The Lady Leaders Podcast

Christina is back for round two and this one goes deeper. We talk about the real numbers behind female funding, why only a tiny fraction of investment goes to women founders, and why that has nothing to do with women being less capable. We get into the Lamborghini story that says everything about how women lead differently. And Christina opens up about losing her mother to dementia while running her company, and what that taught her about resilience that no leadership book ever could. This one is for anyone who has ever felt like they had to hide what they were carrying to keep showing up. Follow us on socials:  Carine's Instagram Podcast Instagram Page Subscribe to our newsletter

Melanie Boulerice failed her nursing licensing exam twice. Burned out in her first year as an ER nurse. And still built Nomadic Nurse Network into a six-figure business — plus a coffee brand on the side. In this episode, Melanie gets real about what nobody tells you about "the system" — whether that's healthcare, corporate, or your own body. We talk about the difference between your calling and your identity, why boundaries come in levels (not just walls), and the moment she found a man having a heart attack just by double-checking lab work nobody asked her to check. If you've ever wondered whether to stay in a job that's safe but slowly burning you out, this one's for you. In this episode: Why she almost quit nursing school (twice) The real reason she burned out in year one of her ER career How she caught a massive heart attack just by being thorough Separating your calling from your identity (and why it matters) The "five pillars" framework for evaluating your life Why founder-face branding is non-negotiable right now Follow us on socials:  Carine's Instagram Podcast Instagram Page Subscribe to our newsletter

Christina Dinolfo didn't grow up dreaming of becoming a CEO — she just kept saying yes to problems no one else wanted to solve. Now she's leading a fintech group-gifting platform, and in this episode she's unpacking exactly how she got there without a traditional career map. We talk about what it actually takes to advance in your career (hint: it's not "working hard"), why investing in yourself is the one financial move she never regrets, and the mistake so many women make when negotiating a raise or promotion. Christina also gets real about burnout, learning to say no, remote vs. hybrid work debates, and why chasing someone else's version of success will always leave you short. If you're building something — a career, a business, a life that doesn't look like anyone else's — this conversation is full of the practical, no-fluff advice we wish someone had handed us earlier. In this episode: Why "how hard you work" is the wrong pitch for a raise or promotion The financial mindset shift every woman needs (and the one book she recommends) Scaling a business to $54M without a background in the industry Remote vs. hybrid work — and why "one size fits all" doesn't work Recognizing burnout before it recognizes you Her honestly-not-that-wacky morning routine Connect with Christina on LinkedIn Follow us on socials:  Carine's Instagram Podcast Instagram Page Subscribe to our newsletter:  

Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought — I love my life, I love my kids, I love my family… but where did I go? I felt this exact thing before having my second baby. In Part 1 of this series, I break down matrescence — the psychological and hormonal shift into motherhood nobody warns you about — and the data behind it: 62% of moms say they've lost part of their identity, and we carry 71% of the household's mental load. I get into my own story: the guilt around asking for help, why I resisted childcare for so long, and the actual shifts that helped me come back to myself — brain-dumping my to-do list, streamlining the boring stuff, and making my own time non-negotiable. This isn't about bouncing back to who I was. It's about evolving into someone better. Follow us on socials:  https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran/ https://www.instagram.com/taketheleadpodcast/  Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.carine-badran.kit.com/b8b87327db/

This week I'm sitting down with a fourth-generation spice merchant Ayman Saifi who turned a stagnant family import business into a premium spice brand "A Spice Affair" now sold in 7 countries, 4,000+ TJ Maxx and Marshalls locations across the US, and growing fast online. We get into all of it — the seven years of losing money, the two years without a salary, the marketing agency that almost tanked everything, and the single decision in 2018 that completely changed the trajectory of his business. If you've ever felt like you're building and building and going nowhere, this episode is going to hit. We talk about: Why he went all-in on manufacturing his own product (and why it scared him) The $0-investment pitch that landed his first retail account at Winners The ambassador program that's now outperforming paid ads Why he says going after the big fish takes the same energy as the small fish Balancing a growing business, a new baby, and a wife who eventually joined the company This is the kind of conversation that makes you want to get out of your own way and just start. Follow the podcast and leave a review — it's the best way to help us reach more people who are ready to take the lead. Follow us on socials:  https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran/ https://www.instagram.com/taketheleadpodcast/  Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.carine-badran.kit.com/b8b87327db/

What happens when you bring your husband on the podcast mid-NYC trip? An unfiltered conversation about careers, real estate, relationships, and the honest math behind building a life together. This week, I sit down with my husband — a structural engineer turned entrepreneur — to talk about accidentally having lunch with Warren Buffett, leaving a six-figure salary at Kiewit for a massive pay cut that turned out to be the best move he ever made, and how we navigated starting a business, buying investment properties, and building a marriage all at once. Plus: prenups, the 50/50 myth, and why "love is like a fart — if you force it, it went to sh*t." Follow us on socials:  https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran/ https://www.instagram.com/taketheleadpodcast/  Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.carine-badran.kit.com/b8b87327db/

This week I'm sitting down with Gasia Hindoyan, founder of BX Studio — a boutique fitness studio with two locations in Laval and Bois Franc that has been reshaping how women move for seven years.   What started as a barre and boxing concept became something far more powerful after Gasia's own postpartum complications pushed her toward Pilates as rehabilitation. That personal transformation led her back to school, into 300+ hours of instructor training, and ultimately to building her own certification school inside the studio.   We get into the real conversation behind the Pilates boom — who's actually qualified to teach, what shortcuts cost clients long-term, and why Gasia believes the studios that survive the hype will be the ones rooted in education and community.   We also go deep on what it actually looks like to build a business through pregnancy, postpartum, and a global pandemic — and the honest trade-offs between being a present mom and a hands-on founder.   In this episode:         •     Why certification in Pilates matters more than most studios will tell you       •     Strength training vs. Pilates — do you really have to choose?       •     The financial conversations every entrepreneurial couple needs to have       •     What the next chapter of the Pilates industry actually looks like   Follow us on socials:  https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran/ https://www.instagram.com/taketheleadpodcast/  Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.carine-badran.kit.com/b8b87327db/

Cindy Havington has a PhD in neuroscience, three kids she homeschools at home, and a company she built from scratch during the most chaotic season of her life. She also once had a full breakdown and yelled at her soup during the pandemic, and that moment changed everything. In this episode, we get into why so many of us are applying emotional regulation tools too late, what your brain is actually doing in the seconds before you snap at your partner or your kids, and why awareness is the first and most powerful tool you have. Cindy breaks down the science behind the two questions your brain asks in every emotionally charged situation, why arguments escalate even when nobody meant for them to, and how knowing your core values can help you stop living for everyone else's expectations. We also get personal. Cindy opens up about growing up in a dysregulated home, why she built her entire company for the younger version of herself, and how she manages to work, homeschool three kids, and still show up with capacity. And I share the moment my husband asked if I wanted to quit the podcast and what came out of me surprised even me. This one will shift how you see your emotions, your arguments, and yourself. Follow us on socials:  https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran/ https://www.instagram.com/taketheleadpodcast/  Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.carine-badran.kit.com/b8b87327db/  

Sam went from drinking five Red Bulls a day as a civil engineering student in Paris to founding one of the most exciting retail concepts in Canada right now. In this episode, we sit down with the founder of KaleMart24, the health-forward convenience store brand that is quietly taking over Montreal and setting its sights on the US market. We get into how he spotted a massive gap in the North American convenience store industry, why he tested three completely different store formats at the same time before scaling, and how he built a 20-location franchise operation with a core team of three people, two of whom started as cashiers. Sam also opens up about his Dragons Den experience, what actually happens when a Dragon threatens to sue you on national television, how brands pay to get shelf space in his stores, and why he believes the proof of concept has to come before the pitch every single time. If you are thinking about starting a business, scaling one, or just want to understand how someone turns a matcha habit into an empire, this episode is for you. Follow us on socials:  https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran/ https://www.instagram.com/taketheleadpodcast/  Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.carine-badran.kit.com/b8b87327db/    

I sat down with Dr. Iram Ahmad clinical psychologist for a raw and eye-opening conversation about the questions we're all quietly typing into Google at 2am. We break down the real difference between depression and a rough patch, what anxiety is actually trying to tell you, why "snapping out of it" is harder than it sounds, and how high-achieving women and moms are quietly burning out under the pressure of doing it all. We also get into radical acceptance, the mom guilt spiral, decision fatigue, and what actually shifts when people start healing. This one is equal parts validating and practical.   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran https://www.instagram.com/taketheleadpodcast/  

What does neuroscience actually tell us about how we see the world — and why we're so bad at changing our minds? In this episode , I sit down with Nardine, a neuroscientist, engineer, and AI safety researcher who built and exited her own biotech startup, to talk about the brain, perception, stress, and the very real dangers of unchecked artificial intelligence. We get into why your brain is wired to trust what it already knows more than what's right in front of you, how social media is literally rewiring your perception of reality, and what confirmation bias looks like at the neurological level. We also talk about stress — the difference between productive pressure and the kind that slowly breaks you down — and why so many of us are operating at a dangerous baseline without even realizing it. Nardine shares her journey from Cairo to Montreal, from physics to neuroscience to building a drug-modeling startup that raised $4 million and partnered with Google, to now working on AI safety. She breaks down why AI is moving faster than our laws, our governments, and honestly our collective sanity can keep up with — including the moment an AI blackmailed a real researcher in a lab setting. We also talk habits, neuroplasticity, funding as a woman of color, finding a cofounder, and why journaling in the morning might be the most neuroscience-backed thing you can do for your mental load. This one is equal parts fascinating and eye-opening. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran

Most entrepreneurs don't think about legal protection until it's too late — and that's exactly where things fall apart. In this episode, I sit down with Montreal-based corporate lawyer Nadine Shalati to break down everything founders, side hustlers, and aspiring entrepreneurs need to know before launching a business. We get into why your first call should be to a lawyer (not an influencer), what a shareholder's agreement actually protects you from, and the stock option mistakes that are quietly costing employees thousands. We also talk AI businesses and the legal grey zone they're operating in right now, the most profitable industries to invest in, why franchising is still a massive opportunity, and what Nadine learned from her wildest cases in litigation — including the moment she knew corporate law was her true calling. Plus, she gets real about building a business as a woman, the confidence it takes to put yourself out there, and why the biggest obstacle is always yourself. Whether you're just starting out or scaling up — this episode is your legal wake-up call.

From one donut shop to 14+ locations — Terry Axiotis didn't just build a business, he built a legacy.

What if understanding your brain could change everything about how you show up as a mom, a woman, and a human? In this episode, I sit down with Marianne Van Horn — neuroscientist, PhD, mom of three, and author of The Brain Coloring and Learning Book — for one of the most grounding and eye-opening conversations we've had on the show. Marianne went from studying eye movements at McGill's Montreal Neurological Institute to leaving academia entirely to prioritize her family — and she has zero regrets. We talk about what that identity shift really felt like, and how neuroscience actually helped her make peace with it. We get into: Why neuroplasticity means it's never too late to change your brain The simple act that calms your nervous system almost instantly (hint: go outside) Why chronic stress is the #1 enemy of your brain — and what to do about it The truth about pathologizing kids' behavior too early Why she pulled her son out of school and what she learned from it Morning routines, sleep, reading to your kids, and going back to basics This episode is equal parts science and soul — perfect for any mom who's tired of feeling like she's falling short and ready to understand why she feels the way she does.

