billan and Todd Humber Successful women are being undermined at your […]
As the co-founder and CEO of Schema App, Martha van Berkel is helping organizations of all sizes to be found more easily on the Internet. Now a leader in the market with their tool that automates schema markup (the language search engines read), Martha traces her success back to an outspoken personality, and an ability […]
Karen Yolevski didn’t expect to find a role that would bring together her industry experience in both real estate and technology. Now, as president of Nationwide Home Closing Services (HCS), she’s doing just that — leading a fintech that’s innovating and loving every moment of the experience. By Hailey Eisen In January 2011, […]
Taryn Herritt and Angela Osborne’s vision for The Atelier, an inaugural conference that celebrates the best women in business, arose from an unofficial and unintentional brainstorming session in early summer 2017. Friends for years, they’d always admired one another’s business successes, in the corporate world and as entrepreneurs. While catching up over lunch that day, […]
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