Well, Now What?!

So, I’ve always been obsessed with Smart Sweets. For those that don’t know the product, well you should because it’s so good. It’s the first delicious candy without the sugar, free from artificial sweeteners. As a foodie myself, I was curious to know how the product was made and the story behind it. What better person to ask than the R&D and Innovation Manager aka Food Scientist at SmartSweets, Lauren Jans.  So, yes Lauren is pretty much you’re modern-day Willa Wonka, or Wilma Wolka as she likes to be called. In today’s episode, we talk about the difference between food science and nutrition, how she got into the research background, what she does day to day from developing recipes to testing out the product, how powerful Smart Sweet’s mission is on the world and how much impact their customers have on their product development. Follow Smart Sweets on Instagram!

Today's guest is Conrad Flaczyk.  Conrad is a knowledge and innovation lawyer at a prominent corporate law firm in Toronto. He attended law school at McGill University, where he graduated with a medal and was on the law review. He's passionate about innovation, start-ups, and small businesses, 

I actually found Conrad through LinkedIn, and I really noticed how engaged he was with his network, often posting about law, law school, and the legal profession. Through his various posts, you could tell that Conrad really wants to engage with his community by encouraging everyone from students to professionals in the law field to connect and start a conversation. I have considered a law career myself, and I thought it would be beneficial for those interested in pursuing a career in law to hear Conrad’s journey as a young lawyer.

In this episode, we talk about how he got into law school, the process of securing an articling position, how he was able to balance his entrepreneurial spirit and law passion, and we debunk some of the common misconceptions of lawyers. I hope you enjoy!

Karin Bohn is a Canadian Award-winning Interior Designer, Business Woman, Speaker and YouTube Personality. After almost a decade of building her Interior Design business, House of Bohn, Karin has expanded her portfolio across the globe with a wide range of projects including commercial and multi-family work with a strong focus on luxury residential.   In hopes of giving back to her community, Karin launched a self-titled YouTube channel which gives viewers a raw glimpse into her day-to-day life as an Interior Designer and Entrepreneur, offering up knowledge and advice that is not taught in school. In addition to running her busy design firm, Karin stars in the Netflix show Restaurants on the Edge, a docu-reality series dedicated to transforming restaurants around the world.

In this episode, we talk about how she dealt with imposter syndrome at the beginning of her career when she didn’t finish design school, how to negotiate and stand your ground with little experience, what she looks for when hiring an employee, and her experience working on a hit Netflix show. I hope you enjoy!

Today's guest is Kim Kaupe. She is the CEO of The Superfan Company, a fan engagement agency focused on creating one-of-a-kind products and programs for entertainers, brands, and celebrities. Since starting the company her all-female team has collaborated with A-list properties such as Oprah, The New York Mets, KISS, Shawn Mendes, ACE Comic Con, Miller Coors, and Paul McCartney.  Kim has been named to Forbes 30 Under 30, Advertising Age’s 40 Under 40, and Inc.’s 35 Under 35 list while the company was hailed as a Top 30 Startup to Watch by Entrepreneur, and dubbed an “overnight success” by Inc. Magazine. She was featured on ABC’s hit primetime show, Shark Tank, securing offers from 4 out of 5 sharks and was most recently seen on Live on FOX judging the 2019 Miss USA pageant. When not working on The Superfan Company, Kim speaks on stages across the world helping employees and aspiring entrepreneurs to own their voice, take control of their careers and businesses, and to get aggressive about putting themselves first. In today’s episode, we talk about how she went from a corporate job at Conde Nast to jumping into a new venture at only 25 years old, the importance of keeping in touch with your contacts, how she landed a spot on Shark Tank, and how her business hit a million dollars in revenue within the first year. I hope you enjoy this week's episode!

So, as we are all spending more time at home, you’re probably watching more Youtube, meaning you’re seeing a lot of Youtube ads. Have you ever wondered who creates those ads? Well, today's guest actually leads the team that designs those Youtube ads. 