In this episode, I sit down with Roy, founder of Biz Dev Labs and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, to talk about his unexpected journey from business school to building one of the most respected outbound sales agencies in the space. Roy shares how he stumbled into the BDR world, why he believes the role is a lifetime career — not just a stepping stone — and how being an introvert never held him back from competing at an Olympic level in windsurfing or cold calling Fortune 500 decision-makers. Introverts can thrive in sales. Active listening, pattern recognition, and deep product knowledge are superpowers that introverts naturally bring to the table. The BDR role is a foundation for everything. Whether you're an entrepreneur, climbing the corporate ladder, or looking for a promotion — it all starts with sales. Outbound is hard. That's the point. The heavy lifting — cold calling, picking up the phone, doing the work others won't — is exactly where the competitive edge lives. LinkedIn is your most underrated tool. Document your journey. Post authentically. The people who share consistently are the ones who build trust and attract opportunity. On high-ticket closing courses: Consume the free content first. Buy the product if you genuinely believe in it. Don't spend $5,000 before vetting the coach. Hiring is intuition-based. Roy looks for energy, proactiveness, and people who don't wait for instructions — not the perfect answer to every interview question. AI won't replace great BDRs — it'll raise the bar. When everyone goes left, go right. The fundamentals (cold calls, real conversations) are making a comeback. If this episode resonated with you, here's how you can support the show: ⭐ Leave a review — It only takes 2 minutes and helps more people find the podcast!

Every parent has been there — the meltdown in the grocery store, the bedtime battle that never ends, the picky eater who somehow eats everything at daycare but nothing at home. But what if most of what we think we know about our kids' behavior is actually missing the point entirely? This week on Take the Lead, we sit down with Paula, a psycho-educator with over 10 years of experience working with children from newborns to age 12 at her Montreal-based clinic. Paula works at the intersection of child development, family coaching, and behavioral intervention — and she is here to give every parent the honest, science-backed framework they never got handed at the hospital. We get into everything. Paula breaks down the difference between psycho-education and psychology, and why understanding the need underneath your child's behavior is the only thing that will actually make it stop. She introduces us to the ABC behavior chart — one of the most practical tools you can start using today to decode why your child does what they do and when. We talk about tantrums, what actually triggers them, and why being either too strict or too permissive both backfire in ways most parents don't see coming. Paula walks us through the three key stages of child development — attachment from 0 to 1, exploration from 1 to 3, and socialization from 3 to 6 — and why knowing which stage your child is in changes everything about how you respond to them. We debate gentle parenting versus structured parenting, and Paula makes a compelling case for why you actually need both — and shares her 5 C's of parenting framework that every mom and dad needs to hear. We also get into the topics that make parents feel the most guilt: sleep training, self-soothing, screen time at mealtimes, and whether showing your child your disappointment is harming them. Paula's take is refreshingly nuanced — no judgment, no one-size-fits-all answers, just real developmental science delivered in a way that actually makes sense. And because this is Take the Lead and we never stay surface level, we also get personal. Carine shares her own real-time parenting dilemmas — from potty training accidents to a baby learning to self-soothe — and Paula meets her right where she is with practical, compassionate advice that every parent in the trenches will recognize. If you've ever Googled "is my toddler's behavior normal" at midnight, argued with your partner about screen time, or wondered whether your lifestyle is impacting your child more than you'd like to admit — this episode is going to feel like a long overdue exhale. The bottom line? You don't have to be a perfect parent. You just have to be a present one, most of the time. And trust your gut — because Paula confirms it's usually right. Hosted by Carine Badran Follow the show: @taketheleadpodcast Follow Carine: @carinebadran

