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ISSUE NO. 11

AUGUST 2026

SHE & SUCCESS Inspiring women to lead, grow, and shine

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Klea on Women, AI, and Canada’s Cyber Future Klea Karaj, Marketing & Communications Lead at Bell Cyber All Images, trademarks, service marks and logos referred to or appearing in this magazine are the property of their respective owners.

August 2026 | Becoming More Than a Title For the longest time, success was measured by titles, promotions, and career milestones. Today, the future of work is asking something different. It values adaptability, continuous learning, and the confidence to embrace change in a world increasingly shaped by AI. For women, this shift presents a remarkable opportunity. Many careers are built through reinvention, resilience, and the courage to take new directions. What was once seen as an unconventional path has become one of the greatest strengths a leader can possess. In today's workplace, curiosity, emotional intelligence, and the willingness to keep growing matter more than ever. In this August edition of She & Success Business Magazine, we celebrate women who are redefining leadership and creating meaningful impact. We are proud to feature our Business Woman of the Month, Sonia Couto, Managing Director of Konverge Digital Solutions, whose leadership continues to inspire innovation and transformation. This issue also features inspiring conversations with Klea Karaj, Marketing & Communications Lead at Bell Cyber, on the journey from the judo mat to Canada's cyber frontlines, Sue Ann Baksh-Lorray, Cofounder of Excel. No Excuses, on turning survival into financial empowerment and purpose, and Celissa Vipond and Melissa Lindstrom, Co-founders and Clinical Directors of Virtual CBT Psychotherapy, on building virtual mental health care from the ground up. Complementing these interviews are insightful articles including The Sale Is Not the Finish Line by Lindsey Martin of Purolator, How Canada's Women Entrepreneurs and Insurers Are Building Safer Workplaces in an AI Driven Economy, and How Canadian Women Are Creating Smarter, More Sustainable Workplaces With AI, offering practical perspectives on leadership, innovation, and the evolving world of work. As technology transforms industries, the future belongs to those who keep learning and adapting. We hope this edition inspires you to look beyond titles and build with purpose, resilience, and curiosity.

Kripa Anand

Editor & Founder, She & Success Business Magazine

SHE

SUCCESS Business Magazine

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CONTENTS

11 Business Woman of the Month

Sonia Couto

She's Not Waiting to Be Invited: The New Face of Women in Canadian Finance

You Are Already a Tech Founder. You Just Haven't Named It Yet.

From Local to Global: How Canadian Women Entrepreneurs Can Build Export-Ready Businesses From Day One

How Canada’s Women Entrepreneurs and Insurers Are Building Safer Workplaces in an AI-Driven Economy

How Canadian Women Are Creating Smarter, More Sustainable Workplaces With AI

How Canadian Women Are Redefining Work Through Wellness and AI Innovation

IN THIS ISSUE CanadianSME Small Business Magazine

From Survival to Financial Empowerment and Purpose

BodyMods: Redefining Body Jewellery Across Canada

How Canadian Women Leaders Are Humanizing AI-Powered Workplaces

18 15

The Sale Is Not the Finish Line

Healing Beyond Symptoms: Yasmeen on Women’s Wellness

50 The Courage to Pivot How one Canadian entrepreneur discovered that letting go wasn't giving up—it was the key to growth.

She's Not Waiting to Be Invited: The New Face of Women in Canadian Finance

How Canadian Women Entrepreneurs Are Building the Future of Work With AI HR Tech and Wellness

SHE

41 Building Virtual Mental Health Care From Scratch

SUCCESS Business Magazine

Image Courtesy: Klea Karaj

Klea

on Women, AI, and Canada’s Cyber Future Interview By Kripa Anand

In an exclusive interview with She & Success Business

Klea Karaj, Cybersecurity Marketing & Communications Lead at Bell Cyber

Magazine, Klea Karaj, Marketing & Communications Lead at Bell Cyber, shares her journey from professional judo athlete in Albania to shaping Canada’s cybersecurity landscape. Klea discusses how her athletic discipline, technical expertise, and passion for storytelling have fueled her career, helping businesses navigate complex cyber threats while embracing AI-driven innovation. Klea Karaj is the Marketing & Communications Lead at Bell Cyber, where she is responsible for shaping the organization's brand, thought leadership, market positioning, and strategic communications across Canada's evolving cybersecurity landscape. Passionate about the intersection of technology, business, and human impact, Klea specializes in translating complex cybersecurity concepts into compelling narratives that resonate with executives, practitioners, partners, and the broader business community.

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With a strong technical foundation, Klea holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and pursued advanced studies in Software Engineering and Artificial Intelligence in Canada. Her unique blend of technical expertise and communications leadership enables her to bridge the gap between highly technical teams and business stakeholders, helping organizations better understand the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies. This combination of analytical thinking and strategic storytelling has become a defining characteristic of her professional approach.

You moved from Albania to Canada to study technology and build a career in cybersecurity. What were the biggest personal and professional turning points in that journey, and how did your background as a professional judo athlete shape the way you approached starting over in a new country?

As a woman working in a highly technical and often male‑dominated field, what has helped you most in building confidence and credibility in cybersecurity—and what practical advice would you give to young women who want to enter or advance in this industry?

Coming from a small country like

In cybersecurity, credibility comes from knowledge, preparation, and

Albania and moving to Canada was one of the biggest turning points in my life. I arrived with a dream and a

the value you bring to your team. The more you invest in yourself, through education, hands-on experience, and curiosity, the more confident you become, and that confidence earns the respect of

strong belief that, no matter how difficult things became, I would find a

others.

way to succeed. Starting over wasn't easy, but it pushed me to grow both personally and professionally. I was

I've been fortunate to work at Bell Cyber, where I've always felt supported and respected. I've never been made to feel that being a woman made me any less capable. I've also had the opportunity to

also fortunate to have the support of my family, which gave me the

work alongside incredible women who have mentored, supported, and inspired me. Their guidance has helped me grow both personally and

confidence to keep moving forward.

professionally.

professional judo athlete. Judo taught me discipline, resilience, and determination. There are no shortcuts, you have to train consistently, learn from your losses, and keep showing up if you want to win. That mindset stayed with me long after I left the mat. As I built my career in technology and cybersecurity, I approached every challenge the same way. One day, our CEO, John Menezes, said something that has stayed with me: "I love what I am doing." It reminded me how important it is to be passionate about your work. Combined with the values I learned through judo, it reinforced that success comes from persistence, continuous improvement, and enjoying the journey. Those lessons have shaped both my career and the person I am today.

My advice to young women is simple: don't let stereotypes or self-doubt hold you back. Believe in yourself, keep learning, ask questions, and don't be afraid to take on challenges. The cybersecurity industry needs diverse perspectives, and if you're passionate and committed, there's absolutely a place for you.

Image Courtesy: Canva

One of the biggest influences on that journey was my background as a 1

I believe the only limits we have are the ones we place on ourselves. I've never believed that someone is more capable or more valuable simply because they're a man or a woman. What matters most is your willingness to learn, work hard, and continuously improve your skills.

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In your role at Bell Cyber, you sit at the intersection of strategy, technology, and storytelling. How do you make complex topics like AI‑powered security and cyber resilience understandable and relevant for business leaders who may not come from a technical background? Cybersecurity affects every organization today, but not everyone speaks the same technical language. My role is to make complex topics easier to understand by connecting the technology to real business challenges and showing why it matters.

Storytelling also plays an important role in how we engage our audience. Through LinkedIn, monthly webinars, conference presentations, and our podcast, Inside the Mesh, which I helped launch and direct alongside one of our directors, Diego Ramirez, we make topics like AI-powered security and cyber resilience more practical and relevant. Whether I'm speaking with technical professionals or business leaders, my goal is always the same: to communicate clearly, engaging, and focused on the value cybersecurity brings to an organization.

At Bell Cyber, those conversations are easier because our value proposition is clear. We're the first Canadian cybersecurity company to offer an Autonomous SOC, combining AI, automation, and expert analysts to deliver continuous 24/7 protection. Our platform can detect, investigate, and respond to threats in under five minutes, helping organizations stay ahead of cyberattacks instead of simply reacting to them. Whether it's a mid-market business or a large enterprise, our goal is to reduce risk, minimize disruption, and give our customers the confidence to innovate securely.

Through Inside the Mesh, you have a front‑row

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seat to conversations with experts on emerging threats and digital security. What themes or concerns are you hearing most from Canadian organizations right now, and how is Bell Cyber positioning itself to help them stay ahead of that evolving threat landscape?

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Although I'm behind the scenes directing Inside the Mesh, I've had the opportunity to listen to some incredible conversations with cybersecurity leaders and learn from their insights. One of the biggest themes we're hearing today is the rise of Frontier AI. Models like Anthropic's Mythos are showing just how quickly AI capabilities are evolving, creating exciting opportunities for cyber defense while also introducing new risks that organizations need to prepare for.

Image Courtesy: Canva

Bell Cyber is well positioned to help organizations stay ahead of this changing landscape. Our Autonomous SOC combines AI, automation, and the expertise of our security analysts to detect, investigate, and respond to threats in under five minutes. Rather than simply reacting to cyberattacks, we're helping organizations become more proactive and resilient.

Through Inside the Mesh, we're also helping organizations better understand emerging technologies like Frontier AI so they can make informed decisions. Cybersecurity is evolving faster than ever, and our goal is to give organizations both the technology and the knowledge they need to stay ahead.

Looking ahead, what is Bell Cyber’s vision for the future of cybersecurity in Canada, and what message would you like to leave with business owners and leaders about treating cybersecurity not just as protection, but as an enabler of innovation, trust, and long‑term growth?

My message to business owners and

Bell Cyber's vision is to help Canadian organizations stay secure while giving them the confidence to innovate and grow. Today's threat landscape isn't something businesses can ignore,

cybersecurity as just another cost or a

cybersecurity has become a necessity, not an option.

leaders is simple: don't think of box to check. When you have the right cybersecurity strategy and the right partner, it becomes an enabler of innovation. It allows your people to embrace new technologies, build trust

One message from our Vice President of Business Development, Nissreen Chams, has always stayed

with customers, and grow with confidence, knowing your business is protected every step of the way.

with me: "At Bell Cyber, we want to grow with our clients." I think that perfectly captures who we are. We're not just a cybersecurity provider; we're a long-term partner, working alongside our clients as their businesses evolve.

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the featured guest and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of She & Success Business Magazine. Our mission is to amplify authentic voices, highlight diverse leadership journeys, and share insights that inspire and empower women entrepreneurs and leaders across Canada.

Business Woman of the Month

Sonia Couto By Kripa Anand

How Sonia Couto Is Driving Innovation That Solves Real Business Challenges and Empowers Women in Technology Sonia Couto is a Canadian technology founder, business leader, and champion for women in technology. As Managing Director of Konverge Digital Solutions, a Toronto-based software development company with more than 30 years of experience, she leads the delivery of

Image Courtesy: Sonia Couto

custom software, AI, and digital transformation solutions that help organizations solve complex business challenges. She is also a keynote speaker and host of the Tenacity with Sonia C. podcast, where she shares conversations and insights on leadership, innovation, resilience, and building successful businesses.

Managing Director of Konverge Digital Solutions

Business Woman of the Month

Sonia is also the founder of two B2B SaaS products, MenuSano and Field Eagle, both developed within Konverge to solve real-world business challenges. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Hackergal, supporting initiatives that encourage more girls to pursue careers in technology. For She & Success Business Magazine, Sonia's tale is a striking illustration of how a woman in

Her experience as a breast cancer survivor reshaped her perspective on leadership, resilience, and purpose. Today, she openly shares those lessons through her speaking engagements and advocacy, encouraging others to lead with courage during life's most difficult challenges.

technology can build successful software companies grounded in

From Accounting to Technology Leadership Sonia's journey into technology didn't follow the traditional path. She began her career in accounting and operations within the manufacturing industry before transitioning into technology, demonstrating an ability to adapt and lead across industries. Sonia joined Konverge Digital Solutions in 2007 and was promoted to Managing Director in 2015. Today, she oversees company operations, strategic growth, innovation initiatives, and the delivery of technology solutions that help organizations modernize and grow. Throughout her career, she has remained guided by one belief: technology should solve meaningful business problems, improve operations, and create measurable value for organizations. Her experience spans building SaaS products from concept to international markets, helping organizations modernize legacy systems through custom software and digital transformation, and implementing AI within existing applications to unlock new capabilities and improve business performance. This combination of business strategy and technology leadership enables her to help organizations innovate while solving realworld business challenges.

