Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurship

Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurship, hosted by Heather Barnhouse.

Basic Member

Latest Episodes

How venture capital is driving innovation in health care

How venture capital is driving innovation in health care

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/

Mentorship and data-driven insights transforming the path for women leaders

Mentorship and data-driven insights transforming the path for women leaders

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/.

From employee to entrepreneur: Building with intention

From employee to entrepreneur: Building 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 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.

Building diverse leadership through equity and inclusion

Building diverse leadership through equity and inclusion

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/.

Business optimization insights every small and medium business should know

Business optimization insights every small and medium business should know

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.

Scaling impact through entrepreneurship in food and hospitality

Scaling impact through entrepreneurship in food and hospitality

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.

From idea to impact: The power of storytelling in startup growth

From idea to impact: The power of storytelling in startup growth

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 75, Lauren Epstein, Venture Partner at Storytime Capital and Senior Advisor and Vice President at Epstein Enterprises, shares her journey from law to venture capital and her passion for working with early-stage startups. Lauren dives into what to look for in founders, why storytelling is a critical skill for scaling companies and how venture capital fuels innovation. She shares insights into her investment philosophy and how founders can turn bold ideas into thriving companies. To learn more about Storytime Capital, please visit https://www.storytime.capital/.

What's driving Kitchener's rise as a tech hub in Canada?

What's driving Kitchener's rise as a tech hub in Canada?

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 74, Jennifer Gruber, Interim CEO of Communitech, shares her leadership journey and the role startups play in reshaping Canada's economy. Based in Kitchener—one of the country’s top tech hubs—Jennifer explains how Communitech helps entrepreneurs grow by fostering a supportive environment, connecting founders with essential resources and promoting Canadian IP and talent. Jennifer also shares her vision for building a more connected, thriving tech community for the future. To learn more about Communitech, please visit http://www.communitech.ca/.

Disclaimer: Since the recording of this episode in January 2025, Jennifer Gruber has resumed her role as CFO of Communitech as of April 2025.

Unlocking access to capital and connection for women entrepreneurs

Unlocking access to capital and connection for women entrepreneurs

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 73, Heather speaks with Kirsten Koppang Telford, CEO of The Forum—a national charity that has supported over 18,000 women entrepreneurs across Canada since 2002. Together, they discuss how The Forum is removing barriers to economic well-being for women in business, the power of peer networks in overcoming isolation, and its mission to support women entrepreneurs. To learn more about The Forum, please visit www.theforum.ca.

Bio of Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurship

Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurship, a podcast brought to you by Dentons. Hosted by Heather Barnhouse, Partner in the Edmonton office, this podcast explores the inspiring stories and experiences of women in leadership and entrepreneurship, as well as the ecosystem that supports them.

Throughout the series, Heather delves into the journeys, successes, and challenges of accomplished women from various industries and sectors. By sharing their stories, the podcast aims to inspire and empower listeners while providing valuable insights into the world of women in leadership and entrepreneurship.

Each episode offers a unique perspective on important topics such as breaking barriers, overcoming obstacles, building networks, and achieving success. Heather engages in insightful interviews, delving into the strategies, experiences, and lessons learned by these remarkable women.

Similar Podcasts

WNY Entrepreneur podcast. Hosted by David Schaub.

Podcasts

United States

The 10 Minute Entrepreneur podcast: hosted by Sean Castrina.

"How I Built This with Guy Raz" is an enlightening podcast hosted by journalist Guy Raz.

Podcasts

United Kingdom

Engineering Success: Diverse STEM careers showcased.

The Moms Without Capes Podcast, hosted by Onnie Michalsky, MA, LCPC.

The VentureFizz Podcast, hosted by Keith Cline.

Brand it! with Petchy, covers a range of topics related to branding, strategic design, and entrepreneurship.

Podcasts

Australia

"Product Ops People Podcast" hosted by Simon Hilton.

Podcasts

United Kingdom

B2B Marketing Podcast is the essential resource for B2B marketers.

back-to-top