Laura Burget and Connie Lo’s vision for NIU BODY, a 100% natural, certified cruelty-free and vegan skincare company, arose out of frustration with the lack of affordable and natural beauty products on the market. The two best friends were eager to utilize their backgrounds in business and engineering to launch NIU BODY in March of […]
Salim Teja’s long career in tech has touched every part of the ecosystem, from entrepreneur, to investor, to corporate innovator. In his current role of President, Venture Services, at MaRS, he’s not only championing Canada’s tech ecosystem, he’s helping to guide it towards greater diversity — with initiatives in research, representation, and funding. […]
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 […]
The journey towards a diverse and inclusive workplace can be long and difficult — especially in an industry that’s overwhelmingly male-dominated — but David Pathe, President and CEO of Canadian resource company Sherritt International, knows that the benefits still outweigh the challenges. Here’s how his organization is making change. By Hailey Eisen […]
Joanna Griffiths launched Knixwear 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 a […]
Stephania Stefanakou is a fashion technology entrepreneur, and the CEO and Co-Founder at House of Anesi, a lingerie-tech startup based in Toronto. With a Bachelor of Design from Ryerson University, and a background in Digital Fabrication, she first started her research into shape-shifting clothing during a semester at Manchester Metropolitan University. As well as being […]
Ashley Kirwan is the Co-founder, CEO and Principal Geologist at Orix Geoscience; a leading geology firm that partners with exploration and mining companies to provide geological and geomatic expertise and business strategies for grassroots, brownfields and advanced projects. Orix started in a downturn and has grown over the last six years to 56 employees within […]
Veronica Richards is a businesswoman with more than two decades of experience in supporting companies to connect with their potential clients and to grow globally. She is the founding partner and Vice President at CALLS Contact Center in Mexico, a company with 23 years of experience and founding partner and Vice President at WW Calls […]
Andrea Grobocopatel is an Argentine agronomist, president of Fundación por Liderazgos y Organizaciones Responsables (F.L.O.R), and president and shareholder of Los Grobo S.G.R., a leading agro-industrial group in South America. She co-founded her family business, together with her father and his brother, when she was only 21 years old. Andrea is a mentor of Vital Voices […]
At OMERS, diversity and inclusion isn’t just a goal on the horizon. Satish Rai, Chief Investment Officer with OMERS, explains how the organization has created a culture that puts respect and support first, with policies and daily actions that reinforce their inclusive message. By Hailey Eisen There’s no shortage of conversations about […]
Lexi Miles is the Founder and CEO of WAXON Laser + Waxbar, launched in 2012 for both women and men on the go. Now with 13 locations nationwide and the launch of its innovative new-to-market laser, Lexi oversees all aspects of the WAXON business – from franchise building and day-to-day operations of existing locations, marketing, […]
Founder of Lowegistics International, Emily Lowe, developed a love for shipping containers at a young age. At 17, she turned that passion into a business, launching a global supply chain data analysis company that leverages innovative solutions to transform the economics of construction, material and equipment logistics. By Kristen Sears Travel was […]
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 […]
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 […]
Dr. Nekessa Remy is a chiropractor, a registered and medical acupuncturist and one of Canada’s fastest rising and sought after health and wellness expert in the industry today. She is the current owner of Mississauga’s The Chiropractic Office, a comprehensive injury management clinic focused on sports related injuries and woman’s health issues. She also runs […]
Nadège Nourian is the chef and owner of Nadège Patisserie in Toronto, Canada. Since the opening of her eponymous shops in 2009, Nadège has delighted Torontonians with modern dessert creations, and has been showered with numerous accolades from critics, the press, and the blogosphere. Born in Lyon, France, Nadège is a fourth generation pastry chef. […]
In the often male-dominated tech industry, it’s rare to find a company with a good representation of women. At Wattpad, women are the majority, visible and in positions of power at every level. Allen Lau, co-founder and CEO, looks to his employees for guidance and diverse perspectives on what’s needed for an inclusive environment, and […]
Vanessa Vakharia is the founder and director of The Math Guru, a boutique math and science tutoring studio in Toronto. She is also the author of Math Hacks, a book that makes math fun, stress-free and relatable for young kids and parents. She appears regularly on national television and news outlets as an expert in […]
Shirin Behzadi is Chief Executive Officer of Home Franchise Concepts (HFC), which recently celebrated its 26th year as the top-selling family of direct-to-consumer brands in the home-related goods and services space. Under Behzadi’s direction, HFC has grown into one of the largest and most respected franchisors in the U.S., on track to reach $700 million […]
Prior to 2014, Eva Wong had never started a business. Today, she is the leading lady of one of Canada’s largest fintech companies. By Kristen Sears Eva Wong doesn’t have the technical background or entrepreneurial experience that one might expect of a fintech startup founder. Before she launched the Toronto-based credit education […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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, […]
Backed with a PhD in maternal-fetal toxicology, Dionne and her husband, a surgeon, researched the extensive advantages of herbal blends, experimented with fresh fruit combinations and in late 2013, launched DeeBee’s Organics delicious line of frozen treats. Their little homemade venture has grown and evolved and now DeeBee’s line of Organic FruitPops and SuperFruit Freezies […]
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