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.

Julietta Dexter is the Founder and CEO of The Communications Store, London’s leading agency specializing in fashion, luxury, beauty and lifestyle PR Julietta founded TCS 25 years ago, and her clients have included global and UK top brands, among them Net-a-porter, Burberry, the House of Versace, McQueen, Anya Hindmarch, Emilia Wickstead, Charlotte Tillbury, Goop, Glossier and more. Julietta and her team have played a huge role in launching and supporting growth for these brands and others. TCS recently expanded across the pond and now has offices in New York and Los Angeles. Over the years, Julietta has mentored and helped developed generations of PR professionals; she is known as an inspirational leader who puts human qualities at the top of the list— she is deeply respected and admired by anyone who has crossed her path.Julietta and host Eva Hartling spoke about the reality of being a woman at the helm of a business and the challenges that come with the job (don’t miss her sharing how she deals with mansplaining and bullies). We also spoke about career and personal growth, leadership, finding balance in life, and how success has nothing to do with money in the bank.

Vicky Milner is the co-founder and President of CAFA, the Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards. CAFA celebrates outstanding achievement and emerging talent in the Canadian fashion industry.Prior to co-founding CAFA, Vicky worked in a number of industries including fashion retail, music, entertainment, and nonprofit management. She set out to create CAFA six years ago when she realized there was a gap in the market. The platform she helped create has since recognized and awarded the country’s top established and emerging talent, making CAFA the leading Canadian recognition in the field of fashion.We’re now a month away from CAFA 2019 and we sat down with Vicky to talk about her vision for the awards, the state of Canada’s fashion industry, how we can do our part to support local designers and what it means for one’s personal balance to be a busy mom running a successful fashion award platform.

In honour of 420 and Earth Day taking place over this long weekend, we are celebrating with a bonus episode featuring the only woman to be CEO of a publicly-traded cannabis company: Alison Gordon from 48North.Alison considers 48North to be more than just a licensed cannabis producer in Canada; she sees the company as a wellness organization, bringing the benefits of cannabinoids to consumers everywhere. Listen to Eva Hartling's conversation with a woman who is definitely shattering glass ceilings.

Today is April 20, yes, that means 420. Given that Canada has recently legalized cannabis, we are celebrating with highlighting women who are doing amazing things in this growing sector, pun intended. Now, it’s important to note that the cannabis industry is still male-dominated — if you’ve attended any industry events or panels, you’ll usually notice a lineup of white men on stage.Because we want to see that change, this weekend we are featuring interviews with inspiring women in the industry - in this episode you’ll hear from Sarah Gillin, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Olli Brands, a new player in the cannabis industry that focuses on CBD-infused healthy, accessible and natural edibles. Olli Brands products are about to hit market and include everything from teas to chocolates and other delicious treats. The interview was done a little while ago and you’ll hear Sarah talk about the facility they plan on building - the good news is that construction has now taken place and Olli is just about ready to be available to consumers.

Shannon Hamblin is a scriptwriter, director and producer based in Los Angeles. Shannon co-wrote what was named the 3rd best X-Files episode of all times (that would be season 11 episode 7!).She has been working closely with Glen Morgan (Executive Producer of the X-Files) since 2013 when he discovered a feature script she wrote. Shannon worked with Morgan as writers/showrunner's assistant on Amazon's series "LORE". Prior to that, she produced two feature films after working several years in production.She is now wrapping up post-production on her debut short film "Texas 2 Step" which she wrote, directed, and produced; it’s planned to be released in the fall of 2019.Shannon spoke to host Eva Hartling about the realities of being a female writer/director/producer in Hollywood; how she finally found her voice as a director working on her latest film… and about her definition of success, which she sums up with the following: “Success is not a place that you end up at; it’s not a hotel that you check into. It’s a long, bumpy winding road that never ends. There is no place at the end of it.”Visit Shannon’s website if you’d like to know more about her and all of her exciting projects!

