Chantal Roulston, a wedding and event specialist, and the boss babe biz owner of Chateau Mille Fleurs has always loved weddings and parties, initially entering the event industry 20 years ago. She first started off by helping others plan their events, from catering to planning to styling. Over time, Chantal's love for creating beautiful things extended into creating amazing cakes for my couples. Naturally, this love of all things wedding and party related led her to creating Merrickville's only tented wedding and events venue, featuring a secluded wooded sanctuary for intimate ceremonies with some boujee elements.
But this babe's dream to opening her business didn't come without its own sets of challenges and personal obstacles, from being pregnant in her teens and a high school dropout to having a house fire where she lost everything.
Buckle up for a story filled with grits and grind l — because this babe's journey proves that resilience, hustle, and heart can turn setbacks into a powerhouse success story!
Bean Chevrolet is a family owned business, stemming from 3 generations of entrepreneurs, highly regarded in the community and known for exceptional customer service, great deals, and community generosity, not to mention that familiar radio jingle that I'm sure you recognize. Over the years, they've supported the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital Foundation, golf tournaments, sports teams, and charitable events, and even extended members of the family have donated land in Carp and Dunrobin, on which community churches were built.
But what does it take to become the general manager of such a beloved dealership, especially with her father as the principal dealer? In our latest episode, April Bean, a young businesswoman shares how she rose through the ranks, fosters customer engagement, champions opportunities for women in automotive, and knows the importance of recognizing employees, especially in a demanding career that has long hours and high pressure sales targets.
PrawPer Pet Treats was founded by two best friends, Alex and Kayla, who share both a love for animals and a passion for wholesome, healthy living - and success that fuels their brand. What started as a simple idea quickly grew into a mission: to create pet treats that are as nutritious, natural, and love-filled as the ones they’d want for their own furry companions. And to build an empire in a way that no one else is doing.
Together, Alex and Kayla have blended their friendship, creativity, and care into every recipe, creating a brand rooted in trust, quality, and a genuine commitment to pets’ wellbeing. Because to them, pets aren’t just animals—they’re family.
These two don't let obstacles get in their way. Why break through the ceiling when you can just climb through the window.
Meet Jamie Lynch — otherwise known online as Simply Jamie — the content creator and brand strategist who’s made a career out of turning everyday conversations with GenZ's into laugh-out-loud, scroll-stopping gold. With a background that blends corporate HR know-how and social media savvy, Jamie has a knack for translating life’s quirks into stories that Gen Z, Millennials, and even Boomers can’t help but relate to.... or try to understand 😅
She’s part comedian, part storyteller, and all-around pro at making people laugh while sneaking in a little corporate humour along the way. Whether she’s navigating unprecedent workplace situations, decoding digital culture, or just sharing the unfiltered reality of life, Jamie brings humour and heart, connecting generations better than any algorithm ever could.
Simply put: with Jamie, you’re not just getting content — you’re getting a glimpse through the corporate world of modern life with GenZ employees, one funny, relatable interaction at a time.
Intrigued with visual rehabilitation and vision therapy ever since her second year of optometry school, Dr. Kristel Jefferies fell head over heels for the fascinating world of how we see. Since starting her career in 2013, Dr. Jefferies zeroed in on helping people with binocular vision disorders and behavioral vision issues—especially those recovering from concussions, like she once did herself. Whether it’s guiding athletes to sharpen their game with sports vision training or helping kids with learning challenges like dyslexia or autism see the world a little clearer, Dr. Jefferies has dedicated her career to helping patients thrive.
She’s proud to have helped hundreds of people improve not just their vision, but their overall quality of life—and she’s proud to have two Ottawa Valley, in Pembroke and Petawawa, as she is on a mission to make the world a clearer, brighter place—one set of eyes at a time.
