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 87, Heather is joined by Gail Stepanik-Keber, Chief Catalyst, Strategic Marketing and Alliances at the University Hospital Foundation. Gail shares her journey from two decades in financial services to governance, entrepreneurship, and now healthcare philanthropy. She explains why systems thinking is a hidden superpower for women leaders, and how the Foundation, whose purpose is to continuously seek, inspire and lead bold solutions to seemingly insurmountable challenges and ignite new discoveries in health is using its IGNITE 2030 strategy to tackle “wicked problems” like dementia and cardiac care. Gail also highlights the power of partnerships and storytelling to drive real-world health outcomes and inspire the next generation of leaders. To learn more about the University Hospital Foundation, visit https://www.givetouhf.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 86, Heather is joined by Sheetal Mehta, an experienced Board Member, Founder, Entrepreneur, and two-time TEDx speaker. Sheetal shares her journey from arriving in Canada as a refugee, to leading global venture capital initiatives at Microsoft, to founding Shanti Life, a microfinance non-profit focused on empowering vulnerable women through financial literacy, safe sanitation and small business creation.

Sheetal discusses her belief in “technology for good,” the importance of smart capital, and her work in supporting women-led businesses through mentorship and investment. Heather and Sheetal also reflect on resilience, the value of strong partnerships and why financial inclusion remains essential in 2025. To learn more about Sheetal Mehta and her work, connect with her on LinkedIn. To explore Shanti Life and its mission, visit https://shantilife.org/

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 85, Heather is joined by Jennifer Griffin Schaeffer, Co-founder and Board Chair of Onlea, a Canadian company dedicated to removing barriers to knowledge through innovative online learning experiences. Jennifer shares her journey from launching one of the first digital media startups in New York in the 1990s, to leading Onlea’s growth as a hub for interactive, learner-focused education.

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.