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real business challenges, resilience, and community impact.

Business Woman of the Month

Konverge Digital Solutions: Custom Software for Real Business Challenges Konverge Digital Solutions is a Toronto-based software development company that helps organizations across Canada and around the world modernize through custom software, AI, business intelligence, and digital transformation. The company's focus on custom software ensures every solution is tailored to each client's unique operational needs rather than relying on one-sizefits-all products.

MenuSano and Field Eagle Are Driving Digital Transformation With a Shared Vision As the founder of MenuSano and Field Eagle, Sonia has built both platforms from concept to commercial growth. Each product was created to solve a specific industry challenge, reflecting her belief that successful software should deliver practical business value rather than technology for technology's sake.

Under Sonia's leadership, Konverge combines deep business understanding with emerging technologies such as AI and business intelligence to help organizations modernize, improve operations, and prepare for future growth. These same principles are reflected in Sonia's speaking engagements and podcast, where she shares insights on innovation, leadership, and building technology with purpose.

Today, MenuSano helps food manufacturers, restaurants, healthcare organizations, and educational institutions simplify nutrition analysis, food labelling,

Image Courtesy: Canva

allergen management, and regulatory compliance. Field Eagle enables organizations to digitize inspections, improve compliance, collect operational data, and leverage AI-powered insights to make more informed maintenance and operational decisions. Together, the two platforms reflect Sonia's commitment to building technology that delivers measurable business value while solving real-world industry challenges.

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Business Woman of the Month

Championing Women in Tech and Breast Cancer Advocacy Sonia is committed to creating greater opportunities for women and girls in technology. She supports programs that inspire the next generation to explore careers in STEM and software development, helping build a stronger and more inclusive technology industry in Canada. Her leadership journey became deeply personal following her breast cancer diagnosis. The experience reshaped her perspective on resilience, purpose, and what it means to lead through uncertainty. Rather than returning to business as usual,

Lessons for Women in Technology Sonia Couto's experience provides various lessons for She & Success readers: Solve real business problems. Build technology that delivers measurable value rather than following trends. Lead with resilience. Challenges can become opportunities for growth and stronger leadership. Keep learning and adapting. Sonia's transition from accounting and operations into technology demonstrates the value of continuous learning. Create opportunities for others. Supporting women and girls in technology strengthens the future of the industry.

she chose to openly share her story,

Her narrative demonstrates that women can lead in technology

encouraging others to embrace life's unexpected challenges with courage and

while also creating companies that benefit communities and leave a lasting impact.

determination. Today, Sonia uses her platform as a technology leader, speaker, and advocate to promote early detection, support others navigating life challenges, and demonstrate that strong leadership is built not only through professional success but also through the challenges that shape us.

Image Courtesy: Canva

Through both her business and community involvement, she continues to inspire others to lead with purpose while creating meaningful impact beyond the workplace.

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Building the Future of Technology With Purpose From leading a Canadian software company to building two technology platforms and advocating for women in STEM, Sonia Couto continues to demonstrate how technology can solve meaningful business challenges while creating lasting impact. Through her leadership, speaking, and community involvement, she remains committed to helping organizations innovate and inspiring the next generation of women in technology.

Subscribe to She & Success Business Magazine and follow us on she&success.ca to stay updated on funding opportunities, entrepreneurial insights, and inspiring stories of women making a difference across Canada. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes. She & Success Business Magazine does not endorse or guarantee any products or services mentioned. Readers should conduct their own research and due diligence.

Image Courtesy: Lindsey Martin

The Sale Is Not the Finish Line By Lindsey Martin, Manager of SMB Retention at Purolator

Businesses spend a great deal of time talking about how to win customers. But the checkout isn’t the end; it’s where loyalty starts when the customer’s experience is done right. You debate marketing strategies, optimize websites, refine sales processes, and invest heavily in attracting new business. Entire growth strategies are often measured by how effectively we move someone from prospect to purchase. But that is only half of the equation. What happens after the customer says yes? For many organizations, the sale represents the finish line. They celebrate the conversion, process the order, and move on to acquiring the next customer. For the customer, however, the experience is just beginning. The moment someone clicks "Buy Now," anticipation replaces intention. They're no longer deciding whether to trust your business— they're waiting to see if that trust was well placed.

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Did the order go through? When will it arrive? Will it arrive when promised? If something changes, will anyone tell me? We've all experienced that feeling. Waiting for an update on our order and wondering why nothing has changed for two days. Sometimes we begin to question our purchase—not because the product has disappointed us, but because uncertainty has quietly replaced confidence. I think of this as post-purchase anxiety, and it may be one of the most overlooked moments in the customer journey. The irony is that businesses rarely lose trust because something goes wrong. More often, trust begins to erode because customers are left wondering what's happening. Silence creates uncertainty. Transparency creates confidence.

Customer Loyalty Customers don't expect perfection. They understand unexpected issues arise. What they increasingly expect is visibility. They want organizations that communicate proactively, set realistic expectations, and respect the simple fact that waiting without information is frustrating.

Customer experience is the cumulative outcome of every decision an organization makes that affects a customer.

In many ways, expectation management has become just as important as execution itself.

They don't separate marketing from operations. They don't distinguish between sales, technology, customer support, finance, or logistics.

Customers don't experience businesses in organizational charts.

That shift matters because the economics of growth have changed. Not long ago, businesses could rely on a steady stream of new customers to offset those who quietly drifted away. Today, customer acquisition is more competitive and more expensive than ever. Every marketing dollar is working harder. Every new customer costs more to earn. The businesses that continue to grow will not simply be those that acquire customers efficiently. They'll be the

They experience one brand. One promise. One relationship. Every interaction either reinforces that relationship or weakens it.

ones that keep them. For organizations that sell physical products, Retention has become one of the most strategic growth levers available to organizations of every size.

And retention is rarely won through a grand gesture.

there is perhaps no better example than the delivery experience. It's easy to think about shipping as an operational function—a necessary step that happens after the "real work" is complete.

It's earned through consistency. Through promises kept. Through experiences that reduce effort instead of creating it. Through the confidence customers feel every time they choose to do business with you.

Customers don't see it that way. For many businesses, delivery is the only physical interaction a customer will ever have with the brand. It's the moment where digital promises become tangible experiences. When a package arrives exactly when expected, customers feel confident.

That's why customer experience deserves to be viewed differently. It isn't a department.

When communication is clear, they feel informed. When problems are resolved quickly, they feel valued.

It isn't a project. It isn't owned solely by customer service or marketing.

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Conversely, when communication disappears, expectations become unclear, or the experience feels disconnected, customers rarely separate those frustrations from the business they purchased from.

Customer Loyalty They simply remember how the experience made them feel.

Because sustainable growth has never been about winning the most customers.

Your delivery partner, in many respects, becomes an extension of your brand. Not because they're delivering a package. Because they're helping deliver trust. That perspective changes the conversation.

It's about earning the opportunity to serve them again. The sale isn't the finish line. It's the moment your customer decides to begin believing in your brand. Everything that follows determines whether that belief becomes loyalty.

Choosing a delivery partner is no longer just about cost, coverage, or speed. It's about selecting a partner that understands they're participating in your customer experience—and ultimately, in your customer retention strategy.

Lindsey’s perspective is a timely reminder that

The same principle extends well beyond logistics.

earned through the consistency of every

Every technology provider. Every payment platform.

customer loyalty is not built through a single campaign, transaction, or touchpoint. It is experience that follows a customer’s decision

Every outsourced service. Every partner that touches your customer contributes to the perception of your business.

to buy. For small businesses in particular, each

The strongest brands understand this instinctively.

customers they are valued beyond the sale. As

They don't think in transactions. They think in relationships. They recognize that customer lifetime value isn't simply a financial metric—it's the result of hundreds

post-purchase moment is an opportunity to reinforce trust, reduce uncertainty, and show market conditions continue to shift, the organizations that prioritize transparency, partnership, and reliability will be best positioned to turn customer confidence into long-term growth.

of individual moments that either strengthen trust or slowly erode it. Every interaction becomes an investment in the next purchase. Or the last one. As business leaders, we often ask ourselves how to generate more leads, increase conversion rates, or grow market share. Those questions will always matter.But perhaps the more important question is this:

Author - Lindsey Martin Lindsey Martin is the Manager of SMB Retention at Purolator, where she leads strategic initiatives to strengthen customer loyalty and engagement. With a focus on integrated digital retention strategies, Lindsey helps small businesses navigate shifting market dynamics through data-driven insights and personalized experiences. She is passionate about empowering SMBs to thrive by aligning promotional efforts with behavioural trends and operational realities. Lindsey brings a collaborative mindset and deep understanding of customer needs to every conversation, making her a trusted voice in times of change. In

Are we designing an experience that gives customers a reason to come back?

the following editorial, Lindsey explores why the customer journey does not end at the point of purchase—and why the moments that follow can be the difference between a one-time

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transaction and a lasting relationship.

WOMEN IN FINANCE

Image Courtesy: Canva

She's Not Waiting to Be Invited:

Walk into most Canadian wealth

The New Face of Women in Canadian Finance By Kripa Anand

They were told the numbers weren't in their favour. They changed the numbers.

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management offices and you will notice something. The walls tell a story of who finance has historically been built for. The language, the imagery, the assumptions embedded in the first conversation — they were not designed with women in mind, and many still are not. But something is shifting. And it is not shifting quietly. Across Canada — in bank towers and basement offices, in fintech startups and community lending circles — women are building financial careers, financial products, and financial communities that refuse to accept the terms of the old system. They are not asking for a seat. They are building their own tables.

Women Investors

The Numbers Behind the Narrative The story of women in Canadian finance in 2026 is full of contradictions. On one hand, the progress is real. By 2028, Canadian women are projected to control nearly $3.8 trillion in financial assets — more than one third of the country's total — up from $2.2 trillion in 2019. Women own businesses. Women lead investment networks. Women are moving into management roles in banking at rates unseen a generation ago. On the other hand, the structural gaps are stubborn. Research from the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization published in November 2025 confirmed that women invest

The Communities Quietly Changing Everything The most powerful shift in women's finance in Canada is not happening in policy papers or boardroom pledges. It is happening in the communities women are building for each other. Women's Equity Lab has grown to over 130 female investors actively investing in women-led companies across Canada — turning what was once a closed network of Bay Street insiders into something more democratic, more diverse, and increasingly more impactful. VersaFi, the country's largest network of women in capital markets, now spans thousands of members across every major financial institution in Canada, advocating, mentoring, and creating the visibility that changes who gets promoted and who gets funded.

Indigenous women entrepreneurs are building financial communities within the broader ecosystem — accessing microloans, navigating land-based business models, and creating wealth on their own terms. Black women entrepreneurs, who represent 29.6 percent of Black entrepreneurs in Canada, of whom more than half are immigrants, are building financial networks that the mainstream system has historically excluded them from.

less and feel less confident about investing than men — with this difference especially pronounced among younger women aged 18

These are not niche movements. They are the infrastructure of the next generation of Canadian finance.

to 34. Women entrepreneurs still receive only 4 percent of venture capital funding in Canada. And in the equity research desks and managing director suites of Bay Street's largest institutions, women remain significantly underrepresented. The gap between the wealth women are accumulating and the wealth-building opportunities they are accessing is not a personal failure. It is a systems failure — one that is increasingly being corrected from the inside out.

