Meg Adams, one half of the powerhouse mother-daughter duo of the Perth General Store, is giving major hometown vibes with a side of girl-boss energy in our latest Boss Babe Corner series.
This babe and her mom spent years in the tech world before deciding, “Yeah… we’re gonna chase the dream instead.” And chase it they DID.
Handpicking every single product on the shelves with thought and care — we’re talking everything from skincare, to pickles, greeting cards, ice cream, sustainable kitchen goodies, weekly milk deliveries, ALL the cozy general-store vibes.
And Meg’s store has already become a warm, welcoming little hub for Perth locals, and trust me, these babes are just getting started.
In this episode, we dive into how this babe built this dream with her mom, how she’s redefining “everyday fine goods,” and why this business is so much more than a shop — it’s a legacy.
Ottawa Valley Boss Babes’ 5th anniversary special 🎉 “Where Are They Now” continues with Funeral Director Caitlin Cybulski of Malcolm, Deavitt and Binhammer Funeral Home in Pembroke!
Death and grief are often subjects of conversation people tend to shy away from, but this boss babe is determined to change that, as Caitlin Cybulski is on a mission to challenge the taboos around death and demystify an industry that was formerly male dominated. Caitlin is proud to be leading a diverse team of both men and women, sharing helpful resources on the socials, discussing the importance of planning ahead for the afterlife and suggests opening up the conversation about death with a bottle of wine.
In this episode, we dive into: 👇✨
🪦 Breaking funeral etiquette stigmas - from wearing the traditional black at funerals, what you should NOT say to someone grieving, and when it’s an appropriate time to share the news on the socials
⚰️ The often-overlooked topic of funeral costs and how to plan and prepare for a meaningful service without breaking the bank
🗣️ Tackling the sensitive and difficult conversation about death - whether it be with our parents, our spouses and our children
👩🏻💼 How being a female funeral director has influenced Caitlin’s approach to the job and the relationships she and her team build with families
Ottawa Valley Boss Babes' 5th anniversary special "Where Are They Now" begins with Kara Miles and Nicole Candace, the babes behind Edit by 18 Mill Street in downtown Carleton Place!EDIT by 18 Mill Street is a beauty collective all about connection, community vibes, and creative magic, tucked right in the heart of downtown Carleton Place.
Founded by besties Kara and Nicole, EDIT mixes years of expertise with a shared passion for hyping up women and building something way bigger than just a beauty collective. Their journey as female entrepreneurs have been equal parts wholesome, chaotic, and super rewarding. They’ve leaned hard on their circles—family, friends, industry pals—and eventually, on each other.
What started as two separate studios, The Lash Nook and The Brow Lounge, has now glowed-up into EDIT: a space where artists level up, clients feel truly seen, and the connections last way past the appointment.
EDIT is also home to some seriously talented resident artists, including Refined Image Ottawa, a leading cosmetic clinic opening its second location inside the collective. Together, Kara and Nicole have built something they’re genuinely obsessed with—a place for beauty, yes, but also for belonging, growth, and good energy only.
In this episode, we dive into:
* How each of these babes' individual journeys and personal circumstances brought them together to create Edit and why merging their businesses together was a natural next step
* Why it's important to set boundaries in their business, and how they are effectively learning to say no, step away from their phone, and prioritize self care
* Why collaborating with estheticians, piercers, tattoo artists, and other service-based women to promote themselves and bring various services to Edit was a BOSS move
* How their collective space is blowing up within their industry and beyond, as these babes are excited to be building their beauty empire
This boss babe is the money-smart sidekick every entrepreneur wishes they had in their back pocket from day one. Jenn Daniels turned her big idea into a boutique cloud based financial consulting firm with Corvus Financial Consulting— and now she’s helping others take control of their finances and guide them into CEO-level confidence.
From cash-flow clarity to financial coaching that doesn’t sound like a textbook, Jenn makes numbers make sense so entrepreneurs can build, scale, and actually sleep at night.
Whether you’re just starting up or stretching into your next level of growth, this episode is a reminder to all entrepreneurs and business women that your finances should feel empowering — not intimidating.
