Her Defined

Dheandra Nicolette is a marketing professional, entrepreneur, and host of The Manifest Daily Podcast. She's spent her first few years working at amazing companies in their marketing departments learning the ins and outs of leveraging social media to achieve business goals. She's worked alongside amazing thought leaders at major brands such as TripAdvisor and Dunkin' Donuts.In her trending and steadily growing podcast The Manifest Daily she provides listeners with all the energy and support needed to return to their highest selves and live their best lives. Seriously, listen to one episode and you'll be hooked! I found Dheandra in a time of need and when I felt extremely alone, throwing on any of her episodes makes you feel connected and like she's right there in the room cheering you on. Take a listen to Episode 42 to get a better understanding of Dheandra and the phenomenal work she does.In this episode, we are talking about:

Dr. Sonia Ashok is a Career + Leadership Coach and the founder of Connective Coalition, a community to empower women in the workplace. She is a physician who pivoted into health policy and then tech startups. Her experiences navigating career advancement and toxic environments as a minority woman inspired her to support others in climbing the ladder. She is a certified yoga teacher and diversity, equity, + inclusion (DEI) specialist. She lives in San Jose, California, with her husband and lots of plants.In this episode, we are talking about:4:26 - Defining moment of the week.10:34 - How to figure out if you want to quit your job.11:52 - Blocking out societal expectations and tuning in to what we want for ourselves and our career. 20:57 - Including self-care into your workday to maximize your productivity.23:49 - Why do women have to work harder to stand out and succeed in the workplace?27:03 - What does burnout look like and the factors attributed to it?28:07 - What is the busyness epidemic?Sonia's Should I Stay or Should I Go QuizSonia's Website

Rubina Ahmed Haq is a personal finance expert. She says she lives at the intersection of journalism, finance, and public speaking.Rubina's passion for all things money started at a young age and was shaped by her parents. Their money-saving ways stuck and built the foundation for her work today.For twenty years she's been reporting news and stories with CBC, Global News, CTV, Yahoo Finance, and others. In this episode, we are talking about:4:00 - The difference between the best-value option and the cheapest option. 6:28 - Rubina's highlight reel. 13:50 - Feeling secure when you're starting out as a freelancer. 19:14 - The gender pay gap and how we can eradicate it. 26:49 - Rubina's take on investing in cryptocurrencies. 29:08 - How to stop the toxic spending. 31:15 - Try “tweaking” rather than budget setting.36:24 - Which debts should you pay off first and successfully pay off all your debt.44:44 - Tips for freelancers to price their services accordingly without feeling guilty. Rubina's Website

Becca Slaughter has spent the majority of her career working as a TV producer for a large news network morning show in Oklahoma. Though, her passion for her job soon diminished as she realized there were never enough hours in the day to get everything done and that she was becoming more and more consumed by her 9 - 5. She mentions everything in her life revolved around that news network. The majority of her friends were people she met at work and when they all hung out, their job was all they would talk about. Becca also says that her all-consuming job was leading her to feel burnt out, disengaged, and generally not a nice person to be around. From all of that, her employer at the beginning of 2020 decided for Becca that it would be best for her to leave her position. Aka she literally got fired as a pandemic was about to start.She details her unemployment experience in an article she wrote for theeverygirl.com, where she realized her biggest struggle wasn't in that she didn't have a job but that she thought she required one to have value. In this episode, we are talking about:0:22 - Honouring the seasons of change in your life.3:57 - Defining moment of the week.7:20 - Starting your workday at 1 am and surviving the night shift.12:30 - Being fired at the start of the pandemic and the stigma of being unemployed.19:40 - Are we obsessed with our jobs?26:23 - reclaiming your identity outside your profession

