Run it Like a Girl

Broken Chair:  A Daughter's JourneyDenyse Mouck is the author of Broken Chair:  A Daughter's Journey - a work of historical fiction that follows the journey of four generations of women as they try to survive the sexist restrictions of their times. A key character in the story, Rhita, is based on Denyse's mother.  To use the cliche - Denyse says she walked a mile in her mom's moccasins in order to learn about and develop her character.Denyse says she never really viewed herself as a writer, and became involved  in everything from politics to pottery and painting….but kept coming back to writing. She says everyone is really good at something…you just have to figure out what that is.Check out Denyse's book hereThe Fast ThreeWhat is your favourite podcast or source of information?  Here's the Thing with Alex Baldwin, Writers in company with Eleanor WachtelBetween the covers by David NaimonWhat are you currently reading? State of Terror by Hilary Rodham  Clinton & Louise Penny Yellow House, by Patricia Falvey  A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor TowlesWho is currently inspiring you? The women in my life

Liz Benditt is the definition of a survivor.  Based in Kansas City, the mother of two discovered, about 10 years ago, that she had skin cancer. Just 11 months after that, Liz was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and then, in 2015 basal cell carcinoma - skin cancer was discovered on the bridge of Liz's nose, requiring two surgeries to repair. And unbelievably, two years later, Liz was diagnosed with breast cancer.To make use of an old adage - Liz took all of these lemons, and made lemonade.In October of 2020, she took her health experiences and launched the Balm Box, offering practical self-care and gift boxes, with the first line focused on people breast cancer - essential oils and diffusers, burn balms, creams, support pillows and throw blankets as well as augmented clothing, such as wireless bras.After all of her experiences, Liz has maintained a positive outlook, perhaps something gifted by her grandmother, a woman who survived the holocaust and was forever grateful for a second chance at life.Learn more about Liz and The Balm BoxThe Balm BoxThe Balm Box Blog and NewsThe Fast ThreeWhat is your favourite podcast or source of information? The Daily, Pod Save AmericaWhat are you currently reading? An Ugly Truth by Sheera Frenkel, Cecilia Kang, The Midnight Library by Matt HaigWho is currently inspiring you? My grandmother, a holocaust survivor who made a new life and chose to be happy after experiencing the most extreme trauma. She is my role model and any time I feel frustrated or face a setback I think about her perseverance and perspective.

I had the great pleasure of working with Lesley  Gunn for several years at a professional services firm in Toronto. I learned a lot from Lesley about leadership, advocating for my own career and to not be afraid of failure. When Lesley  first started her career like so many others she found herself in a job that she didn't find fulfilling. However, it ultimately helped her understand where she didn't want to focus her career. After some interesting job experience with a newspaper in London, England, Lesley returned to Canada and began working in the staffing business where she learned how to run a multi-million dollar business.Lesley now works in financial services, as the Head of Marketing for Connor, Clark and Lunn Financial Group Ltd. in Toronto.On this episode  Lesley tells us communication and persistence are key when an organization is going through a period of transition and change.  She talks about having a common vision and how to bring the best out of each individual. The Fast ThreeWhat is your favourite podcast or source of information? Ask Lisa What are you currently reading? Building a Story Brand by Donald MillerWho is currently inspiring you? Teachers and students

Liz Thompson's life took an unexpected turn about six years ago. The California-based chef, with a MBA in marketing and culinary school under her belt, had recently started teaching and was working at a food show in San Francisco when she unexpectedly loss much of her vision. After some time off learning to live with the loss of much of her vision, Chef Liz Thompson reinvented herself, and that's when Liz Thompson Marketing was created.On this episode of Run It Like a Girl, Liz talks about her passion for the restaurant and food industry.  She talks about how to pick yourself up after a major set-back, and she has some advice for young up-and-comers - jump off that cliff and don't feel bound by a life plan.Learn more about LizLiz Thompson Marketing The Fast ThreeWhat is your favourite podcast or source of information? Women Beyond a Certain AgeWhat are you currently reading? James Taylor Autobiography, The Book of Joy by The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.Who is currently inspiring you? Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr.

