ENTREPRENEUR NOMINEES
(under 40)
For women under the age of 40, initiating and/or administering an enterprise or business.
Award Presented by:
Darryl Castle, Senior Marketing Manager, Piller’s Fine Foods
Oluwaseyi Adaghe
Oluwaseyi is a pioneering sustainability leader and entrepreneur dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of Black women and the environment. With a background in environmental science and business, Seyi founded RÓUN Beauty Inc. to create Canada's first plant-based braiding hair extensions, tackling the overlooked issue of synthetic hair waste and the negative health impacts of harsh chemicals. Through RÓUN Beauty, Seyi is on a mission to provide women with the gift they deserve: biodegradable and nontoxic hair extensions that help them look great, increase comfort and eliminate environmental harm.
Shelby Behling
Shelby is the proud founder and owner for Clean & Tidy Inc., an all natural cleaning service, serving residential and commercial clients in Waterloo Region. She employees 43 team members, ranging a multitude of ages and genres. She is hardworking, loyal, and dedicated to what she does and those around her. Her goal is to always put a smile on her clients’ and team members’ faces. She is passionate about supporting the local community, spearheading volunteer initiatives with her team at the Food Bank and KWHS, and volunteering personally to clean the environment, speak at local high schools on the topic of entrepreneurship, and donating financially to local organizations.
Rebekah Churchyard
Rebekah Churchyard, BA, BSW, MSW, RSW, PMP is a Registered Social Worker, Project Manager, and Psychotherapist specialized in geriatrics and dementia care. She is the CEO and Founder of Green Care Farms Inc., the first nature-based program in Canada for people with dementia on an operational farm. She also works full-time in Specialized Geriatric Services for Home and Community Care Support Services Waterloo Wellington. Prior to this, Rebekah served as President and Vice-President with the Toronto Council on Aging Board of Directors and as an Accountability Table member with the City of Toronto’s Seniors Strategy.
Afra Fatima
As the founder of Eterna Beauty, Afra has built her small cosmetics business into one of the top beauty companies in the region, renowned for its exceptional service and certifications. Through Eterna Beauty, Afra's goal is not only to enhance the beauty and confidence of women in her community, but also to empower other women to create successful beauty ventures from the ground up in her mentorship classes. The proceeds from her cosmetics business go into the charity she founded, Think Pink Foundation, where she helps provide essential resources to third world countries that are not covered by the media.
Kristy Guthrie
Kristy Guthrie is the founder and principal strategist of Bright Light Content Inc., a marketing agency headquartered in Uptown Waterloo. For over 15 years, she has empowered nonprofit and for-purpose organizations to reach their goals with strategic digital marketing & creative content solutions. She’s pioneered a unique approach for developing effective digital content, but is most proud of the organization she’s building and the feminist-led workplace culture she’s fostering. Bright Light Content is a fast growing and uniquely structured environment where creative professionals can grow personally, lead professionally, and contribute to the world in a meaningful way. Her passionate voice and creative insights make her a sought-after speaker, world-class strategist, and inspired leader.
Chloe Hamilton
Chloe Hamilton has always been an entrepreneur at heart; she’s never been employed by a company she didn’t own. In high school, she was self-employed tutoring fellow students and in university, while earning her degree, she bought into a construction franchise and set provincial revenue records. At age 22, she founded Warm Embrace Elder Care and has grown it into a thriving company of over 70 employees, serving elderly clients across Waterloo Region and Wellington County.
Shay Herold
Shay is the co-owner and a creator for Ruthvens Raven, an art collective. They are a person with First Nations from Dokis First Nations, Donau Schwaben and German decent. Being a Two Spirited person and Waabizheshi doodem (Marten clan), they take pride in representing their cultural ancestry in the handmade products they produce. Shay has attended multiple artist markets throughout the Region as not just a vendor, but as the coordinator. These events promote inclusivity and a sense of belonging, not just for the Indigenous community, but for the 2SLGBTIA+ community and the German Community within the local German Clubs.
Dr. Harkiran Mallhi
Dr. Harkiran Mallhi arrived in Canada in 2010 and started her practice as a family physician in the region in 2015; she also quickly expanded her local presence to include a Medical Spa: Aesthetics by Dr. Mallhi. Driven by her passion for skincare, she established an oasis of rejuvenation and intimate wellness, offering clients transformative medispa solutions. Dr. Mallhi's fusion of medical expertise & her world-class technology has garnered praise from across the region. Throughout her entrepreneurial journey, Dr. Mallhi has been a great advocate for women's empowerment, supporting causes and businesses focused on diversity and inclusion.
Emily Peat
Four years ago, during the early months of the pandemic, Emily quit her job as a civil engineer to pursue her passion, founding the Underdog Dance Studio. Driven by a passion for dance and a strong work ethic, she designed Waterloo’s first-beginner-focused adult dance studio as an inclusive, encouraging, and friendly space for newcomers - specifically those with “two left feet!” The studio has since grown from a team of four instructors to 22, with 38 classes per week and 3,500 students. Emily’s encouraging nature has helped her nurture shy dancers with no experience, building their confidence and fostering camaraderie amongst the dancers. Some of them have become working professionals within 4 years. Emily supports the community outside the studio too; proceeds from the studio’s annual dance show go towards the Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region, and she hosts a weekly free salsa event in Uptown.
Katarina Penrith
Katarina is the founder of ‘Just a Girl and her Truck’, a local small business that offers services from junk removal to backyard clean up to dog walking. Katarina has built her business from the ground up and her entrepreneurial skills have allowed her to seize multiple opportunities and provide needed services to her community. ‘Just a Girl and her Truck’ strives to be a judgment-free zone for all customers and the business has been recognized by the Kitchener Record as the number one junk removal service in Cambridge.
Rebecca Prime
Rebecca is a holistic nutritionist who knows the importance of gut health. She has created two products - Beck’s Broth coffee and hot chocolate - that have been infused with bone broth. In less than three years of business, the business has grown significantly; products are sold in stores in 19 cities and towns across Ontario and online at Well.ca, with distribution across Canada and the United States. With its combination of delicious taste and nutritional benefits, Beck’s Broth has become a top seller in stories, while simultaneously helping Canadians improve their health.
Hilary Rigo
Hilary, the founder of Wildwood Floral + Event Design, infuses her passion for nature and fashion from her early years into designing one-of-a-kind celebrations. Armed with expertise in both Fashion Design and Business, her global perspective blossomed during work and travels with Emirates Airlines, where she encountered a rich tapestry of floral customs spanning 40 countries. Under the mentorship of esteemed florist Mary Currie, Hilary's designs seamlessly blend colour, ambiance and client vision. Each creation reflects her belief that creativity is essential, infusing events with captivating beauty.
Jessica Smith
With over 11 years of Technology Headhunting experience, Jessica is disrupting the way Tech Recruitment is being done across North America with Savant Recruitment. She has built her company, as one to be reckoned with, being awarded: Top Staffing Leader to Watch 2024, Top Female Founder 2024,
Top 100 Companies 2024 and Emerging Leader of People & Culture 2024 in the Leader's Circle. She is revolutionizing the way leaders are hiring across North America, and has made a serious dent in the North American Market. Jessica has partnered with CoderPad, Communitech, and ScaleHR to solve some of the biggest challenges happening on Software Engineering Teams & in companies that are looking to revolutionize and innovate.