Michele Romanow
Tech titan Michele Romanow is an engineer and serial entrepreneur who started six companies before her 35th birthday. A “Dragon” on CBC’s hit show Dragons’ Den, Michele is also the co-founder and executive chair of Clearco, the world’s largest e-commerce investor, and one of only 23 fintech unicorns with a female founder.
Prior to co-founding Clearco, Michele co-founded SnapSaves (acquired by American tech giant Groupon), and Buytopia.ca (acquired by Emerge). She is also the co-founder of the Canadian Entrepreneurship Initiative non-profit with Sir Richard Branson, and is the host of the hit Audible Original podcast, The Revisionaries, and has created digital solutions for many of the world’s leading brands, including P&G, Netflix, Starbucks, and Cirque du Soleil.
Honoured with RBC’s Women of Influence Innovation Award in 2021, Michele’s work has been profiled in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fortune, TechCrunch, and The Globe and Mail.
Michele is a director for Vail Resorts, BBTV, and Queen’s School of Business. Previously, she was a director for Freshii, Whistler Blackcomb, SHAD International, and League of Innovators. Renowned for her youthful energy, enthusiasm, and business savvy, Michele serves as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs and women in business everywhere.
Joelle Tomlinson
Joelle Tomlinson is an award-winning journalist, news anchor and public speaker based in Calgary, Alberta.
At the age of 26, Joelle became the youngest ever Black female morning news host in Western Canada, anchoring CTV Morning Live. She quickly became known as a warm, personable and empathetic broadcaster, who combines the art of storytelling with a magnetic on-camera presence. Joelle has appeared on multiple news programs, and has appeared on Global National, CTV National and The Social. Today, she is the community reporter for Global News Calgary.
Joelle is an avid representative for racialized populations, spends time mentoring youth in empowerment programs, and is passionate about changing the narrative around mental health and addictions. When not chasing a story, you can find her lacing up and hitting the trails – she is the 2024 Canadian Ambassador for the Chicago Marathon and hopes to run all six Abott World Marathon Majors her lifetime!
Joshua Morrow
Joshua Morrow joined the cast of The Young and the Restless in 1994, portraying Nicholas Newman, the son of Victor and Nikki Newman (played by Eric Braeden and Melody Thomas Scott).
In 1996, Morrow won a Soap Opera Digest Award for “Outstanding Younger Lead Actor.” He was also nominated for five consecutive Daytime Emmy Awards (1996-2000) in the category of “Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series.” Morrow also starred in the telefilm My Stepson, My Lover opposite Rachel Ward. He is consistently named a favourite male star in daytime television by the top soap opera magazines.
Morrow lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Tobe, their sons Cooper, Crew, and Cash, and daughter, Charlie Jo. Morrow is a star player on several celebrity basketball and softball teams that raise money for charity. One of his favourite charity events is the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celeb Race, in which he has competed three times.
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Jodie Baulkham
Jodie is a licensed teacher, accredited professional life coach, certified grief coach, and certified Leader Character practitioner dedicated to fostering resilience in herself and others while supporting individuals through their grief and healing journeys. Her focus is helping people identify and articulate their needs, redefine their sense of self, and rebuild confidence to find meaning in their new reality.
As the spouse of an RCMP police officer, Jodie has faced unimaginable challenges—losing her first husband in the line of duty while on maternity leave with their 8-month-old and now supporting her second husband as he lives with post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) from his service. She is also a mother to a child who lives with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Jodie’s journey from teacher to leadership and mental health curriculum design specialist to professional coach has made her a champion and advocate for mental health. In her best-selling book, Choosing My Tomorrow: Surviving Murder, Navigating Mental Health, and Harnessing the Power of Choice”, Jodie shares her insights on overcoming traumatic grief, navigating mental health challenges within a family, and the lessons she’s learned along the way.
Vanisha Breault
Vanisha Breault is the founder of the Terminator Foundation, a charitable organization that leverages the transformative power of athletics to revolutionize the lives of those impacted by addiction and mental health challenges. Known as a “Social Justice Warrior” and hailed as a “Champion for many” by CTV News, Vanisha’s work across Alberta and within the Terminator Foundation has made a significant impact.
She is the author of the Amazon bestseller, Ordinary Courage: One Woman’s Story of Overcoming Insurmountable Odds. With over two decades dedicated to advocating for mental health, addiction, and domestic violence issues, Vanisha is a dynamic speaker who encourages vulnerability, introspection, and everyday courage, helping to shift perspectives from judgment to compassion.
