Transforming retail in Canada, with BonLook Founder and former CEO Sophie Boulanger

This is part 2 of last week’s conversation. To kick off the year, host Eva Hartling sits down with Sophie Boulanger — founder and former CEO of BonLook; advisor and investor — for a season-opening conversation about what retail transformation really means in 2026.Because this is not the year for surface-level change. Brands will either evolve at the core… or fall behind.In this episode, Sophie shares the lessons behind building one of Canada’s rare modern retail success stories — and what she believes today’s brands need to understand about changing consumer expectations, experience design, and the return to proximity and independent retail.Eva and Sophie also zoom out to unpack what legacy retail can teach us right now: what the Hudson’s Bay fallout reveals about adding digital to a broken model, why Simons continues to win, and how smart operators are building resilience in a shifting market.And finally, they look ahead — to what AI and technology integration can genuinely unlock for modern companies, and why the opportunity isn’t about gimmicks, but about becoming faster, smarter, and more connected to the customer.A must-listen for founders, marketers, and business leaders navigating the next era of retail.This season of our podcast is brought to you by our sponsor, 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! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/wie // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

To kick off the first episode of the year, host Eva Hartling sits down with Sophie Boulanger — founder and former CEO of BonLook; advisor and investor — for a season-opening conversation about what retail transformation really means in 2026.Because this is not the year for surface-level change. Brands will either evolve at the core… or fall behind.In this episode, Sophie shares the lessons behind building one of Canada’s rare modern retail success stories — and what she believes today’s brands need to understand about changing consumer expectations, experience design, and the return to proximity and independent retail.Eva and Sophie also zoom out to unpack what legacy retail can teach us right now: what the Hudson’s Bay fallout reveals about adding digital to a broken model, why Simons continues to win, and how smart operators are building resilience in a shifting market.And finally, they look ahead — to what AI and technology integration can genuinely unlock for modern companies, and why the opportunity isn’t about gimmicks, but about becoming faster, smarter, and more connected to the customer.A must-listen for founders, marketers, and business leaders navigating the next era of retail.This is part one of this conversation, to be continued next week.This season of our podcast is brought to you by our sponsor, 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! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/wie // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

What does it really take to help women entrepreneurs scale in Canada — and where are we still falling short?In this episode, Eva Hartling sits down with Julie Dimitri, National Manager, Women in Enterprise at TD, for an in-depth conversation on the realities women founders face when navigating financing, growth, and long-term sustainability.Drawing on TD’s recent research with the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, Julie unpacks why access to capital remains a persistent barrier, why Canada has a scale-up problem — not a start-up problem, and how confidence, timing, and banking relationships can make or break a business’s growth trajectory.Together, Eva and Julie explore:Why women entrepreneurs tend to wait too long to seek funding — and the cost of that delayWhat women actually want from their banking relationshipsHow bias and confidence gaps still show up in financial decision-makingThe importance of relationship-based banking and integrated financial supportWhy ecosystems, mentorship, and intentional connections matter as much as capitalThis episode offers practical insights for women founders at every stage, as well as a candid look at what financial institutions must do differently to truly support women-led businesses.A must-listen for entrepreneurs, advisors, and anyone committed to unlocking the full economic potential of women in Canada.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! 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 live episode recorded at the Poppy Barley boutique in Calgary, host Eva Hartling sits down with co-founder Kendall Barber for an unfiltered conversation about building — and sustaining — one of Canada’s most beloved women-founded footwear brands.Kendall shares the real story behind Poppy Barley’s 13-year journey, from the early days of selling custom boots and dreaming in wildly optimistic spreadsheets, to becoming a B Corp–certified brand rooted in purpose, craftsmanship, and comfort.Together, we explore what it really takes to scale a retail business in Canada: balancing purpose with profit, navigating volatility in fashion and supply chains, building community-driven design, and learning how to take care of yourself while you take care of the business. Kendall also opens up about co-founding with her sister Justine, the evolution of their leadership, and the realities of risk, financing, and longevity for women entrepreneurs.Recorded live as part of The Brand is Female Conversation Series — presented in partnership with TD Women in Enterprise — this episode brings you honest insights, hard-earned lessons, and a thoughtful look at what it means to build something meaningful that can truly last.A must-listen for founders, creatives, and anyone building a brand with heart and staying powerThis 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! 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

For more than a decade, best friends and business partners Dani Kagan and Victoria Marshman have been building community and empowering women through entrepreneurship. From their early days as co-founders of City MOGULS and Stratus Events — connecting thousands of entrepreneurs and raising over $250,000 for Canadian charities — to launching Mave & Chez, the women-founded slipper brand featured on Dragon’s Den, their journey is one of purpose, creativity, and resilience.In this episode, they join Eva Hartling to talk about growing together through multiple ventures, what it takes to build brands with impact, and how confidence, community, and courage can shape the legacy women leave behind.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! 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

