The Finance Cafe

In this episode Shannon sits down with Carlyn Loncaric, the founder and CEO of VodaSafe, and an engineer with over ten years of lifeguarding experience. Witnessing first-hand the trials and tribulations of water rescue led Carlyn to envision a sonar equipment as a simple tool in hand that would help save lives, VodaSafe and its AquaEye® were born. Carlyn believes that VodaSafe’s AquaEye® will be to waterfront rescue what the AED or portable defibrillator has been for CPR.

AquaEye is being used by Fire Rescue, Lifeguard, Law Enforcement and Search and Rescue teams to quickly locate a rescue or recovery target. AquaEye is the world’s first handheld sonar device using artificial intelligence to specifically search for humans in the water.

Resources

In this episode Shannon sits down with Heather Sadowy, Loan Manager at the Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC), to discuss the WEOC National loan program. 

With experience in business banking and lending, Heather brings a natural curiosity and strong critical-thinking skills to her role as loan manager at WEOC. Together with her loans team, she is working to increase access to much-needed capital for women across Canada that are looking to start or grow their business. With 18 years in the Manitoba Credit Union system, most were spent working with small businesses and non-profits which has given her a strong foundation in financial literacy as well as an understanding of the highs and lows that come with being a business owner. A proud feminist, she is pleased to work for an organization that recognizes the unique challenges women face in entrepreneurship while also valuing their equally unique contributions.

Resources

In this episode, Shannon sits down with Gretchen (she/her), who leads the AFIA DEI Index at The Forum, a First of its Kind nationwide initiative to Accelerate Financial Inclusion and Access to business capital for women entrepreneurs in all their diversity. AFIA provides funders with a package of evidence-based resources and services to assess, accelerate and amplify Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) and Reconciliation in business funding.

Gretchen has 20+ years experience in post-secondary and non-profit settings, leading local and internationally engaged education, training, and social impact programs and projects. She is an experienced adult educator in the fields of community development, sustainability, political economy, and planning. Prior to her role at The Forum, Gretchen held the positions of Director, Global Engagement; Associate Director, Community Engagement, and Program Director, Sustainable Development at SFU. Her expertise spans social entrepreneurship, financial inclusion and accessibility, social impact, DEI, and funding for women entrepreneurs.

Resources

In this episode Shauna sits down with Sheena Brady, Founder of Tease, award-winning Social Entrepreneur, and Angel Investor to discuss the lessons she’s learned from having a banker advocate for her and her business. 

Sheena's personal story is a testament to the transformative power of embracing natural health and healing after a decade-long career deeply entrenched in the 'hustle' mentality and the high-octane world of coffee culture within the hospitality industry. This relentless pursuit left Sheena with not only a profound yearning for genuine well-being but also a portfolio of challenges encompassing anxiety, digestive woes, and insomnia.

In 2013, fueled by her personal journey towards holistic health, Sheena carved her niche as the Founder & Tea Sommelier of tease. More than just a tea brand, tease embodies Sheena's mission to infuse wellness and beauty essentials with the enriching goodness of functional tea and botanicals while inspiring people to live and lead their lives consciously through intentional daily self care rituals. Today, tease caters to a loyal customer base around the globe.

While tease grew from a modest side hustle into a growing, established brand, the ascent was not without challenges that Sheena, as a woman Founder at the helm, confronted firsthand. Encounters with adversity as a female founder became the catalyst for a new chapter in her journey.

Recognizing that diverse women founders navigate even more arduous paths, in 2019 Tease amplified its social impact initiatives to confront the glaring gender inequities embedded in the entrepreneurial landscape. Thus, the inception of Founders Fund was the dawning of a mission-driven era. Born from the experiences of founders, for founders, Sheena & Tease Tea have raised and contributed an astounding $200,000 to date towards funding programming that empower women-owned enterprises. This effort is underpinned by barrier-free grant funding and mentorship that has impacted over 500 women founders.

Resources

In this episode Shauna sits down with Hayat Kirameddine, Partner at Tax Ernst & Young LLP to discuss tax planning.

Tax, tax, tax! Usually, a topic that can put folks to sleep or invoke panic and thoughts of the Canada Revenue Agency, when faced with the topic, Hayat Kirameddine, Partner in Ernst & Young’s Private Client Tax Practice, strategy, planning and… perhaps a bit of excitement come to mind. Hayat has been providing advice to private business owners across Canada with an emphasis on Alberta based business for over 15 years. She takes a practical approach to providing clear and pragmatic solutions towards business structuring, managing cash flow and limiting risk. Her practice spans filing tax returns to estate planning to helping business owners with selling or acquiring business – and everything in between.

Ernst & Young’s Private tax group functions like external CFO’s for private, family run businesses. We aim to provide business owners with tools and guidance they need to feel in control with their tax filings and strategies so they can focus on what they do best – running their businesses.

Resources

In this episode Shauna sits down with Déborah Cherenfant, Regional Manager, Women in Enterprise, Quebec, to discuss determining how to pay yourself as an entrepreneur. 

Déborah joined TD Bank Group in 2020 and is the regional manager, Women in Enterprise, for the Quebec region. With a degree both in international economics and entrepreneurship, Déborah has applied her strategic skills as a business counselor for startups, in addition to managing and developing entrepreneurship programs, since she arrived in Canada in 2005 from Haiti. She also launched her own initiatives such as the blog Mots d’Elles, the first of its kind in Quebec, promoting women in business; Atelier Coloré, a fashion and design studio; and Marché Coloré, a pop-up concept store bringing together designers with a passion for prints. She also co-founded BiAS, a cultural and artistic think tank that showcases talents from diverse communities.

A TEDx Fellow, Déborah is an outstanding speaker, moderator and facilitator, as well as a radio and TV columnist for CBC/Radio-Canada and Bell Media. 

Resources

In this episode Shauna sits down with Billie Fortier, Partner, MLT Aikins, to discuss if you should incorporate your business, and if so, tips on how to incorporate your business successfully. Billie advises First Nations and Métis communities on matters related to economic development, commercial leasing, industry partnerships and community governance.

She advises the leadership of Indigenous communities on a variety of matters, including corporate structuring of Indigenous-owned businesses, financial administration and governance, including drafting laws and bylaws. She also advises clients across a number of industries on general commercial matters and in connection with M&A and corporate reorganizations.

Billie has appeared before the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta and the Provincial Court of Alberta, and has experience with regulatory proceedings before the Alberta Utilities Commission, the Alberta Energy Regulator and the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. She is a member of the Fort McKay First Nation and lives in Calgary with her husband and two daughters.

.

Resources

In this episode Shannon sits down with Chantel Chapman, the CEO and co-founder of the Trauma of Money, to discuss how trauma affects the mind and in turn affects our relationship with money and financial wealth. The Trauma of Money is an accredited course certifying professionals in trauma-aware and trauma-informed approaches to finance. Drawing influence from 14 years of experience as a mortgage broker, 10 years as a financial literacy consultant, and extensive research in addiction, behavioral science, trauma, community economic development, and mindfulness, Chantel is renowned for her cutting-edge, relatable, and trauma-informed money guidance. Chantel has taught and written personal and entrepreneurial finance curriculums for Organizations, Universities, and Accelerator programs such as Humber College, Wilfrid Laurier University, Adler University, United Way, Simon Fraser University, YPO, American Psychological Association (APA), NDN Collective, YWCA, REDF, and EntrepreNorth.

