The Brand is Female

This episode features Carrie Ellen Phillips, and it originally aired August 18, 2020. In honour of Earth Day, we’re bringing back this important conversation about 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. Carrie is absolutely passionate about sustainability (although she’d prefer we use the word ‘impact’), the circular economy and most of all, about helping companies carve out a new model for lasting change. She is the co-founder of BPCM, one of the world’s leading fashion PR agencies with offices in New York, Los Angeles and London, in addition to being a Sustainability Educator and an Advisor to Closed Loop Fashion, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and a Lecturer & Advisor to the Bard Center for Environmental Policy.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.com //TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

“We judge women criminals more harshly. Women get judged twice: once for being a criminal and once for being a woman." When you hear the names Anna Sorokin or Elizabeth Holmes, what comes to mind? Does it ever strike you as interesting that society has such a fascination with women con artists? That their trials inspire countless magazine articles, TV series, and even podcasts? Enter Tori Telfer, author of the book ‘Confident Women’ published by Harper Perennial, a collection of vignettes about some of the world’s most infamous female con artists. Released earlier this year as a sequel to ‘Lady Killers', her first book which the New York Times described as a "thrilling character study of the most diabolically complex, fascinating female psychopaths in history”, which was also published in Brazil, Poland, the UK, Spain, and Korea. Tori graduated magna cum laude from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts in creative writing. After college, she worked in children's publishing and taught before going freelance. She is also the host of three podcasts about women who break the law: Criminal Broads on the Lit Hub Radio network, Red Flags on Investigation Discovery, and Why Women Kill, on CBS All Access. On this episode, host Eva Hartling catches up with Tori to discuss what makes women con artists unique, what draws other women to fantasize about emulating some of these criminals’ confidence, how gender bias affects the way women who commit crimes are perceived, and the continued high rates of incarceration for women in America.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.com //TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

"At work, I see the orders from my male bosses as suggestions; and from my women superiors, as orders. And it doesn’t matter who ranks up to who in the organization. If you’re a man who’s always known privilege, then what you tell me is a suggestion. Especially if what you’re telling me is to do more, and do better, and be more creative and productive and give, and give, and give." Meet Chris Bergeron, Vice President, Content Experience at Ad agency Cossette. She was formerly, the Editor-in-Chief of Montreal’s iconic VOIR cultural weekly before she transitioned to the world of advertising several years ago. Chris is also a trans woman whose first novel, 'Valide,' was just published and is available in bookstores in her native French. In this novel, Chris explores her trans identity, using a futuristic science fiction thriller as backdrop. In this conversation, Chris and host Eva Hartling explore what it means to be trans in today’s world as well as the lack of recognition for trans women in the feminist movement; Chris also shares how she deals with gender politics in the workplace and her wish for a world with less hate and more tolerance.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.com //TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

This week's guest on The Brand is Female podcast is Dr. Juveria Zaheer, a Clinician Scientist whose research focuses on suicide, gender, and culture. Her path to mental health was rooted in her interest in hearing people’s stories -- she even tells her two young daughters that she is a 'doctor for feelings'. She is a passionate champion for her patients and for her female colleagues in medicine and science. She is currently leading the first-ever study in the retention of women scientists in the mental health space, where she believes that representation and role models that ‘look like us’ are the key to inspiring more young women to choose a career in science. Dr. Zaheer works with the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research in the Emergency Department at CAMH. She is also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto.This episode, along with several more this month, is presented in partnership with CAMH and womenmind™, a community of philanthropists and thought leaders tackling the unique gender issues that underrepresented people face when it comes to their mental health. Women’s mental health is a challenge on two main fronts: first, we experience depression, anxiety, and trauma to a greater extent than men, and next, women in science face biases as they work to advance their careers. An initiative like womenmind™ is critical to address the gender inequities we face in this area. Find out more about CAMH and womenmind™.If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, they can call 1-833-456-4566. If they require immediate care, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.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.com //TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

“I’ve had some very rough times in life. When tragedy or anything gets, you go in and you want to blame everybody else. You don’t look at it for what it is: it’s a teacher. If you sit back, relax and get rid of the fear, and let the universe help you, you’ll be amazed at what happens.” This week's guest on The Brand is Female is Nancy Smithers, founder of Nova Scotia Organics, a line of USDA certified organic vitamins, supplements, snacks, and smoothies located on the Eastern shore of Nova Scotia, where Nancy grew up. As a seventh-generation Nova Scotian, Nancy's love affair with herbs started early in life. When she couldn’t find high-quality organic products on the market, she took matters into her own hands and pursued natural health courses from Alberta’s Wild Rose College. With the help of an herbalist friend, she began combing through the natural terrain around her home, eventually crafting herbs into tinctures in her own kitchen. Nancy grew a flourishing company that now looks like a 30,000 square foot manufacturing facility, certified to produce the highest quality, and purest organic supplements possible. Her products are distributed around the world, even amassing a cult following in Japan. As President, Nancy uses her 25 years of business, herbal and organic expertise to promote her products and the causes related to organic production effectively. 'Organic' is no marketing buzzword to her; it’s her way of life and her company’s reason for success. Listen to this episode to see why Nancy has been nationally celebrated as a role model for entrepreneurs, an advocate of academic research, and a dedicated champion of organic agriculture and production.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.com //TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