Brooke G., (known as @everydayexpert on Instagram) runs the Heal Hive, a platform for wellness and health advocacy which focuses on evidence-based holistic healing. Based in California, Brooke is a survivor of Lyme disease; an illness which almost claimed her life and which she cured using bee venom therapy. Today Brooke runs Heal Hive retreats to help individuals suffering from Lyme disease and other chronic illness. Brooke’s mantra? “Test, don’t guess”.Brooke now also uses bee venom as a fertility treatment, after research has proven how effective the protocol is to increase fertility and reverse hormone depletion. In her own words, “bees may be small but they sure are mighty”.

Stephanie Kersta and Carolyn Plater founded Hoame, a meditation and mindfulness space in downtown Toronto that offers dark and light rooms (where meditation workshops take place), a salt cave, an infrared sauna and more. Both founders are psychotherapists who specialize in treating addiction; they dreamed the concept for Hoame after recognizing that our modern stress-filled lifestyle was to blame for the mental health crisis our society faced today and wanted to create a space where taking care of yourself is accepted and celebrated.Stephanie and Carolyn spoke to host Eva Hartling about their experience as clinical psychologists, their path to turning their dream for Hoame into a reality and shared their tips for mindful living.The Brand is Female can enjoy a free 30 or 60-minute class at Hoame using code FEMALELEADS100.

Michelle Bilodeau is a Canadian journalist and Green Beauty Expert. She honed her editorial skills working at some of Canada’s leading lifestyle magazines including Flare and Fashion. Today she makes regular appearances on CTV and CBC, and she collaborates with different publications to provide her expertise on all things green. You can also follow her blog, The-Eco-Edit.com. Michelle realized early on that what we put on our skin can have an effect on our health. She became very aware of this when her father was diagnosed with Leukaemia, an environmental disease, in 2010.In this episode, Michelle shared some of her incredible knowledge in the field of green beauty as well as giving advice on brands she swears by. Visit us on Instagram to see a list of products recommended by Michelle.

Tiffany Sorya is the founder and CEO of Novel Education Group, a homeschooling and tutoring organization based in Los Angeles. Tiffany’s innovative business model has attracted a number of celebrities including Kris Jenner and Dr. Dre thanks to her focus on exploring youth’s creative side while balancing demanding, non-traditional schedules and academic work. She’s had quite the star-studded clientele with Kylie and Kendall Jenner as well as Hailey Baldwin among her past students.Tiffany sees her role as helping the younger generation find value and meaning in an education system that can seem bland and standardized. She aims to enrich the lives of the new generation with the true value of knowledge.She spoke to Eva Hartling about her approach to “making smart stylish again”; the powerful role that teachers have; and how she thinks the new generation of young women is growing up believing that anything is achievable when they put their mind to it.

Our guest this week is Michèle Maheux, outgoing Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Known as the “unsung hero” of what has become one of the global film circuit’s most important festivals, TIFF’s “number two” spent 30 years in leadership roles within the organization and was instrumental in its development, often working behind the scenes. Michèle championed women, both within and outside TIFF, putting a spotlight on women filmmakers and mentoring the next generation of film industry leaders. Listen to her interview where she tells Eva Hartling about her journey in the film industry, the changes she’s seen happen for women over the years — including those brought on by #MeToo; the importance of doing ‘what makes you happy’ and how you learn as much from the bad bosses as you do from the good ones.

Our guest on this 8th episode of The Brand is Female is Cheryl Hickey, Host of Entertainment Tonight Canada where she has been greeting more than half a million viewers every night since 2005. Cheryl has had an amazing track record on Canadian television; she is also an entrepreneur and was just named ambassador for John Frieda Hair Products.Cheryl spoke to Eva Hartling about her journey to making it to the top, never taking ‘no’ for an answer; dealing with obstacles and challenges along the way and finding her self-confidence and balance with the support of family and loved ones.

