International Women's Day, in all its forms of name, has been recognized and made official by the United Nations since 1977. For many, this day is full of diverse representations, emotions, and demands. Today, we want to highlight the successes, both publicized and those that have faded over time, but which are just as decisive in our daily lives. Achieving parity is a goal achieved to varying degrees depending on each individual's reality. Demands are tinged with the culture and social class experienced by an individual. In recent years, female entrepreneurship has gained popularity, and financial support is offered to encourage women to pursue their projects. We met five influential people who inspire us and are fueled by the idea of bringing change to our society.
E-commerce: Mélanie Heyberger, Rachel's Box
The pantyhose industry is largely unknown and underestimated by some due to the technical importance and sustainability of its material. Mélanie Heyberger, co-founder of Coffret de Rachel, started this company alongside Carolyne Parent and Alyeska Guillaud, with no e-commerce background, to raise the profile of this industry among women. They are also concerned about the environmental aspects of product marketing and the life cycle of nylon. Following some empirical research, they managed to develop a partnership with a research center with the aim of finding a second use for the material.
Mélanie Heyberger emphasizes that launching into an unfamiliar environment further allowed for the creation of a strong bond between each project partner, while allowing them to find their place with their specific backgrounds and expertise. Despite not knowing any suppliers in the field, they were able to smoothly expand their network. The business model is based on proximity to the community. The company succeeds in creating an exclusive design adapted to the demands of their audience. The brand is humanized through its name to offer a sense of closeness to the customer. Rachel becomes the best reference and advisor for the client. Mélanie Heyberger affirms that Quebec offers many opportunities for women entrepreneurs and that you just have to dare and get started. What motivates her is "seeing the results, building relationships within our team. We don't want to become big, but rather remain a very small team to maintain our momentum. Afterwards, it would be to see the comments, the engagement of our community."
The e-commerce sector is a highly unpredictable, yet accessible environment for any startup looking to test its product. She concludes by stressing the importance of thoroughly researching your target customers before starting any project. "Surveys and focus groups are tools that shouldn't be overlooked," she says.
Self-acceptance, confidence, and inclusion have always been prized values in the young entrepreneur's life. A fan of fashion, colors, and a wide variety of textiles, she dreams of the day when multinationals will consider a wider range of body types.
At the age of 26, she decided to stop relying on society to meet her expectations. She developed her own inclusive brand aimed at women identified as plus-size. The brand thinks beyond simple numbers to represent the complexity of a body. Illustrations are printed on the labels to break with conventions and instead refer to these icons to better understand the model that suits her. The entire design of a piece is done according to principles of ethics, local community, and sustainability.
Viviane Lachapelle considers herself blessed by her strength and determination as a career woman. Challenging established fashion practices has become a driving force behind her motivation. She hopes every entrepreneur learns to convince others and not let themselves be persuaded to give up. Her instincts have been her best guide throughout her career, and she continues to learn more about business development every day.
She follows a nonconformist path and stands out for the acquisition of her heterogeneous notions. She leads this project with passion and wishes to inspire young people not to be discouraged by pre-defined molds. For her, Lachapelle atelier is much more than pieces of clothing; it is an inclusive movement, a platform for gatherings, a welcoming playlist, and a breath of fresh air.
Technology: Amira Boutouchent, Bridgr
Amira Boutouchent has carved out a niche for herself in a traditional industry, establishing her business there. As a software engineer, she aims to "help drive economic development in the industrial sector while remaining competitive, fostering local innovation, and providing better access to the best technologies."
She confirms that she has faced many obstacles as a businesswoman, but she firmly believes that it is these ups and downs that make her the person she is today. There was no doubt when it came time to choose the city in which to establish her business. Montreal was, for her, a city that offers great technological opportunities, even if she would have to start from scratch to build her network there. Bridgr was therefore set up by herself and her partner Mehdi Drissi. This tool is intended for companies that wish to form a bridge with their technology suppliers, facilitating digital transfer. As a woman in technology, she takes her role to heart and becomes the Women in Tech Ambassador at the Ubisoft Chamber of Commerce for 2019. She is expected to become a role model to inspire other young people to get started in this field. Being resilient and accepting mistakes became her motto during its deployment. His vision for the coming years focuses on Industry 4.0, which will allow him to predict future movements and equip managers to become forward-thinking.
Video game: Marianne Burkic, Yapouni
Hospitalization of children aged 5 to 8 years represents more than 155,000 cases in Quebec. Throughout her student career, she volunteered in hospital centers in France, then at the CHU Sainte-Justine. Marianne Burkic observed a need for support and education to prepare children for hospitalization, both on the part of parents and young patients. Due to a lack of resources or fear of overly stressing the child before hospitalization, emotional preparation is rarely provided. Yapouni has thus made it her mission to support families in the care process by gamifying their experience.
Drawing on her background in law and business, she honed her skills in international co-productions of youth films. As part of the Health Hackathon, she launched the idea "Yapouni," and four developers joined her project. She later launched the company under the HEC Montréal incubator.
