Podcast
Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurship
Hosted by Dentons · EN
Join Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them.
25episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Navigating growth and leadership in mental healthcare
1w ago00:45:16Tap to summarizeJoin Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In this episode, Heather welcomes Kim Long, a registered psychologist and former educator who grew Dóchas Psychological Services from a solo practice into a multidisciplinary clinic with 10–12 permanent practitioners. Kim explains Dóchas focus on complex trauma and “elite client care,” its sanctuary-like approach, and plans for the Dóchas Resilience Foundation to expand access to mental healthcare. She reflects on scaling during COVID, navigating imposter syndrome, and learning through unplanned growth. Heather connects these themes to legal and business decision-making under pressure. Kim shares how she now balances leadership and client work, builds shared leadership capacity, and views imposter syndrome as a useful warning signal rather than a barrier. To find out more about Dóchas Psychological visit their website.
Transcribe →Episode 99: Embracing life's possibilities with intentionality and connection
3w ago00:32:43Tap to summarizeJoin Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In this episode, Heather welcomes Rebecca Saunders, a family physician practicing in Alberta, to discuss her book project, Eight Saturdays, inspired by her friend Leslie’s terminal cancer diagnosis and her question: with limited time, what do you do with “eight Saturdays”? Rebecca reflects on 30+ years in longitudinal family medicine in Canada and the U.S., noting the rewards of long-term patient relationships, the burden of paperwork (eased by AI scribes), and differences between public and private healthcare access. She shares how Leslie chose candid, joyful connection over focusing on illness, and how the “eight Saturdays” lens can help people prioritize what matters, including addressing “unfun” essentials like wills and insurance so they can spend time with fewer regrets. Rebecca plans to launch the book in May, with worksheets and workshops.
Transcribe →Navigating entrepreneurship and technology to redefine capital markets
Apr 1500:36:23Tap to summarizeJoin Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In this episode, Heather welcomes Rebecca Kacaba, co-founder and CEO of DealMaker, who shares her path from practicing securities law to building a digital capital-raising platform. Kacaba explains how Dealmaker streamlines disclosure and diligence through templated, SEC-approved documents, supports raises from under $5M up to $75M, and sees repeat investments from engaged retail supporters. She discusses industries and founder traits that perform well, barriers to similar models in Canada, and the impact DealMaker has had ($2B transacted for 900+ businesses). Kacaba also offers entrepreneurial advice on solving real problems, shipping MVPs, and building resilience and adaptability, emphasizing the founder’s role in creating momentum, learning quickly from paying customers, and evolving through both the highs and low points of entrepreneurship. To learn more about DealMaker, visit https://www.dealmaker.tech/.
Transcribe →Episode 97: Embracing the power of transformative leadership in uncertain times
Apr 100:52:41Tap to summarizeJoin Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In this episode, Heather is joined by Dr. Jodi Abbott, President and CEO of the University Hospital Foundation. Dr. Abbott discusses developing bold strategies, aligning them with organizational values, and creating a governance structure to support the plan. She shares her experiences in complex environments in health and education, emphasizing the importance of vision, flexibility, and adaptability amid constant change. Dr. Abbott reflects on her career, from her role at NorQuest College, where she led a significant transformation, to her current position at the University Hospital Foundation. She explains that leadership in both sectors requires navigating complexity, managing ambiguity, and continuously adjusting to new circumstances. They also delve into crafting strategic plans, the evolving concept of change management, and the role of values and behaviors in driving organizational success. To learn more about the University Hospital Foundation’s work, visit their website at https://givetouhf.ca.
Transcribe →Navigating the intersection of leadership, marketing, and authentic client relationships
Mar 1800:37:17Tap to summarizeJoin Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 95, Heather welcomes Deborah Farone, CEO of Farone Advisors and former chief marketing officer at Debevoise & Plimpton and Cravath, to discuss building marketing and business development functions in law firms and the shift from traditional media to platforms like LinkedIn. Deborah shares why networking and relationship-building should start early, emphasizing expertise, authenticity, and empathy as foundations of trust and referrals. She explains how lessons from other industries can strengthen professional services marketing, and how firms can adopt AI by training teams to experiment beyond innovation hubs. Deborah also highlights insights from her book Breaking Ground on how successful women lawyers develop business in ways that feel authentic. To learn more about the Deborah Farone and Farone Advisors, visit https://deborahfarone.com/.
Transcribe →Redefining accounting through feminist leadership
Mar 400:38:53Tap to summarizeJoin Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 95, Heather welcomes Alicia Fowler, founder of MOD Accounting and Rayo Teams. Alicia shares insights from her journey building a values‑aligned, women‑led accounting practice grounded in feminist leadership. She reflects on launching a business during the pandemic, creating flexible and empowering work environments for women, and redefining traditional professional models through authenticity, trust, and modern technology. Alicia also highlights the importance of financial literacy, self‑trust, and embracing personal growth as essential drivers of entrepreneurial success. She discusses how MOD Accounting grew rapidly through a commitment to accessibility and values‑based client relationships, how feminist leadership shaped a supportive culture for her team, and how her second venture, Rayo Teams, leverages cross‑functional expertise to help organizations navigate leadership and operational challenges. To learn more about Mod Accounting, visit the website at Mod Accounting.
Transcribe →Demonstrating leadership in motion through embracing organizational change
Feb 1800:47:16Tap to summarizeJoin Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 94, Heather is joined by Roseanne Carey, Chief Financial Officer of the University Hospital Foundation. They discuss raising capital, managing large organizations, and Roseanne's career evolution from a CPA in public accounting to leading transformative change across industries. The conversation highlights the importance of adaptability, understanding the 'why' behind changes, and aligning organizational goals for effective transformation and sustainability. Additionally, they delve into the concept of venture philanthropy and how the University Hospital Foundation is driving systemic improvements in healthcare through innovative funding and partnerships. Roseanne also shares personal insights on juggling professional and personal responsibilities, as well as the vital role of community and support systems in achieving success. To learn more about the University Hospital Foundation’s work, visit their website at https://givetouhf.ca.
Transcribe →Bridging gaps and building trust in HR Leadership
Feb 400:42:51Tap to summarizeJoin Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 93, Heather is by Brenda Lynes, founder of Elevating-HR. Brenda shares her journey from accidental entry into HR to founding her consultancy. She discusses the importance of aligning company values, dealing with culture killers, and developing effective leadership skills in organizations without internal HR departments. She emphasizes the need for companies to put people first and the crucial role of communication and understanding in achieving organizational success. Brenda also delves into her experiences with strategic HR interventions and the significance of embodying core values to promote a positive work culture. To learn more about Brenda Lynes and her work, visit her website at https://elevating-hr.ca/.
Transcribe →Episode 92: Unleashing the power of curiosity in leadership
Jan 2100:34:18Tap to summarizeJoin Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In this episode, Heather is thrilled to be joined by Dr. Debra Clary, a Leadership Strategist and Curiosity Scientist. Dr. Clary shares her career journey and insights on the role of curiosity in leadership. The discussion covers how curiosity can transform disengagement into passion, improve employee engagement, and facilitate faster decision-making. Drawing on her experience at Frito-Lay, Coca-Cola, Jack Daniels, and Humana, Dr. Clary explains why curiosity is a critical leadership competency and how it drives innovation, retention, and organizational performance. She offers practical strategies for cultivating curiosity, creating a culture of trust, and balancing transformational and transactional leadership styles to succeed at the C-suite level. Tune in for actionable insights to elevate leadership impact and foster a more engaged, collaborative workplace. To learn more about Dr. Debra Clary and her work, visit her website at https://www.debraclary.com.
Transcribe →Escaping burnout by aligning identity with true fulfillment
Jan 700:42:05Tap to summarizeJoin Heather Barnhouse, Partner in our Edmonton office, as she explores women in leadership and entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem that supports them. In episode 91, Heather is joined by Elisha Meek, Author, Entrepreneur and Corporate Professional, to discuss how identity, purpose, and intentional time management can help women recognize and escape burnout. Together, Heather and Elisha explore the pressures high-performing women face, the importance of aligning fulfillment with achievement, and practical ways to create space for passion outside the corporate world.Elisha shares her personal journey from corporate burnout to rediscovering joy through entrepreneurship, reflecting on how a single defining moment pushed her to rethink her identity and pursue meaningful work beyond her corporate role. Heather and Elisha also discuss the societal and self-imposed expectations that often prevent women from prioritizing themselves, and how Elisha’s three-pillar framework—brains, body and soul—helps women build healthier habits, set boundaries, and reconnect with what truly matters. The conversation highlights the value of self-awareness, accountability, and viewing your career as a foundation rather than your entire identity, encouraging listeners to pursue purpose-driven activities that foster long-term fulfillment. To learn more about Elisha’s coaching work and her upcoming book on helping women escape burnout, visit elishameek.com.
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