This episode was recorded in Oslo, Norway, in conversation with the founder of sustainable fashion brand “As We Are Now” or AWAN, Anette Miwa Dimmen. AWAN is a modular fashion brand designed for women, by women. Born in Seoul and raised in Norway, Anette’s journey is anything but conventional. From chasing dreams of becoming a music star in London to launching groundbreaking businesses in Norway, her entrepreneurial spirit has never wavered. Today, with sustainability and inclusivity at the heart of her mission, Anette is leading AWAN’s international expansion, offering women a wardrobe designed for comfort, versatility, and confidence—no compromises.

In this conversation, we talk about Anette’s inspiring path, from navigating the challenges of scaling a direct-to-consumer brand to redefining fashion with a purpose-driven, community-first mindset. We also address the challenges of operating a fashion brand in a small country like Norway - which, for our Canadian listeners, will sound oddly familiar. Get ready for an honest, insightful conversation about resilience, innovation, and the power of creating fashion that lets women feel their best as they are now.

This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

This week we are reairing our conversation with Alexandra (Ally) Mamalider, President and the 2nd-generation leader of Organic Traditions, a Canadian superfoods brand known for its pure ingredients and unique blends. Ally will be our guest at the next instalment of The Brand is Female Conversation Series in Toronto on February 26th. Join us if you are in town by signing up here!

Taking over from her father, the brand’s original founder, Ally has spent the last several years guiding Organic Traditions through a transformation, launching new products, refreshing its mission, and now, preparing for its first round of capital fundraising. Organic Traditions is on the cusp of a new chapter as the wellness category continues to expand and the demand for functional foods grows.

Ally’s journey is a story of family succession, of taking a brand with roots in a family’s values and giving it new life to serve a modern audience. It’s an inspiring tale of navigating the challenges of family legacy while creating something distinct and impactful. 

This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

This week’s guest is Roxanne Doucet, founder of Triptyque and managing director at creative agency Al Dente New York. With over a decade of experience in creative consulting and art buying, Roxanne has worked with top artists and luxury brands like Dior, Loewe, and Balenciaga. In 2022, she became visual director at Vogue Global, further cementing her role at the intersection of art and fashion. Known for her expertise in fine art and documentary photography, she champions emerging talent and impactful storytelling through global curatorial projects.

If you have ever wondered what business opportunities exist at the intersection of creativity, art and fashion, this conversation is for you!

Find out more about Roxanne’s Feel Seen initiative here. And follow her on LinkedIn here.

This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

This is Eva writing this: hi! And welcome back. As we officially launch a new season of The Brand is Female podcast, I’m doing something a little different—the tables have turned! For this episode, I’m stepping into the guest chair on my own show.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of sitting down with incredible women and leaders, diving deep into their journeys, challenges, and triumphs. But today, it's my turn to open up. I’ll be sharing more about my own story—what inspired me to create The Brand is Female, the lessons I’ve learned along the way, and the pivotal moments that have shaped both my career and this platform.

Whether you’re a loyal listener or tuning in for the first time, I hope you’ll stay with us—because this time, I’m in the hot seat! And a special thank you to my dear friend Roxanne Doucet, Creative Director and Managing Director of Al Dente Agency, for guiding this conversation with grace and purpose.

This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

As we approach the end of our season, we are airing a fave from earlier in the year. In this episode, we shine a light on Whitney Geller and Yasemin Emory, co-founders of Jems, a non-toxic condom company with gender-inclusive packaging and language.

Yasemin and Whitney, who had already been operating their own design agency, noticed a gap in the market while searching for contraception options between their pregnancies. The condom aisle lacked appeal due to its outdated packaging and language – the category was targeting straight men only, with products that hadn’t been updated in decades, and left women and gay folks out of the conversation altogether. As a result, they embarked on a mission to revolutionize the industry. Jems isn't just about condoms; it's a platform for expansive education, sparking conversations on everything from sexual health to love, power, and beyond. With a commitment to simplicity and transparency, Jems is normalizing safer sex with condoms that are healthier and cater to everyone’s needs.

