Interviews&profile Archives

In Interviews&profile August 21, 2026 By Women of Rubies

How Preethi Balasubramanian Helps Founders Move From Overwhelmed Operator to Intentional CEO

For many founders, growth does not always feel like progress. As businesses expand, responsibilities multiply, decisions become more complex, and founders can quickly find themselves carrying too much of the day-to-day operation.

Preethi Balasubramanian has built her work around helping founders move beyond that cycle. A Toronto-based operations and leadership strategist, author, coach, speaker, and founder of the Wond3r umbrella, home to Wonder EA and Wondering Pages, Preethi helps founders transition from overwhelmed operators into more intentional CEOs through calm, values-led systems and strategic support.

With more than 15 years of experience across India, the United Kingdom, and Canada, her perspective brings together operations, leadership, founder mindset, systems, and the realities of building across different environments and stages of life.

From Doing Everything to Leading Intentionally

One of the biggest challenges many founders face is knowing when to stop doing everything themselves. As a business grows, the habits that helped a founder get started can eventually become the same habits that limit the next stage of growth.

Preethi’s work focuses on helping founders create the systems, structure, and support required to lead more intentionally. Rather than treating productivity as simply doing more, her approach centres on creating businesses that can operate with greater clarity, consistency, and ease.

That distinction matters for entrepreneurs pursuing greater visibility. More attention can create more opportunities, but without the right systems in place, increased visibility can also create more pressure.

The Ease Equation

Preethi is the Amazon #1 bestselling author of The Ease Equation: Systems + Support = Sustainable Success, a book built around the idea that sustainable business growth requires both effective systems and the right support.

She also hosts the Ease Equation Podcast, where she continues conversations around leadership, business operations, founder mindset, and creating more intentional ways of working.

Her philosophy challenges the belief that success must always come through constant hustle. Instead, she encourages founders to think about what needs to be simplified, delegated, structured, and supported so they can spend more time leading rather than constantly reacting.

Leadership, Founder Mindset and Reinvention

Beyond business operations, Preethi speaks on leadership, founder mindset, and immigrant reinvention. Her own professional journey spans three countries, giving her a perspective on navigating change, adapting to new environments, and continuing to evolve professionally while building something of your own.

In 2025, she served as Stage Chair at the HR Leaders Summit Canada, adding another dimension to her work around leadership and professional development. These experiences shape the perspective she brings to conversations about visibility: being seen is valuable, but leaders must also be prepared for the responsibility, growth, and opportunities that greater visibility can create.

Storytelling Beyond Business

Preethi’s work also extends into children’s literature. As a children’s book author, she developed the SEEDS storytelling framework, designed to help build empathy and character in young readers.

While this work sits outside her business strategy practice, it reflects a consistent thread across her career: using structure, storytelling, and intentionality to create meaningful impact.

Preethi Balasubramanian featured as a speaker at Women of Rubies Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0. — Preethi Balasubramanian joins Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0, bringing insights on leadership, founder mindset, systems, and intentional business growth.

Preethi Balasubramanian Joins Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0

At Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0, Preethi brings a valuable systems and leadership perspective to a wider conversation about visibility. For founders and professionals, visibility should not simply create more attention. It should create opportunities that the person or business is prepared to manage, sustain, and grow from.

Preethi’s expertise helps connect those two sides of the journey.

Her perspective will be especially relevant for participants asking:

How do I build systems that support the opportunities visibility creates?
How do I move from constantly operating my business to leading it?
What does intentional leadership look like during periods of growth?
How can founders build businesses that are sustainable without being consumed by them?
How does mindset affect the way we navigate visibility, leadership, and reinvention?

These are important questions for anyone seeking not only greater visibility, but a stronger foundation behind it.

Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0 takes place virtually October 17–18, 2026. Learn more about Cohort 6 and reserve your spot: womenofrubies.com/mvbc2026

In Interviews&profile August 14, 2026 By Women of Rubies

Linda Du Is Using AI, Finance and Storytelling to Help People Make Smarter Decisions

Linda Du believes that in a world where people have access to more financial information than ever before, clarity is just as important as access. As the Founder and CEO of Moola Money, she is building an AI-powered financial platform designed to help millennials take greater control of their financial future through personalised planning and actionable insights.

Her work sits at the intersection of finance, artificial intelligence and consumer empowerment, combining years of strategy experience with a desire to make complex financial decisions easier to understand.