Kate Gilman Williams is only 12-years old, but she's already a well-known animal advocate, CEO and author. Kate, who lives in Austin, Texas, was just 7 when she co-authored a book called ‘Let's Go on Safari' and 10 when she founded her organization Kids Can Save Animals.Kate believes that anyone can make a difference, and even a little help can go a long way. On her podcast - Club 15, Kate says a great way to learn is from experts who educate on what we can all do to help save wildlife. Learn more about Kate and the work that she does: Kids Can Save AnimalsCheck out Kate's book : Let's Go on SafariCheck out Club 15Listen to her song Kids Can Save Animals that Kate recorded with Jenn Hartmann LuckFollow Kate and Kids Can Save AnimalsTwitterInstagramThe Fast ThreeWhat is your favourite podcast or source of information: Part Time GeniusWhat are you currently reading? Poached by Stuart GibbsWho is currently inspiring you? Jenn Hartmann Luck

Stacey Dakin is the managing director of Mentor Canada, an organization that was launched in 2019, and currently sits on the board of directors of Lean In Canada where she leads strategic initiatives. In this episode Bonnie and Stacey dig into mentorship and career development.Learn more about Mentor Canada and Lean In Canada:Mentor CanadaLinkedIn Twitter Instagram FacebookLean In CanadaLinkedIn Twitter Instagram FacebookThe Fast ThreeWhat is your favourite podcast or source of information? Armchair Expert, Canadian Women's Foundation All Right, Now What,  The Ontario Non Profit Network, Digging In What are you currently reading? Mentoring Mindset Tools and Skills by Ann Rolfe Who is currently inspiring you? The non profit sector. 

Bernadette Butler is the CEO and Co-Founder of StoryTap, a tech firm that works with companies to increase their brand engagement by giving their customers a voice and the ability to share it through personalized videos.With offices in Vancouver and Toronto, Bernadette says StoryTap also works with clients to create easy to use video assistants. Bernadette says she's excited for where women are going in the tech world, but says there are still a lot of challenges for female founders.Early on in her career, Bernadette joined a variety of networks where she received tips from well-meaning and successful women - tips like don't wear dangly earrings, and to lower her voice when talking to people…in other words, become more masculine to overcome the female barrier.The Fast ThreeWhat is your favourite podcast or source of information? Master Class  What are you currently reading? Play Bigger by  Al Ramadan, Dave Peterson, Christopher Lochhead & Kevin ManeyWho is currently inspiring you? I am obsessed with Storytelling and authenticity, I don't have one person. I get inspired by a ton of people Learn moreStorytap: https://storytap.com

Christie Marchese, who grew up in Southern California, worked in a movie theatre through high school. She was planning on enrolling in filmmaking at college, but decided to pursue International Relations following the attacks of 9/11.That love of film remained and after college Christie started working with a well-known TV producer on a non-profit film on registering voters. Christie's path next took her to a company called Participant Media, where she worked on documentaries such as Food Inc., Waiting for Superman and The Cove.Now based in New York City, Christie is the founder and CEO of Kinema, a company that uses a market platform to make films available to hosts who handle things like booking and ticket selling themselves through the digital platform.  And this, according to Christie, allows Kinema to service more filmmakers and distributors.On this episode, Christie Marchese talks about some mistakes she's made as CEO - including not delegating enough.  She has some advice for anyone interested in starting a business on venture capital, and she has some great advice for fellow introverts.Learn more about Kinemahttps://kinema.comThe Fast ThreeWhat is your favourite podcast or source of information? Kim Masters, The BusinessWhat are you currently reading? Hamnet by Maggie O'FarrellWho is currently inspiring you? People who work in the industry - the people of New York

Joanna Johnson is a high school teacher by day, and a social media influencer by night, with nearly 900,000 followers on TikTok, where her videos have been viewed millions of times. Joanna, who goes by Unlearn16 on TikTok has become a social justice warrior dealing with hate, prejudice and inequality with well articulated sarcasm and wit. Joanna says her favourite thing to do is change someone's view. On this episode of Run It Like a Girl, Joanna Johnson talks about education and says young people today aren't being given enough opportunity to fail at something.The Fast ThreeWhat's your favourite podcast or source of information?: Anything with Ricky Gervais, Russell Brand or Michael Rosenbaum (Inside of You) What are you currently reading?: high school papers, but favourite book is Women on the Edge of Time by Marge Piercy    Who is currently inspiring you? My momLearn more about Joanna: https://linktr.ee/unlearn16Follow Joanna on InstagramListen to her podcast: Unlearn16: Class is in session

A split second decision shortly before her 50th birthday changed Jen Rice's life forever. She sold everything she owned in the United States and bought a one-way ticket to Europe with the assumption she was going to land a consulting project in Geneva. When the project fell through, Jen found herself jobless and homeless in Europe.Jen still remembers the moment she finally gave herself permission to just stop and forget about life for a while. In this episode Jen talks about resilience, starting over and finding what you're passionate about. Learn more about Jen: https://www.jenrice.co

Jenn T Grace is the founder of Publish Your Purpose Press and an author of several books. Her company is a  hybrid book publisher that focuses on non-fiction and memoirs.  Jenn didn't have all the answers when she started her publishing company, but she followed the just do it mentality as she knew this was her calling. In this episode Jenn talks about the lack of diversity in the American publishing industry, but she sees hope in the fact that people are starting to demand that most voices are heard.  Her advice to others - follow your passion and push past your fears. The Fast ThreeWhat is your favourite podcast or source of information?  The Wheel of Misfortune, I Mom so HardWhat are you currently reading? Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman, Why Cats are Assholes by Liz Miele The Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet HolmesWho is currently inspiring you? Inspired by all the people who work in design thinking Learn more about Jennhttps://jenntgrace.com/House on Fire: Finding resilience, hope and purpose in the ashesPublish Your Purpose Press

Elizabeth Bachman, and her Strategic Speaking for Results program, trains business professionals on how to get results through speaking. Elizabeth wasn't always a trainer, and spent 30 years in the international opera world, 11 of those operating a summer opera company in the Austrian Alps.On this episode of Run It Like a Girl, Elizabeth Bachman talks about the importance of knowing your audience, and how women who are new to management can lead effectively.  Elizabeth also talks about the glass ceilings she faced in the Opera industry - particularly losing job opportunities to less qualified candidates - usually men.Learn more about Elizabethhttps://elizabethbachman.com/

Jeanette Brown is the founder of Excellence and Presence Communications, a public relations firm whose clients have included companies such as Pepsi, Reebok, NASCAR, Audi, and the U.S. Open.Jeanette, who was born and raised in Brooklyn, was originally studying to become a nurse until she switched her major to early childhood education. At the same time, at the age of 20 Jeanette landed her first job at a PR agency where she was pitching to the media a U.S. Open Tennis camp for girls.On this episode of Run It Like a Girl, Jeanette Brown tells us that she helps client companies with all aspects of their business, including crisis communication.  Jeanette also talks about authentic storytelling and the importance of resilience.Learn more about Jeanette:T.A.S.K Children's Book Series: The Amazingly Sensational KidsExcellence & Presence Communications (https://excellencepresence.com/)For business inquires or press requests, email: PR@excellencepresence.comThe Fast ThreeWhat is your favourite podcast or source of information? Ebro in the Morning Show What are you currently reading? Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the 21 Century, Edited by Alice WongWho is currently inspiring you? My son

Shareen Luze is the Head of Culture and Field Experience with RBC Wealth Management.An employment attorney by trade, she joined RBC's law group 15 years ago, shifting into human resources a couple of years after that.And when, a decade later, Shareen was approached by an executive about heading up the human relations portfolio, she had a surprising response.. -no way-.After some encouragement from others, Shareen did indeed apply and get the job as head of human relations, .and most recently she's taken on a new role - RBC Wealth Management's head of culture and field experience.Shareen says developing and maintaining a healthy culture at work is vital, particularly during Covid time.On this episode Shareen talks about her new role, and how being authentic has been crucial to her success.And when asked what advice she would give to her younger self it was to speak up. 

LaTonya Wilkins is an author, speaker and the founder of The Change Coaches, an organization that works with corporate leaders and their teams to create cultures of belonging in their workplaces.On this episode of Run It Like a Girl, LaTonya talks about her book, Leading Below the Surface, and she outlines the three biases of the workplaces, including confirmation bias.LaTonya also talks to us about the effects of the pandemic on the workplace.  And she disspells some false narratives, including the belief that most people now want to work remotely from home.For more information on LaTonya:The Change CoachesLeading below the SurfaceThe Fast ThreeWhat is your favourite podcast or source of information? Anything by WonderyWhat are you currently reading? The Parable of the sower by Octavia ButlerWho is currently inspiring you? People. Her clients. Her team 

Gemma Castle is the Chief Financial Officer for Cult Wines a global company that provides market-leading fine wine investment and collection management services. Gemma always thought she would become a sports journalist, but after university she had two job offers: 1. With a large accounting firm 2. A national newspaper. She took the job with the firm, and began her career as an accountant. As her career advanced she found that as a woman she wasn't always taken seriously. In this episode she talks about resilience, and gives great advice on recovering from setbacks. Find out more about Cult Wines: https://www.wineinvestment.comTwitterFacebookYoutubeLinkedInInstagramThe Fast ThreeWhat is your favourite podcast or source of information? TailendersWhat are you currently reading? Olive, Mable and MeWho is currently inspiring you? Her parents