Chantel was the lead player on building Canada's first-ever, award-winning digital mortgage experience with free credit score and a consultant on several other innovative products for one of Canada's largest Fintech brands. Chantel is also a member of the National Task Force for Economic Justice, supporting CCFWE's mission to end economic and financial abuse and empower all women and those who identified as being women. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Real Simple Magazine, and Refinery 29.

Chantel is a settler of European descent who works and resides on the stolen traditional lands of the Kwantlen (kwaant·luhn), Musqueam (“mus-kwee-um”), and Tswassen (saa·wa·sn) peoples.

Resources

In this episode Shauna sits down with Shalini Dharna Kibsey, CPA, to discuss budgets, including her 5 essential tips for preparing your budget as an entrepreneur. Shalini is an exceptional coach who helps entrepreneurs understand and feel confident about their business future with a solid grasp of finances. She has helped hundreds of CEOs, small business owners and individuals level-up their finances through an array of seminars, interactive workshops and individual coaching. 

Shalini is a leading financial expert specializing in small business financial literacy. Having graduated from the University of Toronto and worked at the big firms, she eventually joined the family practice but on her own terms. She wanted education to be the forefront of her platform and has spent the past few years doing consultations and speaking engagements to entrepreneurs – new and seasoned – on how to understand the story their numbers are telling! Outside of work, she is mom to 3 boys, 2 furbabies and married to her university sweetheart. A surprising statistic shows that 2 out of 3 businesses operate without a budget; this episode will help you to not be a part of that statistic and gain control over your business finances. 

Resources

In this episode Shauna sits down with Alison Kirkland, CEO, of the Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada/Organisations d'enterprises de femmes du Canada, to discuss the perceptions of debt, and the key findings from the ‘Bootstrap vs Borrow’ research conducted by WEOC. 

A leader in the women’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, Alison was named the inaugural CEO of WEOC in September 2019. Since then, she has grown the organization from a Board-run initiative to an integral resource for women’s entrepreneurial support organizations across Canada. Forging long-lasting connections within government and industry, Alison leads from experience, with 20-plus years in communications management and a decade as a certified small business counselor. She has led the creation of comprehensive training programs and the development of innovative funding initiatives and has had the opportunity to share her knowledge and experiences with women entrepreneurs and organizations in the United States, Ukraine and Vietnam. Alison is the current Board Chair of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. 

Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC) supports a diverse membership of organizations that directly impact the growth and success of women entrepreneurs. Representing an array of populations and regions, WEOC members support women entrepreneurs through a variety of initiatives, including business training, advising, financing, and mentorship. In addition to opportunities to network with peers across the country, WEOC members have access to an innovative library of tools and resources, as well as regular live and virtual cross-country events.

Resources

In this episode Shauna sits down with Kayla Isabelle, Chief Executive Officer at Startup Canada, the gateway to Canada’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, to discuss the top 5 indicators your startup is ready to go global. Startup Canada's mission is to connect Canada’s entrepreneurs with the tools, community, and support they need to start and build their businesses. They discuss what it means to go ‘global,’ what you should have in place in your business before looking to export, and key areas to assess if your company is ready to go global. 

Kayla has been recognized as a 2023 Globe and Mail Changemaker, 2023 Business Woman of the Year Finalist (Enterprise Leader), 2022 Top Forty Under 40 by the Ottawa Business Journal, and Ottawa Board of Trade, RBC’s 2022 Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Finalist Social Change Award: National Impact, 2021 RevolutionHer™ "Impact in Leadership Award" winner, 2021 Woman of Inspiration “Authentic Leader Award” winner by the Universal Women’s Network, "Best Business Support Organization" by CanadianSME Magazine, StartupBeat’s 20 Under 50 Female Leaders In Tech, and is a 13x Award Winning IABC Leader, including “International Chapter of the Year” recipient in 2022. 

Resources

In this episode Shauna sits down with Maya Oreibi, a Financial Empowerment Consultant & Coach to discuss the three key ingredients to finding your voice in finance. Maya shares her journey into the entrepreneurship world and what two turning points led her there, key insights into the gender pay gap, how mindset plays into finaincial independance, and more.

Maya is a career coach and mentor who comes from a  investment consulting background of more than 15 years. she holds a bachelor in finance, an MBA and she is a CFA charterholder. She is a mother of two who built a successful career in a male dominated industry from scratch twice, immigrated to Canada and chose to make the beautiful city of Oakville Ontario her home. 

She now employs her extensive investment experience in empowering women take charge of their finances. Maya also pursued formal coaching education with Rayner institute in Alberta and became a licensed coach by the International coaching federation. 

She chose to leave her corporate job and listen to her entrepreneurial calling. She started her own consulting and coaching practice, Wayz, dedicated to empowering women take charge of their own lives, finances and careers. 

Resources

In this episode Shannon sits down with Xina Cowan, Co-director, EntrepreNorth to discuss what it means to be culturally grounded as an organization, how we can close the wealth gap and empower Indigenous women entrepreneurs, challenges faced by Indigenous women entrepreneurs in the North, the need for relationship-based patient capital that aligns with Indigenous values, and how indigenous women are reclaiming their power and place.

Xina lives and works in Whitehorse on the traditional territories of the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council and the Kwanlin Dün First Nation. Her ancestry is Irish, Scottish, and Mohawk and she is honoured to be learning her family's shared histories. She is the granddaughter of Barbara Monture Malloch and the great-granddaughter of Gilbert 'Slim' Monture from Six Nations. After studying Human Relations at Concordia University in Montreal, Xina moved to the Eeyou Itschee Cree community of Wemindji in 2013 and began her career in Indigenous programming. Since then, Xina’s work has taken her all across the North. As EntrepreNorth’s Co-Director she is primarily responsible for leading Marketing and Communications, Community Outreach and Partnership Development. Xina is also a certified Coach and is the Host and Producer of EntrepreNorth's podcast series Venture Out which shares the brave stories of Northerners who are inspiring innovation and community wellbeing through business. ​

Prior to joining EntrepreNorth, Xina was the Development Manager for Indigenous projects at Youth Fusion and was the Editor of WIOT Magazine at Rezolution Pictures. Her (not so) side passion is promoting Indigenous fashion designers and artists. She is a Marketplace Jury Member for Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival (IFA) and is particularly invested in supporting the incredible talent coming from the Circumpolar Arctic.

EntrepreNorth is a project on MakeWay's shared platform that is focused on empowering Indigenous entrepreneurs to build sustainable businesses and livelihoods across the North. We believe Northern Indigenous entrepreneurs can be catalysts of prosperity and drivers of social change within their own communities and much of our work supports them on that pathway.