Building Moola Money With Financial Confidence in Mind

Moola Money was created around a simple but increasingly important problem: many people know they should be making better financial decisions, but figuring out what to do next can feel overwhelming. Through personalised planning and actionable insights, the platform is designed to help users better understand their financial position and make decisions with greater confidence.

For Linda, technology is not simply about automation. It is about helping people access information in a way that feels relevant, practical and useful to their individual circumstances. That philosophy has shaped the way she approaches both entrepreneurship and financial innovation.

From McKinsey to Entrepreneurship

Before building Moola Money, Linda worked as an Engagement Manager at McKinsey, advising leading retail banks across EMEA on strategy, digital transformation and growth. Her experience working closely with financial institutions gave her insight into the changing expectations of consumers and the increasing role technology is playing within the financial services industry.

It also provided a strong foundation for her transition from advising businesses to building one of her own. Today, Linda brings that strategic perspective into Moola Money while navigating the realities of building and growing a technology company.

Bringing Finance and Technology Into Everyday Conversations

Linda’s work is not limited to financial technology. She is also the host and producer of Moonshot Radio, a podcast exploring frontier ideas across technology, economics and society. The show has generated more than 700,000 views on YouTube and ranks in the Top 50 on Goodpods in both Technology and Economics.

Through the podcast, Linda has created a platform for thoughtful conversations around ideas that are shaping the future. It is an extension of something that runs throughout her work: the ability to take complicated subjects and make them more accessible.

Whether the conversation is about artificial intelligence, financial markets, technology or social change, Linda approaches storytelling as a bridge between expertise and understanding.

The Power of Making Complex Ideas Accessible

As an operator and investor, Linda brings a unique perspective to the intersection of finance, AI and storytelling. Her work demonstrates that knowledge becomes more powerful when people can understand it and see how it applies to their own lives.

That ability to translate complexity is also increasingly important for founders, professionals and thought leaders. Building expertise is one part of becoming influential within an industry. Communicating that expertise clearly enough for other people to understand, trust and act on it is another. Linda’s journey across consulting, entrepreneurship, investing and media reflects the value of doing both.

Building at the Intersection of Finance, AI and Storytelling

From advising some of the world’s leading financial institutions to building an AI-powered platform and hosting conversations about the ideas shaping our future, Linda’s career has continued to evolve around one central theme: helping people make better-informed decisions.

Through Moola Money, she is applying technology to personal finance. Through Moonshot Radio, she is creating space for deeper conversations around technology, economics and society. And through her work as an investor and entrepreneur, she continues to explore how innovation can solve practical problems and create meaningful value.

It is this combination of strategic thinking, technological curiosity and communication that makes Linda’s work particularly relevant at a time when both financial services and artificial intelligence are changing rapidly.

Linda Du, Moola Money Founder and Moonshot Radio host, featured speaker at Women of Rubies Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0 — Linda Du joins the Women of Rubies Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0, taking place virtually October 17–18, 2026.

Linda Du Joins the Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0

Linda Du will also be sharing her experience as one of the featured speakers at the Women of Rubies Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0, taking place virtually on October 17–18, 2026. The annual bootcamp brings together entrepreneurs, professionals and changemakers to learn practical approaches to storytelling, positioning, media visibility and building stronger personal and professional brands.

Linda’s participation brings an important perspective to the conversation, particularly for founders who are learning how to communicate sophisticated ideas in ways that audiences can understand and connect with.

Reserve your spot: womenofrubies.com/mvbc2026

In Interviews&profile August 13, 2026 By Women of Rubies

Princess Adetola Oluyede Is Helping Brands Turn Visibility Into Sales Through Strategic Storytelling

Princess Adetola Oluyede has built her work around a challenge many businesses face today: gaining attention is one thing, but turning that attention into meaningful business results requires strategy.

A marketing strategist and entrepreneur, she is the founder of House of PAc Media, a full-service marketing agency and diaspora media brand amplifying African voices across Canada. She is also the co-founder of Studyplace, an educator monetization platform. Across these ventures, her work centres on strategic storytelling, content and brand positioning, with a focus on helping brands and events connect with their audiences and convert visibility into sales.

As businesses compete for attention across increasingly crowded digital platforms, Princess Adetola’s approach reflects an important shift in marketing. Visibility is valuable, but the number of people who see a brand does not necessarily determine its commercial success. A business may generate strong engagement, attract a growing audience or receive significant exposure and still struggle to convert that attention into enquiries, registrations or sales.

