The Brand is Female

This week’s episode features a conversation with Eva Barboni, Founder and CEO of Atalanta, a consultancy that helps women candidates and candidates with a platform built around the advancement of women’s rights get elected around the world. Atalanta aims to help shape public opinion, raise awareness of global issues, and mobilise communities and funding for initiatives that help make the world a better place.After her experience working on political campaigns in the US and globally, Eva was challenged to think about what her dream job would be. She imagined a company just like Atalanta, and within a short while, she had gone ahead and made it happen. This is a conversation about making our professional dreams come true and about overcoming the limits we often impose ourselves as women.This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!—————Visit:TBIF: thebrandisfemale.comTD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/businessbanking/small-business/women-in-business/Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

This week’s episode features a conversation with Janice Engel and Carlisle Vandervoort, director and producer of the award-winning documentary ‘Raise Hell: The Life & Times of Molly Ivins” being released in the UK just in time for the upcoming US elections. Molly Ivins, a columnist, was dubbed “six feet of Texas trouble”. She took on the ‘Good Old Boy’ corruption wherever she found it—most notably through her razor sharp attacks against President Bush, father and son. Her wit left both left-wing and right-wing laughing, and wanting more of her writing. Molly knew the Bill of Rights was in danger, and she said at the time: "Polarizing people is a good way to win an election and a good way to wreck a country." Her words could not ring more true today.Janice and Carlisle share the story behind making their documentary about Molly, from knowing instantly this was the subject to go forward with to trying to raise funds to make a movie about a progressive journalist in the pre-Trump era. They talk about the passion needed to bring such a project to fruition, and share the lessons they’ve drawn from Molly’s wisdom and life journey.—————Visit:TBIF: thebrandisfemale.comTD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/businessbanking/small-business/women-in-business/Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

Vanessa Barboni Hallik left a successful career in finance to launch her own brand of sustainable luxury garments, Another Tomorrow, with every decision guided by a value system based on three pillars: human, animal, and environmental welfare. Launching just before Covid hit with a direct-to-consumer model and one wholesale partner already secured— none other than Moda Operandi—Vanessa kept her sight on her goals and forged ahead.Listen to her conversation with Eva Hartling to find out what inspired the riskiest move of her life, her career pivot from finance to fashion, and why she thinks the way we make clothing can be a pathway to activism.—————Visit:TBIF: thebrandisfemale.comTD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/businessbanking/small-business/women-in-business/Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

Myriam Maguire is the Co-founder and Creative Director of Maguire, a design-led footwear brand that got its start in Montreal. In this conversation, Myriam shares her advice around challenging the boy’s club, risk-taking and going after your entrepreneurial dreams.After graduating from Cordwainers College in London, UK and interning for established names such as Jonathan Saunders, then later working for fashion brands including Aldo where she learned the industry’s ropes, Myriam made the decision to launch her own brand focused on style and with the goal of providing affordable yet quality products. Inspired by brands that provide transparency on their cost structure, Myriam created Maguire with e-comm operations and a first boutique in Montreal, later to open a second boutique in Toronto.This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!—————Visit:TBIF: thebrandisfemale.comTD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/businessbanking/small-business/women-in-business/Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

Our guest this week is Sage Paul, Founding Member and Creative Director of Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto. An urban Denesuliné tskwe and a member of English River First Nation, she is an award-winning artist and designer as well as a recognized leader of Indigenous fashion, craft and textiles. Her work centres around family, sovereignty and resistance for balance.Sage is getting ready for the next (virtual) edition of Indigenous Fashion Week and she spoke to Eva Hartling about the need for better representation in the industry and a potential collaboration model that can help do good (she recently led a collaboration with Canadian retailer Simon’s). She also shared her desire to honour the knowledge passed down from previous generations and her support for the generation coming up, her ‘little sisters’ who she wants to help empower.This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!—————-Visit:TBIF: thebrandisfemale.comTD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/businessbanking/small-business/women-in-business/Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