Yapouni develops educational games, mobile or physical, in collaboration with the healthcare sector, in order to respond to pediatric issues (prevention, compliance or therapeutic education of families).
Yapouni takes the form of an educational game that allows children to project themselves onto a character similar to themselves, who is experiencing the same difficulties. They can then treat them in turn, to learn more about their condition.
This entrepreneur hopes to combine expertise in entertainment games while promoting a social cause. She emphasizes that "[The project] belongs to the health sector, the creative industry, and technology all at the same time," she adds. "We have to bring together people from completely different fields who never speak to each other. A great creative challenge!"
Sustainable innovation: Marie-Pierre Bérubé, Kliin
It takes two trees and 2,000 gallons of clean water to produce enough toilet paper products in one year for a family of four. North American countries, according to the Environmental Protection Agency in 2015, generate more than $7.4 billion in household paper waste annually.
Marie-Pierre Bérubé couldn't resist launching her own compostable paper towel business when she realized all the environmental benefits this product offered. At the start of her career, this market was still largely underdeveloped in Canada, even though it had been practiced in Europe since 1950. The values of a sustainable and eco-responsible brand had always appealed to her. She began her career in sales, but she always knew that one day, she would launch her own project, one that was truly close to her heart.
Marie-Pierre Bérubé says that she seeks to share through her mission that one must succeed in maintaining integrity when one's goal is to bring about change: "We are all trying to improve ourselves, and it's okay not to be perfect. It's with the small gestures of our daily lives that we succeed in creating a real, positive impact in the long term."
On this International Women's Day, she encourages all entrepreneurs not to hesitate to get started, even if their business plan isn't perfect. "You have to trust yourself, even if you're learning on your own," she says.
One of her biggest obstacles is the very limited technological development in Quebec. She would like more opportunities to test new products. She recently launched a dishwashing paste, but decided to start with a foreign manufacturing company. According to her, the credibility of small businesses is too often called into question for large-scale projects.
She envisions her company's future becoming a commodity, enabling us to move to the next level in our ecological practices. The average North American's mentality is still too conventional in her eyes. She envisions developing a more diverse product line and devoting more time to research and development.
We were fortunate to meet these determined, passionate, and creative women. If time had permitted, we would have surveyed a larger proportion of female entrepreneurs to maximize our representation. The goal of this article is to showcase some innovative initiatives and inspire people not to be afraid to bring their ideas to fruition. Whether it's for International Women's Day, the month, or the year, we must remind each of us of the importance of not giving up. Ideas, failures, and questions are the foundation of any success.
5 influential women to know
International Women's Day, in all its forms of name, has been recognized and made official by the United Nations since 1977. For many, this day is full of diverse representations, emotions, and demands. Today, we want to highlight the successes, both publicized and those that have faded over time, but which are just as decisive in our daily lives. Achieving parity is a goal achieved to varying degrees depending on each individual's reality. Demands are tinged with the culture and social class experienced by an individual. In recent years, female entrepreneurship has gained popularity, and financial support is offered to encourage women to pursue their projects. We met five influential people who inspire us and are fueled by the idea of bringing change to our society.
E-commerce: Mélanie Heyberger, Rachel's Box
The pantyhose industry is largely unknown and underestimated by some due to the technical importance and sustainability of its material. Mélanie Heyberger, co-founder of Coffret de Rachel, started this company alongside Carolyne Parent and Alyeska Guillaud, with no e-commerce background, to raise the profile of this industry among women. They are also concerned about the environmental aspects of product marketing and the life cycle of nylon. Following some empirical research, they managed to develop a partnership with a research center with the aim of finding a second use for the material.
Mélanie Heyberger emphasizes that launching into an unfamiliar environment further allowed for the creation of a strong bond between each project partner, while allowing them to find their place with their specific backgrounds and expertise. Despite not knowing any suppliers in the field, they were able to smoothly expand their network. The business model is based on proximity to the community. The company succeeds in creating an exclusive design adapted to the demands of their audience. The brand is humanized through its name to offer a sense of closeness to the customer. Rachel becomes the best reference and advisor for the client. Mélanie Heyberger affirms that Quebec offers many opportunities for women entrepreneurs and that you just have to dare and get started. What motivates her is "seeing the results, building relationships within our team. We don't want to become big, but rather remain a very small team to maintain our momentum. Afterwards, it would be to see the comments, the engagement of our community."
The e-commerce sector is a highly unpredictable, yet accessible environment for any startup looking to test its product. She concludes by stressing the importance of thoroughly researching your target customers before starting any project. "Surveys and focus groups are tools that shouldn't be overlooked," she says.
Fashion: Viviane Lachapelle, Lachapelle atelier
Self-acceptance, confidence, and inclusion have always been prized values in the young entrepreneur's life. A fan of fashion, colors, and a wide variety of textiles, she dreams of the day when multinationals will consider a wider range of body types.
At the age of 26, she decided to stop relying on society to meet her expectations. She developed her own inclusive brand aimed at women identified as plus-size. The brand thinks beyond simple numbers to represent the complexity of a body. Illustrations are printed on the labels to break with conventions and instead refer to these icons to better understand the model that suits her. The entire design of a piece is done according to principles of ethics, local community, and sustainability.
