Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurship

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112

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them.

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60 recent

November 11, 202631 min

Building community is the business

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 Doris Paquette , Vice President of Assets and Capital Management at the YMCA of Northern Alberta. Doris reflects on a career spanning education, affordable housing and community infrastructure, and explains how those experiences shaped her approach to strategic capital planning and purpose-driven leadership. She explores what it means to lead construction and infrastructure from the charitable owner side, where every investment must support both operational needs and community impact. Doris also discusses the importance of explaining the “why,” creating a clear shared vision and engaging teams throughout the full project journey. Drawing on her professional and volunteer leadership experience, she shares lessons about resilience, learning from both positive and difficult experiences, maintaining meaningful professional relationships and empowering others. The conversation offers a practical reminder that successful projects and strong communities are built through collaboration, trust and a commitment to bringing people along. To learn more about the YMCA, visit their website .

October 28, 202629 min

Transforming Canadian hemp into sustainable materials

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 Lelia Lawson , Chief Technology Officer and founder of Zylotex. Lelia traces her path from a childhood love of sewing and science to advanced studies in textile science, explaining how an unexpected introduction to organic chemistry changed the direction of her career. She describes how Zylotex converts agricultural residues, particularly Canadian hemp straw, into lyocell and other advanced materials with potential applications ranging from sustainable consumer products to aerospace and defence. The conversation explores circular-economy principles, the opportunity to rebuild Canadian textile manufacturing and the role of research partnerships in commercializing new technology. Lelia also offers a candid look at entrepreneurship, including the challenge of securing funding for a pre-revenue company, the importance of accelerators and mentors, and the rapid learning that comes with building a business. Her experience highlights the value of listening, staying open to unexpected opportunities and moving forward one step at a time. Learn more about Lelia Lawson and Zylotex at their website: zylotex.ca .

October 14, 202643 min

Building workplaces where people thrive

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/ .

September 30, 202634 min

Creating opportunity through curiosity

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 .

September 16, 202643 min

From engineering to entrepreneurship through strategic risk-taking

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 .

September 2, 202645 min

Building future-ready leaders in a changing world

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 .

August 19, 202649 min

Reimagining AI through Indigenous perspectives

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/ .

August 5, 202639 min

Episode 106: Designing a business for the next 100 years

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 .

July 22, 202633 min

Building with purpose, exiting with intention

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 .

July 8, 202641 min

Scaling businesses through leadership, systems, and innovation

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 .