Reena Merchant is currently on the User Experience leadership team at Google. Previously, she was Sr. User Experience Manager at Sony PlayStation and Sr. Customer Experience Manager at Citrix, leading design of the flagship product, GoToMeeting. Reena has also held the position of User Experience Manager at Rogers Communications Inc. and has managed a design team at BlackBerry. Reena is also the Founder and CEO of OurVoice, a community benefit organization dedicated to strengthening our self-esteem and authentic presence.

In this episode, you’ll find out how she learned to understand where she sat as a young woman of color in the boardrooms, where undertones of power and influence often reside and let's be honest - it doesn’t get much more powerful than the Silicon Valley offices of YouTube and Google. She also talks about her experience networking in the tech world as an introvert. I hope you enjoy this episode!

Today's amazing guest is Clio De La Llave. You may recognize Clio as Kaitlyn Bristowe’s Brand Manager. Kaitlyn was the Bachelorette in 2015 and is the host of her hilarious podcast, 'Off The Vine'. Together, they co-founded Dew Edit - a hair scrunchie company- and Spade & Sparrows Wine.

To top that all off, Clio is the President of Booje Media, a digital marketing agency that specializes in cultivating organic relationships with consumers through customized marketing campaigns that incorporate the most vital online media platforms as well as manage influencers and seek the most valuable brand partnerships and most recently is diving into the podcast industry.

In this episode, Clio and I chat about how she wears so many different hats from being a full-time Brand Manager to running a successful media agency and managing several startups. We also talk about how powerful social media influencers can be and the importance of remaining authentic, vulnerable and honest to your audience. 

At only 22 years old, today’s guest has mastered the art of online networking and is closing the gap between bringing female mentors and young innovators together. Michelle Kwok is the co-founder of FLIK- The Female Laboratory of Innovative Knowledge - it is a community hub for female-identifying innovators to accelerate their career and companies. Through their female founder & apprenticeship portal, exclusive FLIK interviews, and engaged community, women are elevated to success. In this episode we talk about why she no longer decided to pursue a career in medicine, and how she was able to connect with top entrepreneurs from Nike, to Forbes under 30 leaders, and more! If you're looking for helpful tips and tricks to connecting and finding mentors online - this is the episode for you!

Today's guest is Kenzie Piper, also known as Kenzie Elizabeth. She is a lifestyle Vlogger, Digital Content Creator, and Podcaster. I actually found her through her podcast, I love you so much with Kenzie Elizabeth. Where she interviews entrepreneurs, artists, influencers, experts and thought leaders. I absolutely love her podcast and I find that she really brings a refreshing and positive outlook to a diverse range of topics from relationships, to productivity to mental health. Her podcast is signed on with Dear Media, a podcasting company founded by Micheal Bosstick, co-host of the Skinny Confidential. At only 22 years old, Kenzie has built a reputable brand for herself and has created a large community of liked minded females - all with the goal to support one another. In this episode, we talk about her journey as a young podcast host, from finding guests, to ads, and everything in between. We also discuss how she first started on Youtube and how she stays so motivated during this uncertain time. I hope you enjoy!

Today's guest is Christina Disler. She is the founder of Werklab and (also Editor in Chief at) The Werk. With a background in HR, Christina is passionate about disrupting the future through our relationship and approach to “work"; uncovering the interconnectedness between consciousness and work. Supporting this ideology, Werklab is a holistic wellness co-work space in Vancouver. And The Werk is an online publication which houses insights and practices from globally acclaimed subject matter experts,  inspiring humans and healers. In this episode, we talk about her commitment to making a systematic change and impact on a global scale, the beauty of taking a break and slowing things down, and the future of wellness in the workplace. If you're looking for some inspiration, make sure to check out the Werk Net, it's a free online community that provides daily videos, workshops & tutorials to help you take care of yourself and your work. I hope you enjoy listening! Please subscribe and leave a review!