Heather Odendaal is the CEO and Co-Founder of WNorth, an organization that connects and offers development opportunities for mid-management  women with an upward career trajectory.  Heather started WNorth in 2015 after unsuccessfully seeking out a conference where she could network with like minded women. Heather says WNorth's membership grew enormously during the pandemic as women sought a community more than ever. On this episode of Run It Like a Girl, Heather talks about flexible work models and other initiatives corporations will need to take if they hope to attract and retain top talent. And Heather has some great advice for would-be entrepreneurs….work for someone else first before launching your business.Learn more about WNnorth: https://www.wnorthconnect.com/Follow on:TwitterLinkedInInstagramYouTubeArticles to check outWith COVID stressors forcing women to abandon careers, how do you get male business leaders to lean in? Talk to them about Profit & Loss, not just Diversity & Inclusion. (co-authored by Philip Grosch)Don't Fail Your Women Leaders Now Heather Odendaal of WNORTH: 5 Things You Need To Know To Successfully Run a Live Virtual EventFast three What's your favourite podcast or source of information: Think about this with Alexis Dean What are you currently reading: Becoming Heroines: Unleashing our power for Revolution and Rebirth: Elizabeth Cronise McLaughlnWho is currently inspiring you: Melinda Gates 

Please note: Recorded June 30: Vanessa has since achieved a successful exit of the companyVanessa Iarocci is the CEO of McCarthy Uniforms, a company that employs over 300 people, with another 200 seasonal youth staff; working out of 12 locations in southern Ontario. The 65-year-old company had become insolvent a decade after the founders sold it off, so they bought it back.  A lot of work was needed to restore McCarthy Uniforms to its former glory, and that's where Vanessa came in.On this episode of Run It Like a Girl, Vanessa talks to us about resilience, and the added challenges of having no real job description, and having to define her role as she went. Vanessa also shares her views on leadership and what being a leader means to her. 

Rachel Hill landed a great job out of university and by her mid 20s was making 6 figures.  From the outside she had a full life, but inside she was miserable and diagnosed with anxiety.  At the age of 27 she retired from corporate America and decided to travel before settling down. While oversees she started a blog to keep family and friends up to date with her adventures. Rachel was one of the only Black American women travelling alone and backpacking. In 2014 her blog blew up. She was sharing her experiences of travel and what it was like when she would meet people who have never met a Black women before. She started getting paid for her work, and soon turned it into a career. In this episode Rachel talks branding, overcoming setbacks and gives great advice for anyone thinking of trying to start a career as blogger. Learn more about Rachel: https://www.racheltravels.com/

Deena Baikowitz is the founder and Chief Networking Officer of Fireball Network, which helps clients access business and career opportunities.Originally from Montreal, Deena calls New York City home, although she's currently stuck in Toronto due to the Covid lockdown.Deena is all about networking, and has some practical advice for people looking to build their own network, and she tell us about why diversity is so important within her own networks.Deena is also a comedian, a passion that took off when she was centred out while leaving a comedy show, and she points out that scientific evidence suggests that humour and laughter are good for us in all facets of life.Learn more about DeenaFireball Network: https://fireballnetwork.com/Twitter: @fireballdeena Instagram: @fireballdeena

Whether it’s because of  layoffs, redundancy, or personal choice, many people are starting over in their careers. Now imagine starting over, thousands of miles from home,  in a new country, and a new language.  Tetyana Dudnyk was a business woman from Ukraine, when she stepped off of an airplane in Canada 20 years ago. Tetyana talks about building her career and the importance of having a continuous learner mindset.  She also talks about how women tend to undervalue their skills, and are often hesitant about applying for a job that they aren’t 100% qualified for, and she questions why anyone would take a job where they already have 100% of the qualifications.  Tetyana is also on the leadership team of the Toronto chapter of Ellevate, a world-wide network of professional women. This is an amazing organization that is driven by members supporting each other, and helping each other to grow. 

Renee Brinkerhoff is a rally race car driver, something she took up in her mid 50s. Believe it or not, she knew nothing about being a race car driver, and had no real desire to be one, but followed a 30 year urge  and now owns her own team - Valkyrie Racing.  In this episode Renee talks about racing around the world, and Project 356 which aims to raise awareness and funds to combat child trafficking. Renee’s 1956 Porsche 356A - hence the name of Project 356 - has been to all but one continent.  The trip to Antarctica is scheduled for December 2021 after being delayed by Covid.It’s all in the numbers:HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS THE 2ND LARGEST ILLEGAL BUSINESS IN THE WORLD (BEHIND DRUG TRAFFICKING)$150 billion annually in illicit profits25-40 million victims globally25% are children and growing Racer/philanthropist Renee Brinkerhoff, 64-year-old founder of Valkyrie Racing/Valkyrie Gives is not only using her extreme racing on all seven continents as a visual for her own voice to tell the story of human trafficking for those that cannot speak it – but she’s putting ‘boots on the ground’ and providing site visits, supplies, educational needs and funding to grassroots and NGO’s in Amsterdam, Australia, Cambodia, China, Katzkhstan, Kenya, Mexico, Peru, Russia and the US – AND, she was selected to participate in undercover investigative work with partner organizations and local law enforcement to enable rescue of victims and prosecution of traffickers.  She has already served earlier this year in Thailand – and has missions slated in Latin America and Southeast Asia.For more information visit: https://www.valkyrieracing.com/Follow on InstagramFollow on Facebook