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Image Courtesy: Canva

Women Investors

What She & Success Is Watching

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In our conversations with women entrepreneurs across Canada — from coast to coast, across industries, at every stage of building — a few things come up consistently. The first is that financial confidence is a community skill. The women who are most financially active, most investment-literate, and most intentional about wealth-building are almost always part of a community where money is discussed openly and without shame. The privatization of financial conversation — the idea that money is too personal to discuss — costs women more than they realize. The second is that the advisors women trust are the ones who listen first. CIRO's 2025 research found that women who take responsibility for household finances are more likely to report that their financial advisor does not listen to them or treats

The Editorial Position of She & Success

them differently than their spouse. The demand signal for a different kind of

We cover Women in Finance not because it is a

financial advisory relationship has never been clearer.

trending topic. We cover it because the $3.8 trillion wealth shift is the story underneath every other story we tell about women in business.

The third is that the women who are building generational wealth in Canada are not doing

Behind every founder's growth journey, every funding conversation, every corporate partnership, every export expansion — there is a financial reality that either enables or limits what is possible.

it by following a script written for someone else. They are combining formal financial tools with community capital, public grants with private savings, and business income with investment portfolios — in combinations that no standardized financial plan anticipated.

We believe that financial literacy is not a personal virtue. It is a systemic outcome. And we believe that women who are informed, connected, and financially confident do not just build better businesses — they change what the economy looks like. That is a story worth telling every single month.

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Image Courtesy: Sue Ann Baksh-Lorray

In an exclusive interview with She & Success Business Magazine, Sue Ann Baksh-Lorray, cofounder of Excel. No Excuses, shares how her personal journey—from surviving domestic violence to becoming a mentor and financial coach—shapes her mission to empower individuals and entrepreneurs. Sue Ann explores how mindset, resilience, and tailored financial guidance can transform lives, helping people overcome fear, build confidence, and create lasting financial stability.

Interview By SK Uddin Sue Ann Baksh-Lorray is a seasoned financial professional, mentor, and advocate, with over 25 years experience in the financial industry. Her expertise extends beyond her professional role,

Sue Ann Baksh-Lorray Co-founder of Excel. No Excuses

as she passionately dedicates herself to empowering others through financial literacy and personal development. A survivor of domestic violence and a mother of four, Sue’s personal journey fuels her commitment

From Survival to Financial Empowerment and Purpose

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to helping others rebuild and thrive. She volunteers with delivering financial literacy programs to students, and actively promotes diversity and inclusion, ensuring fair treatment and respect for diverse backgrounds. Through her non-profit efforts, she provides vital support to vulnerable populations in the Durham Region, including food, clothing, and financial guidance. She also serves as a mentor for Meet The Motivators, “Resilient Women Program” Co-founding Excel. No Excuses with her husband, Mark Lorray, Sue offers coaching and mentorship programs, including workshops on personal development, communication skills, as well as career and business development. Her philosophy encourages individuals to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. Whether guiding individuals through financial planning or providing one-on-one mentorship, Sue emphasizes the power of resilience and a positive mindset. Her mission is to help others overcome adversity and achieve fulfilling lives through financial education, mentorship, and unwavering support.

Financial Empowerment You’ve spent over 25 years in the financial industry, yet you often say money success is “not just about the math.” From what you’ve seen, what keeps people stuck financially even when they have access to information, tools, or traditional advice?

Fear and Overwhelm: When traditional advice feels confusing or judgmental, people get terrified of making a mistake. Instead of acting, they do the most natural human thing: nothing at all.

What keeps people stuck isn't a lack of information. It’s the unseen emotional baggage they carry. I’ve found that three major invisible barriers keep people trapped:

Tools and information are just Emotional Habits: A budget tells you what to do logically, but it can’t stop you from spending to cope with stress, seek comfort, or fit in. Inherited 'Money Stories': Most of us run on financial blueprints picked up in childhood. Whether money meant constant anxiety or instant spending, those subconscious scripts rule our adult lives until we address them.

passive instruments. True financial transformation only happens when we stop looking at the numbers and start looking at the person behind them. You have to heal a client's

Image Courtesy: Sue Ann Baksh-Lorray

relationship with money before they can successfully manage it.

Your journey includes surviving domestic violence, rebuilding as a mother of four, and now mentoring others through programs like Resilient Women and SHE West Indian. How has your lived experience shaped the way you coach clients around self‑worth, identity, and their relationship with money? My lived experience is the essence of my coaching. Surviving domestic violence and completely rebuilding my life, taught me that hitting financial rock bottom isn't just about an empty bank account. When you lose your financial security, your sense of self-worth often goes with it. I know exactly what it feels like to face that fear, which is why I don't look at my clients through the lens of judgment or spreadsheets. I show them that your circumstances do not define your value. Money is deeply tied to our sense of safety and identity. True financial recovery only happens when we reclaim our power, rebuild our selfworth, and heal our relationship with money.

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Financial Empowerment Many people attend financial workshops or read books but still struggle to apply what they learn. Why is group education alone often not enough, and how does customized, one‑on‑one coaching create the mindset shifts and accountability needed for real financial breakthroughs?

One-on-one coaching bridges that gap by moving from theory to real life. It provides a safe, judgment-free space to unpack why someone makes certain choices or uncover what led up to their current circumstances. With customized coaching, I don't just build a strategy for the numbers, I build a curated strategy for the client. That tailored approach, combined with consistent, compassionate accountability, creates the deep mindset shifts needed to break old patterns. It turns passive learning into active, lasting financial transformation.

Excel. No Excuses brings together your financial coaching and your husband’s business coaching focused on lead‑to‑sales generation. How do you work together to help entrepreneurs not only grow revenue, but also build sustainable financial habits and long‑term security behind the scenes? At Excel. No Excuses, my husband and I solve the two biggest challenges entrepreneurs face: bringing money in and managing finances. He focuses on the front end, which is driving lead-tosales generation and scaling revenue. I step in on the back end to handle the financial habits and long-term security. High revenue means nothing if you're outspending it or letting cash flow stress keep you up at night. We bridge that gap by aligning business growth with personal financial health. Together, we help business owners maximize their incoming sales while simultaneously building the strong systems, mindset shifts, and sustainable habits needed to protect their profits. We ensure that as the business grows, the entrepreneur is actually building true, lasting wealth and security. 23 - She & Success - August 2026

You volunteer with students, serve on nonprofit boards, and support communities facing trauma, marginalization, and financial hardship. For small business owners and individuals who feel overwhelmed or “too far behind” with their finances, what reassuring message or practical first step would you like to leave them with about starting where they are today? My message to anyone feeling overwhelmed is simple: you are not too far behind, and your current financial situation is not a reflection of your worth. Through my work in communities facing trauma and hardship, I have seen that resilience is a powerful currency. You have survived 100% of your hardest days and you can navigate this too.

The most powerful first step you can take today is to forgive your past self. Give yourself grace for the decisions you made when you were just trying to survive. Let go of the shame and pick just one small number to look at today. Don't try to fix everything at once. Open one bank statement, track one day of spending, or check one bill. Facing that one number takes away its power and gives it back to you. You don’t have to fix your entire financial life today. Building a path to financial success isn't about taking one perfect leap. It’s won in the quiet, daily commitment to small steps you make. Start where you are right now.

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Workshops and books are great for information, but information alone doesn't change behavior. Group education provides a general roadmap and shared discussions, but it can’t address the highly personal fears, hidden habits, or unique situations that keep an individual stuck.

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You Are Already a Tech Founder. You Just Haven't Named It Yet.

WOMEN IN TECH

Three moves for women entrepreneurs ready to stop using technology and start owning it.

By SK Uddin Here is what most women entrepreneurs do not realize: if your business uses software, automation, data, e-commerce, AI tools, or digital platforms to operate — you are already in tech. The distinction between a "tech company" and a "business that uses technology" is collapsing. In 2026, every competitive business is, at some level, a technology business. The women who understand this early are the ones who get to define the terms. Women represent approximately 25 percent of Canada's tech workforce — but in EdTech, digital health, and e-commerce, female founder representation is rising faster than any other category. In EdTech, female founders now represent 34.7 percent of the sector globally, the highest of any tech category. In digital health, representation is at 29.3 percent and growing. In climate tech, it has risen from 15.2 to 21.7 percent since 2021.

Strategy 1: Audit Your Tech Stack Like It's a Balance Sheet Most women entrepreneurs treat their technology as a collection of subscriptions — tools they adopted reactively, at different stages of growth, to solve individual problems. The result is a tech stack that is fragmented, underutilized, and often more expensive than it needs to be. The first move toward owning your technology is understanding it completely.

The space is not closed. The question is how to move from user to builder — and what that means for your business, your career, and your revenue. 24 - She & Success - August 2026

Digital Innovation

The Tech Audit Framework:

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List every tool, platform, and software subscription your business currently uses. Note the monthly or annual cost of each. Note what problem it solves, who on your team uses it, and how frequently. Identify which tools overlap in functionality. Identify which tools you are paying for but rarely using. This exercise typically reveals two to three things: tools that can be consolidated, saving real money; tools that are being underutilized because the team was never properly trained on them; and gaps — things the business needs but is currently solving manually. For the average Canadian SME owner, this audit surfaces $200 to $800 per month in redundant or underused software costs. That is not a small number over a year. More importantly, it shifts your relationship with technology from passive to active — from "this is what I use" to "this is what I have built."

Resources: BDC offers free digital advisory services for Canadian SMEs, including digital readiness assessments. The Digital Main Street program, available in multiple provinces, provides grants and advisory support for small businesses building their digital infrastructure. AI for customer insight: Using AI tools to

Strategy 2: Build One AI Skill That Directly Serves Your Revenue AI is the number one topic women in tech say they want to learn about — but 63 percent report a lack of skills and access to training on the job. The response is not to take every AI course available. The response is to identify the single AI skill that would most directly impact your revenue in the next 90 days, and build that one skill first. For most women entrepreneurs, that skill falls into one of three categories: AI for content and communication: Using generative AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini) to draft proposals, client communications, social content, newsletters, and strategic documents faster and at higher quality. This is the most immediately accessible AI skill for non-technical founders, and the ROI in time saved is measurable within weeks.

analyze customer data, surface patterns in reviews or feedback, identify your highest-value customer segments, and generate personalized communication at scale. For product-based businesses, this is one of the fastest ways to increase repeat purchase rates without increasing marketing spend. AI for business operations: Using AI to automate repetitive processes — scheduling, invoicing reminders, customer inquiry responses, social media scheduling, report generation. The Boston Consulting Group found that 68 percent of women in tech use a generative AI tool at work more than once a week, with 73 percent reporting increased productivity. That productivity gain is available to every woman entrepreneur, regardless of technical background. 25 - She & Success - August 2026

Digital Innovation Where to start: Google's free AI Essentials course, Microsoft's AI for Business course, and the federal government's UpSkill Canada initiative all offer accessible, free AI training designed for non-technical professionals.

Programmes to explore: NEXT AI (Toronto and Montreal), which supports early-stage AI-enabled ventures; MaRS Health, MaRS FinTech, and MaRS CleanTech, which

Strategy 3: Position Your Business in a High-Growth Tech Subsector — Even If You Are Not a "Tech Company" One of the highest-leverage strategic decisions a Canadian woman entrepreneur can make in 2026 is to consciously position her business at the intersection of her existing expertise and a highgrowth tech category. This does not require becoming a software developer. It requires understanding where technology and your

provide sector-specific acceleration for technology ventures; and the federal government's Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, which includes dedicated support for women in technology sectors.