Chantal Roulston, a wedding and event specialist, and the boss babe biz owner of Chateau Mille Fleurs has always loved weddings and parties, initially entering the event industry 20 years ago. She first started off by helping others plan their events, from catering to planning to styling. Over time, Chantal's love for creating beautiful things extended into creating amazing cakes for my couples. Naturally, this love of all things wedding and party related led her to creating Merrickville's only tented wedding and events venue, featuring a secluded wooded sanctuary for intimate ceremonies with some boujee elements.
But this babe's dream to opening her business didn't come without its own sets of challenges and personal obstacles, from being pregnant in her teens and a high school dropout to having a house fire where she lost everything.
Buckle up for a story filled with grits and grind l — because this babe's journey proves that resilience, hustle, and heart can turn setbacks into a powerhouse success story!
Bean Chevrolet is a family owned business, stemming from 3 generations of entrepreneurs, highly regarded in the community and known for exceptional customer service, great deals, and community generosity, not to mention that familiar radio jingle that I'm sure you recognize. Over the years, they've supported the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital Foundation, golf tournaments, sports teams, and charitable events, and even extended members of the family have donated land in Carp and Dunrobin, on which community churches were built.
But what does it take to become the general manager of such a beloved dealership, especially with her father as the principal dealer? In our latest episode, April Bean, a young businesswoman shares how she rose through the ranks, fosters customer engagement, champions opportunities for women in automotive, and knows the importance of recognizing employees, especially in a demanding career that has long hours and high pressure sales targets.
PrawPer Pet Treats was founded by two best friends, Alex and Kayla, who share both a love for animals and a passion for wholesome, healthy living - and success that fuels their brand. What started as a simple idea quickly grew into a mission: to create pet treats that are as nutritious, natural, and love-filled as the ones they’d want for their own furry companions. And to build an empire in a way that no one else is doing.
Together, Alex and Kayla have blended their friendship, creativity, and care into every recipe, creating a brand rooted in trust, quality, and a genuine commitment to pets’ wellbeing. Because to them, pets aren’t just animals—they’re family.
These two don't let obstacles get in their way. Why break through the ceiling when you can just climb through the window.
Meet Jamie Lynch — otherwise known online as Simply Jamie — the content creator and brand strategist who’s made a career out of turning everyday conversations with GenZ's into laugh-out-loud, scroll-stopping gold. With a background that blends corporate HR know-how and social media savvy, Jamie has a knack for translating life’s quirks into stories that Gen Z, Millennials, and even Boomers can’t help but relate to.... or try to understand 😅
She’s part comedian, part storyteller, and all-around pro at making people laugh while sneaking in a little corporate humour along the way. Whether she’s navigating unprecedent workplace situations, decoding digital culture, or just sharing the unfiltered reality of life, Jamie brings humour and heart, connecting generations better than any algorithm ever could.
Simply put: with Jamie, you’re not just getting content — you’re getting a glimpse through the corporate world of modern life with GenZ employees, one funny, relatable interaction at a time.
Intrigued with visual rehabilitation and vision therapy ever since her second year of optometry school, Dr. Kristel Jefferies fell head over heels for the fascinating world of how we see. Since starting her career in 2013, Dr. Jefferies zeroed in on helping people with binocular vision disorders and behavioral vision issues—especially those recovering from concussions, like she once did herself. Whether it’s guiding athletes to sharpen their game with sports vision training or helping kids with learning challenges like dyslexia or autism see the world a little clearer, Dr. Jefferies has dedicated her career to helping patients thrive.
She’s proud to have helped hundreds of people improve not just their vision, but their overall quality of life—and she’s proud to have two Ottawa Valley, in Pembroke and Petawawa, as she is on a mission to make the world a clearer, brighter place—one set of eyes at a time.
Zoe Dolan had always dreamed of starting an eco-friendly business. Inspired by her mother’s simple, sustainable living practices and motivated by her own family’s journey, especially after discovering her son’s intolerance to conventional laundry detergent, she embraced practical, eco-conscious choices that eventually led her to launch Green Lemon Home in downtown Almonte.
From thoughtfully curated home essentials that are gentle on both people and the planet to all-natural products made with safe, sustainable ingredients, every item Zoe carries is carefully chosen to reduce harmful impacts on health, wellness, and the environment - all the while supporting Canadian makers.