Viviane Lachapelle considers herself blessed by her strength and determination as a career woman. Challenging established fashion practices has become a driving force behind her motivation. She hopes every entrepreneur learns to convince others and not let themselves be persuaded to give up. Her instincts have been her best guide throughout her career, and she continues to learn more about business development every day.
She follows a nonconformist path and stands out for the acquisition of her heterogeneous notions. She leads this project with passion and wishes to inspire young people not to be discouraged by pre-defined molds. For her, Lachapelle atelier is much more than pieces of clothing; it is an inclusive movement, a platform for gatherings, a welcoming playlist, and a breath of fresh air.
Technology: Amira Boutouchent, Bridgr
Amira Boutouchent has carved out a niche for herself in a traditional industry, establishing her business there. As a software engineer, she aims to "help drive economic development in the industrial sector while remaining competitive, fostering local innovation, and providing better access to the best technologies."
She confirms that she has faced many obstacles as a businesswoman, but she firmly believes that it is these ups and downs that make her the person she is today. There was no doubt when it came time to choose the city in which to establish her business. Montreal was, for her, a city that offers great technological opportunities, even if she would have to start from scratch to build her network there. Bridgr was therefore set up by herself and her partner Mehdi Drissi. This tool is intended for companies that wish to form a bridge with their technology suppliers, facilitating digital transfer. As a woman in technology, she takes her role to heart and becomes the Women in Tech Ambassador at the Ubisoft Chamber of Commerce for 2019. She is expected to become a role model to inspire other young people to get started in this field. Being resilient and accepting mistakes became her motto during its deployment. His vision for the coming years focuses on Industry 4.0, which will allow him to predict future movements and equip managers to become forward-thinking.
Video game: Marianne Burkic, Yapouni
Hospitalization of children aged 5 to 8 years represents more than 155,000 cases in Quebec. Throughout her student career, she volunteered in hospital centers in France, then at the CHU Sainte-Justine. Marianne Burkic observed a need for support and education to prepare children for hospitalization, both on the part of parents and young patients. Due to a lack of resources or fear of overly stressing the child before hospitalization, emotional preparation is rarely provided. Yapouni has thus made it her mission to support families in the care process by gamifying their experience.
Drawing on her background in law and business, she honed her skills in international co-productions of youth films. As part of the Health Hackathon, she launched the idea "Yapouni," and four developers joined her project. She later launched the company under the HEC Montréal incubator.
Yapouni develops educational games, mobile or physical, in collaboration with the healthcare sector, in order to respond to pediatric issues (prevention, compliance or therapeutic education of families).
Yapouni takes the form of an educational game that allows children to project themselves onto a character similar to themselves, who is experiencing the same difficulties. They can then treat them in turn, to learn more about their condition.
This entrepreneur hopes to combine expertise in entertainment games while promoting a social cause. She emphasizes that "[The project] belongs to the health sector, the creative industry, and technology all at the same time," she adds. "We have to bring together people from completely different fields who never speak to each other. A great creative challenge!"
Sustainable innovation: Marie-Pierre Bérubé, Kliin
It takes two trees and 2,000 gallons of clean water to produce enough toilet paper products in one year for a family of four. North American countries, according to the Environmental Protection Agency in 2015, generate more than $7.4 billion in household paper waste annually.
Marie-Pierre Bérubé couldn't resist launching her own compostable paper towel business when she realized all the environmental benefits this product offered. At the start of her career, this market was still largely underdeveloped in Canada, even though it had been practiced in Europe since 1950. The values of a sustainable and eco-responsible brand had always appealed to her. She began her career in sales, but she always knew that one day, she would launch her own project, one that was truly close to her heart.
Marie-Pierre Bérubé says that she seeks to share through her mission that one must succeed in maintaining integrity when one's goal is to bring about change: "We are all trying to improve ourselves, and it's okay not to be perfect. It's with the small gestures of our daily lives that we succeed in creating a real, positive impact in the long term."
On this International Women's Day, she encourages all entrepreneurs not to hesitate to get started, even if their business plan isn't perfect. "You have to trust yourself, even if you're learning on your own," she says.
One of her biggest obstacles is the very limited technological development in Quebec. She would like more opportunities to test new products. She recently launched a dishwashing paste, but decided to start with a foreign manufacturing company. According to her, the credibility of small businesses is too often called into question for large-scale projects.
She envisions her company's future becoming a commodity, enabling us to move to the next level in our ecological practices. The average North American's mentality is still too conventional in her eyes. She envisions developing a more diverse product line and devoting more time to research and development.
We were fortunate to meet these determined, passionate, and creative women. If time had permitted, we would have surveyed a larger proportion of female entrepreneurs to maximize our representation. The goal of this article is to showcase some innovative initiatives and inspire people not to be afraid to bring their ideas to fruition. Whether it's for International Women's Day, the month, or the year, we must remind each of us of the importance of not giving up. Ideas, failures, and questions are the foundation of any success.