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domain expertise meet — and naming that intersection in your business positioning. A nutritionist who builds an AI-powered meal planning tool is no longer just a nutritionist. She is a health tech founder. A lawyer who creates a SaaS platform for small business contract management is not just a lawyer. She is a legal tech founder. A financial coach who builds a digital community and curriculum for immigrant women is operating in fintech, even if she has never written a line of code. This repositioning matters for three concrete reasons. First, it changes who invests in you: tech-sector investors, accelerators, and government programs like BDC's Thrive Venture Fund allocate capital to founders in high-growth categories. Second, it changes your valuation: a business with technology infrastructure and recurring digital revenue is worth more than the same revenue generated through hourly services. Third, it changes your partnerships: tech companies, platforms, and enterprise clients are actively looking for sector-specific technology partners in health, education, finance, retail, and legal — categories where women founders are building deep expertise.

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Technology is not a sector women are trying to break into. It is a layer that is wrapping itself around every sector women are already in. The move is to see it, name it, and own it.

This article is part of She & Success's Women in Tech section — dedicated to the women building Canada's technological future and the conversations that matter around equity, access, and power in tech.

WOMEN IN TRADE

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From Local to Global: How Canadian Women Entrepreneurs Can Build Export-Ready Businesses From Day One By Kripa Anand The next generation of Canadian companies will not “expand” internationally. They will be built for it from the start. For decades, Canadian businesses followed a predictable growth path: establish locally, expand nationally, and only then consider international markets — usually the United States first. That model is becoming obsolete. The combination of digital commerce, global demand for niche products, and ongoing trade disruption has rewritten the rules. Today, the most competitive Canadian businesses are not scaling into global markets. They are designed for them from day one.

For women entrepreneurs, this shift is particularly significant. It removes traditional gatekeepers — large capital requirements, legacy distribution networks, and institutional bias — and replaces them with capabilities womenled businesses have already been developing: digital fluency, communitydriven growth, and agile operations. The opportunity is not just to export. It is to build a business that is exportready from inception. 27 - She & Success - August 2026

Global Business The Shift to “Global-First” Business Design A global-first business is not defined by where it sells, but by how it is built.

It assumes:

The Three Foundations of an Export-Ready Business The women successfully building global-first companies are not doing everything at once. They are making three early decisions that allow international growth to happen naturally.

Customers may come from multiple countries, not just Canada

1. Build for Cross-Border Sales From Day One

Supply chains may span multiple regions

This means setting up the operational basics early:

Branding must translate across cultures Payments, logistics, and compliance must work internationally from the beginning

This model is already visible across Canada’s fastest-growing women-led brands — particularly in e-commerce, digital services, education, beauty, and specialized B2B solutions. A founder launching a skincare brand in Brampton today is not just competing locally. She is potentially serving customers in the UK, the UAE, and India within her first year — often without setting foot outside Canada. The difference is not ambition. It is infrastructure.

Multi-currency payment systems (e.g., Stripe, Wise Business) International shipping capabilities with clear pricing and duties Website localization (language, currency, cultural relevance) Many founders delay this, assuming international demand will come later. In reality, global demand often appears early — and businesses that are not ready lose those customers immediately. A simple example: a customer in London discovers a Canadian brand on Instagram but abandons the purchase because pricing is only in CAD and shipping is unclear. That is not a marketing failure. It is an infrastructure gap.

2. Design a Brand That Travels Branding that works in one market does not automatically translate to another.

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Export-ready brands are: Clear in their value proposition across cultures Visually and linguistically adaptable Built around universal or transferable needs Women-led businesses often excel here, particularly those rooted in community insight or cultural experience. Products tied to wellness, identity, sustainability, or lived experience tend to resonate across borders — when positioned correctly. This is where Canada’s diversity becomes a competitive advantage. A founder who understands multiple cultural contexts is not guessing how her brand will land internationally. She is designing it with that awareness built in.

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Global Business 3. Plug Into Canada’s Trade Ecosystem Early

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The most underutilized advantage Canadian founders have is not just access to global markets — it is access to structured support for entering them. Export-ready founders integrate: Trade Commissioner Service guidance for market selection and connections CanExport funding for early-stage international expansion EDC tools for managing financial risk and scaling orders The key is timing. Businesses that engage these resources early build faster and with fewer costly mistakes. Those that wait often end up retrofitting their operations under pressure. The infrastructure exists to support global growth. The competitive advantage comes from using it before it becomes necessary.

The Competitive Window Canada is in the middle of a structural trade

Why Women Founders Are Positioned to Win The global-first model favors adaptability over scale,

shift. Businesses are being forced to rethink where and how they sell. At the same time, global consumers are more accessible than ever through digital channels.

insight over size, and relationships over transactions. These are areas where women entrepreneurs in Canada are already demonstrating strength:

Building trust-based customer communities Leveraging digital platforms for international reach Navigating multicultural markets with lived experience Operating lean, flexible businesses that can pivot quickly

This is not a future trend. It is already visible in how women-led businesses are entering and succeeding in non-U.S. markets at increasing rates. The shift is not about catching up. It is about recognizing that the model has changed — and that many women founders are already aligned with what comes next.

This creates a rare alignment: Support systems are strengthening Traditional barriers are lowering Market access is expanding

The founders who build with this reality in mind will not need to “go global” later. They will already be there. For Canadian women entrepreneurs, this is not just an opportunity to participate in international trade. It is an opportunity to define what the next generation of globally competitive Canadian businesses looks like.

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Interview By Kripa Anand In an exclusive interview with She & Success Business Magazine, Yasmeen Akhtar, Founder and Rehabilitation & Women’s Health Specialist, shares her journey of more than 35 years dedicated to helping individuals improve mobility, recover from injuries, and achieve better overall wellness. Through her hands-on approach, Yasmeen has supported women, families, infants, and individuals navigating reproductive health, rehabilitation, chronic pain, and recovery challenges. Founded by Yasmeen, our practice is built on a commitment to thoughtful, hands-on care for individuals across all stages of life, from active individuals and athletes to women, mothers, infants, and children. I am a rehabilitation and women's health specialist with more than 35 Image Courtesy: Yasmeen Akhtar

years of experience helping people recover from injury, restore mobility,manage pain, and improve their overall quality of life. My approach combines extensive practical experience with personalized care tailored to everyone's needs and circumstances.

Healing Beyond Symptoms:

Yasmeen Akhtar Founder and Rehabilitation & Women’s Health Specialist

Yasmeen on Women’s Wellness

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Health & Recovery A significant part of my work focuses on women's health, including fertility related support,pelvic health, pregnancy care, prenatal and postnatal recovery, and helping women navigate different stages of reproductive health. Over the years, I have worked with women preparing for conception, supporting them throughout pregnancy, and helping them recover following childbirth. My experience also includes supporting women with pelvic concerns, postnatal rehabilitation,

I began by helping members of my own family, starting with the basics and gradually building my knowledge through experience. As I continued learning, my passion for women's health grew naturally. I became fascinated by the body's ability to recover and the positive difference holistic, hands-on therapy could make in people's lives. That passion inspired me to keep learning, growing, and dedicating myself to helping others.

and physical changes that occur throughout motherhood. I never measured success by numbers or My experience extends to rehabilitation, sports recovery, chronic pain management, musculoskeletal conditions, and infant care. Throughout my career, I have had the

recognition. My focus was always on helping one person at a time. Before I realised it, people began recommending me to their families and friends, and

privilege of helping individuals overcome physical challenges, regain confidence in their bodies, and return

my work grew through trust and word of mouth.

to the activities that matter most to them. With a strong belief in compassionate, individualized

Although my practice has expanded to include rehabilitation, infant and children's health, and recovery, women's health has always remained its

care, I established my practice to make specialized therapeutic support more accessible to those seeking a

foundation. Today, this is far more than a profession it is the centre of my life. It has shaped who I am,

holistic and practical approach to recovery and health. Trust, professionalism, and genuine care remain at the

given me purpose, and become a part of my soul.

heart of everything I do. My goal is simple: to help people feel stronger, move more comfortably, and enjoy a healthier, more active life.

You’ve dedicated more than 35 years to women’s health, rehabilitation, and recovery. What first drew you to this work, and at what point did you realize that women’s health was not just a specialty, but the foundation of your entire practice? Looking back, I believe this work found me just as much as I found it. From an early stage in my life, I always wanted to create something different, something meaningful that would become my identity and genuinely change people's lives. I spent a great deal of time thinking about what that purpose would be.

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Health & Recovery Many women are told that painful cycles, difficulty conceiving, or ongoing discomfort during and after pregnancy are “normal” parts of life. From your experience, what are some of the most misunderstood issues in women’s health and fertility, and how can holistic, hands‑on therapy support women who feel they have run out of options? Many women are unaware of the physical factors that can influence fertility, reproductive health, and uterine positioning. Some women experience repeated miscarriages without fully understanding the underlying cause, while others undergo multiple IVF cycles that are unsuccessful because, in my experience, the root cause has not been fully addressed.

You also work closely with infants and children who experience digestive concerns like gas, constipation, reflux, and food poisoning. What are some of the most common digestive issues you see in young children, and what signs should parents never ignore when it comes to their child’s comfort and wellbeing?

In my practice, I often see women presenting with what I refer to

The most common digestive concerns I see in babies and infants are vomiting, gas, bloating, constipation, and feedingrelated digestive discomfort. As children grow older, the cases I most frequently

as uterine positioning dislocation, weakened uterine muscle which cannot hold the embryo. I use specialized hands-on massage techniques as part of my holistic approach to support women's

encounter are food poisoning, colon swelling associated with digestive illness, bloating, fever, diarrhea, and abdominal

reproductive health which boosts and improves egg quality, strengthen pelvic and uterine muscles, improve uterine alignment and pushes the uterus back to its place. 80% of women i have

discomfort. These conditions can affect a child's comfort, energy levels, appetite, and overall wellbeing, which is why I

treated have had successful pregnancies after.

believe parents should pay close attention to any persistent changes. One root cause is what i call “liver dislocation, and colon concerns is another root cause of these illnesses. One of the most important messages I share with parents is not to ignore the early warning signs. Persistent loss of appetite, unusual tiredness or laziness, reduced activity, unexplained weight loss, vomiting, ongoing diarrhea, or constipation lasting more than three to four days should never be overlooked. These symptoms should always be assessed appropriately to determine the underlying cause and whether medical attention is needed.

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Alongside appropriate medical care, I use gentle hands-on therapy to support digestive comfort and recovery. Every child is different, so I take time to understand their symptoms before beginning treatment. My goal is not only to help children feel more comfortable but also to give parents the knowledge and confidence to recognize when something isn't right and seek help early.

Health & Recovery Rehabilitation and myofascial pain are central to your practice, and you’ve seen how trigger points can even mimic serious conditions, such as heart‑related chest pain. How do you approach cases where pain is persistent but medical tests are inconclusive, and what role can hands‑on therapy play alongside conventional medical care in restoring mobility and quality of life? Many people come to me with severe muscle stiffness and myofascial trigger point pain after they have been experiencing discomfort for a long time. They often describe pain in the left shoulder, neck, upper back, or between the shoulder blades. Some also experience pain that radiates into the arm, chest discomfort, dizziness, or pain when taking a deep breath. Because these symptoms can sometimes feel similar to more serious conditions, I always encourage people to seek appropriate medical evaluation first to rule out underlying medical causes.

