Business
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The making and the future of The Business Casual podcast
“As we navigate internships, full-time jobs, and negotiating salaries, we’re also including that in the episodes because a lot of the conversations we have in our personal life reflect the majority of conversations that people our age are having.” – Stacey Speranza, co-founder of The Business Casual Courtesy of The Business Casual The Business Causal podcast first started in July 2020, has since aired in 65 countries and gained at least 20,000 listeners. Co-hosts and sisters, Stacey and Marianna Speranza interview different female trailblazers every episode to discuss topics based on their guests’ careers, personal lives and everything they have learned. Stacey (22) and Marianna (19) started The Business Causal…
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Need help kickstarting your business?
Here are five financial programs for aspiring female entrepreneurs in Canada Starting a business can be expensive and daunting. Few people have the funds to build a business from the ground up — a struggle in and of itself. For women entrepreneurs, competing in the male-dominated world of business and finances can result in added stress and difficulty. Fortunately, the Government of Canada and various other enterprises have created initiatives that provide business loans, grants and other resources specifically for female entrepreneurs. Check out these five financial programs for support when building a new business. The Scotiabank Women Initiative Scotiabank launched the Women’s Initiative in 2018 to support women and…
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Interview with Influencer Soheila Hakimi
Life as a full-time influencer – And tips to get you started. 10 years ago, you may have daydreamed about quitting your job to become an astronaut, a ballerina or a figure skater. In today’s era of social media, that dream has likely been replaced with a desire to take to your phone and influence the masses for money. It may seem like a questionable career path, but social media influencers represent the new generation of advertising. From Tik Tok stars to Instagram models, these modern-day Mad Men (and women) are single-handedly garnering the attention of the world’s biggest brands, with many making a killing while they do it. Whether…
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The Give and Grow: Where sports and nature collide
The Toronto-based small business combining gardening, basketballs and community outreach. During the bleak days of the early pandemic, many looking for escape or distraction found solace in starting new hobbies, FaceTiming loved ones or starting a new project. One of those pandemic projects became The Give and Grow. The Toronto-based company was founded by Olivia Ho, a healthcare worker with a love for everything basketball-related. Ho also coaches youth as a Sport Program Lead at MLSE (Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment) LaunchPad. The Give and Grow puts an athletic spin on interior decoration. Ho dreamed of combining her passion for basketball and love of nature into a single product, and…
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Starting a small business as a young woman in Ontario
Looking to start a business but unsure where to start? Two small business owners share their experiences. *Emma Litschko uses she/they pronouns In December 2020, women-owned Canadian businesses were hit hardest by the pandemic. They took twice as long to recover from financial setbacks compared to male-owned businesses. Even pre-pandemic, launching a small business as a woman was particularly challenging. When starting a new business, knowing where to look for guidance and support is the first step. Ambrozic and Litschko are long-time entrepreneurs. Ambrozic is the owner of Mimic: A Print Republic, a Markham-based printing company and Litschko is the mixed Mi’kmaq founder and owner of Forget-Me-Not Jewelry and Apparel,…
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Dana Fashion offers trendy modest fashion in the GTA
When Dana Aljamal immigrated from Jordan to Canada with her husband in 2013, she was only 18 years old. While learning English and building a home for her family in Oakville, Ont., Aljamal overcame several barriers. Some were more difficult than others. As an observant Muslim woman, Aljamal practices “modest fashion.” Purchasing appropriate, modest clothing in Canada was a challenge. According to Who What Wear magazine, modest fashion is difficult to define. “There’s not a single definition to it,” wrote Yusra Siddiqui in their op-ed, The Complete Guide to Modest Fashion, From a Modest Dresser. “Everyone has their own varying explanations of what modest fashion means to them.” “Shortly, modest…
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Women-owned independent bookstores in Ontario
For more than 40 years, the Toronto Women’s Bookstore was a leader in feminist literature in Canada From 1972 to 2012, the Toronto Women’s Bookstore survived three moves and a fire that destroyed some of their inventory. Ultimately, the store faced financial issues in 2012 from which they could not recover. Then came a final statement on the store website. “The fact is book markets have changed radically in the past few years,” said owner Victoria Moreno. “E-books, fierce online competition and a stagnant economy have all contributed to our business model becoming no longer sustainable. I’m closing the bookstore with the bittersweet knowledge that I did my best. I…
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10 sustainable fashion brands available in Ontario
It’s no secret that fast fashion, although very profitable, is ruining the planet. CNN reported the fast fashion industry, which includes mega-retailers like Shein and H&M, produces over 100 billion garments a year. This is equal to over 12 garments for every person on Earth. Fast fashion is poisoning water supplies, pushing microfibres into the food chain and elevating greenhouse gas levels. The industry is also deforesting the planet and threaten the human rights of factory workers producing these products. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Here are 10 Canadian brands offering sustainable, trendy alternatives to fast fashion. Kotn Offering men and women’s basic cotton clothing up to…
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Starting a side hustle during the pandemic
With many out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some Ontarians have turned their hobbies into “side hustles”. These hobbies act as a supplemental source of income and as a creative outlet. From mask-sewing, to jewelry making, almost any creative hobby can find a customer base online. Etsy Canada, a popular online marketplace, saw shop openings increase more than 250 percentage points during its recent quarter. That was compared to the same period last year. In contrast, there has been an 8.3 per cent drop in active businesses since the pandemic’s start. Statistics Canada reported an estimated 25,614 Ontario businesses have closed since February 2020. Coral’s Cookies Coral Itzchaki’s…