What does it actually take to walk away from a business you built from scratch — and then build something completely different from the ground up? This week on Take the Lead, we sit down with Mariela Katz, founder of Nutterie, Montreal's premium nut and snack brand that is redefining what it means to snack well. But before Nutterie, there was a thriving social media marketing agency that Mariela spent a decade building, growing, and ultimately selling — and the story of how and why she made that leap is one of the most honest conversations we've had on this show. Mariela opens up about what it really felt like to outgrow a business she loved, how becoming a mom sparked the courage to finally let it go, and what it was like to sell a company that had become her entire identity. We talk about the loneliness of being a sole founder, the moment life put exactly the right person in front of her to make the sale happen, and how she went from being "the social media girl" in Montreal to launching a consumer goods brand in a completely new industry. We get into the unglamorous truth about e-commerce that nobody talks about — hint: it's 50% logistics and zero percent sexy — and why Mariela believes the founder has to be in the trenches of every operational detail, at least in the beginning. She shares how her Bulgarian roots and childhood surrounded by nuts and dried fruits planted the seed for Nutterie long before she even knew it, and how spotting a genuine gap in the market made starting over feel less like a risk and more like a responsibility. We also talk about what it means to build a business alongside your life partner, how working with your husband changes everything about your relationship in the best possible way, and how Mariela navigates being a mom of three while running a growing brand with her signature "I'm not actually doing it all" philosophy. And if you've ever wondered whether collaboration can fast-track your growth — Mariela broke into 76 retail locations on day one through a single relationship built on trust, a handshake deal, and a reputation she had spent years earning. That story alone is worth the listen. This one is for the entrepreneur who is sitting on an idea but afraid to pivot. For the mom who feels guilty for wanting more. And for anyone who has ever wondered whether starting over at a new chapter could actually be the best thing they ever did. Spoiler: for Mariela, it was. Follow Carine https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran/ Follow Take The Lead Podcast https://www.instagram.com/taketheleadpodcast/

What do you do when the career you love suddenly lets you go? Kathleen DiCaprio is a Montreal-based marketer, speaker, and podcaster who has built her career across brand marketing, influencer marketing, and communications — and she genuinely loves every second of it. But even the most passionate professionals aren't immune to a layoff. In this episode, Kathleen gets refreshingly real about what it felt like to lose her job, what she did next, and why choosing radical transparency on social media about her job search changed everything. We talk about how being openly honest online about her situation didn't hurt her chances — it helped her land interviews she never would have gotten otherwise. We get into the power of finding and building community online during some of your hardest seasons, and why showing up as your real self will always outperform the perfectly curated version. And because we never shy away from the full picture on Take the Lead, we also go deep on mom guilt — what it really looks and feels like when you're a driven, ambitious woman who also happens to be someone's mom. Kathleen doesn't sugarcoat it, and that's exactly what makes this conversation so worth your time. If you've ever been laid off, questioned your path, or wondered how to balance a career you're passionate about with a family you love — this one is for you.   Follow Carine https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran/ Follow Take The Lead Podcast https://www.instagram.com/taketheleadpodcast/ Follow Katie https://www.instagram.com/mtlkatie/

Lezlie Karls is currently the co-Founder and co-CEO of Mid-Day Squares. Her journey started 10 years ago. She's been swinging and missing for over a decade. She always loved taking an idea and making it come to life. She's been judged and misunderstood over and over.   She's designed for lady gaga, spent time on construction sites, and attempted to cook with the greats. All of which has led her to this moment now challenging all leaders to lead with vulnerability instead of fear.  Let us know if you enjoyed this episode!  Follow us on socials:  https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran/ https://www.instagram.com/taketheleadpodcast/ 

Follow us on socials:  https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran/ https://www.instagram.com/taketheleadpodcast/  Leave us a review here: https://open.spotify.com/show/77Y9i4oQIq5WnrCQBTuI7h

Is Pilates just a trend?  Or is it the most underrated tool for building real strength, a stronger mind, and a body that actually lasts? We're getting into ALL of it this episode. Jennifer Barrak — founder, trainer, and the powerhouse behind the Masterpiece Community — sits down with us to break down everything you thought you knew about Pilates and body weight training. Can you actually build muscle without lifting heavy? What does it take to turn a passion for movement into a thriving business? And how do you create a community so loyal they call themselves a movement? Jennifer doesn't just teach fitness — she's built an entire world around it.  And in this episode, she's pulling back the curtain on how she did it, the mindset behind it, and why your body is capable of so much more than you think.  