Across women’s health, infant and children’s care, digestive health, and rehabilitation, you emphasize a holistic, compassionate, and hands‑on approach. For women, parents, and individuals who are searching for more than quick fixes, what guiding advice would you offer on how to advocate for themselves, ask the right questions, and choose a more holistic path to long‑term health and recovery? My advice is to listen to your body and never ignore persistent symptoms simply because you have been told they are "normal." Whether it is ongoing pain, digestive discomfort, fertility challenges, or reduced mobility, your body is always communicating with you. The earlier you seek answers, the better your chances of understanding what may be contributing to the problem. Never compromise when it comes to your health. If you feel something isn't right, don't lose hope if you haven't found the answers straight away. Keep asking questions, seek appropriate medical advice, and explore other supportive treatment options, including holistic and complementary therapies where appropriate. Every person is different, and what works for one individual may not be the right approach

Once serious conditions have been excluded, I

for another.

focus on identifying areas of muscular tension and myofascial trigger points that may be contributing to their pain. My treatment

Throughout my career, I have met many people who had

typically begins with the neck, shoulders, upper back, the area between the shoulder

digestive concerns, fertility challenges, or rehabilitation issues. I always encourage people to keep an open mind.

blades, mid back, and lower back, using specialized hands-on physiotherapy techniques to reduce muscle tension, restore mobility, and

Conventional medicine and holistic therapies do not have to

improve overall function.

Recovery is different for every individual. Some people respond quickly, while others require more time depending on how long they have been living with the condition and its severity. In my experience, many people begin to notice improvement over a course of three to five sessions.

almost given up after struggling for years with ongoing pain,

be seen as opposing approaches they can often work alongside one another. Whether it is hands-on therapy, cupping, or other complementary therapies, the important thing is to work with qualified professionals and explore appropriate options that may support your recovery. Most importantly, never ignore symptoms or allow them to become part of your everyday life. Someone may have the answers you have been searching for, so don't stop advocating for yourself. Be proactive, ask questions, explore your options responsibly, and never lose hope. Sometimes, finding the right path to recovery simply means continuing to look until you find the care that is right for you.

My goal is to help relieve muscular tension, restore comfortable movement, and enable people to return to their daily activities with greater confidence and quality of life.

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How Canada’s Women Entrepreneurs and Insurers Are Building Safer Workplaces in an AI-Driven Economy By SK Uddin As artificial intelligence reshapes how Canadians work, problems of safety, danger, and opportunity emerge—particularly for women workers who confront persisting disparities in income, security, and access to finance. Canada's answer is taking shape on three fronts: national policy, insurance and benefits innovation, and women's entrepreneurship in technology and services for the future workplace. The Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) aims to boost women's representation in entrepreneurship and innovation, including the adoption of ethical AI. Insurers and benefits providers are expanding mental health, caregiver assistance, and flexible coverage to meet hybrid and gig-like realities. Women-led startups in HR tech and wellbeing are creating data-driven technologies that safeguard workers, boost inclusivity, and use AI to enhance human dignity at work, rather than undermine it.

National Policy: Women Entrepreneurship Strategy and AI for All Canada's Women Entrepreneurship Strategy aims to eliminate systemic barriers for female entrepreneurs and enhance their engagement in innovation, especially in AI-enabled sectors. Recent announcements commit an extra $173 million to WES, including financing for the Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, the WES Ecosystem Fund, and the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) to further research on AI uptake and best practices. According to WEKH's 2025 research, women-owned firms are increasingly innovative but less likely than male-owned firms to adopt new technologies such as AI. This disparity has inspired focused measures to assist female founders in technology and AI with mentorship, finance, and knowledge exchange, allowing them to create products that reflect varied perspectives on fairness, wellbeing, and worker protection. 34 - She & Success - August 2026

AI Inclusion Canada's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, "AI for All," prioritizes responsible and human-centred AI to foster trust and benefit society as a whole. Federal policies prioritize transparency, accountability, and compliance with labour and human rights norms. These frameworks provide a backdrop for women entrepreneurs developing HR tech and wellbeing solutions to design tools that protect workers, such as clear communication when AI is used, mechanisms for contesting automated decisions, and safeguards to prevent algorithmic bias from exacerbating existing disparities.

Insurance and Benefits Innovation for AI‑Enabled, Hybrid, and Gig‑Like Work

Women Founders Using Data and AI Ethically to Improve Inclusion Women founders in insurance, HR tech, and wellbeing are transforming policy goals into practical technologies to protect and empower workers. She & Success highlights women-led companies that use AI and people-tech to improve recruitment, learning, and workplace welfare, with a focus on justice and inclusiveness. Their tools assist employers in determining where bias may exist, where workloads are unsustainable, and where benefits are not reaching those who need them the most.

AI, platform work, and hybrid arrangements are altering the

Their work is centred on the ethical use of data

distribution of risks and benefits in Canada's labour market, especially for women in non-traditional, part-time, or gig-like

and AI. Founders prioritize transparent models, explainable methods, and employee involvement in design and testing. Many companies create

employment. In response, insurers and benefit providers are broadening mental health coverage, providing caregiver assistance, and creating flexible structures that can adjust to changing work patterns.

dashboards that display anonymized patterns— such as differences in promotion rates, benefit utilization, or burnout risk—while respecting

Corporate wellness overviews emphasize Canadian providers

individual privacy. This enables HR and insurers to address underserved populations, such as

—such as TELUS Health/LifeWorks, Medcan, Meditopia, MindBeacon, Dialogue, and GreenShield Health—who incorporate digital mental health, virtual therapy, and iCBT into group benefits. These services provide accessible

women, racialized workers, and caregivers, by changing policies, redistributing workloads, and increasing coverage.

counselling, stress management, and therapeutic treatment to workers facing AI-accelerated workloads and algorithmic scheduling, helping insurers and employers protect them.

Networks like Women in AI Canada and WEKH provide these entrepreneurs with community, training, and research, enhancing their potential

Effective mental health interventions for working women highlight the importance of complete coverage, supervisor training, and stigma-free access to prevent burnout and sustain performance.

to shape Canada's AI and workforce future. As their ventures grow, they show that AI can help identify disparities and make smarter decisions, rather than hard-coding prejudice into new systems. Protecting workers in an AI-driven economy requires more than just regulation or insurance; it's a daily design decision in technology development and deployment.

Flexible and modular benefits are also on the rise, allowing employees to customize coverage for mental health, caregiving, and income protection as circumstances change. Flexibility is crucial for women in hybrid and gig-like employment, preventing them from falling through protection gaps and providing a safety net between contracts and employers. Some insurers and advocacy groups, notably those focused on fraud and economic empowerment, are exploring AI to detect exploitation while safeguarding survivors and vulnerable workers. Ethical use of AI in claims, underwriting, and fraud detection requires careful design; women leaders in insurance and benefits should help ensure that these tools do not unfairly penalize individuals already facing systemic barriers.

BodyMods: Redefining Body Jewellery Across Canada In an exclusive interview with She & Success Business Magazine, Sarah Bolton, Co-Founder of BodyMods, shares the story behind transforming a single mall kiosk into a nationally recognized destination for body jewellery, piercings, and tattoos. From navigating the early challenges of building a niche business to setting industry standards for

Image Courtesy: Sarah Bolton

safety, professionalism, and customer experience, Sarah discusses how passion, persistence, and a commitment to education have shaped BodyMods’ growth.

Interview By SK Uddin Sarah Bolton is the Co-Founder of BodyMods, Canada's leading destination for body jewellery, professional piercings, and tattoo services. Since launching the company in 2002 alongside her longtime friend and business partner Nathan, Sarah has helped transform the body modification industry through a commitment to education, acceptance, safety, and exceptional quality. Under her leadership, BodyMods has grown from a single mall location to a nationally recognized Canadian brand with multiple locations across the country. Passionate about empowering self-expression and challenging industry stereotypes, Sarah continues to champion innovation, inclusivity, and professional standards within the body jewellery and piercing community. You co-founded BodyMods in 2002, long before body jewellery and piercings were as mainstream as they are today. What did those early days look like, and what gap did you and Nathan see in the market that made you believe this could become a national brand?

Sarah Bolton, Co-Founder of BodyMods

The early days were a lot of hard work and very long hours. We opened our first kiosk on June 3, 2002, and our first day off wasn't until Christmas Day. I worked at the mall, open to close, seven days a week, while Nathan continued to work full-time at the bank and spent his weekends alongside me at the kiosk. Like most new business owners, we did everything ourselves, from bookkeeping and ordering inventory to marketing and lease negotiations. We knew we were onto something, but neither of us could have imagined how much the business would eventually grow.

Industry Evolution What I remember most, though, was talking to customers. People familiar with body jewellery would spend ages at the kiosk because they couldn't believe the selection we had. By today's standards, it would seem almost comically small, but at the time it was unlike anything most people had seen. Others would stop and ask, "What's that?" or "Where does that go?" Looking back, those conversations shaped many of the values that still define BodyMods today. It didn’t take long for us to realize people were willing to travel surprisingly long distances to see us, and customers regularly asked when we would be opening in their mall or city. When we opened in Metrotown, it was even busier than our first location. Langley was busier still. Everywhere we went, there seemed to be customers waiting for us to arrive. At that point, it was easy to imagine bringing BodyMods to shopping centres across the country.

Beyond that, I think one of the most important decisions we've made has been to build the business before accelerating its growth. Nathan and I have spent years strengthening our training programs, operational systems, leadership structure, and company culture. We never wanted growth for the sake of growth. We wanted to make sure we could deliver the same experience, standards, and level of education at every location. Those investments aren't always visible from the outside, but they're what have positioned us for the next stage of growth.

Image Courtesy: Sarah Bolton

You often talk about education, safety, and professionalism as core to BodyMods’ identity. How do you embed those standards into your studios day-to-day, and what should customers look for when choosing a safe, reputable piercing or tattoo studio?

BodyMods has grown from a single mall location to multiple studios in BC, with three more opening in Alberta this year, while also becoming one of Canada’s major importers of body jewellery. What have been the key decisions or turning points that enabled that level of growth and scale? One of the biggest turning points was becoming an importer, although it wasn't something we set out to do. As BodyMods grew and we opened more locations, it became increasingly difficult to source the quality and quantity of jewellery we needed. There simply weren't many North American suppliers capable of supporting our growth, particularly once we began opening larger studio locations. Importing became a necessity, but it also gave us greater control over quality. We've spent considerable time working directly with manufacturers to ensure the materials, production processes, and quality standards meet the expectations of both our customers and our industry.

One thing we've learned over the years is that people make better decisions when they have good information. That's why education has always been such a big part of what we do at BodyMods. Whether someone is getting their first piercing or their fifteenth, we want them to understand their options, feel comfortable asking questions, and leave feeling confident in the decisions they've made. Turning those values into a consistent customer experience takes a lot of work behind the scenes. We invest heavily in training, maintain strict sterilization and safety protocols, use high-quality materials, and create clear standards for every role within the company.

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Industry Evolution

Image Courtesy: Sarah Bolton

As you expand into new markets like Alberta and continue growing your business, what is your vision for the future of BodyMods—and what advice would you share with other entrepreneurs who want to scale a niche, passion-driven business across Canada?

We spend a lot of time coaching our teams because we want every customer to receive the same level of care, professionalism, and information, regardless of which BodyMods location they visit. For customers, my advice is simple: ask questions. A reputable studio should be happy to explain its procedures, discuss the materials being used, and walk you through the aftercare and healing process. At the end of the day, you're trusting someone with your body. A good studio should be transparent, be willing to educate, and make you feel comfortable throughout the process.

The body modification industry still faces stereotypes and misconceptions. How has BodyMods worked to shift perceptions— both for customers who are new to piercings and tattoos, and within the broader business community watching your growth? Even today, one of the biggest challenges in our industry is conflicting information. Because there are very few consistent standards across the industry, customers can receive completely different advice depending on which piercing or tattoo shop they visit. One of the things BodyMods has worked hard to do is remove that uncertainty by creating clear standards and a consistent customer experience. Over the years, we've found that consistency builds trust. The more confidence people have in the experience they're receiving, the more those old assumptions about the industry tend to fade away. Within the broader business community, we've helped change perceptions by showing that this industry belongs in mainstream retail. Twenty-five years ago, we spent a lot of time explaining why body jewellery, piercing, and tattooing would be a good fit for shopping centres. The moment I realized perceptions had truly changed was when I walked into a meeting with Cottonwood Centre fully prepared to give my usual pitch. Instead, they simply said, “We'd love to have you.” For me, that moment said everything. We weren't trying to convince people anymore. Body modification had become a widely accepted form of self-expression, and the industry had earned its place in the mainstream.