Sandi is a dedicated philanthropist, supporter of Canadian arts and culture, and a champion for the advancement of women in sport. These passions, skills, and beliefs are matched with a wealth of knowledge and expertise gained from her successful career in banking. Like many Canadians, Sandi has been directly impacted by mental illness, which inspired her to dedicate her time and resources to various mental health initiatives. Since joining the board at CAMH Foundation, Sandi has headed various initiatives to help raise significant funds for the organization’s important mission. Sandi and her family’s support have been instrumental in setting up the womenmind initiative. With a $5-million gift from Sandi and Jim Treliving and family, CAMH is one giant leap closer to delivering on their goal of closing the gender gap in mental health.This episode, along with several more this month, is presented in partnership with CAMH and womenmind™, a community of philanthropists and thought leaders tackling the unique gender issues that underrepresented people face when it comes to their mental health. Women’s mental health is a challenge on two main fronts: first, we experience depression, anxiety, and trauma to a greater extent than men, and next, women in science face biases as they work to advance their careers. An initiative like womenmind™ is critical to address the gender inequities we face in this area. Find out more about CAMH and womenmind™. If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, they can call 1-833-456-4566. If they require immediate care, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.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.com //TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

As a recognized thought leader on gender equality, diversity, and inclusion, Deborah has dedicated her career to driving social change. Prior to joining CAMH, Deborah was President & CEO of Catalyst, a global non-profit that helps build workplaces that work for women. Deborah began her career in the public sector, where her early work focused on employment equity, anti-racism, and LGBTQ2+ rights. She went on to become a consultant and practice leader with global professional service firms. There, she championed initiatives to mentor women. Additionally, Deborah worked in the Nova Scotia government and stood as a candidate for elected office. Listen to this episode to hear about Deborah expertly mixes her passion, strategic vision, and entrepreneurial spirit to lead the CAMH Foundation and transform how Canadians understand and address mental illness, in the workplace and in society. This episode, along with several more this month, is presented in partnership with CAMH and womenmind™, a community of philanthropists and thought leaders tackling the unique gender issues that underrepresented people face when it comes to their mental health. Women’s mental health is a challenge on two main fronts: first, we experience depression, anxiety, and trauma to a greater extent than men, and next, women in science face biases as they work to advance their careers. An initiative like womenmind™ is critical to address the gender inequities we face in this area. Find out more about CAMH and womenmind™. If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, they can call 1-833-456-4566. If they require immediate care, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.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.com //TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

"Power has been so successful at denigrating women. It’s a specific pattern of patriarchy in terms of taking us away from one another. So what happens to you is something incredibly shameful that you must carry alone; an NDA may be put in front of you, and the threats are always personal. They threaten your economic security. The fact that you’re violated and you’re met with threats indicates what they’re afraid of." This week's guest on The Brand is Female is Koa Beck, acclaimed author of the best-selling book ‘White Feminism: From the Suffragettes to influencers and Who They Leave Behind,' published in January. Koa is the former editor-in-chief of Jezebel, previously the executive director of Vogue.com, and senior features editor at MarieClaire.com. To add to her impressive resumé, in 2019, Koa was was awarded the Joan Shorenstein Fellowship at the Harvard Kennedy School, and she published an academic paper entitled “Self-Optimization in the Face of Patriarchy: How Mainstream Women’s Media Facilitates White Feminism.” This became her jumping-off point and inspiration in writing White Feminist. In this eye-opening episode, Koa and Eva Hartling, discuss her book, and how our society has commodified feminism and continues to systemically shut out women of colour.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.com //TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

Would you be brave enough to share your own struggles with mental health, if it meant helping just one other person? Meet Carole Dagher, VP of Legal at Loblaw Group of Companies in Toronto, as well as mental health patient at CAMH. Through her own journey, Carole has become a mental health advocate for the organization. Born and raised in Lebanon, she came to Canada at the age of 13. She started her law career practicing in the Capital Markets group at a top-tier New York law firm, then spending over a decade in progressively senior legal roles in the financial services industry. Carole’s mental health journey started when she was diagnosed with post-partum after the birth of her daughter, and you will hear her tell the rest of her story in this interview. Trigger warning: please be advised this episode includes discussions of mental distress and trauma. This episode, along with several more this month, is presented in partnership with CAMH and womenmind™, a community of philanthropists and thought leaders tackling the unique gender issues that underrepresented people face when it comes to their mental health. Women’s mental health is a challenge on two main fronts: first, we experience depression, anxiety, and trauma to a greater extent than men, and next, women in science face biases as they work to advance their careers. An initiative like womenmind™ is critical to address the gender inequities we face in this area. Find out more about CAMH and womenmind™. If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, they can call 1-833-456-4566. If they require immediate care, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.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.com //TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale

Hajer Nakua is a mental health researcher and advocate for Muslim women in STEM. She uses her online platforms to share the latest research about mental health and neuroscience with her North American and Middle Eastern followers, in both English and Arabic. Currently a Ph.D. candidate studying neuroscience, her research uses brain imaging technology to get a better understanding of mental health and psychiatric conditions in patients. Through her research, Hajer hopes to uncover biological markers specific to different mental illnesses to help with treatment and diagnosis. Hajer is especially interested in the special attributes that make each of us unique, including as it relates to our brain and mental illness. You can feel the passion that Hajer has for her work in this fascinating conversation with host Eva Hartling. This episode, along with several more this month, is presented in partnership with CAMH and womenmind™, a community of philanthropists and thought leaders tackling the unique gender issues that underrepresented people face when it comes to their mental health. Women’s mental health is a challenge on two main fronts: first, we experience depression, anxiety, and trauma to a greater extent than men, and next, women in science face biases as they work to advance their careers. An initiative like womenmind™ is critical to address the gender inequities we face in this area. Find out more about CAMH and womenmind™. If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, they can call 1-833-456-4566. If they require immediate care, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.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.com //TD Women Entrepreneurs: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business //Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale