Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurship

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107

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Aug 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

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 .

June 24, 202628 min

Women, leadership, and legacy in a family-owned construction 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 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 .

June 10, 202629 min

Balancing medicine and entrepreneurship while inspiring through skincare 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 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 .

May 27, 202636 min

Building a capital markets powerhouse with strategic leadership 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 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.

May 13, 202645 min

Navigating growth and leadership in mental healthcare

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.

April 29, 202632 min

Episode 99: Embracing life's possibilities with intentionality and connection

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.