The Brand is Female

Caroline Issa is CEO of London-based TANK Group, and fashion director for TANK Magazine. Also known for being a fixture on the international fashion week circuit (and being a street style photographer’s favourite), the Montreal native describes herself as “a businesswoman who loves fashion”. Caroline is a former management consultant who has lived around the world; she eventually left her position to join the magazine startup that was TANK around 17 years ago… and she has not looked back since. She has definitely left her mark on the fashion industry, from collabs with the world’s leading brands including a collection designed with retail giant Nordstrom… to work done through TANK’s creative agency, where her team and her have worked on advertising campaigns for a number of major brands, from Mulberry to DeBeers and Monica Vinader. They also create digital content for several retail and fashion clients, including Hugo Boss and Lane Crawford. In 2007 Caroline launched Becauselondon.com — a digital magazine of which she is editor-in-chief.Caroline’s motto “Feel the fear and do it anyway” has always inspired her life decisions — find how why and how. In just a few days Caroline will be launching a brand new fashion collaboration (hint: her love of prints will be leveraged in this one) so make sure to follow us on Instagram as well as @carolineissa to get the scoop!Support for this episode of The Brand is Female comes from Bumble Bizz, where you can network at your own pace, on your own terms. You’ll find Bumble in the Apple app store and Android market!

Michèle and Véronik Bastien are the co-founders of PEPPERMINT Cycling Co., a Quebec-based company launched 4 years ago which has disrupted the cycling apparel industry by offering a line that targets women specifically. Today the company sells its designs across Canada, both in stores and through e-commerce, and is on the way to capture new markets internationally.Being avid cyclists themselves, the sister duo was motivated by the strong desire to create a brand that is an expression of style, leadership, inclusion and freedom. Find out how the Peppermint co-founders took on a traditionally made-dominated industry and came out ahead.Support for this episode of The Brand is Female comes from Bumble Bizz, where you can network at your own pace, on your own terms. You’ll find Bumble in the Apple app store and Android market!

Meghan Hull Jacquin is a Partner at Howie, Sacks and Henry, a Toronto-based personal injury law firm. Forget what you know about personal injury lawyers because Meghan is a true modern day superwoman, fighting for social justice and going against large insurance companies and corporations to defend the rights of her clients who, more often than not, are women. She has led several high-profile cases and is known among her peers as a fearless advocate who will go the extra mile for the victims she represents. Meghan also gives back through her involvement with Shelter Movers, a pan-Canadian organization founded by her husband, Marc Jacquin, whose mission is to help women who are leaving an abusive household by taking care of their move while they transition to a shelter.In this interview, Meghan and host Eva Hartling spoke about Meghan’s path in a male-dominated industry, the harassment and bullying that she expected would be par for the course — but she also raises what we are often afraid to talk about openly, which is the agressive competitiveness that can exist among women in the workplace. Meghan has chosen to turn negative into positive and she advocates for more mentorship and more support between women, something she puts into action day after day.

Mosha Lundstrom Halbert is a Fashion Editor as well as the co-founder of Therma Kota, an outerwear brand she launched with her sister, Sophie Lundstrom Halbert, with help from their mom, Linda Lundstrom. Based in Miami, Florida, Mosha has lived in New York City and Toronto and has worked at prestigious titles including WWD, Footwear News, Flare, Elle and Fashion Television. She has also served as the associate fashion director at Hudson’s Bay Company and Lord & Taylor. She is a contributor to VOGUE and The Business of Fashion and appears on-air regularly on CBC's Q and CityLine. Mosha decided to join the other side of the fashion industry, this time as an entrepreneur, and launched Therma Kota in 2017. Today, the outerwear brand, thanks to its scandi-chic lines and versatility, has attracted the eyes of editors and savvy consumers globally.Eva Hartling sat down with Mosha just before the Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards Gala in Toronto; Mosha served as one of CAFA’s jury members this year . Listen to Mosha talk about her start in the world of fashion, what made her want to become an entrepreneur and what inspires and challenges her on a daily basis!

On Thursday this week, CAFA, the Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards, will host their sixth annual red-carpet Awards Gala, a unique evening that unites Canadian talent and fashion leaders from all over the world.To highlight CAFA and its impact in the life of Canadian fashion talent, many of them women, we are showcasing a series of interviews with CAFA nominees and award winners.In this bonus episode our host Eva Hartling speaks with Jessica Bedard, an Ottawa-based shoe designer who is nominated for the Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent, Accessories at CAFA 2019. Jessica designs beautiful footwear that is handmade in Italy, inspired by traditional European craftsmanship. Jessica had a career before becoming a designer, but even as a late bloomer, her designs have been winning clients over in Asia, Europe and North America and her shoes have been worn by the likes of Sophie Trudeau, Gigi Hadid and Carrie Underwood.Listen to Jessica share her journey as an emerging designer and find out what keeps her motivated and grounded on a daily basis.Our interview took place at the Broadview Hotel in Toronto.

On Thursday this week, CAFA, the Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards, will host their sixth annual red-carpet Awards Gala, a unique evening that unite Canadian talent and fashion leaders from all over the world.To highlight CAFA and its impact in the life of Canadian fashion talent, many of them women, we will be showcasing a series of interviews with CAFA nominees and award winners.To kick things off, Eva Hartling spoke with the one and only Judith Maria Bradley, who is nominated for Model of the Year at this year’s Gala. Judith is 74, and as a member of the CAFA organizing committee recently told her, there has never been a nominee over the age of 30 in that category. What is also surprising is that Judith only recently started modelling, in her late 60s. But what is truly inspiring is Judith’s absolute love for life. She believes that life is magic, and after speaking with her for this interview, we believe she herself is pure magic. She has never followed conventional rules, and the word conventional simply does not belong in her vocabulary. One could say models in their 60s and 70s are having a moment, with the likes of Linda Rodin and Iris Apfel in the ranks; and Judith is definitely part of that movement. She’s appeared in magazines (in Canada, the US and Europe); ad campaigns (including being casted for an Adidas campaign) and is a street style star with an active social media presence. But her real accomplishment is in proving to the world, and to women everywhere, that being a woman after 40, 50 or 60 does not mean taking a backseat, and that a career — including one usually reserved to twenty-somethings — is possible for anyone who dreams it. Now if only we could have more Judiths in the world…This episode was recorded at Hoame, Toronto’s leading meditation and wellness space.

Camilla Fayed opened Farmacy when she realized there was a shortage of restaurants offering plant-based, locally-grown & organic options in London. Three years later her Notting Hill restaurant is still packed every day; she’s also launched her first book and is now taking Farmacy stateside to NYC.Camilla may be the daughter of former Harrods owner, Mohamed Al-Fayed, but she has built her very own empire, focusing on a healthy, sustainable and non-toxic approach to nutrition.Listen to Camilla's journey to opening her first restaurant (and making the choice to have it be a vegan address in a city where that's a rare occurence) and hear about what is behind her decision to focus on sustainable, locally-farmed, plant-based and organic food options.

This interview is a bonus episode in French.Melanie Blanchette is the co-owner of popular Montreal eateries Bouillon Bilk and Cadet. She and her business partner Francois Nadon opened their first restaurant in 2011 in a neighbourhood that was far from being known for white tablecloths and fine dining, with virtually no budget and no business experience. Almost overnight, it became known as one of the best food addresses in the city.A few years later, the power duo opened a second address a few doors down and named it ‘Cadet’ in homage to the army surplus store the space used to house. Today, both restaurants are filled with regulars night after night, offering the perfect setting for a pre or post-theatre or concert dinner. The opening of Bouillon Bilk played a key role in the revitalization of Montreal’s Quartier des spectacles, an area that was known for homelessness and decrepit buildings just a few years earlier. Bouillon Bilk and Cadet now enjoy a fantastic reputation both in their city and globally, having received multiple accolades for the superior dining experience they offer.Listen to Melanie’s empowering and inspiring entrepreneurial journey!

Poet and Activist Najwa Zebian and Global Restaurant Entrepreneur Janet Zuccarini came together for an evening of conversation moderated by Eva Hartling, where they spoke of their journey to unlocking their own potential.This podcast is a live recording of the event 'In Conversation with The Brand is Female' which took place at Hoame in Toronto on May 14, 2019. Najwa and Zebian shared their life experiences with the audience, including the obstacles they faced on their path to becoming their true self. Although from different backgrounds, Najwa and Janet share common experiences - they have both overcome the difficult challenges that life threw at them on their path to growth and finding their own, powerful voice.

Tara Downs has found success as a young gallery owner on the highly competitive art scene in New York City and has built amazing credibility for her career and gallery within the industry. She is known for her unbelievable instinct in finding emerging artists with a unique point of view.Tara grew up in Canada and launched her own gallery called ‘Tomorrow’ in Toronto in 2011, then moved to Berlin to be director of the Tanya Leighton art gallery until she came back to Canada and decided to take a chance and move to New York City, a decision she calls ‘the most spontaneous’ she ever took. Shortly after, Tara opened her own space in New York’s Lower East Side, and later merged spaces with her partner Alex Ross to open Downs and Ross, now located on the Bowery.Tara spoke to Eva Hartling about her experience building her business, the challenges that come with being a woman on the art scene in Toronto, Berlin and New York, and shared what keeps her going and grounded.