The difference often lies in what happens after the initial attention is gained.

Building Visibility With a Clear Business Purpose

For entrepreneurs and growing brands, there can be pressure to remain constantly visible. Social media has made publishing easier, but it has also created an environment where businesses can become focused on producing content without considering how each piece contributes to a broader objective.

Princess Adetola Oluyede’s work focuses on connecting visibility to business goals. This means looking beyond how frequently a brand appears online and considering whether its audience understands what it offers, who it serves and why its work is relevant.

When those elements are unclear, increased visibility may produce attention without creating meaningful action. Strategic marketing brings greater intention to that process by ensuring that storytelling, content and brand positioning work together rather than operating as separate activities.

For brands and events, this can mean developing messaging that attracts the right audience while also providing a clear reason for that audience to remain interested, engage further, or eventually make a purchase.

Using Strategic Storytelling to Strengthen Brands

Storytelling has become an important part of how businesses communicate, particularly as audiences increasingly expect brands to demonstrate personality, purpose and relevance rather than rely solely on promotional messages.

Effective brand storytelling, however, requires more than simply sharing a founder’s personal journey or posting behind-the-scenes content. The story must connect with the people the business is trying to reach and help them understand the value behind the brand.

This is where strategic storytelling becomes particularly important. A business can use stories to communicate the problem it solves, demonstrate its impact, highlight customer experiences and explain the motivation behind its work. When those stories are connected to a clear brand position, they can strengthen recognition and make the business easier for its audience to understand and remember.

For Princess Adetola, storytelling forms part of a broader marketing strategy designed not simply to generate attention, but to create connection and support conversion.

Creating Content That Connects and Converts

Content remains one of the most accessible ways for businesses to build relationships with potential customers, but producing more content does not automatically produce better results.

A strong content strategy considers what an audience needs at different stages of its relationship with a brand. Some content may introduce the business, while other content educates, establishes credibility, answers questions or addresses concerns that may prevent a potential customer from taking the next step.

This approach shifts the focus from publishing for the sake of remaining active to creating content with a defined purpose.

For entrepreneurs, that distinction can be significant. Instead of asking what they should post each day, they can begin thinking more strategically about what their audience needs to know, what perceptions they want to build and how their content supports the larger objectives of the business.

Why Brand Positioning Matters

Brand positioning is another important part of Princess Adetola Oluyede’s work. In competitive markets, businesses need more than visibility to distinguish themselves. Their audiences must be able to understand what they offer and why that offer is relevant.

Clear positioning helps a business define its place in the market and communicate its value consistently. It influences messaging, content, storytelling and the overall experience people have when they encounter the brand.

For entrepreneurs who are investing in greater visibility, strong positioning can also help ensure that increased attention reinforces the right message. Being widely known is less useful if potential customers remain uncertain about what the business does or why they should choose it.

Bringing storytelling, content and positioning together creates a more cohesive marketing approach. Visibility attracts attention, storytelling builds connection, content develops the relationship, and positioning gives the audience clarity about the value being offered.

Amplifying African Voices Across Canada Through House of PAc Media

Princess Adetola Oluyede’s work through House of PAc Media also reflects her commitment to amplifying African voices within Canada.

As both a full-service marketing agency and diaspora media brand, House of PAc Media operates at the intersection of marketing, media and community storytelling. Its focus on African voices contributes to a growing media landscape in which diaspora communities are building platforms to tell their own stories and create greater representation.

For African entrepreneurs, professionals and organizations operating in Canada, this kind of platform can play an important role in ensuring that stories are communicated with an understanding of the communities and experiences behind them.

Princess Adetola’s work therefore extends beyond helping businesses market themselves. It also contributes to creating greater space for African stories and perspectives within Canada’s media and marketing ecosystem.

Building Opportunities for Educators Through Studyplace

Her entrepreneurial work also includes Studyplace, an educator monetization platform she co-founded.

The platform reflects another aspect of Princess Adetola’s interest in helping people translate knowledge and expertise into economic opportunities. As professionals increasingly explore ways to package and monetize their knowledge, platforms that support educators in building income from their expertise are becoming part of a broader knowledge and creator economy.

Across House of PAc Media and Studyplace, there is a consistent connection between communication, positioning and value creation. Whether the audience is discovering a brand, attending an event or paying for expertise, people need to clearly understand the value being presented to them before they can act on it.

Princess Adetola Oluyede joins the Women of Rubies Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0 as a panelist, bringing expertise in strategic storytelling, content, brand positioning and turning visibility into sales.

Bringing a Conversion-Focused Perspective to Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0

Princess Adetola Oluyede will bring this marketing and entrepreneurial perspective to the Women of Rubies Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0, taking place virtually on October 17–18, 2026.

As one of this year’s panelists, her contribution will add a commercial dimension to the conversation around visibility. For entrepreneurs and professionals working to increase their profile, gaining attention is an important step, but the ability to translate that attention into stronger relationships, customers and business opportunities is equally important.

Her experience in strategic storytelling, content and brand positioning will contribute to a broader conversation about building visibility with intention and ensuring that marketing efforts are connected to measurable goals.

In Interviews&profile August 12, 2026 By Esther Ijewere

Ola Adeyemi Is Helping Entrepreneurs Build Profitable Businesses That Don’t Depend on Them

From building a business from her dining room into a multi-team operation to leading ActionCOACH Alpha in Ontario, Ola Adeyemi is helping entrepreneurs create stronger systems, increase revenue and build businesses designed for sustainable growth.

There is a point in every growing business when hard work alone is no longer enough. The founder can no longer be the salesperson, administrator, customer service team, strategist and problem-solver all at once.

Growth begins to require something different:

Structure.
Systems.
Leadership.

The ability to build a business that can perform without depending entirely on the person who started it. This is the kind of transformation Ola Adeyemi understands firsthand. A seasoned entrepreneur with more than a decade of experience growing and leading businesses across the UK and Canada, Ola has built profitable, system-driven ventures and now helps other entrepreneurs do the same.

Her own entrepreneurial journey includes growing a business from her dining room into a multi-team operation with dedicated premises — an experience that gives her practical insight into what it takes to move a business from survival mode into structured growth.

Today, she leads ActionCOACH Alpha in Ontario, where she supports business owners who want to increase revenue, strengthen sales, build high-performing teams and create businesses that are less dependent on the owner.

As Women of Rubies prepares for the Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0, taking place virtually on October 17–18, 2026, we are spotlighting Ola as one of the experts bringing a strong business-growth perspective to this year’s program.

From Dining Room Entrepreneur to Business Growth Coach

Many successful businesses begin with modest resources. For Ola, that included building from her dining room.

What makes her journey particularly relevant to entrepreneurs is not simply where she started. It is what she built from that starting point. Over more than a decade, she has grown and led multiple ventures across two countries, learning firsthand what happens when a business begins to outgrow the founder’s individual capacity.

Moving from a home-based operation to a multi-team business with its own premises requires more than ambition. It requires systems that can be repeated. Processes that other people can follow. Teams that can perform. Sales that can be strengthened. Leadership capable of moving the business forward. That lived experience now informs the work Ola does with other entrepreneurs.

Building Businesses That Don’t Rely on the Owner

One of the most important transitions for an entrepreneur is learning to build a business that can function without requiring their constant involvement.

In the early stages, founders often become the centre of everything. They approve every decision. Speak to every client. Solve every problem. Follow up with every lead, and make sure every task gets completed.

As the business grows, that approach can become the very thing limiting its progress. Through ActionCOACH Alpha, Ola helps entrepreneurs create stronger structures around their businesses so they can move from being constantly involved in day-to-day operations to leading more strategically.

Her work includes helping business owners strengthen sales, improve revenue performance, create practical systems and develop high-performing teams that are capable of operating without excessive dependence on the founder.

Why Systems Matter for Sustainable Growth

A profitable business is important. A profitable business that can continue performing consistently is even more valuable. Ola’s work places strong emphasis on systems because systems create repeatability.

When important processes exist only in the founder’s head, growth becomes difficult to sustain. A business needs clear ways of managing areas such as client onboarding, sales, customer service, operations and team responsibilities.

Strong systems can help improve efficiency, reduce unnecessary pressure on the founder and create a more consistent experience for customers. For entrepreneurs who want to scale, this shift from simply “getting things done” to building repeatable processes can become one of the most important stages of business growth.

Strengthening Sales and Revenue

Business growth also requires a clear understanding of how revenue is generated. Entrepreneurs can spend considerable time increasing awareness of their products or services without having an equally strong system for converting that attention into sales.

Ola works with entrepreneurs to strengthen this side of the business as well. That means helping business owners think more deliberately about sales, performance, structure and the activities that contribute most meaningfully to sustainable growth. The objective is not simply to become busier. It is to build a business that performs better.

Creating High-Performing Teams

As a business grows, the founder eventually needs other people to help deliver the vision. Hiring people alone does not automatically create an effective team. High-performing teams need clarity, accountability, leadership and systems that allow people to understand what is expected of them.

Ola’s work with entrepreneurs includes helping them build teams that can contribute meaningfully to the business without every decision returning to the founder. For entrepreneurs who have become accustomed to doing everything themselves, this can require an important mindset shift.

The founder’s role begins to evolve from being the person responsible for every task to becoming the person responsible for creating the conditions in which the business and its people can perform.

Where Business Growth Meets Visibility

Ola’s participation in the Women of Rubies Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0 also brings an important perspective to this year’s conversations around visibility. For entrepreneurs, increased visibility can create significant opportunities.

More people may discover the business.
New customers may arrive.
Partnership opportunities may emerge.
Media coverage may introduce the founder to a much larger audience.
But increased visibility can also expose weaknesses in a business that is not prepared for growth.
What happens when demand increases?
Can the sales process handle more enquiries?
Can the team deliver consistently?
Are the systems strong enough?
Can the business grow without creating even more pressure for the founder?

These questions matter because visibility should ultimately support something bigger than attention. For entrepreneurs, it should contribute to meaningful business outcomes.

Ola Adeyemi at Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0

At this year’s Media Visibility Bootcamp, Ola will bring her experience as an entrepreneur and business coach into a broader conversation about positioning, opportunity and growth.

Her perspective will be particularly valuable for founders who want to ensure that increased visibility is supported by a business capable of converting opportunities into sustainable results. Getting noticed is important, building something strong enough to benefit from that attention is just as important.

About Ola Adeyemi

Ola Adeyemi is a seasoned entrepreneur with more than a decade of experience building and leading successful businesses across the UK and Canada. She has a proven track record of building profitable, system-driven businesses and helping entrepreneurs scale with greater structure and clarity.

Her own entrepreneurial journey includes growing a business from her dining room into a multi-team operation with its own premises. Today, she leads ActionCOACH Alpha in Ontario, where she supports business owners to increase revenue, strengthen sales and build high-performing teams that do not rely entirely on the owner.

Through her work, she helps entrepreneurs implement practical systems designed to drive growth, improve efficiency and create businesses that are both profitable and sustainable.

Ola Adeyemi, entrepreneur and business coach at ActionCOACH Alpha in Ontario — Ola Adeyemi, entrepreneur and leader of ActionCOACH Alpha in Ontario, joins the Women of Rubies Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0 as a speaker, bringing practical insights on business growth, sales, systems and sustainable success..

Join Ola Adeyemi at the Women of Rubies Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0

The Women of Rubies Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0 takes place virtually on October 17–18, 2026 and brings together entrepreneurs, professionals and changemakers for practical conversations around media, storytelling, positioning, personal branding, business growth and turning visibility into opportunities. Ola Adeyemi joins this year’s international lineup of speakers, bringing her experience in entrepreneurship, business systems, sales and sustainable growth into the room.

Registration is now open at womenofrubies.com/mvbc2026.

In Inspiration August 14, 2026 By Women of Rubies

Hava Maloku: Using AI, Marketing and Personal Branding to Build Visibility and Business Growth

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape how businesses communicate, market, and connect with customers, visibility alone is no longer enough. Entrepreneurs and professionals need to understand how to combine technology with strategy, authenticity, and a clear understanding of the audiences they want to reach.

This is an area Hava Maloku knows well. With more than 15 years of experience spanning lifecycle marketing, digital growth, customer retention, and strategic marketing, Hava has built a career helping organizations turn marketing into measurable business impact.

Now, as Founder and CEO of Maloku Marketing, she is bringing that experience to Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0, taking place virtually on October 17–18, 2026.

Want to learn from Hava and the other experts joining Cohort 6?
Explore Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0 and register

From Global Brands to Entrepreneurship

Before launching Maloku Marketing, Hava spent a decade at LinkedIn, where she led global lifecycle marketing initiatives and developed strategies focused on customer engagement, retention, and growth.

Her corporate career also includes marketing leadership experience with major brands including Expedia and LegalZoom.

