Making the pause work, with The Gathering's Mandy Balak

What do you get when a childhood CEO dream, a boring date night, and a refusal to settle for burnout collide? You get Mandy Balak’s playbook for building brands, leading communities, and living life on purpose.In this episode, Mandy—entrepreneur, coach, and President of The Gathering—shares how she turned a last-minute class project into a media company, why her monthly Integration Day is non-negotiable, and what it really takes to build a legacy without losing yourself in the hustle.We talk ambition, alignment, burnout, bold decisions—and why leadership without presence just isn’t it anymore. Whether you’re running a business or running on fumes, this one’s for you.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

With summer in full swing and fewer people tuning in weekly (because… vacation!)—we’re revisiting some of our favourite episodes from the past year—ones that deserve another listen as we hit the halfway mark. Kaelen Haworth is a designer and entrepreneur who has navigated the ever-changing world of fashion with creativity and adaptability. After launching her namesake brand in 2009 and earning a spot in the CFDA Incubator program, she built a reputation for effortless, modern womenswear. She later expanded into size-inclusive fashion with Second Sight and spent time in editorial and celebrity styling.Now, after years in New York, Kaelen has moved back to Toronto—lucky us in Canada! She’s the founder of Absolutely Fabrics, a concept store that blends fashion, vintage, and creative community. In an industry where retail is tougher than ever, Kaelen has found a modern way to make it work. Her store isn’t just about selling clothes—it’s about creating an experience, hosting trunk shows, photo shoots, and designer collaborations to bring people together in a fresh, engaging way.On top of that, she’s taken a smart and personal approach to connecting with her audience through her Substack, where she shares thoughtful takes on fashion, entrepreneurship, and the realities of running a business in today’s landscape.Kaelen’s career has been defined by reinvention, and she’s proving that fashion retail can still thrive—if you do it differently. 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 of The Brand is Female, Eva Hartling sits down with Cynthia Sakai, founder of evolvetogether, the elevated personal care brand that took the world by storm with its mission-driven, design-forward essentials.Launched at the start of the pandemic with a medical-grade face mask that quickly became a celebrity favourite, evolvetogether has since grown into a full line of high-performance products for daily life—combining sustainability, science, and style.-Cynthia shares her journey from launching her first company at 18 to building Vita Fede, a luxury jewelry brand, and now creating a globally loved personal care company rooted in purpose. In this conversation, she breaks down:-The early days of evolvetogether and what led to its explosive growth-How her fashion and jewelry background informs her approach to product and brand design-The strategies behind building a loyal community through both DTC and retail-Why creating products that are beautiful, functional, and responsible is more than a brand philosophy—it’s a personal missionTune in to hear how Cynthia is making everyday essentials anything but ordinary.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

When avid outdoor adventurers Jaime Hackett and Erin Prohaska couldn’t find a bug spray that actually worked and felt good on their skin, they decided to create their own. That’s how Bite was born — a Toronto-based brand on a mission to make bug protection clean, non-toxic, and enjoyable to use.In this episode, the co-founders share the full story behind Bite’s creation, from the personal frustrations that sparked their idea to the uphill climb of bringing a new kind of wellness product to market. We talk about what it takes to build a purpose-led brand in a highly regulated category, the red tape of Health Canada approvals, navigating a tough retail environment, and the steep learning curve of entrepreneurship in a product-based business. Jaime and Erin open up about the unexpected roadblocks, the grind of building something from the ground up, and the relentless belief that a better solution was possible.This is a conversation about the ups and downs of brand-building, and changing the way we think about the products we use every day — even bug spray.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

Jenn Harper is the Founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty, a brand rewriting the rules of the beauty industry — and redefining what it means to lead with purpose.In this episode of The Brand is Female, Jenn shares the incredible journey that took her from working in food service and sales to launching a mission-driven beauty brand from her kitchen table. A dream about three Indigenous girls covered in lip gloss became the spark for Cheekbone Beauty — but it was her drive, curiosity, and resilience that turned it into a nationally recognized brand rooted in sustainability and Indigenous representation.Jenn opens up about the early days of building the brand as a side hustle, teaching herself how to make product through Google searches and YouTube videos, and navigating the beauty world without a traditional background. She also speaks candidly about the challenges of building a clean, transparent supply chain and why staying true to her values meant turning away from easy solutions.This is a conversation about resilience, representation, and rewriting the narrative — both in beauty and in business.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, Eva sits down with Sara Jonsdottir, Founder and CEO of Revol Cares—a company leading the charge in reimagining period care with medically recognized, toxin-free leakproof underwear.Sara shares her journey from identifying critical gaps in women’s health and sustainability to launching an innovative product that puts safety, comfort, and dignity first. We talk about what it takes to fundraise in a space often ignored by investors, how she’s challenging long-standing taboos around menstruation, and why human-centered design is at the heart of her brand’s mission.This conversation is for anyone who’s ever felt let down by traditional period products—and for every entrepreneur dreaming of building something that truly makes a difference.Topics Include:Why the period care industry needed a revolutionHow Sara raised capital while educating investors on women’s healthBuilding stigma-free, sustainable productsDesigning with empathy and user needs in mindThe future of innovation in menstrual careFollow @RevolCares to learn 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

