Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurship

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102

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Jun 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

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.

April 15, 202636 min

Navigating entrepreneurship and technology to redefine capital markets

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/.

April 1, 202652 min

Episode 97: Embracing the power of transformative leadership in uncertain times

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.

March 18, 202637 min

Navigating the intersection of leadership, marketing, and authentic client relationships

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 95, Heather welcomes Deborah Farone, CEO of Farone Advisors and former chief marketing officer at Debevoise & Plimpton and Cravath, to discuss building marketing and business development functions in law firms and the shift from traditional media to platforms like LinkedIn. Deborah shares why networking and relationship-building should start early, emphasizing expertise, authenticity, and empathy as foundations of trust and referrals. She explains how lessons from other industries can strengthen professional services marketing, and how firms can adopt AI by training teams to experiment beyond innovation hubs. Deborah also highlights insights from her book Breaking Ground on how successful women lawyers develop business in ways that feel authentic. To learn more about the Deborah Farone and Farone Advisors, visit https://deborahfarone.com/.

March 4, 202638 min

Redefining accounting through feminist leadership

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 95, Heather welcomes Alicia Fowler, founder of MOD Accounting and Rayo Teams. Alicia shares insights from her journey building a values‑aligned, women‑led accounting practice grounded in feminist leadership. She reflects on launching a business during the pandemic, creating flexible and empowering work environments for women, and redefining traditional professional models through authenticity, trust, and modern technology. Alicia also highlights the importance of financial literacy, self‑trust, and embracing personal growth as essential drivers of entrepreneurial success. She discusses how MOD Accounting grew rapidly through a commitment to accessibility and values‑based client relationships, how feminist leadership shaped a supportive culture for her team, and how her second venture, Rayo Teams, leverages cross‑functional expertise to help organizations navigate leadership and operational challenges. To learn more about Mod Accounting, visit the website at Mod Accounting.

February 18, 202647 min

Demonstrating leadership in motion through embracing organizational change

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 94, Heather is joined by Roseanne Carey, Chief Financial Officer of the University Hospital Foundation. They discuss raising capital, managing large organizations, and Roseanne's career evolution from a CPA in public accounting to leading transformative change across industries. The conversation highlights the importance of adaptability, understanding the 'why' behind changes, and aligning organizational goals for effective transformation and sustainability. Additionally, they delve into the concept of venture philanthropy and how the University Hospital Foundation is driving systemic improvements in healthcare through innovative funding and partnerships. Roseanne also shares personal insights on juggling professional and personal responsibilities, as well as the vital role of community and support systems in achieving success. To learn more about the University Hospital Foundation’s work, visit their website at https://givetouhf.ca.

February 4, 202642 min

Bridging gaps and building trust in HR Leadership

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 93, Heather is by Brenda Lynes, founder of Elevating-HR. Brenda shares her journey from accidental entry into HR to founding her consultancy. She discusses the importance of aligning company values, dealing with culture killers, and developing effective leadership skills in organizations without internal HR departments. She emphasizes the need for companies to put people first and the crucial role of communication and understanding in achieving organizational success. Brenda also delves into her experiences with strategic HR interventions and the significance of embodying core values to promote a positive work culture. To learn more about Brenda Lynes and her work, visit her website at https://elevating-hr.ca/.