Resources

In this episode Shannon sits down with Anita Pawluk, President at RaceRocks, to discuss her journey as an Indigenous business owner, being vulnerable as a leader, her relationship with money and money mindset, creating a company around diversity, equity and inclusion, plus more. Anita is a proud Métis woman from St Louis, Saskatchewan, Treaty 6 Territory and Homeland to the Métis on her Mother’s side and British and Scottish settlers on her Father’s side. Entrepreneurship has always been core to her professional journey, as shes’s owned companies in a range of industries such as clean energy, construction and storage. Financial acumen has always been one of her strengths, leading her to roles as Auditor, Controller and Chief Financial Officer. Now, as the President of RaceRocks, Anita is deeply honoured to lead her team, the RaceRocks team was recognized this year as Employer of the Year at BC’s region’s Technology Awards. 

Resources

In this episode, Shannon sits down with Sage Lacerte, Founder of Sage Initiative, a national Indigenous womxn's impact investing collective. Sage is a Carrier womxn from the Lake Babine Nation, and lives in Victoria, BC on unceded Coast Salish Territory of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ nations. They discuss why she chose to focus exclusively on investing in Indigenous-owned social purpose businesses, what ‘money is medicine’ means to Sage and for other Indigenous womxn, what she wishes more Indigenous womxn knew when it comes to money, how hard it is to change the system, and more.

Sage Initiative trains and empowers Indigenous womxn impact investors through a learning curriculum where participants can learn about Indigenous concepts of wealth and commerce through a trauma informed lens that addresses colonial relationships with money, as well as overlapping identities such as Indigeneity, gender, age, and sexuality. Sage Initiative aims to make capital available to Indigenous owned social purpose businesses, with the goal of forming a circular economy. 

Sage is also an Indigenous engagement strategist who is well-versed in gender policy, investment literacy, trauma-informed learning, and public speaking. She is a National Youth Ambassador for the Moosehide Campaign and holds a degree in gender studies from the University of Victoria. 

Resources

In this episode, Shannon sits down with Bobbie Racette, the Founder and CEO of Virtual Gurus, a talent marketplace that leverages proprietary technology to match organizations and entrepreneurs with highly skilled Canadian and American fractional administrative workers. Forbes recently announced Virtual Gurus as one of the top 19 Innovative Tech Startups to watch. They discuss Bobbie’s journey as an entrepreneur, dealing with imposter syndrome, overcoming 170’s no’s while pitching before becoming the First Indigenous woman to close a Series A funding round, how to not lose sign of the vision of the business white bringing on investors, money mindset changes, and more.

Bobbie Racette is a visionary entrepreneur who has made a tremendous impact. As the Founder and CEO of Virtual Gurus and askBetty, she has built a reputation as a trailblazer who is committed to creating an equitable future for all. Driven by her unwavering mission, Bobbie has dedicated herself to empowering individuals from historically underrepresented communities and providing them with the opportunities, tools and resources they need to build successful careers.
For Bobbie, this mission is deeply personal. As a Cree-Metis woman, she knows firsthand the challenges that traditionally marginalized communities face in the workplace. She's seen how systemic barriers can prevent talented individuals from achieving their full potential, and she's determined to change that.
Under Bobbie's leadership, Virtual Gurus has become one of the fastest-growing virtual assistant companies in North America. Powered by innovative tech that harnesses the power of machine learning to match assistants with clients, she has created a thriving community of over 600 talented professionals from diverse backgrounds. Her innovative approach to talent acquisition and management has earned her numerous accolades, including the Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2022.
Bobbie's passion for her work is contagious, and her commitment to equity and inclusion has inspired countless others to follow in her footsteps. In recognition of her achievements, she was named an EY Winning Woman in 2022, and she’s also a 2022 IWF Harvard Graduate. She's a sought-after speaker and thought leader, and she continues to use her platform to advocate for a more just and equitable future.
Whether it's Bobbie's dedication to empowering underrepresented communities by creating equitable opportunities or by providing accessible, affordable, and reliable staffing solutions to help level the playing field for entrepreneurs who might otherwise struggle to compete, Bobbie Racette is changing the game for entrepreneurs and employees alike.

Resources

In this episode, Shauna sits down with Shashi Behl, the Owner & Founder of Joydrop, Partner & Co-founder of Fernweh, and Founder of Twisted Goods. Shashi shares tips and insights on how to prepare your retail business for the holiday season including how to prepare for the future sales wise, inventory insights, pricing strategies, and even marketing tactics. They also discuss tools, resources and groups that can be beneficial for retail owners. 

A passionate entrepreneur and strong advocate for women in business,  Shashi has championed women as Chair of AWE, Board Member of Futurpreneur and her current role on The51 Loan Advisory Committee and Board Member on Calgary Public Library Foundation.

She has been on the W100 profit list, P200 list, represented Canada at the G8 Young Business Summit, been awarded Calgary Leader of Tomorrow and last year Joydrop was named Independent Retailer of Year for Canada.     

Shashi has founded and partnered with various women-led businesses before opening Joydrop. She is inspired by the passion that goes into every design – pieces which are part of a much bigger, beautiful tapestry.

Shashi loves travelling with her family, meeting new people, road biking, practicing yoga, and reading.  Her motto is get comfortable with being uncomfortable and looks to have a YES moment in everyday!

Resources

In this episode Shauna sits down with Tanya Hilts, founder of Cloud Business Services, to discuss the importance of having accounting software as an entrepreneur and tips on how to effectively implement & manage it. Tanya shares what bookkeeping software is and what they do for your business, why bookkeeping software can be the best investment for entrepreneurs and how much it really costs, the difference between proactive and reactive bookkeeping, and of course her top 5 tips. 

As the founder of Cloud Business Services, Tanya has a passion for streamlining processes and increasing office efficiency and client outcomes. With a relentless vision to bring the very best tools to her team as well as the bookkeeping community in general. Tanya led her team to win the 2018 Global Intuit Firm of the Future. ​One of the most important core values of Cloud Business Services is the team’s belief in sharing knowledge and contributing to the community. Tanya is a volunteer mentor for bookkeepers within North America, helping to guide and shape tomorrow’s bookkeeping entrepreneurs.

Resources

Episode Blog: https://thefinancecafe.ca/5-tips-on-the-importance-of-accounting-software

Connect with Tanya 

Twitter: @1Cloudbiz

In this episode Shauna sits down with Melissa Houston, founder of She Means Profit, to discuss 5 tips on managing your cash flow in your business as a women entrepreneur. Did you know that approximately 7,000 businesses go bankrupt every year in Canada? Surprisingly, 82% of small businesses that fail, do so due to poor cash flow management. However, as entrepreneurs, we have the power to change this statistic by improving our cash flow management. With the right tools and knowledge, we can avoid the pitfalls of poor cash flow and keep our businesses thriving. Learn about what cash flow is, why it’s important that we monitor cash flow and not just that balance in our bank account, where you can find this information on your financial statements, and of course Melissa’s top 5 tips on managing your cash flow - plus a BONUS tip! 

Melissa is the author Cash Confident, An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business, and the founder of She Means Profit. Melissa is a CPA and Finance Strategist who helps business owners and high income earners build their wealth. A regular contributor at Forbes and other publications, Melissa is passionate about teaching others about money management.

Resources

In this episode, Shannon sits down with Stephanie Andrew, founding partner of Women’s Equity Lab to discuss how Women’s Equity Lab is creating opportunities to invest in more women-led companies and bring more women investors to the table. Stephanie shares how WEL is breaking barriers for women founders and women investors, what exactly venture investing is and how it’s different from borrowing money, myths around VC investments and How more women can get involved as early-stage investors.

Stephanie Andrew is the Women’s Equity Lab National Managing Director, Managing Partner and Co-Founder WEL Victoria. The Women's Equity Lab was first launched in late 2017 in Victoria, BC by 23 founding partners with the support of the National Angel Capital Organization, (NACO), the Capital Investment Network (CIN) and Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt, LLP.

WEL now consists of a powerful community of over 150 women investors from around the world managing a growing portfolio of investments which should reach about 40 company investments by the end of the year. Over 70% of WEL investments are in women-run and women-led businesses. There are funds operating in BC, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia as well as Silicon Valley which also accepts investors outside of North America.

Each group has their own investment thesis and connects closely with the businesses in their region while also making investments across Canada. The groups do not only provide capital to the companies that they invest in but each investment is also backed by a strong network of women who are able to act as advisors, connectors and champions of the investee.

Across regions WEL teams network and share deal flow, education, expertise and resources to support our investees and our communities.

Resources

Episode Blog: https://thefinancecafe.ca/leveling-the-playing-field-in-venture-investing/

Connect with Women’s Equity Lab

In this episode, Shauna sits down with Jen Rogers, the co-owner of Wild Winds Brewery to discuss business collaborations. Jen shares the landscape of collaborations in the craft beer industry including some collaborations she’s formed, the benefits of collaborating as a business, key questions to ask when considering a collaboration, how to approach a company to propose a new collaboration, and more. 

Jen wears multiple hats as a brewer, website designer, social media content creator, sales rep, can label designer - summed up, she's the Chief Awesome Officer. She graduated with distinction from the Olds College Brewmaster Program in 2019, is a Certified Cicerone, and loves brewing beers that are true to style. Her brewing experience includes Village Brewery, Last Best Brewing and Distilling, and Railyard Brewing. She was an instructor for the Olds College Brewmaster program in 2022. She is passionate about craft beer, creating recipes and sharing the fruits of her labour with others.

Wild Winds Brewery produces craft beer made with the highest quality ingredients and standards. They believe in supporting local businesses, caring for people, giving back to their community, creating experiences, and providing a FUN place to hang out (when they have a brick-and-mortar building).

Resources

In this episode, Shauna sits down with Nadia Ladak, the co-founder and CEO of Marlow, a new menstrual wellness brand that has created the first-ever lubricated tampon for smoother and more comfortable insertion. Shauna and Nadia discuss the creation of Marlow and where this idea first started, challenges they’ve encountered as a company along the way and how they’ve overcome these obstacles, changing the conversation around periods and menstrual cycles, the strategy for pitching their business concept which raised over $400K in non-dilutive grants, and tips for entrepreneurs listening that have an idea but are unsure where to start. 

Nadia led the team’s fundraising strategy and has raised $700,000 from investors and received $400,000 in non-dilutive grants. The brand is going viral on TikTok with over 50M views and has been featured in Global News, Canadian Living, Vancouver Sun, the Kit, and more. Beyond the product, the team is taking a community-driven approach to reduce the stigma around menstrual health through education and conversations. Nadia is a member of the G20 Young Entrepreneur Alliance where she works on international entrepreneurship policy and on Startup Canada's Women Advocacy Network where she speaks with government leaders to advocate for women entrepreneurs. She has been recognized as one of Canada's top 30 under 30 leaders by Bay Street Bull and as one of The Peak's Emerging Leaders.

Marlow is transforming the way we experience and talk about periods, starting with an all organic lubricated tampon designed for smoother and more comfortable insertion. Marlow is leading the modern menstrual movement and is empowering menstruators to take charge of their health.

Resources

Episode Blog: https://thefinancecafe.ca/a-startups-journey-to-bringing-a-better-product-to-market/

Connect with Nadia 

In this episode Shauna sits down with Ashli Phippen, a Chartered Professional Accountant, Co-founder of Grow CPA, and mother of two, to discuss why it’s so important to be prepared for that year-end meeting with your accountant and what you can do to be prepared with her 5 key tips, to make the most out of the meeting.  From understanding your financial information to setting realistic goals, these tips will help you approach your year-end meeting with confidence and clarity. So whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, tune in to this episode and get ready to take your business to the next level.

Grow CPA was founded with a BIG mission: to empower Canadian business owners with the financial knowledge and expertise they need to understand their numbers and make better business decisions.

Having spent many years in traditional accounting roles, founders and CPA's Ashli and Martina, noticed that business owners needed more than just their annual filings, they needed guidance, education and coaching. 

They’re on a mission to give Canadian business owners the financial knowledge and tools they need to build a wildly successful business and lasting financial legacy.

Resources

Episode Blog: https://thefinancecafe.ca/5-tips-for-preparing-for-the-year-end-meeting-with-your-accountant/

Connect with Ashli

In this episode Shannon sits down with Dr. Wendy Cukier, Founder & Academic Director of the Diversity Institute, Academic Director of the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, and Research Lead of the Future Skills Centre, to discuss the current state of women’s entrepreneurship in Canada and their recently launched 2023 State of Women’s Entrepreneurship annual report which synthesizes new research on women entrepreneurship in Canada to inform policy and practice. Learn about the key findings in the report, how we assess economic impact, important statistics on women entrepreneurship, what surprised her most, and much more. 

Dr. Wendy Cukier is a professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy at the Ted Rogers School of Management, Academic Director of the Diversity Institute and Research Lead of the Future Skills Centre. She co-authored the bestseller “Innovation Nation: Canadian Leadership from Java to Jurassic Park" and is a leader in disruptive technologies and innovation. She is the former VP of Research and Innovation and has authored more than 200 articles on aspects of diversity, inclusion and innovation. She leads Toronto Metropolitan University’s Diversity Institute which has 130 research staff, 100 research associates from around the world and more than 200 industry partners focused on dimensions of diversity and inclusion in the workplace, future skills, and entrepreneurship. She also leads the  Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, funded by the Government of Canada which promotes inclusive supports for women and other diverse entrepreneurs. and the Inclusive Innovation and Entrepreneurship Network (IIE-Net). She is also the research lead for the Future Skills Centre with a comprehensive research agenda and supporting innovative pilot projects.

Her work on the DiversityLeads project helped shape Bill C-25 and the 50-30 Challenge. The Diversity Institute is now an ecosystem partner supporting organizations that sign up for the 50-30 Challenge committing to gender parity and increased diversity on their boards and or senior leadership roles. 

She has been recognized with many awards including the Harry Jerome Diversity Award, and recognized in the 100 Most Powerful Women by WXN. She has been named a YWCA Woman of Distinction, one of the "100 Alumni who shaped the Century" by the University of Toronto and International Women’s Forum 2020 Women Who Make a Difference. Wendy holds a PhD in Information Systems, an MBA, an MA, and honorary doctorates from Laval and Concordia. She also received Canada’s Meritorious Service Cross, one of Canada’s highest civilian honours. She is also the founder of several startups, social enterprises and nonprofits.

Resources

Women’s Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub: 

In this episode, Shauna sits down with Laura Gassner Otting, Author, Catalyst, and Executive Coach to discuss passion vs purpose, comparing ourselves to others and how we can use this in a positive way, defining our own definition of success as women, and advice for women entrepreneurs around ambition. 

Laura’s secret superpower is seeing your greatness and reflecting it back on you, so that you can get “unstuck” — and achieve extraordinary results. 

A frequent contributor to Good Morning America, the TODAY Show, Harvard Business Review, and Oprah Daily, Laura’s 30-year resume is defined by her entrepreneurial edge. She served as a Presidential Appointee in Bill Clinton’s White House, helping shape AmeriCorps; left a leadership role at respected national search firm to expand a tech start-up; and founded, ran, and sold her own global search firm, partnering with the full gamut of mission driven corporate and nonprofit executives. 

Laura is turned on by the audacity of The Big Idea and that larger-than-life goal you just can’t seem to shake. She’s an instigator, motivator, and provocateur, and she’s never met a revolution she didn’t like. Just ask her enduringly patient husband, two almost-grown sons, and two troublesome pups with whom she lives outside of Boston, MA.

Laura is the author of Limitless: How to Ignore Everybody, Carve Your Own Path, and Live Your Best Life (2019), which debuted at #2 on the Washington Post bestseller list (right behind Michelle Obama), has been translated into Arabic, Korean, Turkish, Portuguese, and German, and which Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts chose as one of her Favorite Books of 2019, as well as Mission-Driven: Moving from Profit to Purpose (2015). Her forthcoming book, Wonderhell, is being released on Tuesday, April 4, 2023.

Resources

In this episode Shannon sits down with Kristine Beese, founder of Untangle Money, to discuss the gender wealth gap, and what we can be doing to close this gap. They discuss what compelled Kristine to create Untangle Money, why taking a gendered approach to finances is so important, myths around women and money, and financial tips for women. 

Kristine helps companies foster stronger relationships with the women and fems who work at their firms. By offering a women-centric approach to financial literacy, not only does Kristine reduce women’s biggest source of anxiety; she also helps companies demonstrate their commitment to gender-equality and helps their employees feel seen.

Kristine is a former national pairs-figure skater who brings tenacity and bravery to her role as a founder of the fintech startup Untangle Money. A problem-solver by nature, her P.Eng. helps her look at problems from a first-principles perspective. And with over a decade of experience in the finance industry, she brings the strategies employed by high-net-worth people to the masses.

As a woman and a mother, Kristine has learned through lived experience in male-dominated industries that women experience the world differently from men. This is especially true of our personal finances. As such, it was critically important that the solution that we developed at Untangle Money worked for women and is grounded on women-specific data. 

Resources

In this episode Shauna sits down with Alysha, Sr. Financial Planner in Tax and Estate Planning at Richardson Wealth Limited, to discuss why estate planning is so important and what this looks like as an entrepreneur, breaking down what estate planning is and what it entails, who should be involved in the process, and 5 estate planning tips for women entrepreneurs.

Alysha takes a holistic approach to wealth management, leading the wealth planning process in its entirety — from goals-based discovery to developing detailed financial and estate plans, through to strategy implementation.

With over 10 years experience in the investment industry, Alysha provides clients with comprehensive wealth services including expert insight on tax, intergenerational wealth transfer, philanthropy, business succession and continuity planning and estate planning. She holds specialized designations in financial planning, family enterprise advisory, estate planning, and risk management. Alysha is actively involved in the industry — she is Chair of Programs Committee for the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Vancouver Executive, a mentor to students through Junior Achievement of British Columbia, STEP and the BCIT Financial Planning Program, and serves as Director and Chair of Education for the Financial Planning Association of Canada (FPAC).

Resources

In this episode Shannon sits down with Karyl Akilian, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Financial Alliance for Women to discuss the power of the women’s economy, why we need to take a gendered approach as Financial Service Providers, barriers Financial Service Providers face when it comes to creating equality in the economy, key tips for financial service providers, advice for women entrepreneurs when it comes to their finances, and her future vision for accelerating women’s financial success.

Karyl’s responsibilities include increasing the impact of the Alliance’s communications, providing institutional support to members on Women’s Market program development as well as supporting the expansion of the Financial Alliance for Women. Prior to joining the Alliance, Karyl worked for 12 years at BLC Bank, Lebanon, where she served as the Head of Product Development until she was assigned Head of Brand Management in 2013, leading the strategic planning process for the Bank’s brands to build the brand equity.

She played a fundamental role in developing, implementing and overseeing the execution of We Initiative, the Women Empowerment program launched in 2012 by BLC Bank. During her years managing the We Initiative, she was a speaker at numerous international conferences and in 2016, was selected as one of the Global Banking Alliance for Women network’s “All-Star instructors”. Throughout her years at BLC Bank, she has trained more than 50 banks around the globe on how to develop a Women’s Market Program.

Due to her active role in the women empowerment scene, she was elected on the board of the Lebanese League for Women in Business in 2015 and re-elected for a second term in 2017, where she holds the function of Treasurer.

Resources

Connect with Karyl

In this episode, Shauna and Shannon sit down to discuss 5 tips to overcome financial self-sabotage. Self-sabotage is defined as when you have behavior that creates problems and prevents you from accomplishing your tasks or goals, such as procrastination. Many entrepreneurs often avoid looking at their financial statements, but unfortunately, we know that avoiding things only provides temporary relief from anxiety, shame and other uncomfortable feelings. This is a form of financial self-sabotage many of us have experienced and we’re going to dive into 5 tips on how to overcome this.

Listen in to learn what self-sabotaging behaviours to look out for, what the ostrich effect is and how to overcome this with money mindset, accountant-recommended accounting software for your business, understanding when a client is a right fit for you, and having those difficult conversations, and of course 5 tips to overcome financial self-sabotage.

Resources

In this episode, Shannon sits down with Evelyne Nyairo, M.Sc. P.Biol., a socially conscious innovator and driving force behind the luxurious all-natural skincare line, Ellie Bianca. We discuss her entrepreneurship journey including the barriers she’s had to overcome, what has made her so successful in the retail industry, advocating for women’s rights, advice for entrepreneurs and what’s next for Ellie Bianca.

Evelyne holds an undergraduate degree in environmental Sciences with Biology and Chemistry Majors and an M.Sc. in Environmental Management and currently she is a PhD candidate pursing Strategy and Innovation.  Evelyne has provided strategic planning on high profile projects worldwide and has held many energy sector leadership positions.

