It’s hard to ignore all the incredible women in Canada creating products and services that help their clients and inspire other female entrepreneurs to do the same. Today we wanted to share the stories of a few noteworthy female entrepreneurs from Quebec and how their businesses changed the landscape within their specific niches.
There’s no denying that without the internet, there wouldn’t be nearly as many opportunities for small businesses to grow as fast. It’s impressive to see how these women were able to take advantage of the digital wave and what they were able to do with their skills, passion and resources.
Julie Hubert, President and founder of Workland
Workland uses artificial intelligence for talent acquisition, conceptualized by Julie when she was having difficulty finding a job herself. Working alongside a team of IT and HR specialists, Julie used her experience and struggle in the industry as the driving force behind the now almost 10-year-old company.
Gabrielle Laiïla Tittley, founder of PONY
The artist PONY is known for her playful and funny illustrations. Her drawing is inspired by humans emotions as well as the ups and downs of her own life. She creates colourful clothes, posters, bags and other accessories. By their simplicity and their daring, PONY products make you smile and they are comforting.
Marie-Philip Simard, CEO and Found of Chic Marie
Marie-Philip has helped to change the landscape of online shopping with her platform, Chic Marie. For a certain monthly subscription price, you can work with the platform’s AI to generate a wardrobe that’s perfect for you. Once you receive the clothes and decide you love the pieces, you are then able to purchase the item and keep it. Marie-Philip has created a seamless shopping opportunity for women who don’t quite know what they want and aren’t ready to commit to a specific style right off the bat.
Mélissa Harvey, Founder of Zorah Biocosmetiques
Melissa recognized the importance and beneficial properties of Argan oil while volunteering in Morocco in 2003. After that she decided to create a cosmetics company that used this oil as the foundation of their skincare in an environmentally friendly way. With her tenacity and passion for the industry, she was able to achieve her goal of creating an effective skincare line that also ensured fair-trade.
Andrea Merlano, Founder and CEO of FluteSpa
Andrea used her experience in communications and marketing to develop a product that made enjoying a drink with family and friends so much easier. FluteSpa helps you keep your champagne flutes clean without having to wash them by hand, as so many people do because of the size and shape. Andrea took the inconvenience of using a dishwasher for her flutes as a sign that there needed to be a change in home appliances, and she did just that. Along with her husband, the duo has managed to make family get togethers-that much easier.
Karine Joncas, Founder of Karine Joncas cosmetiques
Karine used her medi-cosmetic experience to create an effective makeup line that is also great for your skin. She created her cosmetics brand for the everyday active woman who enjoys makeup and its beneficial effects without testing on animals. Without her innovative approach the cosmetic industry would surely be missing out on a powerhouse brand.
Valerie Dumaine, Slow Fashion Designer
Valerie has been active in the fashion industry for more that 20 years and has created a womenswear brand that is elegant and timeless. Her clothes are sustainably made and animal friendly, another plus to her already beautiful designs. Throughout her career, she has had the opportunity to experience fashion from a variety of countries, but currently resides in Canada where she continues to produce her pieces.
Marilyne Bouchard, Founder of BKIND
It was in 2014 that Marilyne, recipient of a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in microbiology, decided to launch her cosmetics company BKIND. For this young woman with sensitive skin and incredible love for animals, it went without saying that she had to offer natural solutions, but above all effective and without any animal cruelty. With her team, she now offers a wide variety of products that are good for us and the planet.
Mélissa Nepton, Fashion Designer
Melissa used her love of fashion to create a brand of elegant, ready-to-wear couture for the urban career woman. After years of education and experience in her industry, Melissa established herself among the top designers in Quebec and continues to create beautiful pieces for Montreal and Toronto Fashion Weeks. In almost no time at all Melissa has managed to make an immense impact on the industry with her designs.
Awa Diarra, Founder of SnackSimple
Awa Diarra is the founder of this new company launched in 2018 and which is already delighting many Quebecers. Inspired by the trend for homemade mug cakes, her company SnackSimple is the first on the market that offers small on-the-go bowl muffins. What sets the products created by Awa Diarra apart from those of the big chains is that they are organic, lower in calories, less fat and made with few ingredients. The concept is simple: you add water to the container, put in the microwave for 1 minute and enjoy! They offer 7 different flavours, ideal for snacks, lunches or desserts.
We couldn’t finish this article without throwing a few flowers at Geneviève Brousseau-Provencher, the heroine of organic and cold-pressed juices from Quebec! Along with her partner Raphaël, Geneviève created our company DOSE, which encourages the daily consumption of healthy beverages (juices, smoothies and shots) in order to fill you up with essential nutrients.
It’s amazing to see what the innovation and passion of these female entrepreneurs have inspired them to create. Not only have they been able to use their knowledge and interest to build a career for themselves but have also helped so many people feel more comfortable and confident in their own lives.