Ainka Jess is one of the top 100 most powerful women in Canada according to Women’s Executive Network.   WXN, a powerful network of professional women in Canada, awarded Ainka the prestigious title in their Arts, Sports, and Entertainment category.Ainka, who was a season #1 guest here on Run It Like a Girl, formed an organization called She’s4Sports after hearing about the negative experiences of some female sports fans, and seeing a lack of diversity in sport media coverage.  She’s4Sports works to address gender equity and inclusion in sport, and in society in general.On this episode of Run It Like a Girl, Ainka talks about the business side of She’s4Sports entrepreneurship, time management, and forming authentic partnerships, and she has tons of advice for those starting out.Learn more about Ainka and She's4SportsWebsite: https://www.shes4sports.com/Twitter: @Shes4SportsInstagram: @Shes4SportsFacebook: facebook.com/shes4sportsAlso, check out this awesome looking upcoming event: Register hereJoin She’s4Sports and Canadian Women and Sport on March 10, in celebration of International Women’s day. Our panelists will share their journeys in sport with moderator Ainka Jess, Founder of She's4Sports. The discussion will focus on how leaders in sport are using their platform to drive change and challenge barriers that prevent women, girls and people from marginalized spaces from participating in sport. 

Jill Andrew is the Member of Provincial Parliament for Toronto St. Paul's, a riding she has held for the NDP since 2018. She's the first woman, and the first non Liberal to represent the riding since its creation in 1999. When asked to run for the riding Jill had doubts about whether she would be able to do it, but in the end it was her interest in issues such as education and healthcare, as well as the support from friends, family and other elected officials that lead her to say yes. Jill who is a strong advocate for women and the BIPOC and LGBQ2 communities has some tips on how to get involved and making your community better for everyone.

Angela Lilly is an amateur elite triathlete - competing in a grueling sport that involves swimming, running and cycling. She’s also competed in 7 Ironman events over the course of a decade, achieving 7th in her age group and a ranking of the 12th overall amateur woman at the Ironman World Championships in 2007.Angela says she’s had her share of setback, something that is part of the journey for every athlete. Angela, who is a high school teacher by day, has a husband and two children, known collectively as Team Lilly. On this episode of Run It Like a Girl, Angela tells us how she manages to be included in family events, while maintaining her training schedule, and the unique ways she makes sure that she's there for the moments that matter. Angela is currently an ambassador for the MultiSport Canada Triathlon Series, and F2C, a Canadian nutrition company

Stephanie Mitton and Myrrhanda Novak run a podcast called Women Don’t Do That. They have conversations with ‘women change-makers and risk-takers.'The podcast was formed, on-the-spot, when Stephanie, who lives in Ottawa, flew to Winnipeg to visit her long-time friend, after an unsuccessful attempt at entering federal politics.The goal of ‘Women Don’t Do That’ is to have continued meaningful and authentic conversations.Myrrhanda, who has experienced the loss of a young child, talks about resilience, saying we have to believe in our ability to go through serious life challenges, and to get back up and keep going.Be sure to check out their podcast at www.womendontdothat.comFollow them on Instagram and Twitter

When she was in high school, Rachel Weeks enjoyed English literature, particularly writing. But she also liked math and science. It was her English teacher who suggested a career like engineering, where she could do both.With a degree in Aerospace Engineering and part way through a masters, Rachel now works as a systems test engineer with United Launch Alliance and she uses a lot of math and science, and she writes a lot of procedures and steps.Rachel, who grew up in Orlando, remembers watching as rockets would launch from Cape Canaveral, and now she is working on the Mars 2020 project, which involves landing Perseverance Rover on the Martian surface. On this episode of Run it Like a Girl, Rachel also talks about her role as marketing director at Reinvented Magazine, a non-profit printed publication aimed at women in STEM by women in STEM.Check out these links for more informationReinvented Magazine: https://www.reinventedmagazine.com/United Launch Alliance https://www.ulalaunch.com/Follow Reinvented Magazine on their social channelsFacebookInstagramTwitter

Welcome to season 3! On this episode Bonnie talks with Samantha Bailey, #1 bestselling author of WOMAN ON THE EDGE. Samantha's literary success did not come overnight and the journey was not without its share of rejection and disappointment. In this episode we talk about what it takes to be an author, the importance of being resilient and finding like minded people to help inspire you along the way.On this episode Samantha explains her inspiration for WOMAN ON THE EDGE and the moment the idea hit her….while she stood on a TTC Platform waiting for her train.Samantha M. Bailey#1 bestselling author of WOMAN ON THE EDGE, a psychological thriller out now in ebook, audio, and paperback in Canada and the US with Simon & Schuster Canada; out now in ebook, audio, and paperback in the UK with Headline, and to be translated into seven languages.Like Samantha on FacebookFollow Samantha on TwitterConnect with Samantha on InstagramFind Samantha on BookBubVisit Samantha's website

