Advertise on podcast: Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurship

(long): Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In this episode, Heather welcomes Megan Hunter, Founder of Hunter Health Creative. Megan shares how her career in health promotion and psychological health and safety shaped her approach to creating better workplaces. She reflects on the experiences that led her to study Canada’s national standard for psychological health and safety and support organizations seeking to improve workplace well-being. The conversation explores how leaders shape the human conditions of work, the influence of power dynamics and the importance of designing systems that give people greater agency, flexibility and quality of life. Megan also discusses the value of curiosity, connection and mentorship, as well as why meaningful change requires organizations to integrate psychological health and safety across their operations rather than treating it as a stand-alone initiative. To learn more about Megan and Hunter Health Creative, visit https://www.hunterhealthcreative.ca/.

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In this episode, Heather welcomes Ceone Rivers, Opportunity Creator at BubbleUP Marketing. Ceone reflects on her career in marketing, her passion for helping clients uncover opportunities through a discovery-first approach, and the importance of aligning marketing strategies with business goals rather than relying on tactical solutions alone. The conversation explores the culture and values that have made BubbleUP a rewarding place to build a career, including curiosity, collaboration, continuous learning and a commitment to results. Ceone also shares her views on mentorship, servant leadership and empowering people to develop their strengths. The discussion concludes with an examination of how artificial intelligence is transforming marketing and search, and why human expertise, trustworthiness and authentic content remain essential for organizations looking to stand out in an increasingly digital world. Learn more about Ceone Rivers and BubbleUP Marketing at their website.

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In this episode, Heather welcomes Navin Sidhu, Partner at Alair Homes St. Albert and Founder of Fab Hab Interiors, to discuss her journey from civil engineering to entrepreneurship in residential construction and design. Navin shares how stepping away from engineering to raise her family led to an unexpected career pivot, the growth of her interior design business, and ultimately a partnership with Alair Homes. She reflects on the value of calculated risk-taking, mentorship, lifelong learning and building diverse professional networks, while offering practical advice for women pursuing careers in STEM and entrepreneurship. Navin also explores Backfill, an innovative housing initiative focused on sustainable infill development, intergenerational living and creating stronger, more connected communities through thoughtful design and collaboration. To learn more about Alair St. Albert, visit their website.

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In this episode, Heather welcomes Dr. Ayana James and Megan Luu, co-founders of Straad. Ayana and Megan share the personal and professional journeys that led them to build a strategy and leadership advisory firm focused on helping organizations navigate complexity and change. They discuss the importance of developing resilient leaders, fostering organizational readiness, and creating cultures that embrace learning and adaptation. The conversation explores entrepreneurship, leadership development, and the challenges of scaling a professional services business while staying true to its purpose. Ayana and Megan also reflect on the role of strategic foresight, the impact of emerging technologies such as AI, and their vision for supporting the next generation of leaders through the Straad Institute. To learn more about Straad, visit their website.

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In this episode, Heather welcomes Shani Gwin, Métis entrepreneur and founder of pipikwan pêhtâkwan and wâsikan kisewâtisiwin. Shani discusses how her lived experience, curiosity and commitment to Indigenous advocacy inspired her to build both an Indigenous public relations agency and an AI-driven technology company. The conversation explores the opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence, the importance of Indigenous voices in technology governance and the role businesses can play in creating more inclusive systems. Shani also reflects on leadership, entrepreneurship, navigating barriers to capital as an Indigenous woman founder and how ADHD has shaped her approach to innovation, resilience and problem-solving. To learn more about pipikwan pêhtâkwan and wâsikan kisewâtisiwin visit their websites https://www.pipikwanpehtakwan.com/ and https://www.wasikankisewatisiwin.ca/ .

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In this episode, Heather welcomes Rachel Mielke, founder and CEO of Hillberg & Berk. Rachel reflects on her entrepreneurial roots and the journey from designing jewelry at her kitchen table in Regina to leading a nationally recognized Canadian brand. She discusses the balance between creativity and business leadership, lessons learned from opening stores across the country, and how the company adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rachel also shares insights on building a strong community around a brand, developing confidence as a founder, and creating a sustainable approach to growth. Along the way, she highlights memorable milestones, including appearing on Dragon's Den, creating jewelry for Queen Elizabeth II, and partnering with Team Canada. Throughout the conversation, Rachel emphasizes the value of trusting your instincts, investing in relationships, and building a business that supports both professional success and personal well-being. To find out more about Hillberg & Berk, visit their website.

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In this episode, Heather welcomes Dawn Harsch entrepreneur, board member and former CEO of ExquisiCare. Dawn reflects on the rewards and challenges of creating an innovative senior care model, leading a growing organization through periods of change and ultimately guiding the company through a successful sale. The conversation explores the business side of mergers and acquisitions, the importance of finding the right strategic partner and why founders should think carefully about their next chapter long before a deal closes.To learn more about Dawn, visit her website.

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In this episode, Heather welcomes Barbara Engelbart McKenzie, CEO and Founder of Ignition CEO, to discuss her entrepreneurial journey and her work helping founders scale their businesses. Barbara shares how her experience as an entrepreneur, corporate leader, and ecosystem builder led her to launch Ignition CEO to address the support gap faced by companies moving from startup to growth stage. She discusses the challenges founders face when transitioning from technical experts to strategic leaders, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, building strong teams, and recognizing when to bring in leadership support. The conversation explores the role of fractional talent, strategic planning, and trusted advisors in helping businesses scale effectively, while also examining Canada's productivity challenges and the need for greater adoption of AI and innovation. Barbara also reflects on the value of taking calculated risks, leveraging technology responsibly and building companies that create meaningful economic and social impact. Throughout the episode, she reinforces the idea that founders do not need to do everything themselves and that sustainable growth comes from aligning people, systems, and vision. To learn more about Ignition CEO, visit their website.

