What do you enjoy most about owning a business on 4th Street?

Owning a business on historic 4th Street is a strategic and rewarding endeavour. Renowned for its vibrant atmosphere and diverse clientele, 4th Street serves as a thriving hub for commerce and community engagement. The street’s strategic location, nestled in the heart of Calgary, ensures a steady flow of foot traffic, providing businesses with unparalleled visibility and accessibility. The eclectic mix of shops, restaurants, and boutiques creates a dynamic marketplace, attracting a broad range of customers seeking unique experiences. The various events and festivals 4th Street hosts throughout the year fosters a sense of community that benefits local businesses.

What makes you proud about being a woman entrepreneur?

As a female entrepreneur, what makes me exceptionally proud is the opportunity to not only break barriers but to redefine and reshape entire industries. In my case, owning a skin clinic that embraces an integrative approach allows me to merge the worlds of traditional skincare & wellness with newer, more innovative techniques and nutritional research, creating a complete holistic experience for our clients.

Being a female entrepreneur means I can bring a unique perspective to the table, one that's often overlooked or undervalued. It's about challenging the “status quo” and proving that success knows no gender. I take immense pride in being a role model for other women, showing them that they can turn their passions and knowledge into thriving businesses, regardless of societal norms or expectations.

As a woman in the skincare industry, I am empowered to cater to the diverse needs of my clientele with empathy, compassion and understanding. I create a safe space where individuals feel comfortable expressing their concerns and embracing their natural beauty. This ability to connect on a deeper level and foster genuine relationships is something truly special.

In essence, being a female entrepreneur isn't just about running a business; it's about using my platform to advocate for inclusivity, empowerment, and positive change. I am proud to be part of a global community of women who are breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations of female leaders.

What makes you proud about being a woman entrepreneur?

I love to have challenges! Building a successful business allows me to have a positive impact on our communities, empower other women and contribute to economic growth.

What are three personality traits women in business should have and why?

Confidence: to believe in my abilities, ideas and decisions. Leadership: to inspire trust and respect from our clients, friends and team-workers. Empathy : to create strong relationships with employees and clients by understanding others perspectives, and needs, inspiring loyalty and create unique and warm environments.

What do you enjoy most about owning a business on 4th Street?

I love 4th street community, I love the strong connection building close relationships with our customers. I also love the business owners support one another with collaborations, referrals and creating a work together and love to participate in your events and initiatives !

What makes you proud about being a women entrepreneur?

Being a women entrepreneur fills me with pride, rooted in the lessons from my parents. I admired their work ethic as immigrants running a restaurant in Canada, learning early on the importance of hard work and pursuing goals.

Owning a restaurant wasn't my parents' dream for me, yet they take pride in my growth since moving to Calgary and opening Seoul Fried Chicken. What makes me a proud women entrepreneur is this fantastic sisterhood in the industry. Imagine a gang of women, armed with determination and a secret stash of resilience, just refusing to take "no" for an answer. We're basically the superheroes of the business world, with a side of sass and extra crispy ambitions.

The shared journey of overcoming challenges and supporting each other underscores the strength of women in entrepreneurship. I am proud that, as a community, we've refused to give up on our dreams. The celebration of each other's successes and the camaraderie within the industry make being a women entrepreneur a source of deep pride for me, echoing the spirit of perseverance instilled by my parents.

So, here's to us – the women who turned the business world into a sitcom, where we laugh in the face of challenges, chase our dreams with extra sauce, and never forget to add a dash of humour to the entrepreneurial recipe.

What are three personality traits women in business should have and why?

Confidence
You need to have confidence to start any business, it takes a certain amount of calculated risk to begin an entrepreneurial endeavour. If you don’t have confidence in what you’re doing, you’ll struggle with your decision making or lack the ambition to get started in the first place.

Perseverance
Many things aren’t going to work out the way you think they will, the ability to adapt and persevere is critical to the success of your business. Perseverance allows you to navigate setbacks, learn from failures and persist in pursuing your goals despite obstacles.

Integrity
Building and maintaining relationships is critical to running a successful business and your integrity is what will shape your reputation. Prioritizing honesty, transparency and ethical behaviour will allow you to build trust with your colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.

What are three personality traits women in business should have and why?

Though I don't think it's anyone's place to determine the "shoulds" of another, in my most honest words (emulating divine feminine energy) women in business would extremely benefit in being selflessly intelligent, fearlessly vulnerable, and intentionally authentic. Selflessly intelligent, as in able to think objectively/logically in alignment with the consideration of the collective good and the bigger picture; the long haul. Fearlessly vulnerable in the sense of openness, honesty (void of resentment), being communicative and expressive in ego-less based action and emotion (hence the name of the shop, ego striked out). And finally, intentional authenticity which pertains to the commitment and discipline (intentionality takes mental commitment and discipline) towards trueness (our truest selves are our most healed selves), which means aligning with one's highest/best version of self. As a business owner and mother, I believe we lead best by example. The example outlined by these three traits can create a business which inspires more sense of community, growth in personal power, mental freedom and freedom from the system (ego-based society) which invites all kinds of abundance for the generations to come. These benefits exceed far beyond just the monetary gain; business imitating life.

What makes you proud about being a woman entrepreneur?

Opening a business can feel overwhelming, but as a woman - you automatically feel like you've joined a special club. Immediately, you start building connections with like-minded females who understand the unique challenges and triumphs of being a business owner. Being part of a community that fosters collaboration, encouragement, and shared experiences can provide valuable insights, advice, and a strong support system. It makes me feel proud to get to say I am a part of this community of accomplished female entrepreneurs.

