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 90, Heather is joined by Jennifer Pascoe, Associate Vice President, Marketing and Communications at NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology). Jennifer discusses how the value of education was instilled in her from a young age and how it continues to influence both her family’s trajectory and her professional passion for post-secondary education. Jennifer delves into NAIT’s unique model that connects students directly with industry through hands-on learning, emphasizing the institution’s agile approach to evolving workforce needs. Jennifer highlights NAIT’s commitment to reducing barriers to education and its focus on lifelong learning through diplomas, degrees, apprenticeships, and continuing education programs. She also shares insights on the importance of aligning personal and organizational values, the positive impact of strong internal and external communications, and how living authentically as a leader fosters both respect and empowerment. Jennifer encourages listeners to build meaningful community connections, overcome fears of networking, and continually seek growth through learning and connection. To learn more about NAIT, visit https://www.nait.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 89, Heather is joined by Laura Furtado, Head of Business Development at Cadence Financial Group with Raymond James, and Founder and President of Her Wealth Society. Laura shares her journey from building one of Toronto’s largest women’s entrepreneurial communities to founding Her Wealth Society, a non-profit dedicated to improving women’s financial literacy and confidence. She discusses the importance of early financial education, mentorship, and creating safe spaces where women can openly talk about money. Laura also highlights the success of Her Wealth’s first summit and shares how Her Wealth Society brings together nonprofits, industry leaders, and women of all generations to bridge gaps in financial understanding and empower women to lead with confidence in every stage of life. To learn more about Her Wealth Society, visit https://www.herwealthsummit.com/hws/5896846 

Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 88, Heather is joined by Toluwanimi Ajayi, Change Management Specialist at ATB Financial. Tolu shares her journey of driving organizational transformation through empathy and people-focused leadership. She discusses how her work bridges the gap between business objectives and the human experience of change, and how understanding people’s motivations can make or break successful implementation. Together, Heather and Tolu delves into how meditation has shaped Tolu’s approach to leadership, helping her build confidence, resilience and clarity in high-pressure environments. Tolu offers practical insights on using mindfulness to navigate uncertainty, foster authentic self-awareness and lead with purpose. To learn about ATB Financial, visit https://www.atb.com/wealth. To explore Tolu’s meditation community, visit https://www.hourofmeditation.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 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.