En collaboration avec Gestion FÉRIQUE, nous présentons une édition spéciale de la série « Les femmes ont du génie », enregistrée en direct à Montréal devant public.Animée par Eva Hartling, cette table ronde réunit quatre ingénieures d’exception :Hélène Brisebois, ingénieure associée, vice-présidente et chargée de projet chez SDK, experte reconnue en ingénierie structuraleSuzanne Demeules, associée et première vice-présidente, Transport chez CIMA+Caterina Milioto, présidente et fondatrice d’Intervia, une entreprise pionnière en ingénierie de transport et gestion de la mobilitéCatherine Tremblay, vice-présidente, Agences de transport chez AtkinsRéalis, où elle dirige de grands projets d’infrastructureElles partagent leurs parcours inspirants dans un domaine encore majoritairement masculin, des chantiers de construction aux projets d’envergure qu’elles dirigent. Ensemble, elles discutent de confiance, de mentorat et de visibilité, mais aussi des obstacles systémiques qui freinent encore la progression des femmes dans les professions techniques.Une conversation franche et inspirante sur la représentation, la collaboration et l’importance d’intégrer les perspectives féminines pour bâtir un futur plus inclusif et durable — un futur véritablement conçu par et pour toutes et tous.Cet épisode fait partie de notre mini-série portant sur le parcours de femmes inspirantes qui ont du génie, et qui vous est offerte par Gestion FÉRIQUE et Services d'investissement FÉRIQUE. Gestion FÉRIQUE est un gestionnaire de fonds communs de placement qui sont offerts exclusivement aux professionnels en génie, ainsi qu'à leurs familles et leurs entreprises, par le biais de Services d'investissement FÉRIQUE. Visitez ferique.com.This episode is airing in French.Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

Scientifique et entrepreneure, Selwa Rafi, Ph.D. est la fondatrice et cheffe de la direction de KEPLR Intelligence, une entreprise montréalaise spécialisée en science des données et en intelligence artificielle appliquée à la compréhension du comportement humain dans des environnements complexes — de l’aviation à l’aérospatiale.Dans cet épisode, Selwa revient sur son parcours exceptionnel : de ses débuts en recherche jusqu’à la création de sa propre entreprise technologique. Elle partage avec authenticité les défis rencontrés dans un domaine encore très masculin, les moments qui ont façonné sa vision du leadership, et l’importance de bâtir une innovation plus éthique, inclusive et humaine.Une conversation inspirante avec une pionnière qui redéfinit le rôle des femmes dans la science et la technologie.Cet épisode fait partie de notre mini-série portant sur le parcours de femmes inspirantes qui ont du génie, et qui vous est offerte par Gestion FÉRIQUE et Services d'investissement FÉRIQUE. Gestion FÉRIQUE est un gestionnaire de fonds communs de placement qui sont offerts exclusivement aux professionnels en génie, ainsi qu'à leurs familles et leurs entreprises, par le biais de Services d'investissement FÉRIQUE. Visitez ferique.com.This episode is airing in French.Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

Maud Cohen est la première femme à diriger Polytechnique Montréal depuis sa création en 1873 — une étape marquante pour le milieu universitaire et de l’ingénierie au Québec. Forte d’un parcours ancré dans l’innovation, la rigueur et le leadership humain, Maud a dirigé plusieurs grandes organisations, dont la Fondation CHU Sainte-Justine et l’Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec. Dans cet épisode, elle revient sur l’évolution du leadership en sciences et en ingénierie, l’importance de la représentation et la manière dont l’agilité, la collaboration et l’empathie peuvent inspirer la relève.Cet épisode fait partie de notre mini-série portant sur le parcours de femmes inspirantes qui ont du génie, et qui vous est offerte par Gestion FÉRIQUE et Services d'investissement FÉRIQUE. Gestion FÉRIQUE est un gestionnaire de fonds communs de placement qui sont offerts exclusivement aux professionnels en génie, ainsi qu'à leurs familles et leurs entreprises, par le biais de Services d'investissement FÉRIQUE. Visitez ferique.com.Maud Cohen is the first woman to lead Polytechnique Montréal since its founding in 1873—a historic milestone in Quebec’s academic and engineering landscape. With a career built on innovation, integrity, and human-centered leadership, Maud has led major organizations including the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation and the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec. In this conversation, she reflects on the evolution of leadership in STEM, the importance of representation, and how fostering agility, collaboration, and empathy can shape the next generation of changemakers. This episode is airing in French.Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

October is World Menopause Month — and it’s time to challenge one of the most persistent myths in our culture: that women’s careers, beauty, and relevance come with an expiration date. Graydon Moffat, founder of Graydon Skincare, has made it her mission to defy that idea. She’s spoken openly about ageism in entrepreneurship and about how women navigating perimenopause and beyond deserve to be seen, supported, and celebrated — not sidelined.Before becoming a skincare founder, Graydon had already reinvented herself more than once — from plant-based chef to yoga teacher — and it was through these experiences that she earned the nickname “The Skin Chef.” Her approach to beauty was never about anti-aging, but about nourishment and vitality. That same philosophy drives the formulas at Graydon Skincare, where super-powered superfoods meet proven clinical actives to create products that are as effective as they are ethical.Today, Graydon leads a female-founded, values-driven company grounded in ingredient transparency, sustainable packaging, and accessibility — proving that looking good and feeling good can go hand in hand. In this conversation, she shares her insights on aging, entrepreneurship, and building a conscious beauty brand that stands the test of time.This episode originally aired during Season 6.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

Canada is facing a women’s health crisis: three in four women over 40 experience menopausal symptoms that disrupt their daily lives — yet access to care is inconsistent, fragmented, and often out of reach.In this episode of The Brand is Female, highlighting World Menopause Month, Eva Hartling speaks with Dr. Michelle Jacobson, a leading OBGYN who decided to take her expertise beyond the clinic and into entrepreneurship. As co-founder of Coven Women’s Health, she is transforming how women access hormonal health support in Ontario with a virtual platform offering expert, continuous, and personalized care.Dr. Jacobson is joined by her co-founder and CEO, Jennifer Patterson — a seasoned business builder with experience at Google and TD, who, after her own frustrating experience of feeling unwell, became passionate about making women’s health solutions easier to access.Together, they discuss why hormonal health remains stigmatized and overlooked in Canada, what’s missing from our current system, and how Coven is reshaping the future of women’s healthcare through integrated programs that support women navigating menopause, perimenopause, PCOS, postpartum recovery, PMDD, and more. 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