Our guest on this 7th episode of The Brand is Female is Victoria Radford, Celebrity Makeup Artist and founder of Radford, a beauty and skincare brand. She is also co-owner of Radford Studio, a beauty studio in the heart of Yorkville in Toronto, Canada.Victoria spoke to Eva Hartling about her accidental start in the world of beauty; one of her first big breaks as Fergie’s makeup artist; her distaste for social media and her philosophy on beauty today — “the dish will never be as good as the ingredients” which sums up Radford’s new motto “Beauty is within” perfectly.

Our guest on this 6th episode of The Brand is Female is Canadian style powerhouse Erica Wark, Celebrity Stylist, Fashion Expert and TV Personality. Erica makes frequent appearances on Canadian television including CTV’s The Social and Your Morning; she’s dressed an impressive roster of Canadian and American actors and actresses and is highly regarded as a subject matter expert on all things fashion.Erica spoke to Eva Hartling about carving her own path in the highly competitive world of fashion and styling; what she feels is missing in the industry to make fashion more accessible to all (including diversity when it comes to models and clothes that can fit every size); and the boost of self-confidence that can come from choosing the right clothes and accessories.

Our guest on this 5th episode of The Brand is Female is fierce female entrepreneur Sophie Boulanger, CEO and founder of BonLook, the Canadian answer to Warby Parker launched in 2010 with a disruptive direct-to-consumer business model for prescription eyewear frames and lenses. BonLook now operates more than 30 stores across Canada (their goal is to get to 50 by 2020) and has caught the attention of investors who have rewarded the Montreal-based company with substantial capital support.Sophie speaks to Host Eva Hartling about her journey as an entrepreneur, the BonLook story, the obstacles she encountered on her entrepreneurial journey and shares what she thinks of being a leader. If you’re passionate about consumer goods and stories of business growth, you’ll love this show.

Our fourth episode of The Brand is Female features global (and self-made) restaurateur Janet Zuccarini, who started with one restaurant in Toronto and grew her business to include 8 companies today.Janet owns the Gusto 54 Global Restaurant Group and is the mastermind behind Toronto’s well-known eateries Trattoria Nervosa (her first restaurant), Gusto 101, Kiin, Pai and Chubby’s; she also opened Italian restaurant Felix in LA in 2017 which Esquire Magazine deemed "America's Best New Restaurant” — no small feat for a restaurant owner from Toronto. She speaks to Host Eva Hartling about the challenges she has faced throughout her career, what has kept her motivated to continue building her empire and how she stays grounded and balanced despite her demanding schedule (hint: it includes daily meditation and a hot meal!).

Voici un épisode bonus de The Brand is Female réalisé en français avec Mélanie Joly, Ministre des langues officielles, du tourisme et de la francophonie du Canada. Mélanie Joly avait 36 ans lorsqu’elle a été élue représentante parlementaire, et 34 ans lorsqu’elle s’est présentée comme candidate à la mairie de Montréal. Femme inspirante, Mélanie est une leader née qui ne s’est jamais laissée abattre par les obstacles rencontrés sur son parcours, en affaires ou en politique. Cette entrevue a été réalisée au Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, là où Mélanie a fondé le premier comité de jeunes philanthropes en soutien à l’organisation il y a plus de dix ans. En conversation avec Eva Hartling, fondatrice de The Female Leads, Mélanie y retrace ses débuts en politique, et s’entretient au sujet du leadership (le sien et celui de son patron, Justin Trudeau, premier ministre du Canada), de la question du doute, des changements dans sa vie alors qu’elle débute la quarantaine et de ce qui l’attend au cours des prochaines années, dans sa vie personnelle et professionnelle.

Melanie Joly was 34 when she ran for mayor in Montreal's municipal elections (she came in close second at the polls) and was 36 when she was elected to the House of Commons and named Minister of Heritage Canada by Justin Trudeau. She is a born leader and visionary who is not afraid of tackling difficult issues. In this episode of The Brand is Female she speaks to Host Eva Hartling about what got her inspired to start a career in politics, how she relies on her intuition as a guiding force today, her views on leadership... and her boss’ leadership style (that would be the Prime Minister of Canada!) and how being a young woman in politics—or in a boardroom—comes with its own set of challenges.