Whether you’re just beginning your low-waste journey or already deeply committed to conscious living, Zoe is here to inspire, inform, and support your path toward a greener home and a cleaner world.
TBD
Born and raised in Portugal, Luiana Mendes quickly recognized the significance of hard work, dedication, and commitment after her parents immigrated to Canada and found success in their careers. Inspired by their drive and passion, Luiana began networking and building relationships in the culinary world, embracing the "fake it till you make it" mentality. This perseverance led her to pursue her dreams at the International Culinary Centre in New York, a renowned culinary school.
After a brief return to Portugal for her grandfather's funeral, the tragedy of 9/11 struck, preventing her from returning to New York as planned. Instead, she moved back to Canada, settling in Killaloe. There, she reconnected with Sigrid Geddes of Sigrid Naturals, who took her under her wing and introduced her to the world of entrepreneurship. Luiana quickly integrated into the local business community, securing a position as the Mess Manager at Garrison Petawawa's Mess Hall.
Now, she is thrilled to announce the opening of her new restaurant, SOPA, which will feature a diverse menu of Portuguese and Angolan cuisine, along with catering services in downtown Pembroke. Luiana is excited to become an active member of the Pembroke business community!
Lindsey McGarry started her career as a domestic violence counselor, but after hitting her stress capacity and experiencing career burnout, she found herself at a crossroads. Just as she began to reconsider her path, a serious car accident left Lindsey bedridden. This life-altering event sparked her determination to dive into research in the construction and landscaping industry, ultimately motivating her to launch ALM Construction and Landscaping, a bhsiness built on integrity and quality.
Lindsey is a visionary entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in construction and landscaping. Her keen eye for detail and unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction have established her as a trusted professional in the industry.
In this episode....
👷🏼♀️We discover how this former domestic violence worker went from working in social services to managing a construction and landscaping biz
🦺 Lindsey explains how she educated herself and fully immersed in this field, despite having no prior background in business or construction management – and dominated it!
👏🏼 Lindsey shares what has been like leading a male-dominated team, while also enticing more women to consider a career in construction and landscaping
💸 Lindsey divulges when she started generating enough revenue to finally start receiving a paycheck herself - and why it was worth the wait
Meet Ashley Kay – the visionary behind The Champagne Collective and your go-to systems and processes guru, with her women led team famously known as “The Girls Who Get Shit Done.” With a background in corporate leadership, a Bachelor of Business, and over a decade of experience working in demanding, high-pressure, and time-sensitive corporate roles, Ashley is all about turning chaos into clarity.
Tell me how you made the shift from working in project management for 7 years to becoming a visionary entrepreneur? How did you see your business model of offering virtual services look different from others and why was this something you wanted to take on?
After years of thriving on the corporate world, this boss babe traded the 9-5 grind working in project management for entrepreneurial freedom as a virtual assistant – and she never looked back. Now, with a powerhouse team of 14 Virtual Assistants, she helps entrepreneurs around the world streamline, scale, and succeed.
When she’s not optimizing businesses, Ashley’s embracing life in beautiful British Columbia – running trails, sipping wine, cuddling her dogs and embracing motherhood with her sweet baby girl, and is living the dream.
Alyssa and Spencer Pearce are a veteran-owned coffee loving couple that embarked on their coffee roasting journey six years ago. They dedicated themselves to learning the art of crafting exceptional and fresh coffee, quickly recognizing the impact of their newfound passion. As their skills developed, they began sharing their hobby with friends and family, igniting a spark of enthusiasm around them.
In 2020, when they both found themselves off work, they decided to transform their hobby into a business. Little did they know that this decision would lead to the creation of Barron Canyon Coffee & Tea Co., a brand that would grow rapidly and gain recognition within the community.
Throughout their entrepreneurial journey, they encountered numerous challenges and made plenty of mistakes, a journey that many entrepreneurs can relate to. However, these experiences ultimately strengthened their resilience and shaped them into the business owners they are today - and Alyssa is here to talk about how their vision for the perfect cup of coffee came to be, and a community that endlessly supports them.