Ms. Nyairo’s contributions have been recognized by many including: Winner of the Prestigious 2021 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneurship award, Featured on the 2021 Dragon’s Den, Semi-finalist of the CANIE Black Entrepreneur of The Year Award, Receiving the CHFA Industry Achievement Award for Celebrating Diversity, and Receiving the Covid 19 Leader Award for working to keep Canadians safe with our soap and hand sanitizer project.

A serial entrepreneur, Ellie Bianca, inspired by her daughter, its namesake, is the most recent of five companies that Evelyne has created and nurtured to success. Through Ellie Bianca she has not only created a skin care line but also a pro women’s empowerment venture designed to “heal not just the skin, but the soul”, Ellie Bianca is a beacon of hope and global connection.

She thrives best when she can contribute to advancing equality and through Ellie Bianca, she is able to see this vision become a reality by working with female producers and ensuring that women are rewarded directly for their hard work.

Resources

In this episode, Shauna and Shannon sit down to discuss 5 tips to grow your bottom line in your business. While most business owners are always thinking about how to increase their sales, there is still another important factor to consider in order to see the full picture of your business - your bottom line, also known as net profit. Profit is what’s left once all expenses have been reduced from your sales or income.

A healthy bottom line is what enables us to build up an emergency fund, invest in the business, and pay ourselves as owners. Uncovering the bottom line is really all about the relationship between our sales and the expenses we incurred over a period of time. So, if you’re looking to grow your business’s bottom line, this episode is for you! Listen in to learn what the bottom line really is and why it’s important, what financial statements to be looking at to determine your bottom line, and 5 tips on increasing the net profit in your business.

Resources

In this episode Shannon sits down with Nadine Spencer, CEO of the Black Business Professional Association, to discuss her own entrepreneurial journey as a black woman including unique obstacles and opportunities, how we can close the funding gaps out there for black entrepreneurs, some of the key outcomes uncovered in the Rise Up Study researching black women entrepreneurs experiences, and much more.

Past President, and appointed CEO of the Black Business and Professional Association in 2021, Nadine Spencer is an accomplished businesswoman, entrepreneur, and community leader spearheading the organization’s efforts to advance Canada’s Black community through various equity and programming initiatives. Nadine is currently on secondment from her role as CEO at BrandEQ, a global agency specializing in social change marketing, communications, and public relations. There, she rose to prominence in Canadian business by accelerating strategic growth and brand visibility through multi-tiered corporate campaigns for a diverse client portfolio. She also pioneered BrandEQ’s cultural sensitivity arm, BrandEQ Black, which works with a variety of socially conscious organizations to examine racial biases in advertising and marketing. Her proprietary “People Matter” strategy continues to generate long-term value for clients and effect change in society.

A dedicated Black community champion, she has devoted her life to fighting discrimination, battling poverty, advancing women’s education, and advocating for equality for women and girls of colour. She was acknowledged for her philanthropic and societal contributions in the recently published book, 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women, and she has received numerous accolades, including the Harry Jerome Business Award and the United Nations Volunteer Award. In 2020, she was named CGA Businesswoman of the Year.

Resources

In this episode, Shauna and Shannon sit down to discuss 5 strategies that you can implement to find new revenue streams for your business. Identifying new revenue streams in your business is very important as it can not only generate more income and help protect your business from being reliant upon a single source of income, but it also allows you to be more confident in the future growth of your business.

If you’re looking to diversify your income streams in your business but are not sure how or what resources are available to help, then this episode is for you! Listen in to learn 5 tips on creating new revenue streams in your business, why diversifying your income streams is so important, and ways to reduce your costs & increase income in your business.

Resources

In this episode Shannon sits down with Victoria Bennett, Founder and CEO of The Crowdfunding Hub, to discuss everything around crowdfunding from what it is and how it works, to the different types of crowdfunding and which one is right for you as a business owner. She also shares what it is that makes a crowdfunding campaign successful and advice for women looking to crowdfund.

A strategic marketer by training, she has over 25 years of marketing experience and has worked on many major brands including Ariel, Pampers, ENMAX and TD. She was a co-founder of an oil and gas service company that had a successful exit to Schlumberger. Her startup and marketing experience helps her support companies raising capital in North America and Europe.

Victoria loves the democratization of capital that comes with crowdfunding, allowing businesses access to capital, and allowing the population access to invest in private companies. She ran her first successful crowdfund campaign over nine years ago, a long time in crowdfunding years. As an Ambassador for the National Crowdfunding and Fintech Association, she has sought to raise awareness of crowdfunding. She is regularly called upon to speak on crowdfunding, most notably at the Global Crowdfunding Conference on women in crowdfunding. Working with the Impact Hub in Calgary she launched The Crowdfunding Hub in 2019 to provide education and self service tools for all types of crowdfunding, from donations and rewards to equity. In 2022, she expanded The Crowdfunding Hub to offer a Crowdfunding for Authors course, to support authors raise the funds to professionally launch their books.

Resources

Connect with Victoria

Website:

In this episode, Shauna and Shannon sit down to discuss 5 tips for improving your financial resilience. Being resilient means the ability to get back up when you fall; so what does financial resilience mean and how can you build upon it? We share the answers to all these questions, giving you tangible tips on how to do so.

Resilience is especially important today because the business environment is becoming more dynamic and unpredictable.  We’ve been through 2 tough years and entrepreneurs are dealing with a lot, including rising inflation, which means the cost of doing business is increasing. But, how do you manage this as a business owner? Listen in to learn where to start, and how you can make building your financial resilience fun & easy!

Resources

Sponsor

In this episode, Shannon will sit down with Charlene SanJenko, an Impact Producer and Media Visionary. Charlene leads Turtle Island's only Indigenous-owned and female-led media impact agency. reGEN's media is looking to shift how advertising dollars are spent and bring more investment to transformative stories that deliver target returns. We discuss the role media plays in shifting our future’s narrative, how money and finance fit into the change, what financial lessons she has learned through her entrepreneurial journey and more.

Former national marketing manager of a private investment services firm, two-term politician, and competitive athlete + performance coach, Charlene is a two-time Indigenous Founder, media visionary, and artist of impact dedicated to unlocking human potential to live, lead, and heal with regenerative media to mobilize impact. As a natural-born leader and community economic development enthusiast, Charlene is a bridge between two cultures in our country. From the Splatsin tribe, the most southern tribe of the Shuswap Nation in British Columbia, Charlene now resides on the beautiful Sunshine Coast, the traditional territory of the Squamish (skwxwú7mesh) First Nations.

reGEN media is a first-in-market regenerative media agency, specializing in innovative finance for transformative stories that yield target returns using a matched-funds model with progressive brand partnerships and impact investment. Charlene believes that impact media will follow in the footsteps of impact investing in this decade. reGEN’s goal is to harness the exponential influence of media, our generation’s most powerful trajectory-shifting vehicle, to shift our future’s narrative.