What makes you proud about being a woman entrepreneur?

It’s very empowering to leave behind the patriarchal corporate system. Creating my business and supporting other Women in their journey has been a wonderful experience, I encourage anyone to take the leap!!

What are three personality traits women in business should have and why?

BE YOURSELF as there is nothing more empowering.

BE CONFIDENT in your decisions. You are doing what is best for you!

SUPPORT OTHERS! Showing support for others always circles back and creates the best community!

What do you enjoy most about owning a business on 4th Street?

So many Women Entrepreneurs! My location alone is packed with Female run business focusing on Health and Wellness!! Just the best street!"

What are three personality traits women in business should have and why?

I believe that all women in business should be kind, never forget their why & have continuous passion. These three in combination allow for connection, keeping mindset in growth, and allow for creativity to shine."

What makes you proud about being a woman entrepreneur?

Being a woman in business has allowed me to surround myself with other insightful women, both within The Brow Studio team and within other female driven businesses in Calgary. I was lucky enough to have strong female mentors early on in my career and it really reinforced the value of surrounding yourself with other strong, honest, driven females. As a mother of two young girls, I hope that by them seeing a female owned, female operated, and female managed business thriving, they will be inspired to always prioritize including strong women in their lives.

What makes you proud about being a woman entrepreneur?

I’m proud to be able to pursue my passion and have created a small business that thrives on long lasting relationships and networks. I’m especially proud to be part of an entrepreneurial community that celebrates collaboration and mutual success, while meeting so many women who inspire me every single day.

What are three personality traits women in business should have and why?

In my experience, a woman in business must have these traits in spades! TENACITY. PATIENCE. CREATIVITY.

With these traits, one can only succeed, even if it takes a bit of time!! Always have your eye on the prize, and never give up on your dreams!!

What makes you proud about being a women entrepreneurs?

We have the opportunity to be creative and to take risks while creating and growing a company that is making a difference in our communities. We have the honor of employing incredible people, driving a positive culture and workplace for our employees while modelling to our children what moms can do and share with them learnings along the way.

"What if I fall?"

“Oh but my darling, What if you fly?”

Erin Hanson

What makes you proud about being a woman entrepreneur?

We are proud to be an all woman owned business because it represents strength, resilience, and the power of pursuing your passion. As a woman entrepreneur, building Zen has been about more than just aesthetics it’s about creating a space where clients feel safe, empowered, and cared for.

Women bring a unique perspective to business, balancing innovation with compassion. We’re proud to inspire and support other women, whether they’re clients, team members, or fellow entrepreneurs. Empowered women empower others, and that’s at the heart of everything we do.

What inspired you to start your business, and what has been your biggest motivation to keep going?

Our biggest inspiration for creating this space is to help empower others to feel confident in their own skin. Changing the perception in which they see themselves is what keeps us going. This community is everything to us.

How does your business make a positive impact on your community or industry?

One of the greatest impacts and reward I feel in my industry is the boost in confidence in my clients that I see session to session. Many individuals struggle with painful ingrown hairs, PCOS, or simply don’t enjoy the irritations that come with shaving daily. If I can help anyone feel better about themselves from the inside out, that’s one of the most rewarding feelings asides from the beautiful connections I get to make with what we like to call our “Zen Family”.

What inspired you to start your business, and what has been your biggest motivation to keep going?

We are fortunate to work with products that come from small, artisan producers. I like to think of our shops as a window into the world of delicious food that comes from the hard work of individuals. The labour of love and integrity behind the products that we choose to work with is what keeps us engaged and intrigued. Watching someone try a farmstead cheese for the first time is truly a delight.

What do you enjoy most about owning a business on 4th Street?

I'm loving the opportunity to engage with customers, neighbours and fellow businesses and have found the connections and conversations to be really energizing. Having just recently opened my storefront, and transitioning from an online only presence, this has been a real treat!

What are three personality traits women in business should have and why?

Flexibility: The ability to adapt to frequent changes with resilience and ease, without becoming emotionally overwhelmed. Flexibility doesn’t mean that changes are easy, but it allows one to navigate them without feeling a complete loss of control. It’s about moving 'with' change rather than resisting it.

Vulnerability: The capacity to remain self-aware of your actions, feelings, and behaviors, while taking accountability for them. Vulnerability involves openness to feedback, expressing your humanity to employees and clients, and leading with an ongoing commitment to personal growth. It’s about fostering true genuine connections and embracing imperfection.

Grit: The perseverance to keep moving forward, even when challenges arise. Grit means being willing to work alongside your team and community (sometimes in the trenches), in the face of obstacles. It is showing up consistently, no matter how difficult the circumstances.

How does your business make a positive impact on your community or industry?

I started About Staffing in 1996, filling temporary and direct hire jobs for all industries and levels of people.  We are master connectors, supporting community organizations, and building our reputation through positive interactions.  We have successfully placed thousands of people over the years, and we love our bustling office in Mission.  You may see our team frequenting the coffee shops, restaurants, retail and service businesses on 4th, as we are a social and friendly crew.

What are three personality traits women in business should have and why?

Authenticity - being genuine to build trust and strong relationships. Community-oriented - fostering collaboration and support within your network helps create opportunity for shared success. Commitment to growth: Staying open to learning and adapting ensures you and your business can evolve and stay competitive in a fast changing environment.