Erin Curtis is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Child and Youth Care program with over a decade of experience supporting neurodivergent individuals through ABA. After moving to the Ottawa Valley in 2018, she founded Dragonfly Family and Learning Services to meet the growing need for inclusive, family-focused support. As a Certified ABA Parent Trainer, Erin is passionate about empowering caregivers through collaborative, person-centered plans that honor each family’s unique journey.
In this episode, you're going to learn about neurodiversity, learn about different diagnosis, and therapy, wait lists and more. Erjn and her team understand the unique needs of neurodivergent brains, providing you with the understanding and reassurance that they will succeed.
In this episode....
🧩 Erin shares what it means to be neurodivergent, how to explain neurodiversity to both adults and to children and her motivation to provide Home-based Applied Behaviour Analysis therapy to families in Renfrew County
🤯 We dive into lengthy government waitlists, limited funding options, the desperate need for respite, high therapy costs, and the increasing demand for support for children with autism and ADHD
🧩 Erin shares her perspective around the education system and its improvements towards accommodating supports, such as additional EA's, sensory breaks, skilled inclusionary, and education to educators around supporting students with exceptional needs
🌈 Erin shares how she is creating an inclusive collective space for other mom’s and parents of neurodivergent children, to share common struggles, gain effective strategies in supporting their child, and receive positive, professional support
Erin Curtis is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Child and Youth Care program with over a decade of experience supporting neurodivergent individuals through ABA. After moving to the Ottawa Valley in 2018, she founded Dragonfly Family and Learning Services to meet the growing need for inclusive, family-focused support. As a Certified ABA Parent Trainer, Erin is passionate about empowering caregivers through collaborative, person-centered plans that honor each family’s unique journey.
In this episode, you're going to learn about neurodiversity, learn about different diagnosis, and therapy, wait lists and more. Erjn and her team understand the unique needs of neurodivergent brains, providing you with the understanding and reassurance that they will succeed.
In this episode....
🧩 Erin shares what it means to be neurodivergent, how to explain neurodiversity to both adults and to children and her motivation to provide Home-based Applied Behaviour Analysis therapy to families in Renfrew County
🤯 We dive into lengthy government waitlists, limited funding options, the desperate need for respite, high therapy costs, and the increasing demand for support for children with autism and ADHD
🧩 Erin shares her perspective around the education system and its improvements towards accommodating supports, such as additional EA's, sensory breaks, skilled inclusionary, and education to educators around supporting students with exceptional needs
🌈 Erin shares how she is creating an inclusive collective space for other mom’s and parents of neurodivergent children, to share common struggles, gain effective strategies in supporting their child, and receive positive, professional support
Calling all sweet tooth enthusiasts! If you're located in or around the Town of Smiths Falls, there is a boss babe whose delicious handmade fudge, saltwater taffy, and maple hard candies will have your tastebuds exploding!
Gillian Manton's homemade fudge and candy business is quickly becoming a local favourite and is gaining momentum, as she has mastered the art of creating mouthwatering products that has customers coming back for more. This babe is unstoppable, as she has already launched Moose Munchies Candy Co. in Sobey's and Foodland across Ontario!
In this episode....
🍫 Gillian shares how she first took a stab at making homemade fudgeand why this kitchen experimentinitially went wrong
🍫 Gillian tells listeners the secret tomaking her fudge unmeltable - and why her customers keep coming back for more!
🍫 We chat vendor markets and what it takes to feel comfortable and confident behind your booth to stand out and sell ANY product to customers
🍫 We learn more about the Small Business Centre’s Starter Company Plus Program and how this program helped Gillian level up in business
TBD
Creativity has always been in Candice Allen's DNA. She thrives in the realm of her imagination, relishing the challenges of creatively solving problems and finds excitement in the prospect of learning something new.
Challenging the traditional “rules” of design is what Candice has always been about. Because this babe believes that design is not just about making things look pretty, but also about creating visual solutions that work. With over 15 years of graphic design, Candice has been immersed in a wide range of projects including graphics and art production/creation, social media management/content creation, logo design and development, as well as website design, launching her graphic design biz, Angkst of Boredom in Pembroke.