Today’s conversation is one we wish we didn’t have to have—but it’s one we absolutely must. In this episode, host Eva Hartling is joined by Liat Kaplan, founder and CEO of WiSP, a device she created to address a disturbing and all-too-common issue: drink spiking.Drink spiking is more widespread than many realize. While it’s hard to find stats on this issue, recent studies show that 13% of women in the UK report having had their drinks spiked at some point in their lives. Among young adults aged 18–24, it’s 70% who have either experienced or witnessed drink spiking. Despite these alarming numbers, the vast majority of incidents go unreported, often due to fear, shame, or the belief that nothing will be done.Liat, who has a background in strategic marketing with brands like SodaStream where she worked on Pepsi products, and Believer Meats, decided to take action. She developed WiSP—a small, reusable device that discreetly detects the presence of drugs in drinks, providing a simple yet powerful tool for personal safety which will be available for individual consumers in both the US and Canada.In this episode, Liat shares her journey from recognizing the problem to creating a tangible solution. We discuss the challenges she faced, the technology behind WiSP, and the broader implications for women's safety.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 episode features a true pioneer in the period care space. Carinne Chambers-Saini is the Founder and CEO of DIVA, the company behind the Original DIVA Cup. What started over 20 years ago as a mother-daughter mission to bring a better, more sustainable alternative to pads and tampons has since grown into a global brand that has reshaped the menstrual care industry.Back in 2002, Carinne and her mom Francine launched DIVA out of their basement in Kitchener, Ontario. Together, they took on an industry that wasn’t built with women’s bodies—or the planet—in mind. Their vision? Conscious, accessible, stigma-free period care for every body.Since then, DIVA has become a household name, known not just for innovation but for pushing the conversation forward around menstrual equity, sustainability, and body confidence.In this conversation, Carinne shares what it took to build a brand that challenged the status quo, how she continues to lead with purpose, and what’s next for a company that’s always been ahead of its time.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, host Eva Hartling sits down with Jessica Bosman and Bryn Davis Williams, co-founders of DOUBL, a company that’s reimagining how bras are made and sold. The duo met at university and bonded over their shared passion for entrepreneurship and disruptive innovation. Noticing how little the bra industry had evolved over the years, they saw an opportunity to do things differently.Launched in 2020, DOUBL uses AI and smartphone scanning technology to create made-to-measure bras that can be ordered entirely from home—no fittings, no guesswork, and no standard sizing. Jessica and Bryn share their journey from idea to launch, the challenges of innovating in a legacy industry, and how they’re using tech to empower women to feel more comfortable and confident in their own skin.Tune in to hear how two founders are using innovation and empathy to reshape a daily essential.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

Caroline Monnet is a multidisciplinary artist of Anishinaabe and French ancestry, based in Montreal. She has carved out her own path as an artist and filmmaker, building a practice rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems and contemporary expression. Her work explores identity, community, and the impact of colonialism—offering any creative entrepreneur or artist a powerful model of what it means to build a practice anchored in intention and vision.Caroline brings a rich, critical perspective to her work. Her art has been exhibited globally—from the Whitney Biennial to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the National Gallery of Canada. Her films have screened at TIFF, Sundance, Berlinale, and beyond. And she’s received major accolades, including the Prix Pierre-Ayot, a Sobey Art Award nomination, and a residency with the Cannes Film Festival’s Cinefondation.In our conversation, Caroline shares the realities of navigating the art world independently—and speaks candidly about how, as she puts it, “no one tells artists they need to be entrepreneurs too.” Her insights offer powerful takeaways not only for creatives, but for any woman building a business or forging her own path professionally.This conversation airs this week as we get ready to debut our new podcast, Collection’elle, in a few days. This new show aims to encourage women to engage in contemporary art collecting—at a time when women are rising in influence in the art world, yet women artists remain underrepresented in collections. Collection’elle highlights the voices of women artists like Caroline, while also decoding market dynamics through conversations with gallerists, curators, and art-world insiders. Her full interview will continue there, but today, you’ll get a first listen to Caroline’s story of building a creative practice that’s deeply personal, political, and visionary.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