MAD LOVE MONDAY - Tera Williams | Mia West

1

What is your business & why that field / service/ product?

My name is Tera Williams and I am the founder of Mia West. Mia West is a new, Canadian activewear brand that is designed by my partner and myself. We create fashion-forward athleisure apparel with a focus on quality, function and style.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved to create. As a kid, you would always find me drawing, sewing, behind a camera, or anything that would challenge my artistic capabilities. Growing up I dabbled in a bit of everything, but one thing that really stuck was my passion for health and fitness. Combining these interests led me to create my dream job and do what I love!

Mia West was created with the intention to provide high quality and affordable activewear but more importantly, to empower women to look good, feel great and live a life you love. To shop Mia West, click here. 

What inspired you to start your own business?

I always dreamt of starting my own empire. I think what really motivated me to stop dreaming and start doing was my previous job. I spent several years of my life working for someone else and grew tired of not doing anything for me. I use to dread waking up every morning, leaving my dog and going to work. Now I can honestly say that I’m excited to wake up early and start my day.

Do you have a go to quote / motto?

My motto is “Live A Life You Love”. Life is too short to be anything but happy. If you have dreams, go for it. Don’t think about how long it will take because the time is going to pass by anyway!

What’s a personal goal of yours to accomplish? (time frame?)

I want to buy my dream home with my boyfriend/business partner and live on the west coast with our dog, Mia. This is actually where the name “Mia West” comes from :P

3

Do you have a professional goal or set of goals for your business?

The list of business goals is endless! But one of my main goals is to open Mia West stores internationally. I always find myself looking at vacant stores and envisioning a Mia West sign in front.

Why do you love being an entrepreneur?

I love being an entrepreneur because it gives me the opportunity to create my own schedule and do what I love. Building a brand isn’t a 9-5 job. I’m usually working from the moment I wake up to the moment I close my eyes (and sometimes in my dreams). But to me, it’s not work because I love the job that I’ve created!

Did you ever have a time where you wanted to give up? How did you overcome that feeling?

100% YES!!! Working for your self can definitely be a rollercoaster. One day things are going great and the next you’re having an emotional break down. I’m lucky to have such a great support system. My boyfriend, family and friends are always there to lift me up whenever I feel discouraged. When I’m feeling extremely overwhelmed I take a step back and remind myself that a problem is only as big as you make it.

Whats your best boss babe moment? (First moment of reassurance).

My best boss babe moment was when I received my first online sale from someone I didn’t know. The feeling is unexplainable when someone you’ve never met, supports you and believes in your brand.

What platform do you find most success / interaction from? (IE. Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook).

Definitely Instagram! It’s a great way to connect with others and to promote brand awareness.

2

Work-life Balance: What you do you do to destress? What is your must-have moment of the day (me time)?

Any form of exercise helps me de-stress. I try and make it a habit to join a workout class or hit the gym 3-4 days a week. But after a long stressful day, nothing beats a glass of red wine, Netflix and cuddles from my pup.

What are you looking to learn from other YEGBOSSBABES in the community?

I want to learn how other YEGBOSSBABES got to where they are now. I think we can all learn from others mistakes and successes. Knowledge is power and it’s so inspiring to be able to meet like-minded babes who come together, learn from one another and support each other. I truly believe that when women support each other, incredible things happen.

Interested in being featured? email us at yegbossbabes@gmail.com 

MAD LOVE MONDAY - Ksquared Media

A broad look at Ksquared Media & “Blazing the Trail”, the documentary

KSquared Media is a dynamic feminine powerhouse duo owned and operated by Katherine Bessette and Katelin Popiel based out of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  KSquared Media is a multi-faceted media company who produces original content and represents various artists and athletes.  These two fierce female entrepreneurs have a mission and a big vision.  Bonded by blood, these two cousins have a rooted family bond that branches out into deep friendship and blossoms into a directed and efficient business.

FullSizeRender.jpg

Katelin has a background in public relations and media in the fashion industry, while Katherine comes to the business with production and media experience in the music industry.  Together, these two entrepreneurial dynamos fuse their respective skills and knowledge to form one unstoppable force, KSquared Media.

The largest project by KSquared media to date is an independent documentary titled “Blazing the Trail: A Canadian Cannabis Documentary” that is currently in production.  “Blazing the Trail” tracks Canada’s journey towards legalization as cannabis transitions to fully nationwide legal recreational use.  The documentary tracks the rapid unfold and evolution of an industry through the lens of several entrepreneurs, each currently shaping the cannabis industry and climate from the legal, medical and black market perspective.  The film aims to break down stigmas and stereotypes surrounding cannabis growth, production, distribution and use by providing viewers with an informed snapshot into the current state of the cannabis industry in a manner that mainstream media can’t or won’t.  It’s about putting the power back into the hands of the people by enlightening and empowering viewers to take an active role in shaping the cannabis climate. Legislation is still being written, the container is still being shaped and Canadians can have a say in how Canada tackles it’s big legalization move.

“Blazing the Trail” distills the massive “information overload” and misinformation into knowledge that empowers the viewer to make informed decisions on what lies ahead for Canadians.

IMG_3310.JPG

What is your business & why that field / service/ product?

We are a multi-faceted media company specializing in film production and talent representation.  From music artists to athletes, we are giving an inspired voice to artists and creators doing incredible things!  We are the amplified voice that’s spreading the word!

What inspired you to start your own business?

We are cousins and grew up very close. Combining our backgrounds in business, music, fashion and arts resulted in Ksquared Media. We have always spoken about working together and Ksquared is the product of that vision. We were inspired to start our own business so that we could work for ourselves, empower women to do what they love, and create a livelihood rooted in abundance (think beyond money here people!) for, not just ourselves, but other artists and creators as well.

Do you have a go to quote / motto?

“Maturity includes the recognition that no one is going to see anything in us that we don’t see in ourselves. Stop waiting for a producer. Produce yourself.”

“Collaboration over competition”

-KSquared

What’s a personal goal of yours to accomplish? (time frame?)

Face our fears.  Push ourselves beyond our comfort zone,  evolve our skill sets and learn new ones by doing, knowing that greater professional confidence would be an inevitable result. They say learning is ongoing, right? Well, these are goals to be sculpted over a lifetime! We’re buckled up and in the driver’s seat.

Do you have a professional goal or set of goals for your business?

- To see “Blazing the Trail: A Canadian Cannabis Documentary” circulating national and international film festivals by late 2018/early 2019.  We are always looking to further develop our Ksquared brand by looking ahead to what projects and opportunities are next.

Why do you love being an entrepreneur?

We both love being entrepreneurs because being an entrepreneur means constant growth. You learn to push yourself and build yourself up- you have to, no one is going to do it for you. Being an entrepreneur requires a constant shedding of insecurities and a fearless approach to stepping out of your comfort zone. We both welcome this growth and love sharing our “Boss Babe” journey together.

Did you ever have a time where you wanted to give up? How did you overcome that feeling?

There have been multiple times on our journey that we have been pushed to the limit. Making a documentary comes with many uncertainties, and with a crew of 11 people, it can sometimes be difficult to manage. However, we have been blessed to have each other to support and push one other through the challenging moments.  And each and every time, there has been a gift from the universe waiting on the other side!

What’s your best boss babe moment? (First moment of reassurance).

Winning the best short documentary at “Justice 4 Reel”, a local film festival last fall.

What platform do you find most success / interaction from? (IE. Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook).

Instagram!  Our followers are amazing and love to interact with us. It’s fun and playful and a great realtime back-and-forth with the greater community.

Work-life Balance: What you do you do to destress? What is your must-have moment of the day (me time)?

Self care practices are very important to both of us. Meditation, yoga, goddess baths, facials and massages are just a few of the practices we do on a regular basis to keep our minds and bodies rested and balanced.