Zoe Dolan had always dreamed of starting an eco-friendly business. Inspired by her mother’s simple, sustainable living practices and motivated by her own family’s journey, especially after discovering her son’s intolerance to conventional laundry detergent, she embraced practical, eco-conscious choices that eventually led her to launch Green Lemon Home in downtown Almonte.
From thoughtfully curated home essentials that are gentle on both people and the planet to all-natural products made with safe, sustainable ingredients, every item Zoe carries is carefully chosen to reduce harmful impacts on health, wellness, and the environment - all the while supporting Canadian makers.
Whether you’re just beginning your low-waste journey or already deeply committed to conscious living, Zoe is here to inspire, inform, and support your path toward a greener home and a cleaner world.
TBD
Born and raised in Portugal, Luiana Mendes quickly recognized the significance of hard work, dedication, and commitment after her parents immigrated to Canada and found success in their careers. Inspired by their drive and passion, Luiana began networking and building relationships in the culinary world, embracing the "fake it till you make it" mentality. This perseverance led her to pursue her dreams at the International Culinary Centre in New York, a renowned culinary school.
After a brief return to Portugal for her grandfather's funeral, the tragedy of 9/11 struck, preventing her from returning to New York as planned. Instead, she moved back to Canada, settling in Killaloe. There, she reconnected with Sigrid Geddes of Sigrid Naturals, who took her under her wing and introduced her to the world of entrepreneurship. Luiana quickly integrated into the local business community, securing a position as the Mess Manager at Garrison Petawawa's Mess Hall.
Now, she is thrilled to announce the opening of her new restaurant, SOPA, which will feature a diverse menu of Portuguese and Angolan cuisine, along with catering services in downtown Pembroke. Luiana is excited to become an active member of the Pembroke business community!
Lindsey McGarry started her career as a domestic violence counselor, but after hitting her stress capacity and experiencing career burnout, she found herself at a crossroads. Just as she began to reconsider her path, a serious car accident left Lindsey bedridden. This life-altering event sparked her determination to dive into research in the construction and landscaping industry, ultimately motivating her to launch ALM Construction and Landscaping, a bhsiness built on integrity and quality.
Lindsey is a visionary entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in construction and landscaping. Her keen eye for detail and unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction have established her as a trusted professional in the industry.
In this episode....
👷🏼♀️We discover how this former domestic violence worker went from working in social services to managing a construction and landscaping biz
🦺 Lindsey explains how she educated herself and fully immersed in this field, despite having no prior background in business or construction management – and dominated it!
👏🏼 Lindsey shares what has been like leading a male-dominated team, while also enticing more women to consider a career in construction and landscaping
💸 Lindsey divulges when she started generating enough revenue to finally start receiving a paycheck herself - and why it was worth the wait
Meet Ashley Kay – the visionary behind The Champagne Collective and your go-to systems and processes guru, with her women led team famously known as “The Girls Who Get Shit Done.” With a background in corporate leadership, a Bachelor of Business, and over a decade of experience working in demanding, high-pressure, and time-sensitive corporate roles, Ashley is all about turning chaos into clarity.
Tell me how you made the shift from working in project management for 7 years to becoming a visionary entrepreneur? How did you see your business model of offering virtual services look different from others and why was this something you wanted to take on?
After years of thriving on the corporate world, this boss babe traded the 9-5 grind working in project management for entrepreneurial freedom as a virtual assistant – and she never looked back. Now, with a powerhouse team of 14 Virtual Assistants, she helps entrepreneurs around the world streamline, scale, and succeed.
When she’s not optimizing businesses, Ashley’s embracing life in beautiful British Columbia – running trails, sipping wine, cuddling her dogs and embracing motherhood with her sweet baby girl, and is living the dream.
Alyssa and Spencer Pearce are a veteran-owned coffee loving couple that embarked on their coffee roasting journey six years ago. They dedicated themselves to learning the art of crafting exceptional and fresh coffee, quickly recognizing the impact of their newfound passion. As their skills developed, they began sharing their hobby with friends and family, igniting a spark of enthusiasm around them.