Megan Walker is a former elected member of London City Council (1994-2000) who recently retired as the Executive Director of the London Abused Women's Centre (1997-2021). She is a feminist abolitionist who advocates for systemic changes to end male violence against women. Megan was Canada's North American lead during the United Nations Beijing, European and America's consultation meetings. She has spoken in Paris, New York, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Guyana and South America.Megan has appeared numerous times as an expert witness before Municipal, Provincial, Parliamentary and Senate Committees to provide expert testimony on matters relating to male violence against women and victims' rights.In this episode, we are talking about:2:21 Defining moment of the week.6:39 The underrepresentation of women in political and professional leadership positions and why that is.13:45 What is inclusive leadership?15:06 The balancing act of having a competitive high profile job while maintaining a fulfilling family life.18:40 Is the Pay Equity Act really making a difference for women?The Equality Model Research Paper

Yaa Birago is a mentor, IT professional, workshop facilitator, philanthropist, and the founder of FemmeBnb. Think of AirBnb but strictly for women! Essentially, vacation rentals by women for women. Yaa holds a B.A degree in Criminology and Sociology from the University of Windsor but her passion for technology, women and children advancement has led her into the Information Technology and Non-Profit sector for the past 10 years. At Femmebnb, Yaa and her team aim to reshape women's travel experiences by providing safe spaces and a community to support their travel endeavours. And at the same time, they provide sustainable travel and tourism for women by focusing on environmental, socio-cultural, and economic sustainability. In this episode, we are talking about:2:05 Are you doing your best? When was the last time you allowed yourself to rest?7:34 Defining moment of the week.11:35 Being one of few women in the male-dominated tech industry.13:10 What is FemmeBnb?21:56 When is the right time to travel while balancing a 9 - 5?27:47 Cost-effective ways of generating brand awareness, excitement, and exposure.32:00 Tips on how we can continue to promote the advancement of women in all aspects of our lives.The Love Drive with Shaun Galanos - Are you doing your best?

Jass Stupak is a certified nutritional practitioner who specializes in bloat and anti-fungal cleansing. From her own health issues, she was dealing with chronic bloat. She began to do a lot of research on her health concerns and started to see huge improvements after adding in tiny practices like lemon water and magnesium. She started her Instagram account when she began her holistic journey with the Institute of Holistic Nutrition in 2016 and today she has grown her community to over 17k followers. In her first year of school, to make additional income and to spread awareness of her passion for health she created her first ebook. After graduation in 2018, she worked a full-time and part-time job, while working on her nutrition business in between for 8 months solid. It was then in 2019, that she felt financially secure enough to take her business full time. She launched her digestion tea called leaves that same year and in 2020 and 2021 she launched her two other business ventures, bloom in business to mentor other nutritionists to build their clientele and the nourished membership to assist women who are ready to fully dive into holistic nutrition and become their own nutritionist. In this episode, we cover a lot of ground!10:10 - Healing your gut, parasite candida cleanse and taking an interest in your overall health and nutrition 17:47 - Tips on pursuing your passion if you are already invested in something else23:35 - When to know to take your business full time26:50 - Growing an engaging community on Instagram and understanding the new algorithm 32:51 - Why consistency is so crucial when growing your business and how to make it part of your daily routine35:04 - Launching an online course to meet your community's needs Jass' InstagramJass' Website

Welcome to my first solo episode of Her Defined. In this episode, I want to share more about myself and my goals and visions for the future of this podcast. I talk about everything from:PODCAST UPDATES: 1:18DEFINING MOMENT OF THE WEEK: 5:563 CAREER LESSONS I LEARNED FROM FEMALE FOUNDERS:Susie Cave - 9:07Connie Cornelius - 12:24Melanie de Boer - 15:05I'd also love to know the most valuable piece of career advice that you live by and that helps you get through in times of need. Send me a message on Instagram.

Lori Nestore is the co-founder of Tuel Skincare and Berodin Wax. She is a cosmetologist, an aesthetician, a waxing specialist, and a highly sought after educator who lives in California. She was first recognized for her superiority in waxing treatments and training 30 years ago and continues to lead the American waxing world today. Nestori now shares her "secrets of the trade" with waxing professionals around the world.In this episode she dives deep into her family history and how her mother, skincare pioneer Eva Friederichs, created Tuel based on the belief that good skincare contains only the best that nature has to offer. Lori's Mom believed in living a healthy lifestyle way before we knew what things like non-GMO, organic, and chemical-free really meant.Lori discusses how she took over the family business with her sister and was able to ensure all family members were happy and at peace with the transition. She talks about the best way to have a fight with your business partner, because it's gonna happen! She gives tips on how to find the right education that works best for you and particularly your learning style. Lori discusses prioritizing parts of her business that may have seemed pointless or futile in the beginning but actually paid off and generated a larger return on investment for the brand. She also discusses how she mentored and helped bring the Youth to the People brand to life in addition to launching in Sephora and so much more!Lori's InstagramTuel SkincareBerodin Wax