Resources

Connect with Charlene

In this episode, Shauna and Shannon sit down to discuss 5 financial goals to set you up in 2023. With a new year, comes new goals for yourself and your business. But, did you know that 25% of people give up their new years resolution within the first week? Shannon and Shauna are going to share their tips for making realistic financial goals you can stick with, and how to create a plan in order to do so!

Listen in to learn why financial goals are so important to make, how to consistently keep track of them, creating a plan to achieve your financial goals and examples of financial goals you can make for your business. Start the new year off right with these 5 key tips for setting your financial goals in 2023!

Resources

Sponsor

In this episode, Shauna and Shannon sit down to discuss the highlights of 2022 and what they're looking forward to most in the new year. As co-founders of The Finance Cafe, they discuss some of the most notable episodes that stand out from Season 2 of the podcast, fascinating statistics from the year, behind the scene moments of the podcast, and details about their financial literacy program for women entrepreneurs. Looking back on such a successful year at The Finance Cafe, Shannon and Shauna want to thank all of you for supporting the podcast and business!

Share your business and finance success stories with us on social media by tagging us at @thefinancecafeofficial so we can celebrate all the milestones accomplished this year.

Tune in again on January 8th, 2023 for Season 3 of The Finance Cafe Podcast!

Resources

Sponsor

In this episode Shauna will sit down with Amal Assad, Entrepreneur & Business Consultant, to discuss her top tips for helping entrepreneurs with their ongoing financial management including saving, taxes, subscriptions & more, backing up your financial/proprietary data, and budgeting as a business owner.

Amal is a CPA with over 20 years of experience serving small business owners with their accounting, tax, and planning needs. During her 21-year tenure with a boutique accounting firm, Amal supported business owners and incorporated professionals through various aspects of the business cycle, from start-up to sale of their business. During this time, Amal developed a strength and passion for connecting with clients and supporting them with their unique needs. Her journey led her to establish her accounting firm serving small businesses and their owners. Recently, Amal obtained a Certificate in Advanced Financial Planning and is pursuing the financial planning certification through the FP Canada Institute, allowing her to address client needs using a more holistic approach. Outside of the office, Amal is a mom to 3 amazing kids, who inspire her daily to challenge herself, learn, and grow.

Her business, Square One, bridges a gap in traditional accounting practices through a more personalized, collaborative, and holistic approach to overall economic well-being. As small business owners, the quality, accuracy, and, more importantly, understanding of financial information serves as a basis and a foundation for all of our decision-making. This foundation was the inspiration behind our name ~ Square One.

Resources

Connect with Amal

In this episode, Shauna will sit down with LuAnne Morrow, Intellectual Property Lawyer at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP to discuss what intellectual property is, how to protect your IP, and why it’s important. Learn about the difference between a patent, trademark, industrial design, copyright and trade secret, and everything you need to know about protecting them in your business.

As a lawyer of over 20 years, called to the Bar in Alberta and California LuAnne has advised entrepreneurs on how to protect their intellectual property and grow the value of these assets from start-up through exit. Her expertise in trademarks, copyright and patent licensing, transactional work and dispute resolution make her uniquely positioned to guide business owners with a variety of IP issues.  She was recently named Best Lawyers In Canada - Lawyer of the Year for IP Law in Calgary and has been selected by Best Lawyers, Managing IP and World IP Review and other ranking publications as a leader in her field.  She contributes to several publications on IP and is a frequent presenter at conferences, most recently for the American Bar Association and Intellectual Property Institute of Canada. She has also served on non-profit boards including the National Music Centre.

LuAnne has a passion for working with women business owners to accomplish their goals and empower them with knowledge of legal issues. From her own experience being the only women in the room for most meetings to working with teams of women lawyers and clients she has seen first hand how women helping women makes change happen.

Resources

Connect with LuAnne

In this episode Shauna will sit down with Anna Sinclair, an award-winning entrepreneur, early-stage investor and CEO of Total Mom Inc, to discuss the important conversations women entrepreneurs should have when entering into business with a partner, considerations to make when choosing a business partner, key people to connect with when starting your business, and much more.

Anna produced Canada’s largest holistic festival for moms called “The Total Mom Show” in partnership with some of North America’s largest brands. Recognized as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women In Canada, top 50 influential women leaders, and Women of Influence, Anna has been featured in Forbes both as a contributor and Business Council member.

Anna grew a massive community network of moms juggling motherhood and business an online e-learning education community platform that helps women grow start and grow their businesses with a focus on growing social and financial capital through a profitable and sustainable business model.

Today, Total Mom has an annual reach of 24M + in Canada & US and supports ambitious founders through a community of 20k+ moms making it known as one of the fastest-growing online professional networks of mom entrepreneurs.

Her experience working with over 350+ brands gives her the knowledge and experience to touch any aspect of a  project from top to bottom. She secured over 3 million in sponsorship dollars to date through her firm Sinclair Creative Agency Inc. where she advises both individuals and consumer lifestyle brands on branding and business strategy, content marketing, and asset development.

Resources

Connect with Anna

In this episode, Shauna will sit down with Milena Radakovic, a Canadian Ambassador of the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization of Canada. With Women's Entrepreneurship Day taking place on November 19th, we will be discussing what WEDO Canada does, why it’s important to celebrate women entrepreneurs, key items to consider when entering entrepreneurship, many resources that are available, and much more.

Milena Radakovic is the President and Owner of Nexus Exhibits Ltd., which has grown into one of western Canada's best visual branding solutions companies for exhibits, events, and environments over the last 40 years. Throughout her 20+ years of professional experience, her love for small companies, trade exhibitions, and graphic marketing has grown.

She is a member and Global Ambassador of the Entrepreneurs Organisation (EO), past board member of Organization of Women In International Trade (OWIT) and Women in Leadership Foundation (WIL). Milena’s commitment and passion for this cause was constantly in focus as she helped lead WIL to deliver innovative programming to thousands of women across Canada.  She was awarded “Presidents Volunteer Champion” Award by (WIL) in 2016,  and University of Calgary’s WRC Distinction Alumna award. She received the “Business Leader in Calgary Award in 2018, and Calgary Influential Women in Business Award in 202o, for her professional accomplishments, influence and business community involvement. In 2019, she was appointed the Canada Ambassador to (WEDO) Women Entrepreneurship Day Organization, celebrated at the United Nations, with a mission to alleviate poverty by empowering, educating and supporting women in business worldwide and with that honour she started the WEDO Canada Foundation with the goal to provide $1 Million in Scholarships to aspiring female entrepreneurs.  She was also awarded Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100  by WXN, recognizing outstanding women across Canada who advocate for workforce diversity and inspire.

Resources

Connect with Milena

Twitter: @milenarada

In this episode Shauna will sit down with Brooke Harley, Founder & CEO of ClassRebel, to discuss everything entrepreneurs need to know about fundraising. ClassRebel is building a new breed of education company – modern skillsets – taught live – affordable to all – available to all.