What are you looking to learn from other YEGBOSSBABES in the community?

We are honoured to be a part of this amazing YEGBOSSBABE community. We look forward to learning more about each and every boss babe to see how we can collaborate and uplift each other. At ksquared media we value female collaboration over competition and are always looking for ways to connect and empower other women to follow their passions and embody their own bosses!  We believe women working together and supporting one another is key in creating the paradigm shift where women hold their own power, and in which all of us can succeed!

Interested in being featured? email us at yegbossbabes@gmail.com 

MAD LOVE MONDAY - Tracey Jazmin Photography

We go Q&A style with the talented Tracey Jazmin. Her answers are so genuine and relatable to so many of us YEGBOSSBABES across any field.  Thank you for you sharing your journey with us! "I’m Tracey Jazmin, and I’m a wedding photographer and brand photographer. Since I was little, flipping through old photos has been one of my favourite things to do. I love getting to see what people looked like and did before I knew them. When I was 14, I got my very own camera and you could say the rest is history. Putting my two loves together, I had created a dream job doing what I love. I want to be able to document and capture genuine and intimate moments for couples so that they, their kids and their kid’s kids can flip through old photos the way I used to when I was younger. As a brand photographer, my why has always been the hope to inspire others and see them being successful doing what they love. If I can help in that process, thats when I feel genuinely fulfilled."

image-1

1. What inspired you to start your own business?

I wouldn’t say I was ever “inspired” to start it on my own if I’m honest. I had so many others believe in me before I believed in myself to make my photography career my own business. Starting my own business more or less came about because I was getting so many bookings, I had to. It was then, that I started getting inspired and became the business person I am today.

2. Do you have a go to quote / motto?

Everything happens for a reason. This quote has been what I fall back on when my faith in myself, my business or my work waivers for the past five years.

3. What’s a personal goal of yours to accomplish? (time frame?)

In the next year or so, I hope to purchase an acreage with my other half. Being a business owner, it’s always tough to have financial institutions take you seriously so we’re working hard at making that a possibility.

4. Do you have a professional goal or set of goals for your business?

The list of goals for my business is always forever long but the big one right now is to book a destination wedding in Greece or Italy!

5. Why do you love being an entrepreneur?

The freedom it gives me. I’m a rebel at heart so I have always loved getting to make my own schedule and be my own boss. There is truly nothing better than that all while getting to do what you love.

6. Did you ever have a time where you wanted to give up? How did you overcome that feeling?

I have, and I did. When I moved from my small hometown to Ottawa, I packed my camera away in the back of my closet and had decided I was done taking photos. It was persistence from friends and family, that brought it back out again. However, that break allowed me to fall in love with it again and to date, I take the feeling of getting burnt out very seriously and make sure I only take on what I know I can handle.

image-2.jpg

7. Whats your best boss babe moment? (First moment of reassurance).

When Style Me Pretty emailed me and asked to feature my work! I remember feeling like I had made it when I received that email. Getting published, especially on larger publications, is a feat and having them reach out to me gave me so much reassurance.

8. What platform do you find most success / interaction from? (IE. Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook).

Definitely Instagram! I’ve booked many brides from Instagram. Of course, I think it helps that it’s mostly a visual app but I also love telling stories in my captions that will educate brides and inspire them to plan a wedding that’s “them”.

9. Work-life Balance: What you do you do to destress? What is your must-have moment of the day (me time)?

My three favourites for de-stressing are mid-day dance parties, watching Ellen because she always makes me laugh and of course who doesn’t love a good bubble bath. Being a rebel at heart, I love mixing up my schedule every day so I’m not sure I have one. Some days it’s a morning coffee, other times it’s walking the dog and the next it will be reading a book.

10. What are you looking to learn from other YEGBOSSBABES in the community?

I want to learn how to grow my business past the size that it is now. I’m a solopreneur and I love the idea of having a team! I’m nervous, but so interested!

image-3.jpg

Interested in being featured? email us at yegbossbabes@gmail.com