Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurship

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 84, Heather is joined by Idunnu Okuola, the Principal Consultant of IWEZ Consulting, who is a data scientist, AI and ML engineer. Idunnu shares her journey from statistics and biostatistics into artificial intelligence, and her passion for making AI accessible to small and mid-sized businesses. She explains the fundamentals of AI, common myths, including the belief that AI is only for large companies and how businesses can identify good candidates for automation. Heather and Idunnu both discuss practical applications such as customer service, employee training and onboarding, as well as the importance of ethical oversight in AI use. Idunnu also shares her excitement about the rapid evolution of AI and the new jobs and opportunities it will create. To learn more about IWEZ Consulting or to book a free consultation, please visit: https://iwezconsulting.ca.

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 83, Heather is joined by Jacqueline Jacek, Founder and Coconista of JACEK Chocolate Couture. Jacqueline shares her journey from working a corporate job to launching a fashion-inspired chocolate company that started in her basement. She reflects on the early challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of team and branding, and how she balances creativity with business growth. Together, Heather and Jacqueline dive into the science and artistry of chocolate-making, managing seasonality and the impact of global supply chain disruptions. Jacqueline also previews two big upcoming projects: the co-launch of a new product line called MYCAO—made from mushrooms and cacao, and the opening of a new retail location. To learn more about JACEK Chocolate Couture, visit https://www.jacekchocolate.com.

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 82, Heather is joined by Sarah Baptiste, CEO of ArrKann Trailer & RV, a third-generation, family-owned business with five locations across Alberta. Sarah shares how she unexpectedly found her path in the family business and how she now leads with a focus on building a strong, communicative culture. Together, Heather and Sarah discuss the complexities of working with family, the value of structure in decision-making and how Sarah balances business growth with the lifestyle that defines the RV community. To learn more about ArrKann Trailer & RV, visit https://www.arrkannrv.com. 

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 81, Heather is joined by Judyanna Yu, Managing Partner of One Six 8 Ventures, a global venture capital (VC) fund with partners in the United States, Singapore and Shanghai. Judyanna discusses how the fund was built in response to a gap in Canada's VC landscape, particularly in health care, and how the team is working to fund and scale early-stage medical device companies. She also speaks to their commitment to investor education, including demystifying VC terms, timelines and industry challenges, while helping others identify high-potential opportunities in the health care space. To learn more about One Six 8 Ventures, visit https://onesix8ventures.com/. 

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 80, Heather speaks with Julie Savard-Shaw, Executive Director of The Prosperity Project—a national charity that works to advance economic empowerment for women in Canada by promoting gender equity, inclusive workplaces and opportunities for underrepresented groups across industries. Julie shares how her own career transition shaped her commitment to removing systemic barriers for women. She also highlights the organization’s mentorship program and data-driven approach to driving inclusive economic growth. To learn more—or to get involved as a mentor—visit https://canadianprosperityproject.ca/.

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 79, Jana Boyko, Author and CEO of Bedside Business Plan, shares her journey from corporate life to purpose-driven entrepreneurship, and how she now helps women embrace the path to business ownership with confidence and clarity. Jana discusses how she transformed a traditional business plan into a guided journal, making entrepreneurship feel less intimidating and more accessible, especially for those just starting out. Heather and Jana discuss the importance of mental health in navigating an entrepreneurial journey. To learn more about Bedside Business Plan, visit https://www.bedsidebusinessplan.com/employee-to-entrepreneur.

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 78, Heather is joined by Erin Davis, Founder and Lead Inclusion Strategist of Erin Davis Co., a consulting practice that supports organizations in advancing their equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) efforts. Erin shares her personal mission to increase representation in leadership and help build workplaces that better reflect the diversity of our communities. Together, Heather and Erin discuss how early-stage companies can embed inclusion into their foundations, how Canadian policy shapes EDI efforts and why inclusive leadership is key to driving innovation and long-term impact. To learn more about Erin Davis Co. visit https://www.erindavisco.ca/.

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 77, Heather speaks with Michelle Brick, Founder and CEO of Eleve Business Solutions Inc. Drawing on 15 years of experience at a growing oil and gas company, Michelle shares how she now helps entrepreneurs avoid costly mistakes by implementing tailored business systems and processes. As the business landscape continues to evolve rapidly, Michelle highlights the importance of adaptable strategies and bringing big-company thinking to smaller operations. To learn more about Eleve Business Solutions Inc., visit https://elevesolutions.ca.

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 76, Heather is joined by Jennifer Keith, Co-Founder of EPIC Market. Jennifer delves into her transition from a career in human resources to co-founding a community-focused food hall that equips local chefs to open restaurants with less risk and greater impact. Jennifer discusses how entrepreneurship can be a powerful tool for innovation and operational creativity, especially in the food and hospitality space. She reflects on lessons learned, the importance of entrepreneurial networks and how she and her co-founder are designing spaces that blend food and entertainment to foster connection. To learn more about EPIC Market, visit https://www.epicmarket.ca.