Before launching ClassRebel, Brooke Harley raised $32 million for her VC fund from 50 consumer industry founders, CEOs, and executives. She has evaluated hundreds of early stage companies in the consumer space.  Prior to her fund, Brooke worked as lululemon athletica’s Head of Business Development and International Operations, and prior to lululemon was an M&A attorney.  Passionate about companies with strong core values that inspire the world, Brooke has invested in and advised early-stage companies including Native Shoes, Cotopaxi and LiveKindly.

Brooke holds a J.D. from Osgoode Hall and an M.B.A from Ivey Business School at Western University.  Brooke currently resides in Vancouver and enjoys utilizing her pilot’s license for a literal bird’s-eye view of the city.

Resources

Connect with ClassRebel

In this episode Shauna will sit down with Brianna Blaney and Aria Hahn, Co-founders of Pocketed, to discuss what entrepreneurs and business owners should know about accessing grants. Pocketed’s mission is to eliminate financial barriers for businesses. They thrive on simplifying access to capital. Thier user-focused platform was built to make funding your business a smooth, intuitive journey. In three minutes, make an account and their intelligent grant matching platform will help you find, and apply to, the right funding programs for your business.

As an experienced founder, Brianna co-founded Pocketed to level the playing field, helping Canadian businesses easily access over $5.9B annually in government funding including grants, tax credits, and other business incentives. To date, more than 7,500 companies have used Pocketed to apply for over $80M in government funding. Together with her team, Brianna is on a mission to eliminate barriers for businesses. Brianna is recognized as an Emerging Leader by The Peak and 30 Under 30 by BC Business.

Aria is passionate about data and believes that combined with intelligent statistical and computational technologies, data hold the answers to many burgeoning questions facing multiple industries today. Aria has built tech to solve technical challenges for multiple industries and is now helping to scale technology for Pocketed, a company focused on democratizing access to over $5.9B annually in grant funding in Canada. Since 2021, Pocketed has been named a 2021 ‘Emerging Rocket (ICT)', featured in The Globe & Mail, interviewed by CBC Radio, and recognized as a Fast Growing BC Business by The Peak.

Resources

Connect with Pocketed

In this episode Shannon will sit down with Meryl Kaye De Leon, the Founder & Managing Partner of PERA Growth Hub, a financial services and consulting firm based in Vancouver, BC. They will be discussing what access to capital really means & why it’s one of the biggest barriers for entrepreneurs, how gender and other identities play a role in accessing capital, common forms of financing and considerations to think about for each, plus much more.

Meryl started PERA to fill the gap between the flow of capital to entrepreneurs, business owners, and founders that need it most. Access to capital can either make or break businesses, and PERA’s mission is to democratize the process and assist entrepreneurs in securing the right sources of capital for their business. As a multidisciplinary executive, Meryl has held various roles in marketing, business operations, and most recently as a Director of Finance.

Over her career, Meryl has led teams of all sizes from small start-up environments to entire departments for large publicly traded companies listed on the London Stock Exchange (FTSE100) and the Toronto Stock Exchange. Meryl is passionate about finance and start-up success, currently lending her time as a Committee Member and Mentor to various organizations within the community. Meryl earned her MBA with a major in Accounting from Syracuse University in New York, and was named one of the Top Female Founders to Watch in 2022.

.

Resources

Connect with Meryl

In this episode Shannon will sit down with Amy Siu, Manager of the Entrepreneurship Center at BDC, to discuss what you should be looking for in a banker as an entrepreneur, how to build a relationship with a banker, the 3 C’s of credit, what to know about accessing loans, and more. Be prepared for your next meeting with the bank by listening to this episode!

Amy Siu’s Chinese name is Yin Ling, named after a Swallow, a bird representing joy, hope & love.  She is a visible minority and also an Ambassador for Diversity.  She has over 25 years of experience in working with small & medium size business owners. Her current role at BDC is Manager of Small business - leading a team of small business account managers based out of GTA North.

Resources

Connect with BDC

In this episode Shannon will sit down with Karen Bird, Investment Advisor with RBC Dominion Securities, to discuss the important role our business plays in our financial future. Karen will share insights and advice on the importance of aligning our personal and business financial goals, why being financially independent is vital for our health & wellness, gender differences when it comes to money, and much more.

Karen knows that not everyone enjoys or knows how to deal with investing decisions which means that many of us don’t give our financial lives the attention and planning it deserves. Which is why she’s built a career around building relationships with people in all stages of their journey with money from Entrepreneurs, to Executives, Professionals, Retirees, Wealth Builders, and beyond.

Karen is a leader in the financial services sector and an award-winning professional who’s won prestigious awards including: the Influential Women of Northern Ontario Aboriginal Leadership Award, Athena Leadership Award and the Regional Presidents Diversity Leadership Award.

Resources

Connect with Karen

In this episode Shauna will sit down with Ellen Rogin, Speaker, Money Expert, and NYT Bestselling Author, to discuss how gratitude can impact not only how we live our personal lives but also how we run our business. Ellen will be sharing insights into how gratitude relates to our decision-making, our money mindset, and our overall happiness, along with giving tips on how you can start your own gratitude practice.

Ellen Rogin, CPA, CFP, and Abundance Activist, has made it her life’s work to educate, counsel, and guide people to grow their prosperity and to use it as a force for good in their lives and in the world. She is the co-author of NY Times best-seller, Picture Your Prosperity: Smart Money Moves to Turn Your Vision into Reality. Ellen is a TEDx presenter, and her work has been quoted in such national publications as The New York Times, Money, Time.com, Forbes.com, and The Huffington Post.

Ellen consults and speaks across the globe on creating success and abundance. She combines her deeply credentialed experience as a former financial advisor with her intuitive abilities to guide people to a clearer understanding of what they can do to enhance their relationship with money, identify their money strengths, and chart an inspired path to reaching their financial and business goals.

Resources

Connect with Ellen

In this episode Shannon will sit down with Tara Adams, Founder of Abridge Consulting and Workplace Mental Health Specialist to discuss how our financial wellness and mental health are connected, why it’s so difficult to talk about money, why financial stress is found to be higher in women than men, what mental wellness warning signs to look out for & tips for building financial wellness as an entrepreneur.

Tara founded Abridge Consulting based on a simple, but not easy, goal - to get more people, more help, sooner. Tara believes we can all learn how to be a bridge between people struggling with their mental health and getting them the support they need and deserve. Abridge Consulting clients are organizations and teams who are ready to invest in their people, culture, and bottom line.

​​

With a strong background in learning and facilitation and a passion for workplace mental health, Tara spent several years as a Corporate Wellness Manager. During that time, she championed workplace mental health and overall employee total health for 6,000 employees by building enterprise-wide strategies for mental, physical, emotional, and financial wellness. The results of her workplace mental health training program were closely measured and outperformed similar organizations across Canada positioning her as an industry leader in workplace mental health.

​

Tara calls herself a “relatable” role model who does the best she can to invest in her own mental, physical and sleep health but like most of us, she knows she can always do more. She’s a busy working mom of two, a previous semi-competitive tennis player and has big plans to conquer the amateur senior’s tennis tour someday.

​

Resources

Connect with Tara