The Brand is Female

In this special series we speak to inspiring women role models from different backgrounds who share their views and advice for dealing with the period of anxiety and uncertainty we currently find ourselves in due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The first guest on our special feature, Kasey Crown is a psychotherapist, wellness educator and writer. Her work challenges old mental health paradigms and suggests instead that true well-being lies in our ability to balance scientific and spiritual perspectives. For more than a decade, she has served as a facilitator of the healing process for adult individuals, couples and groups, working to upend trauma, transform emotional injury, repair relationship and unlock vital wisdom to connect people with who they truly are. Along with her business partner Jakki Leonardini, Kasey is the co-creator of WellSoul, educational and experiential workshops which draw from the fields of interpersonal neurobiology, spiritual psychology and energy medicine. Kasey and Jakki have gathered quite a cult following based on the WellSoul formula and the positive impact it has on participants, including receiving accolades from Goop, among others.In this interview, Kasey provides perspective and shares practical advice on how to deal with the anxiety and fear many of us are experiencing during this pandemic. We hope Kasey’s advice can be useful to you!Kasey was generous enough to share an 8-minute grounding meditation for our listeners, download it here. She recommends doing this meditation several times a day.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!

One could easily say Mungi Ngomane grew up with activism and social justice in her blood. The granddaughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mungi realized at a young age she wanted to help make the world a better place. Graduating in International Studies and Diplomacy, her time has been spent between South Africa, the UK and North America, where she has been working in Middle East conflict resolution and for the advancement of women and girls for some of the world's leading advocacy and NGO organizations. In her book released a few months ago, Mungi has shared the wisdom around Ubuntu, South African philosophy which teaches us that our common humanity and our connection to each other is key to living a better life. Discover Mungi’s journey and find out how Ubuntu can make a difference in your life, too!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!

Coly Den Haan has always been involved with the hospitality industry, working at a number of famous local spots after she moved from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles, including Fred Segal’s Mauro’s Cafe, Farfalla and Barney Greengrass. She eventually decided to give entrepreneurship a go and opened The Must in downtown LA, and later Perch, with both spots garnering accolades and becoming go-to destinations on everyone’s list. Coly became an accredited sommelier and after a few years in the restaurant biz, she decided it was time to switch over to wine. Coly set out to focus exclusively on selling the work of women winemakers from around the globe. This was during Hillary Clinton's campaign, when, in Coly’s words “everyone thought the next POTUS would be a woman”. Hillary didn’t make it (and the rest is sadly, history) but Vinovore was born… and it generated instant success! Discover Coley’s journey in our interview; if you like wine, this episode is definitely for you.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!

SheEO Founder Vicki Saunders describes herself as an entrepreneur, mentor and advisor to the next generation of changemakers. Through her experience running several ventures in Europe, Toronto and Silicon Valley, Vicki realized that fundamental change was needed in order to see the barriers preventing women entrepreneurs to tap into financing resources and overall support be lifted. To help make that change happen, Vicki went on to create SheEO in 2015, a concept which she sums up as #radicalgenerosity, allowing activators from around the world to invest a small amount of money into a fund that goes on to benefit female founders who have a project that helps make our world a better place, a brilliant idea which has already seen over $4 million raised globally and over 73 female-led ventures supported.Learn more about Vicki’s journey and what inspired her to create a platform in support of women in business.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!

In 2012, Montreal native Florence Gagnon created a platform to provide resources to the lesbian and queer communities, LezSpreadTheWord, the first bilingual website of its kind in Canada. Two years later, she launched the FÉMININ/FÉMININ fiction series, along with director Chloé Robichaud, a filmmaker known for several award-winning productions including Sarah Préfère la Course and Boundaries. The series went on to win two Gemini Awards in Quebec, and several international prizes. In 2016, she published the first issue of LSTW magazine, a bilingual Canadian publication, now distributed nationally as well as across the US and Europe, including London and Stockholm, and MoMA PS1 in New York. Tegan and Sara as well as Lena Waithe have been featured on its cover, among other high-profile personalities. Florence has been an advocate for the representation of the lesbian and queer community — and womxn in general — throughout her journey.Listen to our conversation where we talk about gender equity, including the challenges all wxmen face when it comes to representation in mainstream media, and find out how LSTW is aiming two help change the narrative around inclusion.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.

A true globetrotter who has lived around the world before settling in Toronto, Elle AyoubZadeh launched Zvelle in 2015 for women who are global citizen themselves. She wanted to create a brand known for its quality — but not while selling at unattainable prices; and she wanted to lead a company that would be aligned with the social values that matter to her as a founder. Her line of shoes and handbags are timeless and well-made so that you won’t throw them out after just one season; a great way of aiming for sustainability when it comes to fashion. She personally works with all her suppliers to make sure the best materials and the best craftsmen are behind her designs. Discover her journey building a brand from the ground up!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.This podcast was recorded at Hoame, our favourite meditation studio in Toronto.

Jennifer Brodeur, or JB Skin Guru as she is called on Instagram is well known for the celebrity clientele she services, with devotees who include Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama and Gwyneth Paltrow. Now if these women come back to her you know her facials and products are next level. But Jennifer’s real superpower is her passion for wellness, health and improving women’s skin everywhere, which she relates to helping women feel empowered — all through a holistic approach to beauty. We’re completely here for this, of course. Her book, La Peau et ses secrets, or “The Skin and its secrets” is just about to launch in French (English version coming soon, she promised) and in it you’ll have access to Jennifer’s secrets and tips for natural beauty and amazing skin, which she has perfected over her 20-year career. Listen to our conversation with Jennifer and discover her unique journey - there may even be a few health and skincare tips in there!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.

This bonus episode features an interview with Chantal Pitre who heads TD’s brand new Women Entrepreneurs program as well as Camille Beaudoin from UN Women. Listen to a conversation about the challenges faced by women in business, especially as it relates to banking and financing and learn more about WE EMPOWER — an initiative from UN Women, the European Union and the ILO as well as the #FlexForEmpowerment campaign which seek to promote gender equality and women empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and community.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.

The New York-based duo has been getting buzz in part because of its famous family connections, namely Neely and Chloe’s aunt, Tory Burch. But the two sisters have built an empire all of their own: Neely & Chloe is a successful line of affordable yet sustainable bags, footwear and accessories that aims to fill the void between fast fashion and luxury without sacrificing quality. You can find their designs in retailers across the US, over 150 at this point including Anthropologie, in addition to their own e-commerce boutique. Neely and Chloe’s success has been fuelled by their authentic approach with their consumer base, or what they call “the founder effect”, as well as the appeal of their wide range of products, with something to fit women’s various lifestyles, no matter their age.Listen to Neely and Chloe’s journey and discover what they’ve learned along the 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.

Connie Lo and Laura Burget are the co-founders of Niu Body, a natural skincare brand they launched in 2017 after being frustrated with the lack of clean beauty options on the market. Starting their company at 23 and with just $4,000 in their pockets, their grit and determination has definitely paid off as today the brand can be found in over 350 retailers across North America, including The Bay in Canada and Kohls in the US. Listen to Connie and Laura’s story of growth as well as the lessons they learned along the 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.