We are in an era where work has a hold on our daily lives and each of our actions is done according to our occupation. Our job now has an impact on our nutrition, where sometimes we prioritize the optimization of time, rather than the quality of what we ingest. Paradoxically, we are increasingly concerned about the veracity of marketing slogans disclosed by companies and a concern for our health is gaining importance. According to a Nielsen study, 83% of people want to change their eating habits, in order to eat healthier. Multinationals observe this change among North Americans and diversify their product offerings by adjusting to this trend. Indeed, several Quebec producers such as Gusta, Horizon nature, claim to have noted a phenomenal increase in their sales of vegetarian products, for some, their increase would be up to 200% .
Marie-Josée Richer was able to take steps long before this movement gained momentum. She has been developing her business, Prana , for 14 years now, which offers organic snacks sourced from various suppliers in India. She sees herself as inspiring people to achieve their full potential. As an entrepreneur, she says she didn't make this choice consciously: "I simply wanted to be my own boss, making an impact on the world by doing something I'm passionate about."
She has become a leader and inspiration for women entrepreneurs in Quebec. According to her, we have managed to achieve a refreshing and encouraging portrait so far:
"I think women increasingly have the desire to take on challenges, to create their own jobs, to be their own boss and to adapt their jobs to their family needs." Indeed, she strongly recommends to all women in business, to follow their heart and intuition.
Marie-Josée Richer is an inspiration to many female entrepreneurs today, but her leadership doesn't stop there. She is currently participating in the show "Dans l'oeil du Dragon" as an investor. She wants to encourage people to question their consumption habits and realize that every dollar invested is a political action. Her corporate culture and the mission she defends rub off on the advice and investments made during the show. Internally in her company, she puts it into practice by establishing humanist values in a conventional context.
Marie-Josée Richer believes in the constant evolution and perseverance of a business. She wants to reflect and never settle on a winning formula at a specific time. It's all about balance. In fact, in 2017, she decided to leave her company for a year for several reasons.
"Getting away from the daily grind, taking a moment to stop and step back, to reflect on what has been accomplished and the future of the company. As a leader, I also believe it's important to inspire your team by broadening their horizons."
The co-founders decided to take this sabbatical year with their children and meet their suppliers. Following this experience, they understood the need to listen and understand their various challenges: "Our involvement with them is crucial, it's all together that we're going to make things evolve, it's a team effort," she says. Many entrepreneurs might see this adventure as too great a risk, but Marie-Josée Richer firmly believes it has been beneficial on several levels.
She feels this has rekindled her passion to continue her mission of inspiring people in their food choices and lifestyle habits. For her, being an entrepreneur also means being able to step back from her actions, step outside of the daily grind, observe, and better redirect her strategic path.
Prana, snacks and snacktivism
We are in an era where work has a hold on our daily lives and each of our actions is done according to our occupation. Our job now has an impact on our nutrition, where sometimes we prioritize the optimization of time, rather than the quality of what we ingest. Paradoxically, we are increasingly concerned about the veracity of marketing slogans disclosed by companies and a concern for our health is gaining importance. According to a Nielsen study, 83% of people want to change their eating habits, in order to eat healthier. Multinationals observe this change among North Americans and diversify their product offerings by adjusting to this trend. Indeed, several Quebec producers such as Gusta, Horizon nature, claim to have noted a phenomenal increase in their sales of vegetarian products, for some, their increase would be up to 200% .
Marie-Josée Richer was able to take steps long before this movement gained momentum. She has been developing her business, Prana , for 14 years now, which offers organic snacks sourced from various suppliers in India. She sees herself as inspiring people to achieve their full potential. As an entrepreneur, she says she didn't make this choice consciously: "I simply wanted to be my own boss, making an impact on the world by doing something I'm passionate about."
She has become a leader and inspiration for women entrepreneurs in Quebec. According to her, we have managed to achieve a refreshing and encouraging portrait so far:
"I think women increasingly have the desire to take on challenges, to create their own jobs, to be their own boss and to adapt their jobs to their family needs." Indeed, she strongly recommends to all women in business, to follow their heart and intuition.
Marie-Josée Richer is an inspiration to many female entrepreneurs today, but her leadership doesn't stop there. She is currently participating in the show "Dans l'oeil du Dragon" as an investor. She wants to encourage people to question their consumption habits and realize that every dollar invested is a political action. Her corporate culture and the mission she defends rub off on the advice and investments made during the show. Internally in her company, she puts it into practice by establishing humanist values in a conventional context.
Marie-Josée Richer believes in the constant evolution and perseverance of a business. She wants to reflect and never settle on a winning formula at a specific time. It's all about balance. In fact, in 2017, she decided to leave her company for a year for several reasons.
"Getting away from the daily grind, taking a moment to stop and step back, to reflect on what has been accomplished and the future of the company. As a leader, I also believe it's important to inspire your team by broadening their horizons."
The co-founders decided to take this sabbatical year with their children and meet their suppliers. Following this experience, they understood the need to listen and understand their various challenges: "Our involvement with them is crucial, it's all together that we're going to make things evolve, it's a team effort," she says. Many entrepreneurs might see this adventure as too great a risk, but Marie-Josée Richer firmly believes it has been beneficial on several levels.
She feels this has rekindled her passion to continue her mission of inspiring people in their food choices and lifestyle habits. For her, being an entrepreneur also means being able to step back from her actions, step outside of the daily grind, observe, and better redirect her strategic path.