There’s no two doubts about it; Miriam Micael has a cool job. She’s a project management engineer with the Canadian Space Agency.Miriam has worked on several projects since joining the CSA three years ago, including working as a risk coordinator with Canada’s 1.2-billion dollar RADARSAT Constellation Mission, which launched last June.On this episode of Run It Like a Girl, Miriam talks t about a new initiative at the Space Agency, the Junior Astronaut initiative where activities revolve around three themes...fitness and nutrition, science and tech, and teamwork and communications.Check out Miriam's bio: https://asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/humans/miriam-micael.aspFor more information on the Junior Astronaut Initiative check out: https://asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/resources-young/junior-astronauts/application/inscription/register-camps

Following some deep soul searching, and the breakdown of a relationship, Heather Guluk made an impulsive decision to climb a mountain in the Himalayas, despite knowing very little about mountain climbing.Heather says she was challenged both physically and mentally, but, after three gruelling weeks, arrived at the summit. And that’s where a 10-year career of climbing some of the highest peaks in the world, including Mount Everest.There have been some unexpected set-backs over her climbing career. Heather recalls a planned expedition to Mount Makalu (mack-a-loo), the 5th tallest mountain in the world. After waiting for two months on the mountain, the weather finally forced the cancellation of the expedition to the summit. Another of Heather’s climbs also didn’t work out the way it was planned. Back in April of 2015, Heather was on her way up a mountain in Nepal with her guide, when a massive earthquake violently rolled the ground beneath them. Uninjured, it took a couple of days for the pair to get phone coverage - and that’s when they realized the seriousness of the situation. The Earthquake ended up killing nearly 9000 people, and injuring 25,000.Heather says she may not have met her mountain climbing goals on that expedition, but her time helping locals offered her some of the best lessons of her life.Heather tells us she recently moved to British Columbia to be closer to the mountains and the great outdoors, after convincing her boss in Toronto that she could work just as effectively from home. Because of Covid-19, however, Heather has had little time to explore her new community but has lots of plans once the threat passes.Follow Heather's adventures on Instagram at @heathergeluk

Even a quick glance Nasheen Liu's bio, would tell you that she never backs down from a challenge. At 19, she left her native China to study at the University of Heidelberg in Germany. Not only was she living on her own for the very first time in her life, Nasheen had to learn a whole new language.What lay ahead was a move to Canada, where Nasheen was offered a spot in a Germanic Languages Masters Program at the University of Alberta. The only catch - she had to pass an English as a Second Language test within 6 months in order to qualify. Nasheen, now fluent in German, knew no English. She passed the test. In 2000 Nasheen entered the tech world, talking her way into a job that was looking for 10 - 15 years of tech marketing experience, she had none.Twenty-years and lots of tech experience later, and Nasheen is Partner & Senior Vice President of CIO program strategy at IT Media Group, a successful company that she helped to form.Check out her company at: http://theitmediagroup.com/

At the age of 30, Misty Shearer re-joined the Canadian Forces; this time as a combat engineer. Originally from Hamilton, Ontario, Misty was an experienced member of the forces, having spent years as a Military Police Officer before her year-long departure.Misty has won lots of medals, in Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu and Kettlebell competitions, but she says her proudest accomplishment - the first female from the regular ranks to become a combat diver.After leaving the Forces for the second time, Misty went on to become a paramedic in the City of Edmonton...and discovering her true love; Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu. Misty, now a Blackbelt, is an instructor at the school she co-owns in Edmonton, and says working with young girls is particularly rewarding.Check out Misty's studio: Brazil 021

Growing up in the Quinte Region of southern Ontario, Erin Bury didn’t really even know what it meant to be an entrepreneur. Erin is now the CEO of Wilful, an online estate planning start-up, based out of Toronto. She was previously Managing Director at a communication firm serving tech. companies and start-ups, and she was a founding editor at a startup publication.Erin says being willing to take risks is a must in order to be a successful entrepreneur, still, she remembers calling her mom for some advice when she made her first jump to a start-up, expecting her mom to advise caution.On this episode of Run It Like a Girl, Erin, who was named one of Marketing Magazine’s Top 30 Under 30, talks about the importance of taking calculated risks when you're young.And she talks about her side business, a bike wine tour company in Southern Ontario’s Prince Edward County.Creating a will doesn't need to be difficult, and it's one of the most important things you can do. For more information check out Erin's company Willful

Mitzie Hunter would like to be the next premier of the province of Ontario. And she may well get that chance. Mitzie is a Liberal member of provincial parliament, representing a Toronto area riding. She's also one of six candidates vying for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party, which culminates with the party convention in March.Mitzie served in cabinet posts within the government of then-premier, Kathleen Wynne, which included, in 2016, becoming the first person of colour to hold the role of Minister of Education in Ontario.On this episode of Run It Like a Girl, Mitzie tells us about her entry into politics through a 2013 by-election. She talks about some of her past non-profit work with Goodwill, Toronto Community Housing and Civic Action.Mitzie also reminisces about her time as a young Jamaican immigrant, growing up just outside of Toronto.