This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

Dr. Talia Varley didn’t just follow a traditional path in medicine—she redefined it. Now leading corporate health strategy at Cleveland Clinic Canada, she talks about creating a groundbreaking role that helps businesses take employee health seriously. In this episode, she unpacks the "3Ms"—menstruation, maternity, and menopause—and how these often-overlooked factors impact women’s careers, workplace equity, and organizational success. From revealing the hidden costs of neglecting women’s health in the workplace to explaining why companies with more women in leadership drive radical innovation, Dr. Varley challenges us to rethink what a healthy and inclusive workplace looks like. She also shares how her time in management consulting shaped her unique approach to healthcare and why mentorship and sponsorship are critical for supporting the next generation of women leaders. Packed with fresh perspectives and actionable insights, this episode will leave you rethinking the connection between health, equity, and success.

This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

In this special episode of The Brand is Female, we're diving into one of the most significant yet often overlooked aspects of women’s health—menopause and its impact on skin health. Nancy Labonté, our guest, is an expert in dermatology and beauty science. She shares her personal journey and lifelong passion for skincare, starting from a childhood fascination with makeup to a career dedicated to understanding and innovating in skin care, especially regarding aging. We also cover findings from our recent study about women’s experience with perimenopause and menopause - which you can access here: https://tinyurl.com/menopause-report.

In this conversation, we explore how hormonal changes influence skin, why many beauty products fall short of truly addressing menopausal needs, and how her brand, IDC Dermo, is striving to change the industry standard by using science-backed ingredients at active concentrations. She shares insight into the 16 mechanisms of skin aging that her team has identified and discusses why transparency and authenticity in formulation are essential to helping women feel comfortable and confident in their skin.

This conversation is more than just skin deep—it’s about the evolving narrative around menopause, the importance of quality skincare as self-care, and the call for more honest, effective products in the beauty industry. Join us as we unpack the science, the myths, and the personal stories that illuminate this journey of embracing beauty and wellness through every stage of life.

This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

Alexandra (Ally) Mamalinder, is President and the 2nd-generation leader of Organic Traditions, a Canadian superfoods brand known for its pure ingredients and unique blends. Taking over from her father, the brand’s original founder, Allie has spent the last several years guiding Organic Traditions through a transformation, launching new products, refreshing its mission, and now, preparing for its first round of capital fundraising. Organic Traditions is on the cusp of a new chapter as the wellness category continues to expand and the demand for functional foods grows.

Allie’s journey is a story of family succession, of taking a brand with roots in a family’s values and giving it new life to serve a modern audience. It’s an inspiring tale of navigating the challenges of family legacy while creating something distinct and impactful. 

This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

We celebrate Small Business Month by re-airing an inspiring conversation from last spring with BDC President and CEO Isabelle Hudon, who has consistently shattered expectations and proven skeptics wrong throughout her impressive career in the corporate world.

In her new role at BDC since August 2021, and as the first woman to occupy the position, Isabelle has not only held jobs that many doubted were within reach but has also excelled in them, leaving a trail of achievements from her time as Ambassador of Canada to France to her leadership roles at Sun Life Financial.

Isabelle's tenure at BDC is marked by her relentless drive to put development at the forefront, significantly enhancing support for Canadian entrepreneurs, with a focus on increasing capital available to female founders. Beyond her executive success, she is a staunch advocate for women's advancement, co-founding The A Effect and earning accolades such as the Commander of the Legion of Honour for her contributions.

In this episode, Isabelle generously shares her experiences of overcoming doubt, her strategic vision for creating a more inclusive and sustainable economy, and her dedication to paving the way for the next generation of women leaders. Tune in to explore the journey of a leader who turns skepticism into true power.

This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

In this episode, we explore the entrepreneurial journey of Bukola Adedeji, the visionary founder behind TheBraGirl brand, who is transforming the way women think about their undergarments. Bukola’s mission is to empower women to use their bras not just as functional items, but as tools for genuine self-expression and confidence.

With a background in dressmaking and personal experience as a woman with a fuller figure, Bukola has turned a personal challenge into a thriving Calgary business. She recognized a gap in the market for bras that provide both comfort and style, particularly for women who struggle with adequate breast support. Her expertise in designing and styling specialty bras has made her a go-to authority in the lingerie space, but it’s her ability to connect with the real, everyday challenges women face that sets her apart.

This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale