Words of wisdom from Canada's top women entrepreneurs

Grail Noble

W100 ranking: #14
Founder & CEO, Yellowhouse Events, event marketing and planning agency, Toronto

Trade secret: “We’ve had clients ask for outrageous things, like an elephant at their event or a CEO to be hot-air-ballooned into a venue. We never say no to these requests. We simply research the best way to do it, calculate the costs and present the options to the client. Most of the crazy ideas are then dialled back, but no one wants to hear ‘It can’t be done.’

Lourdes Gant

W100 ranking: #5
CFO & vice-president, Manatee Holdings, Courtenay, B.C.
Harvester of geoduck clams and sea cucumbers (pictured) for sushi and seafood restaurants in Canada and Asia.

Trade secret: “I give every new customer or supplier a welcome gift. It makes them feel seen and appreciated.”

Kristen Wood

W100 ranking: #81
CEO & creator, The Ten Spot, beauty bars and products, Toronto

Light-bulb moment: “I had the idea of opening up a nail salon over a slice of pie with a friend. That night I rushed home and wrote my business plan until 6 a.m.  Four months later, I opened my first Ten Spot.”

Kathryn Gallagher Morton

W100 ranking: #48
President and founder, Maplelea, makers of Canadian-themed dolls, Newmarket, Ont.

Competitive edge: "We didn't blink when Mattel's American Girl brand invaded our country with its huge marketing machine. We just kept doing what made us a success in the first place: designing and producing Maplelea products – dolls, story journals, and accessories that reflect our country's culture, heritage, and geography."

Wendy McClelland

W100 ranking: #90
CEO, Vets To Go, mobile veterinary clinics, Calgary

Moms helping moms: “We’re providing working mothers with an alternative to the high stress of a traditional veterinary clinic. And it’s equally beneficial to our clients. I was at a house call recently where the mom had a two-week-old baby and a three-year-old daughter. She said there was no way she could have gotten her large dog and her kids to a clinic. She was grateful for our service.”

Claudia Sjoberg

W100 ranking: #39
President, Atlantis Group, swim and bike lessons for kids, Vancouver

Light-bulb moment: "I was working at a government-run swimming pool, and I saw a need for higher- quality programs that offered better instructors, warm water and small groups. so I started renting private pools and offering classes.”

Madeleine Paquin

W100 ranking: #19
President and CEO, Logistec, international cargo-handling company, Montreal

Work-life balance: "I don't think there's a mother alive who doesn't have guilty feelings. But I had a lot of support, and I never accepted an invitation on weekends if it didn't involve my kids – those days were for them."

Cheryl Ng

W100 ranking: #78
CEO, FFD Designs, parent company of foufouBrands, makers of pet and baby products,  Richmond Hill, Ont.

Light-bulb moment: "When I got my first Maltese puppy, I noticed a void in the Canadian marketplace for fashionable doggy wear at affordable prices."

Meet with other female entrepreneurs and editors from Profit and Chatelaine for a day filled learning best business practices from Canada's top management experts. Sign up to attend the W100 Idea Exchange event on Nov. 26.

UPCOMING EVENT (Nov. 26): The W100 Idea Exchange, hosted by editors of PROFIT and Chatelaine, is a unique opportunity for all women entrepreneurs to come together and share best practices, to learn from management experts about today's key business opportunities and challenges, and to create personal connections that can last a lifetime.