As an experienced advertising creative, Victoria believes in the power of brands to make a difference in the world. She began her career when she moved to New York City to intern at various advertising agencies. She had to move back to Canada during quarantine last year. With more time at home, Victoria brainstormed the idea for Slipp. And this year she founded the brand with the mission of empowering women to feel comfortable buying, carrying, and using condoms.Slipp is a sexual wellness company creating condoms for women-first. It delivers condoms discreetly to your door, so you can avoid the awkward trip to the condom aisle. Through discussions about women's personal struggles with birth control, Slipp realized that many women feel awkward buying condoms; don't carry condoms with them, and even feel uncomfortable enforcing the use of a condom.Slipp noticed that the condoms on the market focus primarily on male pleasure and don't address women's sexual health. Slipp condoms will be made with natural rubber latex and 100% silicone oil lubricant. Victoria discusses her love of variety in the day-to-day business of Slipp Health and how she is constantly learning how to improve the brand. She gives tips on conducting the best and most accurate market research, in addition to outlining the process of launching a crowdfunding campaign via Indiegogo.Slipp Health InstagramSlipp Health WebsiteSlipp Health Resources

Erika Berthelot grew up in a remote northern community in Winnipeg. She did a brief 2-year stint in university for business and is a veteran nail tech of nearly ten years. At the beginning of the pandemic, she began experimenting with different cuticle oil formulations, a product she wished her clients would use more often. After a few prototypes of varying formulas and bottles, she landed on the winning Cutie Oil and began to market it to her clients and coworkers.The company grew rapidly and has already reached milestones she had never really envisioned, such as hiring a marketing and brand partner, in addition to being featured in several publications like The Kit and Canadian Living. Erika continues to embrace each new challenge as she reaches new and exciting milestones! She discusses how she remains scrappy and savvy to avoid overspending in her business, why she looks forward to constantly learning new business practices each day and how to know when it's time to ask for help.Erika's InstagramCutie Oils InstagramShop Cutie Oils

In this episode, we're learning how to combine passion with a whole lot of persistence to get what you want! Tianna McFarlane aims to revolutionize the way people shop for bandages. In summer 2019, Tianna was looking for an adhesive bandage that matched her skin tone. Unable to find one she set out to create her own. Enter Heal in Colour. Tianna's mission is to make black and brown bandages the norm.  Heal in Colour is the first Canadian founded company of its kind. It builds long-term relationships with customers based on integrity and a dedication to excellence by offering the highest quality brown and black bandages, made from premium materials, at a competitive price. The company is determined to find opportunities to create a superior experience for all households, schools, and health care.Tianna gives tips on how she preps for the neverending amount of media interviews, explains her "bet on herself" motto and why it's so important to believe in your mission and she shares her advice to other entrepreneurs that are working full-time and starting their own business.https://www.healincolour.ca/products/bandageshttps://www.instagram.com/healincolour/

In this episode, we're learning how to endure and enjoy the process of growing our businesses.Founded in August 2020 by Darlene Gahite, SYSTM is a professional home organizing service based in Toronto, ON. Darlene works together with the everyday millennial by organizing spaces inspired by intentional living, functionality, and clean lines. The main concepts within her work include minimizing clutter, establishing new layouts, and reshaping your milieu.What she aims to achieve with each of her clients is creating a collaborative experience in providing a more efficient and organized living space. She works with her clients on establishing strategies that are customized to their lifestyle which enables them to realistically integrate these changes into their daily routine.Darlene discusses how she looked at the bright side and silver lining of being laid off, she outlines her minimalist approach and how it has changed her life and she details what goes into running a professional organizational business.https://www.instagram.com/systmto/https://www.forbes.com/sites/melodywilding/2016/07/11/why-do-so-many-women-feel-like-frauds-4-tips-to-deal-with-chronic-self-doubt/amp/