As we expand into Alberta and other new markets, the vision remains the same as it was when we opened our first kiosk more than twenty years ago. We want to continue elevating standards within the industry, making high-quality body jewellery and services more accessible, and creating opportunities for people to build longterm careers in tattooing and piercing. Over the next few years, we're focused on expanding into key markets across Western Canada while continuing to invest in our people, our culture, and the standards that have helped us get here.

My advice to other entrepreneurs is simple: just start, and don't listen to the naysayers. Too many people spend years planning,researching, and waiting for the perfect time. You don't need a fouryear degree in business to get started. You need an idea you believe in and a willingness to work hard. No amount of reading or preparation will teach you as much as actually doing the work. You'll figure out how to run your business, what works, what doesn't, and how to adapt as you grow. At some point, you have to stop planning and start doing.

How Canadian Women Are Creating Smarter, More Sustainable Workplaces With AI By Kripa Anand As artificial intelligence advances throughout Canadian workplaces, many executives are tempted to view productivity as a race to produce more in

Mental Health and Flexible Work as Productivity Levers

less time. However, an increasing number of female HR, benefits, and entrepreneurship leaders are pushing back, claiming that true productivity in the

Canadian health-benefits specialists

AI era must be long-term—based on mental health, caring reality, and human vitality, rather than speedier workflows. Research indicates that investing in complementary adjustments and human-centred design can increase productivity without requiring additional effort from employees. Women executives are collaborating with health-benefits specialists, insurers, and wellness platforms to redefine KPIs for recovery, psychological safety, and energy management. For working women, whose obligations frequently include both paid and unpaid care, this move is not only progressive; it is also critical to preventing burnout and keeping professions sustainable in the long run.

emphasize that mental health is more than just a wellness issue but also a key factor in performance, engagement, and retention, particularly for women who balance work and childcare. Alberta Blue Cross, for example, emphasizes techniques such as recognizing early signs of burnout, normalizing stressrelated conversations, and offering benefits that include counselling, virtual care, and psychological support. These supports enable employees to remain productive over time rather than alternating between overwork and collapse.

Flexible work is another important factor. Working women's guidance highlights the importance of having control over their

Image Courtesy: Canva

schedules, location, and workload in reducing stress and improving attention. Employers who combine AI-enabled technologies with flexible policies might help women handle family duties without sacrificing performance. Examples include automated scheduling and workload analytics. This shifts productivity from "hours at the desk" to "value created," which is measured over weeks and months rather than single days.

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Future of Work Canada's growing "AI for All" approach emphasizes that technology should broaden opportunities and support different workers, rather than limiting success to those who are always available. Women in HR and benefits are advocating for caregiver-inclusive benefits such as paid leave, increased mental health coverage, and flexible arrangements that recognize caregiving as a normal part of life rather than a performance failure. These insurance benefits benefit insurers and organizations by preventing health crises and talent loss among experienced female employees.

Benefits, EFAP, Virtual Therapy, and iCBT as Burnout Shields In Canada's AI-intensive industries, group health insurance and employee and family support programs (EFAP) are proving effective in reducing burnout. According to Alberta Blue Cross, complete benefits, which include counselling, psychiatric therapies, and digital tools, provide working women with easy access to help before stress becomes debilitating. EFAP services offer discreet support for a wide range of concerns, including anxiety and depression, financial strain, and caregiving pressure, all of which have a direct impact on productivity. Virtual therapy and internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) are crucial for women who have several roles and cannot attend in-person consultations. Canadian wellness platforms and benefits providers now offer safe online treatment sessions, self-guided CBT programs, and digital checkins to accommodate erratic schedules. These techniques assist employees in processing stress, reframing problematic thinking, and developing coping mechanisms, resulting in improved focus, fewer errors, and more consistent performance at work. Studies on AI and productivity in Canadian organizations indicate that technology alone does not result in significant productivity gains; additional investments in people and processes are necessary. For female HR and insurance leaders, this is a call to action: combine AI tools with strong mental health and benefits infrastructure to allow teams to adjust to new ways of working without burning out. When EFAP, virtual therapy, and iCBT are considered as strategic assets rather than optional extras, they become essential components of long-term performance.

Women Leaders Reframing KPIs Around Recovery, Safety, and Energy Perhaps the most fundamental change is occurring in how productivity is defined. Canadian women in senior leadership and entrepreneurship are increasingly challenging limited KPIs such as hours worked or tickets closed and proposing new measures focused on recovery, psychological safety, and energy management. AI-enhanced workplaces prioritize creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving, all of which require a healthy nervous system and a supportive culture. Mental health specialists propose including metrics such as sleep quality, stress levels, and perceived support in organizational health dashboards. Some Canadian businesses are experimenting with anonymous pulse surveys, wellness scores, and burnout risk indices alongside standard performance measurements. Women executives support these technologies because they show early difficulties and validate conversations about workload and job design, rather than waiting for attrition or disability claims to signal difficulty. Women entrepreneurs in HR tech and wellness are developing these concepts into products: platforms that track engagement and wellbeing, dashboards that link psychological safety to innovation outcomes, and coaching tools that assist managers in supporting energy management rather than glorifying overwork. In Canada's digital economy, attempts to enhance women's leadership note that such founders frequently design from lived experience of burnout or exclusion, making them acutely aware of the pitfalls of "always-on" cultures. This paradigm views productivity as a long-term relationship between individuals and their work, focusing on sustained performance rather than short-term output spikes. Subscribe to She & Success Business Magazine and follow us on she&success.ca to stay updated on funding opportunities, entrepreneurial insights, and inspiring stories of women making a difference across Canada. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes. She & Success Business Magazine does not endorse or guarantee any products or services mentioned. Readers should conduct their own research and due diligence. 40 - She & Success - August 2026

Image Courtesy: Celissa Vipond and Melissa Lindstrom

In an exclusive interview with She & Success Business Magazine, Celissa Vipond and Melissa Lindstrom, cofounders and Clinical Directors of Virtual CBT Psychotherapy, share the journey of transforming a small, two-person online practice into a multi-province virtual mental health platform. Combining clinical expertise in evidence-based therapies with entrepreneurial grit, they’ve built a practice that prioritizes both client outcomes and therapist well-being.

Interview By SK Uddin Celissa Vipond and Melissa Lindstrom are the co-founders and Clinical Directors of Virtual CBT Psychotherapy, a fully virtual psychotherapy practice serving clients across Ontario, and other Canadian provinces. Both hold Master of Social Work (MSW) degrees and bring deep clinical expertise in Cognitive Behavioural

Building Virtual Mental Health Care From Scratch Celissa Vipond and Melissa Lindstrom co-founders and Clinical Directors of Virtual CBT Psychotherapy

Therapy (CBT), with specialized training in treating OCD, trauma, phobias, and anxiety disorders. Together, they built Virtual CBT from the ground up — not just as clinicians, but as hands-on business owners overseeing everything from clinical program design to website development,digital marketing, and client care standards. Their practice draws on evidence-based modalities including Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), EMDR, and Written Exposure Therapy (WET), and works with a growing network of contracted practitioners to expand access to high-quality mental health care across Canada.

Image Courtesy: Celissa Vipond and Melissa Lindstrom

Health Entrepreneurship

Virtual CBT began with two clinicians, a Canva pamphlet, and no formal

The early days were definitely

business or marketing background. What made you decide to build a fully virtual practice rather than a traditional in‑person clinic, and what did those scrappy early days teach you about entrepreneurship in healthcare?

"scrappy". We started with two clinicians, a Canva pamphlet, and absolutely no background in business. We quickly learned that providing excellent therapy wasn't enough—you also had to help people find you. Referrals didn't just appear because you opened your doors. We had to learn website design, SEO, Google Business Profiles, online advertising, social media, and countless digital platforms.

Celissa: Melissa and I were both working in the non-profit sector when COVID changed everything. Almost overnight, we had to move from seeing clients in person to providing therapy online. Like many therapists, we weren't sure how effective online therapy would be. But what we found surprised us—our clients were still making progress. Their symptoms improved and many appreciated the convenience of receiving therapy from home. That experience completely changed how we viewed online therapy and was a driving force behind Virtual CBT Psychotherapy. We also live in a small town, where access to specialized therapy can be limited. We saw firsthand how geography can prevent people from getting evidence-based care. We realized that virtual care wasn't just a temporary solution. Virtual was a way to make high-quality CBT accessible to people who might otherwise have lengthy drives or no local specialist.

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Health Entrepreneurship You’ve gone from learning website design and SEO out of necessity to leading a 29‑clinician practice serving thousands of clients. How do you balance your identity as a therapist—focused on individual client outcomes—with your role as a business owner responsible for growth, operations, and sustainability? Melissa: We don't see those as two identities pulling against each other — the business exists to serve the clinical work, not the reverse. Every decision about growth or operations gets run through the same question: does this help someone get better care? That said, the shift wasn't instant. Learning SEO and website design out of necessity put us in a strange inbetween space, thinking about keyword rankings one hour and case conceptualization the next. It took time to trust that being good at the business side, and aware of the numbers, didn't mean we were drifting from being good clinicians. If anything, it sharpened our thinking — every page, every word choice, has to feel approachable and comfortable to someone who might be Image Courtesy: Celissa Vipond and Melissa Lindstrom

reaching out on their hardest day. We still do the initial free consultations ourselves, which keeps us close to why any of this matters. It's incredibly important to us that we're matching someone with the right therapist, not just whoever has an opening. We're genuinely picky about who joins our team — clinically excellent, and someone we'd feel good sending a friend to — and that high standard of care ends up serving the business too.

Trauma‑focused care has become a growing focus of the practice, with modalities like CPT, PE, EMDR, and WET. Why do you think evidence‑based trauma treatment is still so underserved in Canada, and how is Virtual CBT using a virtual model to close that gap while maintaining strong clinical standards? Celissa: One of the biggest challenges in mental healthcare is access to specialized, evidence-based trauma treatment is still limited. Many therapists receive general training, but evidence-based trauma therapies require more education, supervision, and ongoing practice to deliver them effectively. Unfortunately, many Canadians don't have access to these specialized services in their communities.

From the beginning, we wanted Virtual CBT to help close that gap. We started by offering Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and as our team and expertise grew, so did our trauma program. Today, I'm incredibly proud that we offer all four trauma treatments recommended by the American Psychological Association for PTSD. That's something very few clinics can say.

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Health Entrepreneurship

As co‑founders, you’ve built and scaled this company together— from pamphlets to multi‑province expansion without ever intending to create a large organization. What have you learned about running a company as a partnership that you didn’t expect at the beginning, and how do you manage boundaries, decision‑making, and shared leadership? Melissa: We both came in with some leadership experience, but leading a business and managing a growing team was new territory. We'd always had a manager above us, someone else holding the final call. Realizing the decisions stopped with us now, that there was no one left to check with but each other, brought its own anxiety and growing pains — that part we had to learn together, bouncing ideas off one another as we went.

We're lucky in that we see eye to eye on most things, which made the learning curve a lot easier than it could have been. Decision-making continues to evolve as we grow. Early on, we talked through everything together. With almost 30 clinicians now, that's not realistic — we've had to trust each other enough to let some decisions sit with one of us alone.

Boundaries look like actively protecting each other’s time, not just our own. We check in on each other's workload and mental health the way we'd want any clinician on our team looked after. Work-life balance has always come first for us — a business built on caring for people's wellbeing has to start by caring for ours.

Image Courtesy: Celissa Vipond and Melissa Lindstrom

Maintaining high clinical standards has always been non-negotiable for us. We receive hundreds of applications from therapists, but we hire very selectively. Melissa and I personally interview candidates. We look not only for experience but also for a genuine commitment to evidence-based practice. Our clinicians have advanced training, receive ongoing consultation and share a passion for lifelong learning. Clients deserve therapists who are using treatments backed by research, not just approaches that feel familiar or comfortable.