In 2020, when they both found themselves off work, they decided to transform their hobby into a business. Little did they know that this decision would lead to the creation of Barron Canyon Coffee & Tea Co., a brand that would grow rapidly and gain recognition within the community.
Throughout their entrepreneurial journey, they encountered numerous challenges and made plenty of mistakes, a journey that many entrepreneurs can relate to. However, these experiences ultimately strengthened their resilience and shaped them into the business owners they are today - and Alyssa is here to talk about how their vision for the perfect cup of coffee came to be, and a community that endlessly supports them.
Erin Curtis is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Child and Youth Care program with over a decade of experience supporting neurodivergent individuals through ABA. After moving to the Ottawa Valley in 2018, she founded Dragonfly Family and Learning Services to meet the growing need for inclusive, family-focused support. As a Certified ABA Parent Trainer, Erin is passionate about empowering caregivers through collaborative, person-centered plans that honor each family’s unique journey.
In this episode, you're going to learn about neurodiversity, learn about different diagnosis, and therapy, wait lists and more. Erjn and her team understand the unique needs of neurodivergent brains, providing you with the understanding and reassurance that they will succeed.
In this episode....
🧩 Erin shares what it means to be neurodivergent, how to explain neurodiversity to both adults and to children and her motivation to provide Home-based Applied Behaviour Analysis therapy to families in Renfrew County
🤯 We dive into lengthy government waitlists, limited funding options, the desperate need for respite, high therapy costs, and the increasing demand for support for children with autism and ADHD
🧩 Erin shares her perspective around the education system and its improvements towards accommodating supports, such as additional EA's, sensory breaks, skilled inclusionary, and education to educators around supporting students with exceptional needs
🌈 Erin shares how she is creating an inclusive collective space for other mom’s and parents of neurodivergent children, to share common struggles, gain effective strategies in supporting their child, and receive positive, professional support
Erin Curtis is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Child and Youth Care program with over a decade of experience supporting neurodivergent individuals through ABA. After moving to the Ottawa Valley in 2018, she founded Dragonfly Family and Learning Services to meet the growing need for inclusive, family-focused support. As a Certified ABA Parent Trainer, Erin is passionate about empowering caregivers through collaborative, person-centered plans that honor each family’s unique journey.
In this episode, you're going to learn about neurodiversity, learn about different diagnosis, and therapy, wait lists and more. Erjn and her team understand the unique needs of neurodivergent brains, providing you with the understanding and reassurance that they will succeed.
In this episode....
🧩 Erin shares what it means to be neurodivergent, how to explain neurodiversity to both adults and to children and her motivation to provide Home-based Applied Behaviour Analysis therapy to families in Renfrew County
🤯 We dive into lengthy government waitlists, limited funding options, the desperate need for respite, high therapy costs, and the increasing demand for support for children with autism and ADHD
🧩 Erin shares her perspective around the education system and its improvements towards accommodating supports, such as additional EA's, sensory breaks, skilled inclusionary, and education to educators around supporting students with exceptional needs
🌈 Erin shares how she is creating an inclusive collective space for other mom’s and parents of neurodivergent children, to share common struggles, gain effective strategies in supporting their child, and receive positive, professional support
Calling all sweet tooth enthusiasts! If you're located in or around the Town of Smiths Falls, there is a boss babe whose delicious handmade fudge, saltwater taffy, and maple hard candies will have your tastebuds exploding!
Gillian Manton's homemade fudge and candy business is quickly becoming a local favourite and is gaining momentum, as she has mastered the art of creating mouthwatering products that has customers coming back for more. This babe is unstoppable, as she has already launched Moose Munchies Candy Co. in Sobey's and Foodland across Ontario!
In this episode....
🍫 Gillian shares how she first took a stab at making homemade fudgeand why this kitchen experimentinitially went wrong
🍫 Gillian tells listeners the secret tomaking her fudge unmeltable - and why her customers keep coming back for more!