Vanisha’s own journey through domestic violence and addiction fuels her commitment to dismantling the shame and stigma surrounding mental health. She continues this important work as the host of Ordinary Courage, a podcast ranked among Canada’s Top 100 Relationship Podcasts.
Vanisha resides in Calgary, Alberta, with her four grown children and grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys sword fights with her grandkids, cheering on Terminator Foundation athletes, and—always—running.
Sarah Kirby
Sarah Kirby has been immersed in the real estate industry for almost ten years now, practicing as a licensed Realtor in Alberta. Watching our market evolve and shift has been challenging. Seeing a gap in the market, she saw this as an opportunity to help more people by adding Airbnb management to her roster. Adding this service has not only assisted regular “first-timer” Airbnb clients.
She has also been able to assist builders who have an abundance of vacant inventory, people with too many Airbnb’s to self manage as well as property management companies who have those “tough to rent” properties. Sarah’s “why” has always been helping people.
She is a huge animal lover and is passionate about creating jobs and opportunities for not only her staff but her clients and their assets. Everything is done with maximum effort and the best possible results.
Mercedes & Anastasia Korngut
Mercedes and Anastasia Korngut are two teen sisters and co-founders of Small Bits of Happiness. Their mission is to help individuals of all ages find more happiness in daily life, build happy habits, and boost parent-child connection. They have reached over four million teens and adults.
As two teens, Mercedes and Anastasia understand firsthand the difficulties of teenagehood, including not only the hormonal changes that tweens and teens undergo, but the added stressors of war, post-pandemic life, and beyond.
The two have been featured on national news and media, spoken at schools and conventions across North America, host the podcast Hack Your Happiness, as well have designed a series of happiness-wellness products for tweens, teens, adults, and schools.
Milena Radakovic
Milena is President and CEO of Nexus Exhibits, Western Canada’s one-stop shop for complete turnkey visual branding services. Aside from being an accomplished entrepreneur, Milena has over 25 years of experience as a transformational branding, marketing and business strategist who has worked with internationally recognized marque clients
After graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business and completing her MBA from Nova Southeastern University, Milena has dedicated herself to being a lifelong learner. She recently finished her ICD.D designation.
Milena’s mission is to alleviate poverty by educating, empowering, supporting and celebrating women. With her Charity ‘WEDO Canada’ she’s working with various government officials to proclaim November 19th as Women’s Entrepreneurship Day in Canada, with a goal to raise funds to give $1 million dollar in scholarships to female student entrepreneurs.
Her commitment has been recognized with awards such as the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada; Business Leader in Calgary; Calgary’s Most Influential Women in Business and others to name a few.
Natasha Bridgemohan
Natasha Bridgmohan has been in business for herself since 2003, and as an immigrant woman of colour, coming from humble beginnings, it’s been a winding road. A colourful journey mixed with detours and bumps, hills and valleys but best of all… the scenery and people she has met along the way have shaped her into the successful woman she is today.
She is an advocate for celebrating and practicing spiritual and cultural diversity both at home and in the office. She brings this deep understanding with her when she addresses her audiences around the globe. She is President and Chief Visionary Officer of The BridgGroup of Companies (TBGOC). She is also a sought-after industry expert and motivational speaker.
She has been invited to speak on television, radio, and online talk shows and has been featured in numerous articles about her dynamic philosophy around financial education. Natasha is the host of the highly viewed and successful Financial Room series on GLOBAL Television Network/CHEX Peterborough. Her mission is to change lives with her natural talent for numbers and undeniable knowledge of the financial industry. When she combines this with her views on a positive mindset, spiritual connection and healthy living she is able to deliver a fresh message of hope, perseverance and tenacity to her audience. She teaches her viewers to focus on the big picture and keep the rest simple. In short, she shows people how to be the Chief Visionary Officer (CVO) of their own life!
Dr. Suhayya Abu-Hakima
Sue is a much awarded serial AI entrepreneur – on her third startup as Co-Founder CEO of Alstari Corporation focussed on AI and security. She had that role in Amika Mobile that focussed on public safety and security , acquired by Genasys, a NASDAQ company.
Sue is a rare woman technology CEO who has a reputation for excellence and innovation. Sue has both a Masters and PhD in AI. As CEO, she provides the vision for her companies and its products.
Sue is a key inventor and innovator of 48 international patents related to AI. Her first company, AmikaNow! launched as a spin-off from NRC government R&D labs and was focussed on AI and automatic content analysis. Its Compliance Business was acquired by Entrust, another NASDAQ company for its secure messaging platform. As a CEO she created hundreds of jobs in AI, software, Security, Messaging, Business Development, Sales, and Operations.
Janine Rogan
Janine Rogan, CPA, is a passionate keynote and TEDx speaker. She is the Founder and CEO of The Wealth Building Academy Inc., and an award winning CPA. Her mission is to educate and empower women to confidently and profitably grow their wealth, through financial feminism – financial equality for all.
Janine has been featured internationally by a number of publications and has delivered keynotes to thousands of individuals and companies around the world. She currently sits on the CPA Alberta Education Foundation board, the board of FESA, and the planning committee of the AICPA Global Women’s Leadership Summit. Janine is pursuing her Master’s in Economic Sustainability through the University of Torrens in Australia.
In spring 2023, Janine released her debut book “The Pink Tax: Dismantling A Financial System Designed To Keep Women Broke” published by Page Two Books. In it, Janine explores the hidden ways that women are held back in our society—from overpriced women’s themed items to the motherhood penalty. It debuted at #1 on Amazon for Feminist Theory books.
Janine is a University of Alberta alumni, born and raised in Edmonton, Canada. She is currently based out of Calgary where she lives with her husband Andrew, son Theodore, and pup Lazer.
Michelle Minke
The Covid Pandemic had more in store for this opera singer turned medium. After giving birth to her still born son-his passing came her awakening. 1 year later, This artist now reaches people’s hearts in a completely different way as an International medium.
Michelle performed operatically throughout Europe and North America before returning to her hometown of Calgary where she was the founder and artistic director of Calgary’s Cowtown Opera for a decade which earned her a place among arts champions.
Accolades include; Top 40-Under-40 by Avenue Magazine, recipient of the Mayor’s Emerging Artist Award, one of Alberta’s 25 Inspiring Artists by AFFA and Cultural Ambassador for the Canadian Women of Inspiration Award by the Universal Women’s Network.
With a heart to serve, she connects those to their loved ones who have crossed over, speaks publicly about her story, holds powerful women’s circles and hosts her Podcast, Diva Chasing the Divine where she interviews inspiring guests and healers, both conventional and non-conventional.
Raven Lacerte
Raven Lacerte is co-founder, with her father, Paul Lacerte, and youth ambassador for the Moose Hide Campaign, a national grassroots organization of men and women working together to end violence against women and children.
The campaign calls on men and boys to come together and fast in a ceremonial setting as a way to promote unity, healing and commitment to a healthier and safer future. A Carrier from the Lake Babine Nation in central British Columbia, Lacerte graduated from the Indigenous Studies Program at Camosun College and is now studying Political Science at the University of Victoria.
In addition to the Moose Hide Campaign, Lacerte serves as youth representative for the British Columbia Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation’s Advisory Council for Indigenous Women. She is also a member of the steering committee for the 4Rs National Youth Movement, a collaborative, youth-led initiative that seeks to connect Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people in a spirit of respect, reciprocity, reconciliation and relevance.
Leanne Mamchur
Author Leanne Mamchur has over 20 years of experience working with private clients as their strategist and portfolio manager. In all of that time, she has only ever met one woman who took the lead in investment decisions in her marriage… ONE?
With the Wealth Confidence series, Leanne is on a mission to empower you. With her relatable and easy to understand voice, she flows her extensive knowledge into ink in these books.
Leanne is a CFA Charterholder (Chartered Financial Analyst), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Financial Management Advisor (FMA) and Master Financial Advisor in Philanthropy (MFA-P).
Originally from Meadow Lake, Sasketchewan, Leanne her husband and their two darling daughters now live in Calgary, Alberta. She enjoys traveling, baking bread, unplugging in the backcountry, snorkeling, tobogganing, biking, creating art and playing the piano.
Natalie Chan
Natalie Chan is the artist and co-founder of Tulip + Oink, a vibrant brand inspired by kawaii culture and ethically made slow-fashion accessories. Driven by a passion for creativity and sustainability, Natalie aspires to cultivate a global community that embraces conscious consumerism.
Some notable achievements, she and her mom Christine (co-founder of Tulip + Oink) were featured on Global News Edmonton. Tulip + Oink has also gained recognition through acceptance into prominent Canadian craft shows, Signatures’ Butterdome Craft Sale (Edmonton, AB) and One of a Kind (Toronto, ON).
Initially Natalie was inspired to use her art to design cute accessories for her two dogs, Bernie & Rei—two silly doodles! Bernie is a wellness dog with CAAWLS, and dressing Bernie up in cute bandanas is a quick way to bring a smile to anyone she meets.
Natalie has a commitment to mental health and the positive impact of having accessibility to art. Drawing from personal experiences, they have used art as a powerful tool for coping and healing. The dedication to mental well-being is at the heart of Tulip + Oink.