Image Courtesy: Celissa Vipond and Melissa Lindstrom

Health Entrepreneurship

Today, Virtual CBT offers virtual psychotherapy, psychological assessments, and free consultations, with a focus on ideal caseloads and work‑life balance for therapists. What advice would you give to

You don't have to choose

another woman in a licensed profession who wants to build a business around her clinical expertise—but feels intimidated by the operational, regulatory, and leadership side of entrepreneurship?

between being an excellent clinician and a successful

Celissa & Melissa: Our biggest piece of advice is to remember that it's completely normal to feel intimidated. We still do sometimes. Most healthcare professionals are trained to be great clinicians, not business owners, so there's a steep learning curve when you start thinking about marketing, finances, hiring, or leadership.

persistence, and a commitment

The good news is that you don't have to know everything on day one. We live in a time where there are incredible resources at our fingertips. You can teach yourself almost anything if you're willing to stay curious and keep learning. That's exactly how we built our business—one skill at a time. Don't let the fear of not knowing stop you from getting started. Focus on doing excellent work, stay true to your values, and build systems that support both your clients and your team. Success doesn't come from having all the answers; it comes from consistently showing up, solving the next problem, and being willing to adapt to change.

entrepreneur. With patience, to lifelong learning, you can absolutely be both.

How Canadian Women Are Redefining Work Through Wellness and AI Innovation By SK Uddin Women executives are transitioning to make employee well-being a vital part of the AI era in Canadian organizations. As artificial intelligence accelerates operations and raises expectations, HR and insurance purchasers must consider not only how

TELUS Health (formerly LifeWorks) provides integrated employee assistance programs, digital cognitive behavioural therapy, and analytics to help HR leaders identify areas of stress and burnout,

to implement AI but also how to protect people in the process.

whereas Medcan provides preventive health assessments and coaching that can

Women founders and executives at corporate wellness

be incorporated into performance and leadership development strategies.

and virtual care platforms are tackling this question by designing solutions that include well-being in routine workflows. Their solutions combine data,

MindBeacon and Dialogue offer

digital mental health tools, and virtual therapy to detect stress early, tailor support, and transform well-being into measurable increases in productivity,

virtual therapy and internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy to

retention, and risk reduction. Wellness is becoming a

fulfill employees' needs and overcome

core component of AI-intensive workplaces, providing services and insights that promote compassionate,

hurdles such as geography, stigma,

resilient, and sustainable work environments.

Canada’s Wellness Platforms in an AI Era

and scheduling.

Image Courtesy: Canva

Canada's corporate wellness market has grown significantly in recent years, driven by employers' need to address rising stress, mental health concerns, and the complexities of hybrid work. Leading solutions, such as TELUS Health/LifeWorks, Medcan, Meditopia, MindBeacon, Dialogue, and GreenShield Health, combine digital platforms with clinical expertise to provide daily mental health and well-being support to employees. 46 - She & Success - August 2026

Human-Centred AI GreenShield Health, building on its benefits heritage, is developing digital mental health and wellness products that are closely linked to claims data and risk management. According to Meditopia's assessment of Canadian corporate wellness, these platforms now offer "always-on" support, including mobile apps, chat-based coaching, microlearning modules, and digital mindfulness programs that employees can use before stress worsens. With AI-driven customization, wellness gets integrated into the workflow, eliminating the need for employees to remember to access resources individually.

From Benefit Add‑On to Productivity and Risk Strategy In AI-enabled workplaces, wellness systems are becoming crucial for productivity, talent retention, and risk management. This represents a significant shift for HR and insurance purchasers. As AI accelerates labour and provides new kinds of monitoring and scheduling, the risk of stress and distrust increases—unless well-being is explicitly integrated into deployment plans. According to Canadian talks on workplace AI

Women Leaders Designing for Burnout Prevention and Emotional Resilience

governance, workers must be allowed to examine, question, and contest algorithmic rules that influence scheduling, compensation, and

These platforms are driven by female leaders who recognize

performance. Wellness systems can provide the psychological safety and support required for

that high-pressure, tech-enabled settings can negatively impact well-being without proper management. Many work as executives in digital health and wellness enterprises or as leaders of clinical and product teams responsible for program development. Their goal is clear: reduce burnout, promote emotional resilience, and make mental health an integral aspect of work, rather than a crisis reaction. Canadian mental health guidelines for working women emphasize the importance of practical measures such as benefits coverage, counselling, peer support, and supervisor training in reducing burnout. Wellness provider women leaders use insights to create scalable solutions such as resilience curricula, management toolkits for spotting distress, and self-guided modules for women managing caregiving and leadership roles. Women founders in Canada's health-tech and wellness startups are using AI to improve care routes.AI-powered triage and personalization engines can assess symptom check-ins, utilization, and engagement data to offer appropriate interventions, such as mindfulness for early stress, CBT modules for persistent anxiety, or live therapy when red flags are present. These tools require human oversight, with doctors and care teams validating algorithms, monitoring outcomes, and adjusting programs to prevent over-automation that may overlook nuance or worsen inequalities. Women's leadership in Canada's digital economy is crucial to building AI-enabled wellness solutions that reflect diverse life experiences and work realities.

these interactions, including confidential counselling for employees concerned about job changes, coaching for managers driving AI rollouts, and data insights that detect rising stress in teams subjected to heavy algorithmic management. Wellness programs can minimize long-term disability claims and absenteeism and improve presenteeism, particularly in industries undergoing significant digital and AI development. For HR leaders, this adds wellness investments to the commercial case for AI: healthy teams are more adaptive, creative, and capable of learning new tools. Women executives at wellness and digital health firms are assisting HR buyers in connecting the dots, positioning wellness platforms as strategic infrastructure: solutions that maintain human capability while enterprises embrace AI at scale.

By Kripa Anand In Canada, female innovators are creating AI-enabled businesses that prioritize well-being, fair workplaces, and inclusive benefits. Rather than chasing "move fast and break things," these entrepreneurs use data, automation, and intelligent workflows to improve human dignity at work by lowering burnout, identifying diverse talent, and increasing access to care. Their companies combine HR technology and wellness, providing tools for organizations to better understand their employees, design

2026 Trends: Women Tech Entrepreneurs Using AI to Scale and Close Access Gaps A Canadian study of women's entrepreneurship reveals a lack of female founders in high-growth tech industries. However, those who do establish AI-enabled enterprises prioritize human-centred solutions. She & Success covers women entrepreneurs building AI, HR tech, edtech, and wellness platforms that transform recruiting, learning, and care while emphasizing inclusivity and well-being. These founders leverage AI and automation to provide services formerly constrained by region, cost, or capacity, such as mental health support, coaching, and sophisticated analytics.

healthier roles, and offer personalized benefits and mental health care. In an era where artificial intelligence is

Panels and national talks on women's entrepreneurship in

being integrated into hiring, performance management, and operations, these women are

sized firms in the economy. Gender equality in this sector

demonstrating that technology can be built to do good work rather than just more labour. HR tech, wellness platforms, and insurance buyers see a shift towards human-centric systems headed by founders who understand the challenges of developing

Canada highlight the importance of small and mediumis an economic need, not just a social one. At this AI inflection moment, female innovators generally create customized AI solutions tailored to specific business processes and high-quality data, rather than pursuing generic, broad language models.

businesses and the realities of working women's lives.

Image Courtesy: Canva

How Canadian Women Entrepreneurs Are Building the Future of Work With AI HR Tech and Wellness 48 - She & Success - August 2026

Tech Leadership This helps them to compete worldwide by solving actual workplace challenges such as decreasing administrative load for HR teams, triaging wellness needs at scale, and providing insurers with superior risk analytics based on real-world employee data.

The New Workplace Stack: HR Systems, Wellness, and Benefits Led by Women

Crucially, many founders design from personal experience— navigating caregiving, bias, or burnout—which influences their belief that AI must enhance flourishing at work rather than rob it of meaning.

These ventures represent a "new workplace stack" for Canadian organizations, comprising HR systems, wellness platforms, and benefits/insurance solutions headed or co-led by female founders that prioritize humancentred design. HR tech products leverage AI to

Wellness and Benefits Platforms Using AI and Data to Personalize Support

speed recruiting, performance management, and skill mapping, while also highlighting bias and pay disparities. Wellness platforms integrate mental health support, resilience training, and community participation into the workplace.

Canada's wellness and benefits ecosystem today comprises dozens of startups leveraging AI or data-driven design to tailor support for diverse workforces, including mentalhealth apps, community engagement platforms, flexible benefits, and wellbeing solutions. AI-enhanced wellness systems provide personalized content, smart triage, and recommendation engines based on user health profiles, goals, and engagement patterns, as shown in startup listings and ecosystem overviews.

Flexible benefits and insurance solutions round out the stack, connecting health data, utilization patterns, and risk models to strategic coverage and prevention decisions. Women founders and executives work with HR, healthcare, and policy professionals to ensure AI adoption follows human-centred best practices. They promote clarity about where algorithms are employed, worker participation in product

For HR and insurance buyers, these platforms offer more efficient and equitable utilization of benefits. AI can assist in identifying workforce segments at higher risk of burnout

design, and governance structures that protect privacy and labour rights.

or disengagement, direct individuals to suitable solutions, and create anonymized dashboards that illustrate how wellbeing investments improve productivity and claims. Flexible

Networks like Women in AI Canada, as well as

benefits and wellbeing platforms—many of which have women in executive or product leadership roles—allow employees to allocate budgets for mental health, physical exercise, caregiving support, and financial wellbeing, reflecting the complexities of women's lives. Women founders in wellness tech are creating digital places for employees to share stories, receive peer support, and participate in tailored programs (e.g., for women in leadership, caregivers, or newcomers to Canada).AIpowered analytics enable platforms to tailor content and programming to meet specific needs, promoting cultural responsiveness and inclusivity over one-size-fits-all solutions. AI-powered customization can help insurers reduce longterm risk by detecting issues early, reducing disability claims, and demonstrating measurable links among wellbeing, performance, and retention.

national programs that encourage women's leadership in the digital economy, help female founders gain access to finance, mentorship, and corporate alliances. As their businesses grow, they are altering expectations for what "good IT" entails: technologies that help organizations prosper financially because of their people, not because of the technologies themselves.

49 - She & Success - August 2026

The Courage to Pivot How one Canadian entrepreneur discovered that letting go wasn't giving up—it was the key to growth. In an exclusive interview with She & Success Business Magazine, Jenelle Peterson, Founder and CEO of Wild Life

Image Courtesy: Jenelle Peterson

Outdoor Adventures, shares how she built a Canadian brand that inspires families to trade screen time for outdoor play. From subscription boxes to retail shelves in over 500 stores, Jenelle reflects on resilience, strategic pivots, and lessons for women entrepreneurs growing mission-driven businesses.

Interview By Kripa Anand Jenelle Peterson, MBA, is the Founder and CEO of Wild Life Outdoor Adventures, an award-winning Canadian outdoor toy company helping families trade screen time for adventure. After more than a decade leading marketing and innovation for global brands, including 3M,Jenelle launched Wild Life Outdoor Adventures in 2020 with a vision to make outdoorexploration more accessible, engaging, and educational for children. What began as a subscription box business evolved into a thriving wholesale consumer products company after a bold strategic pivot. Today, Wild Life products are carried by more than 300 retailers across Canada and the United States.