Laura Nezri was focused on raising her family until she founded Maison Tess, based on an idea that came to her after she searched high and low for the perfect stylish bedding for her own home and realized there was a gap in the market.Cue in her new venture, focused on beautiful sheets made of oeko-certified natural fibres including cotton and linen, sourced in Europe from ethical agriculture and marketed from Canada,.Maison Tess, despite being focused on one specific category in homewares and using a direct-to-consumer channel only, saw rapid success and sustained growth.Laura teaches us that it’s never too late to act on our entrepreneurial vision, and insists on the importance of never feeling guilty as women who juggle business and family life!This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!—————-Visit:TBIF: thebrandisfemale.comTD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/businessbanking/small-business/women-in-business/Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

Jo Notkin has turned a passion for food into a career, although she used to have a completely different job, working in the jewelry industry and later in textile design.Leveraging her creativity and knack for business, Jo runs one of Montreal’s most successful catering companies, Zoe Ford. She was also selected as a contestant on the last season of TopChef Canada, where she made it through 6 episodes out of 8. If you’ve had the chance to try Jo’s carrot cake or any other item from the Zoe Ford Deli, you know how talented she is! Listen for great advice on starting your business as a second or third career, and the importance of doing what you love, always your own way.This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!—————-Visit:TBIF: thebrandisfemale.comTD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/businessbanking/small-business/women-in-business/Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

Melanie Ellezam created Olmsted Outerwear with the desire to do things differently. By committing to a sustainable supply chain and manufacturing process, Melanie established a brand anchored in “slow fashion” where products are conceived with the good of the planet in mind, as well as the good of the humans making them, and of the humans wearing them.Melanie found inspiration in the work of Frederick Law Olmsted, the American landscape architect and mastermind responsible for the creation of Central Park in New York City, and Mount Royal Park in Montreal. Aligning with Olmsted’s approach to letting nature run its course, and a vision for the long term vs the short term, Melanie has kept her eyes on the goal and has overcome the challenges that come with building a brand that is challenging the status quo.She spoke to Eva Hartling about her journey, what she’s learned along the way as well as her wish for the future of humanity and the responsibilities she thinks entrepreneurs have.This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!—————-Visit:TBIF: thebrandisfemale.comTD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/businessbanking/small-business/women-in-business/Olmsted Outerwear: olmstedouterwear.comFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

This week, we’re taking a deep dive into sustainability — all aspects of it — and the changes that need to take place in our world, both from a consumers’ standpoint, as well as from the brands that are manufacturing the products we consume. Our guest, Carrie Ellen Phillips, is absolutely passionate about sustainability, the circular economy and most of all, about helping companies carve out a new model for lasting change.Carrie is the co-founder of BPCM, one of the world’s leading fashion PR agencies with offices in New York, Los Angeles and London, as well as a Sustainability Educator.We spoke to Carrie about her personal journey and her path as a woman entrepreneur; how she views the challenges ahead and how Covid and Black Lives Matter have influenced our views as consumers and as humans. Carrie also shared with us the roadmap she recommends for companies looking to pivot to a sustainable positioning.This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!—————-Visit:TBIF: thebrandisfemale.comTD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/businessbanking/small-business/women-in-business/BPCM: sadebaron.comFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

Rachel Lambo founded body skincare brand Sade Baron with her mom after some convincing. While the brand has been a side hustle, it took off organically, pun intended — all Sade Baron products are all high-quality and vegan, packed with nutrient-rich superfoods that are good for both our skin and our planet. Today, retailers such as The Detox Market carry the brand and it’s become a favourite among beauty editors.We spoke to Rachel about the challenges of launching a brand in a saturated market; the benefits of running a purpose-driven brand and what her hopes are for Black-owned brands today and tomorrow.This season of The Brand is Female is brought to you by TD Bank - Women Entrepreneurs. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support!—————-Visit:TBIF: thebrandisfemale.comTD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/businessbanking/small-business/women-in-business/Sade Baron: sadebaron.comFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale