From Startup to Success: Four Entrepreneurs on their Innovative Business Journeys

As the Chief Executive Officer of WESK, Miriam has a strong passion and commitment to enabling Saskatchewan to flourish. Equipped with a growth-focused mindset and diverse experience across multiple sectors, she is well-positioned to lead WESK’s team towards achieving their mission of closing the gender entrepreneurship gap.

If you ask Miriam what she is most excited about regarding the future of WESK, she will share how inspiring it is to be part of an organization driving for and seeing progressive change. She recognizes the demands and challenges women entrepreneurs face every day. She is inspired to strategically address gaps and barriers and identify opportunities to foster a strong community of women entrepreneurs. She believes that supporting women is integral to building a strong Saskatchewan.

During her recent tenure at the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Miriam was fundamental in securing the bid for the upcoming Grey Cup, launching the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation, and developing many successful programs addressing opportunities around the fan experience. Her work leading the Marketing and Community Relations portfolio connected the Riders with fans across the province through community programs such as Cameco Touchdown for Dreams to the game-day fan experience at Mosaic Stadium. Miriam’s community-minded leadership approach will continue to grow and develop the impact WESK makes across Saskatchewan.

Miriam has a strong penchant for giving back. She is currently the Co-Chair of Communications for the Grey Cup Volunteer Host Organizing Committee, successfully seeing the process in its entirety from bid to execution. She also held the Vice-Chair Sponsorship position for the 2022 Saskatchewan Winter Games.

When Miriam isn’t around the WESK offices, you will most likely find her in the comfort of her home being a short-order cook for her family or in an ice rink around Regina, watching her three children, Eli, Eden, and Emerson, play the sport they all love, hockey.

With over 20 years of tech experience, educational technology curriculum development and instruction, Kelly has demonstrated a passion in using tech for good. She is one of the cofounders at Poptronic, a virtual reality solutions provider that connects Canadians to VR technologies, across the country. Kelly has worked in San Francisco, Toronto, Ottawa, and overseas in the federal government, nonprofits and Salesforce. She moved back to her hometown of Cornwall to bring new technologies and innovative opportunities to her community.

Chatnie graduated with a Masters of IT Management with Distinction from SUNY Potsdam and has over 10 years experience in tech, policy in government, non-profit sectors and finance. Chatnie brings her love of technology for good as a cofounder at Poptronic and last year placed in the top 1.5% in Pow Wow Pitch Competition of 2500 Indigenous Entrepreneurs across Turtle Island. Chatnie’s been accepted into a prestigious Artificial Intelligence Train the Trainer program which will allow her to connect with AI experts across Turtle Island and bring this knowledge back to her community of Akwesasne.

Anna Hunter is a first generation sheep farmer and wool mill owner in Eastern Manitoba, Treaty One Territory. Anna, her husband Luke, and their two kids raise Shetland sheep and run the only wool mill in Manitoba. Anna is passionate about building community and connecting rural fibre farmers with urban consumers, fibre artists and crafters. Anna believes that regenerative agriculture and climate beneficial food and clothing is integral to moving forward as farmers, fibre artists and Manitobans. Anna is passionate about growing a vibrant Canadian wool industry and has recently published her first book, Sheep, Shepherd and Land. To learn more about Anna and her farm/wool mill, check out www.longwayhomestead.com.

Nadia Ladak is the co-founder and CEO of Marlow, a period care brand that is revolutionizing women’s health. The brand’s award winning product is the first-ever lubricated tampon for smoother and more comfortable insertion. But beyond their product, the team is leveraging the power of social media and has built an online community and cult following of 55,000 individuals and are going viral on TikTok with 100M+ views and 8M likes with their educational content aimed at reducing the stigma around menstrual health.

Prior to founding Marlow, Nadia worked as a management consultant at KPMG in their consumer and retail sector and at TELUS Digital in digital strategy. She is passionate about advocating for entrepreneurs and inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders. She is a member of the G20 Young Entrepreneur Alliance where she works on international entrepreneurship policy and on Startup Canada’s Women Advocacy Network where she speaks with government leaders to advocate for women entrepreneurs. She has been recognized as one of Forbes 30 under 30 and as one of the top emerging leaders by the Peak. She’s also committed to giving back to her community through her role as co-chair of Holland Bloorview Children’s Hospital Catalyst Council.