Across these roles, Hava developed expertise at the intersection of customer behaviour, digital marketing, lifecycle strategy, and business growth experience she now brings to organizations and entrepreneurs through her own consultancy.

Building Maloku Marketing

Today, Hava is the Founder and CEO of Maloku Marketing, a boutique growth consultancy that helps organizations accelerate growth through AI, lifecycle marketing, customer retention, and strategic marketing systems.

Her move from corporate leadership into entrepreneurship represents another dimension of her expertise: understanding what it takes not only to execute marketing within established organizations, but also to build and position a business in an increasingly competitive digital environment.

Through her work, Hava helps organizations think more strategically about the relationship between marketing, technology, customers, and sustainable revenue growth.

Where AI Meets Marketing Strategy

Artificial intelligence has made it possible to create content, analyze information, automate processes, and reach audiences faster than ever before. But access to AI does not automatically create an effective marketing strategy. For founders and professionals, the bigger question is how to use these tools without losing the clarity, credibility, and human connection that make people trust a brand.

Hava’s work sits at this intersection. Her expertise in AI, marketing strategy, personal branding, visibility, and business growth offers a practical perspective for professionals navigating a rapidly changing digital landscape.

Personal Branding Is More Than Being Visible

Hava’s expertise also extends to personal branding — an increasingly important asset for founders, executives, and professionals.

A strong personal brand is not simply about posting frequently or accumulating followers. It is about creating a clear association between your name, expertise, values, and the problems you can help solve.

When that positioning is supported by the right marketing strategy, visibility can begin to create credibility, relationships, customers, partnerships, speaking opportunities, and other forms of professional growth.

That connection between visibility and opportunity is one of the conversations at the heart of Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0.

Hava Maloku Joins Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0

As one of the experts joining Cohort 6, Hava will bring her experience in strategic marketing, AI, personal branding, and business growth to the Media Visibility Bootcamp community.

Her perspective is particularly relevant for entrepreneurs and professionals asking questions such as:

How can I use AI strategically without losing my authentic voice?
How do I build a personal brand that establishes credibility?
How can marketing support greater visibility and business growth?
How do I turn increased attention into meaningful opportunities on LinkedIn?
What systems can help me build visibility more intentionally?

These are no longer questions reserved for marketing departments. They are increasingly important for anyone building a business, career, or professional reputation.

A Global Perspective on Marketing and Visibility

With a career spanning global organizations and entrepreneurship, Hava brings both corporate and founder perspectives to the conversation.

She also speaks internationally on AI, marketing strategy, personal branding, visibility, and business growth and holds a doctorate in Marketing and an MBA.

Her career demonstrates something particularly relevant to the Women of Rubies community: expertise becomes more powerful when people understand how to communicate, position, and leverage it.

Why Hava’s Perspective Matters for Cohort 6

Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0 has been intentionally designed around the idea that visibility is an ecosystem.

Media exposure is one part of it. So are communication, personal branding, marketing, AI, business strategy, relationships, leadership, and positioning.

Hava brings the AI, strategic marketing, lifecycle growth, and personal-branding lens to that ecosystem.

For participants, the opportunity is not simply to hear another success story, but to learn from someone who has spent years working with the strategies and systems behind how organizations attract, engage, and retain audiences.

Learn From Hava Maloku at Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0

Hava Maloku joins a diverse group of experts for the sixth cohort of the Women of Rubies Media Visibility Bootcamp, a two-day virtual learning experience designed to help entrepreneurs, professionals, creatives, and changemakers strengthen their visibility, credibility, communication, and positioning.

Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0
October 17–18, 2026
Virtual

Early Bird registration is currently open.

Get your Media Visibility Bootcamp 6.0 Early Bird ticket

More speakers and special guests will be unveiled as Women of Rubies counts down to Cohort 6.

In Inspiration August 14, 2026 By Esther Ijewere

Monica Kretschmer: Championing Women’s Stories on a Global Stage

Founder and CEO of Universal Womens Network™, Monica Kretschmer is redefining how women are recognized, celebrated, and empowered through storytelling, leadership, and global collaboration.

In a world where visibility often determines opportunity, few leaders have dedicated their life’s work to ensuring women’s stories are seen, heard, and celebrated as intentionally as Monica Kretschmer.

As the Founder and CEO of Universal Womens Network™, Monica has built more than a media company. She has created a global platform that recognizes women’s achievements, elevates their voices, and fosters meaningful connections through storytelling and leadership.