Lezlie Karls is currently the co-Founder and co-CEO of Mid-Day Squares. Her journey started 10 years ago. She's been swinging and missing for over a decade. She always loved taking an idea and making it come to life. She's been judged and misunderstood over and over.  She's designed for lady gaga, spent time on construction sites, and attempted to cook with the greats. All of which has led her to this moment now challenging all leaders to lead with vulnerability instead of fear.  Let us know if you enjoyed this episode!  Follow us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran/ https://www.instagram.com/taketheleadpodcast/  Leave us a review here: https://apple.co/3r5UApD 

Just came back from our trip recently and was really excited to have this discussion about what it means to meditate, to be mindful and actually manifest something. I had the chance to speak to multiple psychologists throughout the years and a psychiatrist who have helped me answer some of these questions!  Let us know if you enjoyed this episode!  Follow us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran/ https://www.instagram.com/taketheleadpodcast/  Leave us a review here: https://apple.co/3r5UApD 

Faisal is a real estate broker based out of Cambridge Ontario. He walks us through his journey from near poverty to generating billions of dollars in real estate sales & the strategies he has implemented throughout the years. Today, he has achieved the highest number of homes sold in Canada since 2017, is ranked the Top Selling Broker in Canada and presently #2 in the World for Re/Max. Faisal recently published his Amazon Best Selling Book titled “The Real Deal -Journey of a Billion Dollar Real Estate Broker" Let us know how you liked this episode! Follow us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran/ https://www.instagram.com/taketheleadpodcast/  Leave us a review here: https://apple.co/3r5UApD 

Sabri Suby is the founder and head of growth at Australia's fastest-growing full-service digital marketing agency King Kong, and author of international bestseller Sell Like Crazy. Between the agency's roster of clients and students, King Kong has generated $1.33 billion in sales and has taught more than 250,000 people through its seminars, content and training sessions. Today we will be covering: how you can add value, create hunger and the right mindset to reach your goals & marketing strategy tips to help you stand out. Thank you for listening! Follow us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran/ https://www.instagram.com/taketheleadpodcast/  Leave us a review here: https://apple.co/3r5UApD  Sabri's socials: https://www.instagram.com/sabrisuby/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SabriSubyOfficial 

Do you love your job, hate your job or feel indifferent about your job? In this episode I talk about different scenarios and actions to take for each! In the past, I have quit my job, started a venture from scratch, went back to the corporate world and now juggle many things I am passionate about. In this episode, we talk about key takeaways from my own experiences and what my advice is for different scenarios.  Thank you for listening! Follow us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran/ https://www.instagram.com/taketheleadpodcast/  Leave us a review here: https://apple.co/3r5UApD 

Had a lovely conversation with Tiffany about breaking away from limiting mindsets and manifesting positivity. Tiffany Cheung is a Business Activation Coach, creator of Business Activation Academy, host of the Social Reset Podcast, and published author. Voted one of Yahoo! Finance 2021 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow and surpassing $200K before her first year in business, she is on an unstoppable mission to change the way people manifest MASSIVE success through their unique energy. Follow us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran/ https://www.instagram.com/taketheleadpodcast/  Follow Tiffany:  https://www.instagram.com/tiffanycheung.co/  Leave us a review here: https://apple.co/3r5UApD 

Join me in today's episode as we cover my 8 tips for boosting confidence. These are proven strategies that I discovered and applied throughout my life and career that have impacted me in the best ways!  Follow us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran/ https://www.instagram.com/taketheleadpodcast/  Leave us a review here: https://apple.co/3r5UApD 

Today's episode is about leveraging your social media platforms to make $$$! Whether you are currently on Instagram, YouTube or TikTok, there are multiple ways you can go viral & use that to your benefit. Sam owns a social media marketing agency and has multiple YouTube channels that he has monetized for passive income! He gives us a bunch of tips around creating a brand, using Adsense & getting your followers to SAVE your posts.  Would love to cover more topics related to this, let me know what you think on https://www.instagram.com/taketheleadpodcast/ & https://www.instagram.com/carinebadran/  Leave us a review here: https://apple.co/3r5UApD  

I had the pleasure of interviewing Zac Hartley today! He is a Calgary based Investor and entrepreneur with experience in both the stock and crypto markets.    Zac currently runs a YouTube channel with over 40K subs where he makes content focused on finance and investing.  He's a graduate of Mount Royal University and in 2018 he was able to successfully land a deal on Dragons Den, since then has focused on building up multiple revenue streams and sharing his experience with others.   If you're looking to dabble into stock, crypto or forex then this is the episode for you!   Here are the links mentioned: https://skl.sh/3gqA5jL https://www.instagram.com/zaac_/ 

New Year is right around the corner & I am getting ready to apply all these tips learned over the last year. Through ups and downs & lots of changes, it's important to keep these lessons in mind.    Happy to be back and offering value for 2022, excited to be posting weekly episodes for you guys. Feel free to give us a rating & review! 

George Laraque is a 13-year NHL veteran, animal rights activist, investor and radio host who has a lot of wisdom to share about his years through overcoming adveristy and reaching ultimate success.  Have any thoughts about today's episode? Share it with us on social media @taketheleadpodcast and leave a review!   

Today's interview with Zak Benbouchta takes us through his journey in athletic therapy and MMA & how integrate his teachings into everyday life. Being "healthy" is easy, but making it a lifestyle can be tough. Enjoy this conversation around metabolism, finding an activity that inspires you and staying accountable through your own journey. Follow me - @carinebadranFollow Zak - @zbenbouchta 

Hi lovelies. Today I share with you my journey through obsessive eating and training - when carbs were the devil and no workouts were to be missed- to now living an intuitive lifestyle. I don't believe in restrictions and love training and eating in a way that suits my desires. Enjoy today's talk as I take you through the last 8 year rollercoaster and some tips on building a faster metabolism xo

Zachary and Nicole, The Smart Founders, take us through how they built their business and what it takes to have a successful relationship. From being a visionary to taking action, these two have a lot of insight on how they make their relationship work both at home and at the office. Enjoy & Take The Lead.  Production - Power Of Progress by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Today's podcast interview is with none other than Caroline Codsi. Entrepreneur, speaker and founder of Women in Governance, she was recognized as a Top 20 Diversity Leading Figures in Quebec, Top 75 Canadian Immigrants and Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada. She is also the recipient of a Gender Equality Award by the United Nations’ Women National Committee, a Leadership Award from the Mercuriades (Quebec’s Federation of chambers of commerce) and a Leader of the decade for diversity & inclusion award from New Delhi’s Women Economic Forum.Was happy to cover topics around business, equality and overcoming hardships while using them to our advantage. Enjoy!

Coming to you today with the top 5 time wasters during quarantine 2020! If you are a bit confused as to how you should be spending your time right now: we got you. Truth is, these are scary time and you should not be too hard on yourself but hey, why not make most of being home?! Hope you enjoy!

Often we see the stories of people who are "passionate" and have had something they were good at since the age of 3. Not the case for me sis & if you're watching this then probably not for you either... Here's the great news though: You don't have to have a passion to be successful and enjoy your work. It's 2020 and it has never been easier to become a millionaire. If you just want to make money and travel and work from home; it's possible. So, why not find something that would fulfill your highest values?

Do you feel like your fear of judgement and rejection is stopping you from going after your dreams and achieving your goals? Here's my take on those fears and how I have successfully eradicated them thus far. We dive into a personal story and a few examples of how to live life fearless. Enjoy!