Joanna Chiu is a senior journalist for the Toronto Star based out of Vancouver......and says there is very little diversity in the leadership of Canadian newsroom, with most decision-makers being white men.Joanna kicked off her reporting career with a newspaper in Hong Kong, before heading into mainland China and working for a couple of major publications from Beijing, where it was important to exercise caution.Now back in Canada and working for the Toronto Star, Joanna believes Canadians are starting to realize the issues around diversity, racism and xenophobia here at home.On this episode of Run It Like a Girl, Joanna talks about her career, including an article she wrote last year that resulted in the firing of Canada’s ambassador to China over comments on the Mung Wan zhou case.It should be noted that when this interview was conducted, Joanna was the Vancouver Bureau Chief for the Toronto Star. Shortly after the taping, the newspaper reorganized, dropping the Bureau Chief structure for its regional newsrooms. To learn more about Joanna check out her website: https://joannachiu.com/Joanna on Twitter: @joannachiu

Sarah Ditmars has combined two of her passions into a career that continues to evolve. Her first love was sports. Sarah says she played every sport growing up, and recalls when her parents, fed up with her incessant use of the recycling bins as targets, broke down and bought her a basketball net.Sarah’s other love was science, a passion that would direct her down the road of athletic therapy...as part of her kinesiology studies at Brock University in St. Catherines, Ontario.Following graduation, Sarah was hired as the athletic therapist and trainer for the Trenton Golden Hawks of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. Sarah says there were challenges being a woman in a male-dominated field, but they were put to rest quickly….and culminated in 2017 when Sarah was named the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s trainer of the year, the first-ever for a woman.Never afraid of a challenge Sarah has more recently transitioned into a new role, coaching coaches who are looking to break into the online world. You can check out www.lucasrubix.com for more information. To check out what other things Sarah is up to you can follow her on Instagram @sarahditmars.

Happy New Year! As we enter a new decade we look back at some of the remarkable women we featured in 2019. Wishing all of our listeners a happy, healthy and prosperous new year. Thank you for listening.

Eva Wong is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Borrowell. Eva talks about the pros and cons of being a woman in the tech industry. She tells us that not all tech companies have done a great job in creating environments that encourage and welcome diversity, and need to do more. Eva also talks about different leadership styles, pointing out that you don’t have to be a loud extrovert to be an effective leader.Check out Borrowell: www.borrowell.comEva on Twitter: @eva_Toronto

Lana Paton was a fresh Chartered Professional Accountant, working for another firm, when she received a call from a friend over at Price Waterhouse Cooper asking her to join PwC in tax services... That was over 25 years ago. On this episode of Run It Like a Girl, Lana, who now sits on PwC’s Canadian leadership team tells us, one thing she’s learned is that you don’t need a fancy title to be a leader.Lana sits on the board of the Make a Wish Foundation, and she was named one of WXN Canada’s 100 most powerful women. She talks to us about mentorship, something she says is critical to one’s career.

Sherri Stevens took a risk, and it paid off. Her decade long dream of being a flight attendant had fallen flat. After a couple of years in the industry, Sherri discovered, it was definitely not the profession for her. With no job and no money, Sherri left Toronto to live with her mother in a small apartment in her hometown of Woodstock.Desperate to find work, Sherri, noticed that there was only one staffing service in the small southwestern Ontario city. Sherri started Stevens Resource group, which eventually evolved into an international workforce training and development company, with offices in Canada and the United States.Sherri is a two-time recipient of the Women’s Executive Network Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada award, and now she actually owns WXN, an organization that works to advance, develop and recognize professional women in Canada.On this episode of Run It Like a Girl, Sherri tells us, that as her business took off, some lessons were learned the hard way.

Erica Oliver has been in the Canadian forces for over 20 years and tells us that it wasn’t she who chose the military, but rather the military that chose her.Erica joined the regular forces with the sole goal of becoming a combat diver, which took her six years to accomplish….six years, she says, of being told that there was no way she could do it.On this special Remembrance Day episode of Run It Like a Girl, Erica talks about her 4 international deployments including two to Afghanistan, and says the military does an excellent job of preparing its troops for the physical demands of a war zone. She says the mental demands, however, are almost impossible to prepare for.