In this episode, we're learning how to gain exposure, whether that be for our business or brand or if it's to promote ourselves.Mrkt Gallery is an online gallery dedicated to works by female artists. It was founded in Toronto, Canada by Nuria Madrenas in 2019. As an artist herself, Nuria recognized a gap in the market to provide female artists with a dedicated resource to sell their work and achieve discoverability. Nuria is devoted to celebrating female creatives in a way that is approachable for the emerging art collector. Nuria also specializes in marketing and communications, having worked with brands such as Holt Renfrew, NARS, and Céline. Nuria aims to apply her expertise in communications to amplify Mrkt's mission and enhance the reach of female artists globally.Nuria discusses why only 2% of all art sold is female-made and what we can do to change that. She gives her tips on how creatives should properly price their work and she advises you on how to gain exposure.https://www.instagram.com/mrkt.gallery/

In this episode, we're learning how to find our success through our discomfort. Ivana and Antonia Juric are sisters and founders of Leo and Co. Bakery, an inclusive, baking company in the GTA area that specializes in delicious, handcrafted, allergen-friendly baked goods and healthier alternatives to traditional pastries and bakeshops.Growing up, Ivana and Antonia were both competitive athletes, which fuelled their desire to learn more about how to properly fuel their bodies and keep up with the physical and mental demands that sports had on them. The pair also had a deep love for food and watching their grandma prepare classic Croatian and Italian-inspired desserts. Ivana's passion for cooking and baking continued to grow exponentially. She started spending countless hours in the kitchen, inventing and testing recipes to get them just right. In 2013, Antonia developed an autoimmune disorder and became incredibly ill. For months she spent most of her days in bed, in pain, unable to eat almost anything. At first, she had to cut gluten out of her diet completely. As time went on the list of things she was unable to eat grew longer and longer until it felt she almost had no options whatsoever. This was an extremely hard time for her mentally and physically and Ivana would constantly try to alter her recipes in order to help her sister eat and become healthy again. As time passed Antonia became healthier and continued to further her education in health and wellness and discovered a passion for the food industry and how different foods affect the body/mind and gut. The pair started creating recipes together, and slowly realized that this alternative way of eating was best suited for their needs.The duo believes that everyone should have delicious food that makes them feel great. They strongly believe in having dessert every day! This is why their treats and eats are filled with the most nutritious ingredients they can source. They are continuously trying to make their goods healthier while also keeping the delicious flavors. They discuss their tips and advice for going into business with their sister, why therapy is a must when working in a family business and how they included local companies in their business plan to ride the challenging and unpredictable wave of COVID-19. https://www.instagram.com/leoandco.bakery/

In this episode, we're learning how to push past our limits and achieve our goals. Calene Glousher is a certified lash tech, lash extension educator, professional makeup artist and certified nail technician. She values networking with people of all different backgrounds and building a connection with her clients. In 2019, she was working at a salon that was negative and super draining. Calene was still passionate about the beauty industry so she quit but was determined to create her own space that was open, accepting, and actually fun for people to be and work in. Within two weeks of quitting, her own business was up and running. 4 months in, the dreaded COVID-19 hit and she was forced to shut down. After lockdown, Calene was able to fully fill her schedule in addition to bringing on her first employee. Now Calene pays her first employee almost 4x the amount that Calene made while working at the old salon. Today, Calene Ashlee Artistry serves over 150 clients a month and is consistently booked 2-3 months out. Calene won the 2020 London Community Choice Awards for Best Nail Salon and Best Manicure within the entire city! Calene strives every day to make sure that her salon is a space where anyone and everyone can feel welcome and comfortable. She tries to practice gratitude often and preach the law of attraction to my employee and clients daily.In this episode, Calene highlights her thoughts on receiving professional certifications within the beauty industry and her tips on how to gain meaningful and useful knowledge. How she manages to stay positive during the unpredictable times of COVID and her advice on how to organize, manage and understand your business' financials.https://www.instagram.com/caleneashlee.artistry/

In this episode, we're learning how to find our voice.Celina Caesar-Chavannes is an equity and inclusion advocate and leadership consultant, and a former Member of Parliament who served as parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and to the Minister of International Development. During her term as an MP, Celina advocated for people suffering from mental illness and was awarded the Champion of Mental Health Parliamentarian in May 2017 by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health.She was also named one of the Most Influential People of African Descent, Global 100 Under 40, Politics & Governance and Black Parliamentarian of the Year in 2017, and featured in the April 2018 edition of O (Oprah Winfrey) Magazine entitled, “What would you stand up for?"Before entering politics, she was a successful entrepreneur, launching and growing an award-winning research management consulting firm with a particular focus on neurological conditions. Celina highlights when she realized she needed to take a stand against the Prime Minister and how she advocated for herself, how we can all create our own history and explains why analyzing our failures can be far more meaningful and insightful compared to our successes.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamcelinacc/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mpcelina/Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamcelinaccWebsite: https://www.celinacc.caBuy Can You Hear Me Now: https://adifferentbooklist.com/?q=h.tviewer&using_sb=status&qsb=keyword&qse=rC8Hn_GwKfRknZtDJhFGAg

In this episode, we're learning how to set ourselves apart through perseverance. Jessica Zagari has over 10 years of experience in Communications in the fashion and beauty industries. She's managed integrated communication strategies and programs including public relations, events, content, social media and influencer campaigns on diverse brands such as Garnier, Maybelline, Essie and most recently as Director of Communications for L'Oréal Paris Canada. Just one look at her LinkedIn page and you will see how she's played an integral role in the Canadian beauty and fashion industry. Jessica highlights how to stand out when applying and interviewing for the job of your dreams, what a strong and great brand consists of and the advice and motivation she's received from Jane Fonda, Helen Mirren and Viola Davis.https://www.instagram.com/jessiez514/https://womenofworth.lorealparis.ca/en/end

In this episode, we're learning how to understand our worth and trust our intuition. Sarah Singleton & Teri Canestraro launched Females Who Side Hustle back in January 2019. A community to support, educate and empower those who hustle. Females Who Side Hustle also referred to as FWSH is rooted in having open conversations, shared experiences and celebrate collaboration over competition. In just two years, Sarah with an “h” and Teri with one “r” and one “i” have connected with over 7,000 female hustlers, they've launched their merch shop and they've begun their podcast, Save Her Seat which is ranked under the top 20 entrepreneurship podcasts. Sarah and Teri discuss how to create intimate yet impactful networking events,  what to say to your loved ones who may not understand your passion and how to respect your business partner's creative process. https://www.instagram.com/femaleswhosidehustle/https://www.instagram.com/tcancans/https://www.instagram.com/bysarahsingleton/https://open.spotify.com/episode/4EPJLiTA0kPYvruYvxEF1b?si=6c93ef53053d40f5Opening quote by Humble the Poet: https://www.instagram.com/humblethepoet/https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/41859812-unlearn 

In this episode, we're learning how to make our own way and not accept the norm.Rebecca Freed and Sheridan March are two best friends based in Los Angeles who are dedicated to navigating the world of beauty and wellness together. After losing their jobs during the pandemic last year, they put their heads together to launch SELFISH, a self-care destination to amplify the voices of small and minority-owned brands while also encouraging others to put themselves first. Rebecca & Sheridan love diving into the self-care community and want to support all of you in your self-care journeys!Each box is packed with care and compassion, even including a handwritten note. There are no year-long commitments or recurring payments. With function and sustainability in mind, SELFISH boxes are individual purchase gifts for a friend or yourself including everlasting brands and products. Rebecca and Sheridan highlight how to stay true to their brand's mission, why self-care is crucial and should be stress-free, and finally, how to foster and connect with a community.https://www.instagram.com/selfish.box/