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In this episode, Heather welcomes Marion Fyshe, Vice President of Business Development at McNish Steel, a family-owned rebar fabrication shop in Edmonton, to discuss her decision to join the family business and the factors that contribute to its success. Marion shares her path from studying philosophy at McGill with plans for law school to joining McNish Steel in 2013, emphasizing that remaining in a family enterprise requires an intentional and ongoing choice. She reflects on the importance of managing family and professional dynamics through purposeful communication, including the value of regular family therapy. She highlights the long-term perspective needed to sustain a multigenerational business. The conversation also explores how a relationship-driven approach to business development fuels growth, alongside insights into McNish Steel’s core values and commitment to innovation, while reinforcing Marion’s practical advice to focus on getting things done and building trust along the way. To learn more about McNish Steel visit their website.

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In this episode, Heather welcomes Dr. Stephanie Liu, family physician and founder and CEO of Dr. Mom Skincare, to discuss her path into medicine, including early setbacks that led to a Columbia University master’s in nutrition, and how her patients’ eczema concerns inspired an evidence-based, hypoallergenic skincare line using beta-glucan developed with University of Alberta-linked technology. Stephanie explains eczema triggers in Alberta, the company’s early growth through word of mouth, pharmacies and dermatology clinics, and expansion from a bath product to a cream with future lip balm and face cream plans. She also reflects on regulatory learnings, decision-making pressures, balancing multiple roles, and the value of compartmentalizing time and building operational support.To find out more about Dr. Mom visit their website.

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In this episode, Heather welcomes Deborah Honig founder and president of Adelaide Capital, an investor relations firm focused on small to mid-cap Canadian-listed equities, to discuss building a firm from scratch and navigating capital markets cycles. Deborah shares her Bay Street background, why she launched Adelaide in 2017, and how the firm grew organically while managing market-driven volatility, including losing 70% of clients early in COVID and pivoting quickly into webinars and a social media/digital marketing division. She outlines how Adelaide evaluates clients, prioritizing strong, honest management teams, clear communication, and realistic goal, offers guidance for companies considering going public and explains why her team became all-female without setting out to do so. To find out more about Adelaide Capital visit their website.

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In this episode, Heather welcomes Kim Long, a registered psychologist and former educator who grew Dóchas Psychological Services from a solo practice into a multidisciplinary clinic with 10–12 permanent practitioners. Kim explains Dóchas focus on complex trauma and “elite client care,” its sanctuary-like approach, and plans for the Dóchas Resilience Foundation to expand access to mental healthcare. She reflects on scaling during COVID, navigating imposter syndrome, and learning through unplanned growth. Heather connects these themes to legal and business decision-making under pressure. Kim shares how she now balances leadership and client work, builds shared leadership capacity, and views imposter syndrome as a useful warning signal rather than a barrier. To find out more about Dóchas Psychological visit their website.

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In this episode, Heather welcomes Rebecca Saunders, a family physician practicing in Alberta, to discuss her book project, Eight Saturdays, inspired by her friend Leslie’s terminal cancer diagnosis and her question: with limited time, what do you do with “eight Saturdays”? Rebecca reflects on 30+ years in longitudinal family medicine in Canada and the U.S., noting the rewards of long-term patient relationships, the burden of paperwork (eased by AI scribes), and differences between public and private healthcare access. She shares how Leslie chose candid, joyful connection over focusing on illness, and how the “eight Saturdays” lens can help people prioritize what matters, including addressing “unfun” essentials like wills and insurance so they can spend time with fewer regrets. Rebecca plans to launch the book in May, with worksheets and workshops.

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In this episode, Heather welcomes Rebecca Kacaba, co-founder and CEO of DealMaker, who shares her path from practicing securities law to building a digital capital-raising platform. Kacaba explains how Dealmaker streamlines disclosure and diligence through templated, SEC-approved documents, supports raises from under $5M up to $75M, and sees repeat investments from engaged retail supporters. She discusses industries and founder traits that perform well, barriers to similar models in Canada, and the impact DealMaker has had ($2B transacted for 900+ businesses). Kacaba also offers entrepreneurial advice on solving real problems, shipping MVPs, and building resilience and adaptability, emphasizing the founder’s role in creating momentum, learning quickly from paying customers, and evolving through both the highs and low points of entrepreneurship. To learn more about DealMaker, visit https://www.dealmaker.tech/.

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In this episode, Heather is joined by Dr. Jodi Abbott, President and CEO of the University Hospital Foundation. Dr. Abbott discusses developing bold strategies, aligning them with organizational values, and creating a governance structure to support the plan. She shares her experiences in complex environments in health and education, emphasizing the importance of vision, flexibility, and adaptability amid constant change. Dr. Abbott reflects on her career, from her role at NorQuest College, where she led a significant transformation, to her current position at the University Hospital Foundation. She explains that leadership in both sectors requires navigating complexity, managing ambiguity, and continuously adjusting to new circumstances. They also delve into crafting strategic plans, the evolving concept of change management, and the role of values and behaviors in driving organizational success. To learn more about the University Hospital Foundation’s work, visit their website at https://givetouhf.ca.