Juliette Brun is the founder of 17 year old franchise "Juliette & Chocolat". This amazing dessert company based solely in Montreal QC, is the epitome of top quality European-style desserts. Juliette is not only a business woman, she is also a wife and mother of 5 children! Today's interview revolved around time management, relationships, mindset and tactics for starting the business of your dreams. She walks us through her story from coming to Canada as an international student to revolutionizing the dessert industry in this city. Enjoy!

Coming through today with 5 of the best side hustle hacks to remember and apply in 2020. I know a lot of you are either still in school, have a full-time job or both & need some extra cash on the side. Whether you are looking to find your passion or turn your side hustle into your main hustle, these tips are for you! It is amazing how each and everyone of us are able to make money FROM HOME with little or no cost to start. So why not leverage that?Don't forget to review and rate this podcast if you haven't already! Thank you!

What is up beautiful people?! This was requested by someone on IG and you guys loved the idea. So here I am talking about how I was able to secure the bag lol for after graduation. I graduated not long ago and then started my business during the time I was in school. When I graduated, I had a few jobs lined up for me to take on but I decided to focus on my business in marketing and this channel/podcast. My path in school and in experiences in jobs may be different from yours given my undergrad degree and what was required for me to find something straight after. This is just my story! I am giving you the insight I learned through my own experience and hopefully it will be beneficial to you :) 

Going from 1.7k to 5.3k on Instagram in the span of 5 months has shown me a lot! Not only have these strategies worked for myself, they have also worked for my agency clients. Personalizing you instagram feed and engaging with your audience are two ways to guarantee a loyal following. Not only is Instagram in 2020 important for growing your business and getting more clients, it is also a great way to have a brand around your name!

I am passionate about this topic because it wasn't long ago that I felt like I was turning in circles. Every New Year I would set a goal and then by February I would've forgotten all about it. It wasn't until I went through many catalysts and downturns that I figured it was ACTUALLY time for a change. Here is how to get you ish together this year & Happy Holidays!

Sally Illingworth is a LinkedIn master who is here today to teach us how she was able to grow her LinkedIn following past 65,000 and get over 26 million content views! She has a unique approach to getting people to engage with the content she puts out with little to no equipment needed! We discuss everything social media, branding and content marketing related. She also discusses the ease at which social media has allowed us to reach out to big names in any industry. Enjoy.

Mariela Katz is the founder of FRENZR, a social media marketing agency based in Montreal. She walks us through her journey in marketing and how she went from working at a 9-5 job to then becoming a freelancer and eventually scaling up her own agency. As a workshop master, she was able to create an amazing brand for herself and her team! Listen to find out what her tips on scaling up are. Enjoy.

Rebecca Perez is the founder of GOSS Magazine, GOSS Club and editor in chief. She has taken the entrepreneurial route ever since she was very young & has a lot to say about what it means to be a successful entrepreneur. Was a pleasure having her on the show and discussing common business topics around failure, making it and rising to the top. She also highlights being "fearless" and developing a brand that empowers its readers!

Podcast hosting in 2019 ...and probably 2020 can seem very redundant with the questions being asked to entrepreneurs; so here's how I've learnt to ask great questions. After endless hours of analyzing other interviewers and interviewing people myself, I have come up with a 4-step "formula". Enjoy!

Wonderful interview with founder of Good Food For Good, Richa Gupta. A socially responsible company with a fantastic goal to feed over 1 million people in 2020! Ever wonder what it is like to start a business in a market that can be considered saturated and with high barriers? Well we’ve got you covered. A lot of insights on what to expect and whether you should think of being socially responsible from the get-go. Good Food For Good is a company that offers various healthy & delicious sauces. Richa actually went on Dragon’s Den and got amazing responses from some of the judges. Jim Treliving stated: "Id' eat this over ketchup." An incredible entrepreneur and a super inspiring conversation.