In this episode, we're learning how to improve social media engagement and measure your success with Instagram.Victoria D'ariano is the epitome of true strength and dedication. She is one of the hardest working people I know and is always trying to help others. An athlete all her life, Vic swam competitively for 12 years. When she decided to stop swimming she needed something to fulfill her passion for fitness so she started working out in the gym. Her ambitious spirit led her to train for bodybuilding competitions. As she trained and experienced the struggles of maintaining a demanding and meticulous physique she shared her journey through social media. Her following began to grow to the point she was able to financially support herself entirely through Instagram and brand partnerships. Today, Victoria has accumulated 775 thousand Instagram followers. https://www.instagram.com/victoriadariano/?hl=enhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/cahttps://www.betterhelp.com

In this episode, we're learning how to create a quality beauty product while protecting the planet. Linda Secondi started out within the fashion industry working in marketing for brands like Burberry. After 10 years of working she felt like her passion for the industry was diminishing and that she had to explore the beauty sphere. Her interest in lashes piqued when she was seeking a lash extension alternative for her wedding day. She couldn't find a brand that's philosophy aligned with its marketing. That is how Lithe Lashes came to be. With zero familiarity in starting a business, Linda set out to create a collection of lashes that would integrate seamlessly within everyday routines but that were also completely vegan, cruelty-free and sustainable. In its first two years, Lithe Lashes has received praise from news outlets like Vogue.com, The Daily Mail and Oprah Magazine. In addition to the brand achieving the highest form of beauty praise from Allure's Best of Beauty in 2019. https://www.instagram.com/lithelashes/

In this episode, we're learning how to go after our career while honouring and maintaining our health.  Sarah Dilys Cuddy founded Zsofi, a wellness test kit with physician-created tips and tricks customized to your own results. After her mom passed away from hormone-sensitive breast cancer, Sarah's high-stress, work-driven, lawyer lifestyle drastically changed. It turns out she had had severe hormonal imbalances. She was overwhelmed, over-exercising but overweight, and had cystic acne. She wanted to balance her hormones without the steep price tag of hiring a naturopath.  Zsofi gives you the tools to be the CEO of your own health. Sarah says that each test reveals something new about your hormones and gets you one step closer to optimal hormonal health. Zsofi is made by women for women. They are 100% female funded and founded and Sarah's team is made up of mostly women under 35! If Zsofi sounds like a right fit for you and your hormones, Sarah has so graciously given us a discount code to receive $25 off your testing kit. Use herdefined25 at checkout.https://www.instagram.com/zsofisays/https://zsofisays.comhttps://drnatashaturner.comhttps://www.ycombinator.com 

In this episode, we're figuring out how to follow your heart and pursue your passion. Bridget George is an Anishinaabe illustrator, mother and children's book author. Her first children's book "It's a Mitig!" is a dual language book written in her early days of motherhood, born from the desire to hold space for the ojibwe language in mainstream places and to fill representation gaps for anishinaabe children and their families. She is passionate about sparking a love for her language in her son and other families, and is currently working on various projects focusing on amplifying the voices and perspectives of indigenous youth and women. Bridget highlights her process of creating, editing, illustrating and publishing her first children's book. In addition to reconnecting with herself in order to set an example for her son.https://www.instagram.com/bridgetsioln/https://bridgetgeorge.comhttps://www.amazon.ca/Its-Mitig-Bridget-George/dp/1771622733

In this episode, we're figuring out how to thrive within a male-dominated industry. Kim Ziegner is nothing short of amazing! Kim owns her family business Eastown Barbershop in London, Ontario. She took over the shop when her uncle, Dieter, became ill. At the time, she had zero barbering abilities. She had to teach herself everything! She sought guidance and education from others in the industry but for the most part she just winged it. Over the course of her career, she's guest barbered in Amsterdam to all over Ontario, has taught in Kelowna and is a “scumbassador” for men's grooming brand, Reuzel. Kim highlights how she transitioned into the barbering, how she dealt with adverse reactions for being a female within a male dominated industry and how she prepares for opening a new barbershop. https://www.instagram.com/kimmi_z_thebarber/https://www.instagram.com/eastownbarbershop/