Jenelle Peterson, MBA, Founder and CEO of Wild Life Outdoor Adventures

Retail Expansion In July 2026, the company reached a major milestone with the launch of its products in Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's, securing placement with its first major North American outdoor retail chain and marking a significant step in the company's wholesale growth and expansion. Along the way, Jenelle has navigated entrepreneurship while raising a young family, rebuilding her business model, expanding internationally, and proving that resilience is often a founder's greatest competitive advantage. Her work has been recognized through the Parents' Choice Award, the Visa She's Next Grant Program, and a nomination for the Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment

From the beginning, I always envisioned Wild Life as more than a subscription box company. The boxes were our first delivery model and an invaluable way to learn directly from our customers, but the vision was always much bigger. When circumstances accelerated our timeline, we pivoted to wholesale—not because our mission changed, but because it allowed us to reach exponentially more families and inspire more children to experience the joy, curiosity, and confidence that come from exploring the outdoors.

Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year Award. As an entrepreneur, product innovator, and advocate for outdoor play, Jenelle is passionate about helping families rediscover the benefits of nature while sharing honest insights

Image Courtesy: www.jointhewildlife.com

on leadership, resilience, retail growth, product innovation, and building purpose-driven brands that create lasting impact.

You launched Wild Life Outdoor Adventures in 2020 to help families spend more time outside, and later rebuilt the business from subscription boxes into a wholesale brand. What problem were you trying to solve for families when you started, and how did that original mission guide you through such a major pivot?

When I started Wild Life Outdoor Adventures, my goal was simple: make it easier for families to spend meaningful time together outdoors. I had just become a parent, and as screens and on-demand entertainment became the default, I worried my own children wouldn't experience the kind of outdoor adventures that shaped my childhood. The more I spoke with parents, teachers, and pediatricians, the more I realized this wasn't just my concern—it had become a widespread challenge.Families wanted to spend more time outside, but many felt overwhelmed by where to start. They thought they needed specialized knowledge, expensive gear, or elaborate plans. I wanted to remove those barriers by creating products that made outdoor adventure approachable, educational, and genuinely fun. Whether it's identifying constellations, learning to navigate with a compass, or discovering animal tracks, our products give families the confidence to explore together.

There was a season when you were raising a young family, navigating pregnancy, and realizing your business model wasn’t financially sustainable. What did that difficult chapter teach you about resilience and decision‑making, and how did you practically go about rebuilding the company from the ground up instead of walking away? That chapter forced me to separate emotion from strategy. I had poured everything into the business, so admitting our subscription model wasn't financially sustainable was incredibly difficult. The demand was there, our customer reviews were incredible, but when I projected the business five years into the future, I realized we were fighting an uphill battle in an increasingly volatile market.

Retail Expansion Instead of asking, "How do I save this business model?" I started asking, "What does the market actually want?" I listened carefully to retailers and customers, analyzed the numbers, and identified which products had the strongest long-term potential. We streamlined our product line, redesigned our packaging, strengthened our margins, built wholesale partnerships, and shifted the business toward retail. The pivot itself took about 18 months, followed by another year before we could confidently say we'd made the right decisions. At the same time, I was raising young children, and they taught me an unexpected lesson: perfection isn't a prerequisite for progress. I'm proud that my kids have watched me fail, adapt, and keep going because it makes celebrating the wins even more meaningful. Once I let go of my ego and my fear of failure, I made decisions faster, trusted the data, and became a far better leader.

One of our greatest strengths has been our size. As a lean team, we're incredibly agile.We can listen to customer feedback, make thoughtful improvements quickly, and continually raise the bar—whether that's adding more play value, choosing higherquality materials, or reducing plastic through more sustainable packaging. Landing Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's was an incredible milestone, but it wasn't the result of one meeting or one great product. It was the culmination of years of refining our brand, consistently delivering on our promises, and staying true to our mission of helping families make the outdoors part of everyday life.

Image Courtesy: www.jointhewildlife.com

Wild Life products are now in 500+ retail locations across North America, including Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s. What were the biggest lessons you learned in transitioning from direct‑to‑consumer subscription boxes into wholesale retail, and what strategies helped you grow into major chains while still feeling like a mission‑driven Canadian toy brand? Wholesale taught me that retailers don't just buy products—they buy confidence. They need to know your packaging will stand out, your supply chain is reliable, your margins make sense, and your products will resonate with their customers.

Transitioning into wholesale challenged us to look critically at every part of the business. We simplified our product assortment, invested in retail-ready packaging, strengthened our operations, and refined each product so it delivered a clear value proposition on the shelf. Every decision was made with one goal in mind: creating products that retailers were excited to carry and families were excited to take home.

52 - She & Success - August 2026

Your kits and field guides are designed to make outdoor play feel easy, fun, and educational rather than complicated or intimidating. Why do you believe outdoor play and nature‑based learning matter so much for kids today, and what have you heard from families that confirms you’re solving a real need in an age of constant screen time? Kids are naturally curious—they want to explore, build, investigate, and ask questions. The challenge today isn't that curiosity has disappeared; it's that screens have become the easiest default. What's encouraging is that we're starting to see the conversation shift. Parents, educators, pediatricians, and even governments are recognizing the importance of creating healthier relationships with technology and making more room for real-world experiences.

Retail Expansion

Nature offers something technology simply can't replicate. It builds problemsolving, creativity, resilience, observation, and confidence all at once. Every walk can become a scavenger hunt, every camping trip a science lesson, and every backyard a place to discover something new. One of the comments I hear most often from parents is, "It's like camp in a box." I love that because our products aren't about replacing imagination—they're about sparking it. We give kids—and the adults exploring alongside them—a starting point, then let nature do the rest. I don't think technology is the enemy—I think it's about balance. Boredom is a gift, and nature is one of the few places left where kids have the freedom to invent their own fun. If our products help families spend one more afternoon outside, discover one more trail, or create one more tradition together, then we've done exactly what we set out to do.

As a woman founder in the toy and outdoor lifestyle space, you’ve had to balance creativity, product innovation, operations, and family life. What does success mean to you now—beyond awards and store count—and what honest advice would you give to women entrepreneurs who are trying to grow a product‑based business without having the “perfect plan” from day one? Success means something very different to me today than it did when I started. Of course, seeing our products on the shelves at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's, growing into more than 500 retail stores, and receiving industry recognition are milestones I'm incredibly proud of. But what matters most is hearing that we've helped a family unplug for an afternoon, sparked a child's love of nature, or inspired parents to make outdoor adventures part of their routine. Wild Life isn't about teaching kids how to play outside—we simply make it easier for families to choose the outdoors. Adventure, exploration, and play naturally follow. If we can help the next generation of children feel confident and connected in nature, that's the kind of success that lasts.

For women building product-based businesses, my advice is simple: just start. Surprisingly, that's not the hardest part— the hardest part is not quitting. Don't wait for perfection. Launch before you're completely comfortable, listen to your customers, and be willing to change your strategy without changing your purpose. Adaptability isn't a sign that you've failed; it's often the biggest growth rarely happens inside your comfort zone—it happens when you're willing to explore, adapt, and keep moving forward. It’s true in business, and in life. If you want to grow inside, go outside.

53 - She & Success - August 2026

Image Courtesy: Canva

How Canadian Women Leaders Are Humanizing AI-Powered Workplaces By SK Uddin

Artificial intelligence is quickly finding its way from pilot projects to everyday HR procedures in Canadian offices, factories, and frontline workplaces—and women leaders are ensuring that people, not robots, remain at the center of the story. Rather than leveraging AI to reduce headcount, they are revamping occupations, performance systems, and career paths so that technology can handle basic tasks. At the same time, humans concentrate on judgment, collaboration, and care. This "human-centric HR" strategy is quietly transforming what good work looks like in an AI-enabled Canadian economy.

Canadian women CHROs, HR tech innovators, and policy leaders are changing HR's role in the AI era through skills-based workforce planning and wellbeing-driven performance management. They are demonstrating that the true power of AI lies not in replacing people but in enhancing human skills such as empathy, creativity, and leadership, which data and algorithms cannot replicate. 54 - She & Success - August 2026

Frontline AI, Skills-Based Planning, and Pay Transparency According to Canadian HR trends studies, HR professionals prioritize AI adoption and innovation, with frontline AI and skills-based planning as key focus areas for 2026. Rather than viewing AI as merely another tool, many female HR directors are using it as a catalyst to reconsider how roles are created and how talent moves across the organization. In practice, this entails transitioning from static job descriptions to skill maps that capture what people can actually perform, ranging from technical expertise to communication and leadership abilities. AI-enabled solutions can assist HR departments in finding latent skills, connecting people to challenging projects, and identifying potential leaders. This can help women and marginalized groups gain access to high-impact professions by reducing reliance on informal networks and "cultural fit" narratives. Pay transparency is another area where AI is transforming HR processes. With more data on talent, responsibilities, and market benchmarks, Canadian firms are leveraging analytics to create more clearly defined pay bands and identify disparities.

Ethical AI Women in HR and compensation are driving initiatives to integrate these tools into governance, including regulations requiring frequent equity audits, explainable pay decision-making processes, and employee options to question or appeal results.

Human-Centric HR Tech: From Automation to Better Work In Canada, HR information systems (HRIS), application tracking systems (ATS), and learning platforms are incorporating AI into routine operations such as screening resumes, scheduling interviews, summarizing performance reviews, and surfacing learning recommendations. Women HR directors use these technologies to reduce administrative tasks and focus on relationshipbuilding, coaching, and strategic workforce

Wellbeing, Burnout Prevention, and Human-First Governance AI's promise of efficiency might swiftly become a burden if firms merely employ technology to speed up work without altering expectations. Canadian research and employer counsel are increasingly emphasizing the need for psychological safety and well-being in managing the AI transition. Women HR leaders frequently request that mental health, workload, and trust be addressed as essential measures of AI performance rather than "soft" side concerns. In reality, this appears to involve incorporating wellbeing checks into performance systems—tracking indicators such as overtime, sick leave, and survey ratings of stress and autonomy alongside productivity measures. In Adopting AI "scribes" and automation tools in Canadian

planning for their teams.

healthcare professions has reduced administrative strain, lowered cognitive load, and increased job satisfaction. This

Human-centric HR technology not only automates procedures but also transforms decision-making

is due to the technology's ability to free up time for

processes. AI-driven analytics can identify unsustainable workloads, excessive team turnover or disengagement, and halted growth for specific

valuable human interaction. HR and clinical executives, particularly women, play a crucial role in determining when AI should be used and when human intervention is necessary.

groups, such as women or racialized personnel. When women leaders analyze this data through the perspective of fairness and well-being, they may

Governance is another area where female leaders are affecting

rethink occupations, change staffing levels, and restructure teams to safeguard performance and

they assist firms in developing internal AI policies that

health.

the AI discourse. Using government best-practice guidance, prioritize openness, accountability, and worker involvement. This includes clear disclosure when AI is used in recruitment

Canadian HR departments are also experimenting with AI to personalize employee experiences, ranging from bespoke learning courses to targeted wellbeing tools. Women HR tech founders and product leaders are creating platforms with fairness features, including debiased screening, explainable scoring methods, and interfaces that show employees how recommendations are derived. These leaders prioritize human-centred AI concepts, including starting small, being honest about its use, soliciting feedback from frontline personnel, and keeping people involved in highstakes decisions like hiring, promotion, and firing. This guarantees that AI enhances, rather than undercuts, HR judgment.

or performance management, channels for employees to challenge automated judgments, and joint committees to ensure AI technologies comply with human rights and labour regulations. When AI strategy begins with worker voice and wellness, technology becomes a partner in creating better work, rather than a silent source of burnout and unfairness. Subscribe to She & Success Business Magazine and follow us on she&success.ca to stay updated on funding opportunities, entrepreneurial insights, and inspiring stories of women making a difference across Canada. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes. She & Success Business Magazine does not endorse or guarantee any products or services mentioned. Readers should conduct their own research and due diligence. 55 - She & Success - August 2026

Presents

SMALL BUSINESS SUMMIT 2026 Beyond AI: Building Intelligent, Resilient, and Human Centered Canadian SMEs

October 13th, 2026 Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building, Level 100