🍫 We chat vendor markets and what it takes to feel comfortable and confident behind your booth to stand out and sell ANY product to customers
🍫 We learn more about the Small Business Centre’s Starter Company Plus Program and how this program helped Gillian level up in business
TBD
Creativity has always been in Candice Allen's DNA. She thrives in the realm of her imagination, relishing the challenges of creatively solving problems and finds excitement in the prospect of learning something new.
Challenging the traditional “rules” of design is what Candice has always been about. Because this babe believes that design is not just about making things look pretty, but also about creating visual solutions that work. With over 15 years of graphic design, Candice has been immersed in a wide range of projects including graphics and art production/creation, social media management/content creation, logo design and development, as well as website design, launching her graphic design biz, Angkst of Boredom in Pembroke.
In the heart of a bustling household infused with entrepreneurial spirit, Pascale Lépine's childhood was a canvas painted with dynamic experiences that would shape her into a formidable force in the world of business and leadership. Surrounded by innovation and ambition, she absorbed the values of resilience and creativity from an early age, setting the foundation for a life dedicated to entrepreneurship. As she returned home to Ottawa from New York, stepping into her role within the family business, these lessons crystallized into a strong work ethic and an unwavering passion for making a meaningful contribution to the legacy and vision her family had meticulously crafted over the decades.
Founded by her father, René Lépine, Lépine Apartments traces its roots back to 1952 in Montreal, where a simple dream of home construction blossomed into a thriving enterprise. Over the years, the Lépine family expanded their reach, establishing Lépine Apartments in Ottawa, but recognizing the ever-evolving needs of communities was paramount. A few years ago, responding to a surging demand for modern living spaces, they made a pivotal decision to venture into developing and building apartments in rural communities across eastern Ontario. This strategic shift wasn't just about business; it was a heartfelt response to the growing need for modern, inclusive living options for families, seniors, and individuals alike looking to downsize their home. Each unit now boasts spacious rooms, elegant marble tiles, walk-in closets, and, importantly, affordability, making Lépine Apartments the go-to choice for a new generation of renters looking to downsize without compromising on luxury.
Join Pascale Lépine, the Planning Manager, as she takes us behind the scenes of the apartment rental industry. Discover the rich history of Lépine Apartments and learn about the challenges and triumphs of climbing the corporate ladder within a family business.
Samantha MacFarlane is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and holistic nutritionist who integrates therapeutic modalities with nutrition science. This conversation is dedicated to real talk around mental health and wellness and setting realistic goals that work for busy working professionals, like you listening. As Sam says, "no fancy jargon — just genuine conversations to help empower your wellness and strategies that everyone can implement in their own lives."
In this episode....
🍃 Sam dives into her experience with career burnout from her previous position in social services, discussing how she began to prioritize her mental health and ultimately transitioned into opening her holistic wellness practice
🍃 Samantha discusses common changes in our mental health, exploring how factors like nutrition, weather, and relationships can influence our overall well-being, and how to effectively maintain our overall wellness
🤍 We discuss how mental health and addiction related resources can be limited in rural communities but Sam shares hidden services in Renfrew County that are accessible to everyone
🤍 Samantha discusses the importance of collaborating with like-minded businesses in the holistic wellness world and key players that have been instrumental in her learning, development and growth
TBD
Amanda Walker first stepped into the social media space in the early days of the pandemic, learning how to navigate this digital landscape, finding herself immersed in a world where personal branding, viral content, and community engagement were at the forefront of businesses online experiences - and wanted to show other biz owners how to use it to their advantage.
At Amanda Talker Media, Amanda and her team don't just manage your socials - they craft content that resonates, develop strategies that align with your goals, and make the process simple for you!
But like all of us, there's a lot of shit going in our personal lives...and being a social media manager is no different - and the burnout is real!