Andrea Cook calls herself a career advertising girl, although she graduated from university as an economist, thinking she might want to be a trader. Following an internship, it became clear to Andrea that stock market trading was not in her cards, and she made a sharp turn towards advertising.Andrea is now the president of FCB/Six, an award-winning digital advertising agency, with offices in Toronto, Montreal and New York City. In this episode, she tells us about the gains women have made in the ad industry, despite the fact that it has traditionally been a male-dominated business.

Kristina Schwartz started out working with at-risk youth, working the midnight shift so she could spend time at home with her young daughter. When the mental and physical toll became too great, Kristina set in motion, a plan that would allow her to spend time with family, and make a living. Kristina opened a daycare out of her home. After the passing of her grandmother, Kristina realized that she was meant to do more. She formulated a five-year plan to become a daycare licensor and close her own daycare to focus on overseeing others using the philosophy of childcare that she believes in. Two years later Kristina has closed her doors and now oversees more than 20 home daycares. Kristina has had mentors along the way, people to help guide her through the paperwork and red tape of being a daycare licensor, but she says, mentorship has always started with her grandmother.On this episode of Run it Like a Girl, Kristina explains why she isn’t interested in expanding, for the time being, and she warns potential business owners that work/life balance can be thrown into disarray when first starting out.Links: Little Lambs Home Daycare: https://www.littlelambshdc.com/

Virginia Brailey originally had visions of a career in high finance, but after taking The Canadian Securities Course to become a stockbroker realized that wasn't the path for her, and found her passion in marketing. Virginia is a strong proponent of collaborative, fun work environments, and spends much of her time bringing in people with diverse backgrounds, and diverse ways of thinking to create teams that do amazing work.On this episode of Run It Like a Girl, Virginia tells us that she’s an optimist, and believes there has never been a better time to be a woman. Virginia, who’s on the advisory board of Women of Influence discusses mentorship, the importance of being an authentic leader, and talks about some of her personal inspirations including Michelle Obama, Malala and her mom.

Sarah Kaplan is a professor at Toronto's Rotman School of Management and the director of The Institute for Gender and the Economy. As a professor and author, Dr. Kaplan has also been interested in gender equality issues, and has herself faced barriers and biases since beginning her career. It was in 2016, 30 years after Sarah's first day of work that she woke up and realized how little progress has been made. It was at this moment Sarah realized she needed to do this as her day job, not just as something on the side. On this episode, Dr. Kaplan tells us about the serious changes that are needed, and that we all have an obligation to call out discriminatory practices. If we don't we are part of the problem, by actively participating in a society that perpetuates discrimination.

In this episode Run it like a girl host Bonnie Mouck talks about why she started podcasting, what it means to be an authentic leader, and why she stopped caring about not knowing what she wants to be.

Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan had two challenges as she progressed through student leadership at Memorial University in her home province of Newfoundland. Not only was she female, but Ann Marie was always the youngest. She started university at 16 and ran for student government in her third year. By the age of 21, Ann Marie had advanced through to president of the largest student union in Atlantic Canada, the third woman to hold that role.Ann Marie is now the president of Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario following a 5-year stint as the president and CEO of Newfoundland’s College of the North Atlantic. Her advice to young people: take opportunities, don’t be afraid of failure, and seek out mentors.

Sevaun Palvetzian heads up Civic Action, an independent organization in Toronto that uses a collaborative approach to come up with solutions to some of the most pressing urban challenges. Civic Action has been around for nearly 15 years, starting as a Toronto-specific city building organization and expanding to cover the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas. CivicAction is considered to be the premier civic engagement organization in the country.Following her achievement of a Masters in American History, Sevaun left Canada for an internship in Washington DC, where she worked with a program called Presidential Classroom. And what started as a 4-month internship, turned into a four year adventure in the American capital.On this episode of Run It Like a Girl, Sevaun talks about her very first and most valuable mentors - her parents. She gives some tips on how to find your voice and make sure you own your seat at the table, whether it be a kitchen table, classroom table or boardroom table.

Hannah Taylor was only 5 when she saw a homeless man searching for food in a dumpster on a cold winter day in her hometown of Winnipeg. Even at that young age, the experience was so profound for Hannah, that she began fundraising to help out.By the age of 8, she had formed the LadyBug Foundation, a non-profit organization aimed at fighting homelessness and poverty. At 22, Hannah’s foundation has raised around 4-million-dollars to support shelters, missions, and food banks across the country.For her work, Hannah has received an International Humanitarian Award and a Governor General’s Award. On this episode of Run It Like a Girl Hannah gives some sound advice to young people wanting to make change, she talks about why young women need to put more trust in their abilities and why not being able to do a front roll isn’t the end of the world.