From Personal Resilience to Purpose-Driven Leadership

Behind Monica’s professional accomplishments is a deeply personal story of resilience.

Her vision for Universal Womens Network™ was shaped by years of personal hardship, including navigating more than 4,800 hours of family litigation, a 22-day trial, and rebuilding her life as a single mother. Rather than allowing those experiences to define her, Monica transformed them into a mission dedicated to ensuring women are seen, valued, supported, and recognized for the impact they create.

That journey has become the foundation of a movement that continues to inspire women around the world.

Monica Kretschmer supporting women leaders and changemakers through Universal Womens Network. — Universal Womens Network™ has celebrated more than 1,200 women leaders and changemakers whose stories continue to inspire communities around the world.

Building More Than a Brand

Monica describes storytelling as the heartbeat of Universal Womens Network™. Over the past decade, the organization has created a growing collection of stories that reflect the leadership, resilience, innovation, and lived experiences of women from diverse industries, cultures, and generations. Its mission extends beyond celebrating accomplishments to changing how women are perceived and represented globally.

Through media, publishing, events, strategic partnerships, and emerging technologies, the organization has built an ecosystem where stories become opportunities for connection, recognition, and lasting impact.

Creating Platforms That Inspire

Universal Womens Network™ is home to several internationally recognized initiatives, including:

Women of Inspiration®
Global Women of Inspiration® Summit
SupportHER™
UWomen Magazine™
Women of Inspiration® Podcast
Women of Inspiration® Books

Together, these initiatives create spaces where women can share their experiences, celebrate achievements, and inspire future generations while engaging men as visible allies through the SupportHER™ movement.

A Decade of Celebrating Women’s Leadership

Over the last ten years, Universal Womens Network™ has celebrated more than 1,200 entrepreneurs, executives, professionals, founders, creators, and changemakers whose stories continue to inspire communities worldwide.

Today, Monica continues to expand that vision by building what she describes as one of the world’s leading media and experiences companies focused on putting women into the spotlight through storytelling, thought leadership, and global collaboration.

Monica Kretschmer speaking about women’s leadership, storytelling, recognition, and global impact. — Through storytelling, thought leadership, and global experiences, Monica Kretschmer continues to redefine how women are seen, recognized, and celebrated.

Leading Through Storytelling

For Monica, storytelling is far more than communication; it is a catalyst for transformation. Her philosophy is reflected in the organization’s belief that:

Stories create visibility. Visibility creates connection. Connection creates opportunity. Opportunity creates impact. Impact inspires the next story.

This approach continues to shape how Universal Womens Network™ develops original media, leadership experiences, and recognition programs that help women increase their visibility while inspiring meaningful change.

Looking Ahead

Monica Kretschmer’s vision extends beyond building successful brands. Her goal is to create a future where every woman recognizes her potential, every story has the power to create change, and everyone has a role to play in supporting women’s success.

Through purpose-driven leadership, global collaboration, and an unwavering belief in the power of storytelling, Monica continues to champion women’s voices and build platforms that leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.

To learn more about Monica Kretschmer and her work, connect with Universal Womens Network™ and follow its global initiatives celebrating women in leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Through its media platforms, events, and recognition programs, the organization continues to amplify inspiring stories and create opportunities for women to be seen, celebrated, and supported. Whether you are a founder, executive, professional, or changemaker, Monica’s work offers a powerful reminder of the impact storytelling can have in shaping lives, communities, and the future.

In Interviews&profile July 28, 2026 By Esther Ijewere

10 Lessons From Building Women of Rubies and Amplifying 3,000+ Women’s Stories

When I launched Women of Rubies in 2015, I wasn’t trying to build a media company. I was trying to solve a problem.

Every day, I encountered remarkable women doing extraordinary work, building businesses, leading organizations, creating opportunities, transforming communities, and quietly changing lives. Yet very few people knew their names.

The media landscape often celebrated the same voices while countless women with equally powerful stories remained invisible. I believed visibility should never be reserved for a select few. It should be accessible to every woman with a meaningful story to tell.

That belief became Women of Rubies.

Today, more than a decade later, our platform has amplified the stories of over 3,000 women, published more than 500 editorial features and columns, trained over 600 entrepreneurs and professionals through our Media Visibility Bootcamp, and built a global community that spans Canada, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, the United States, and beyond.

Looking back, I realize this journey has taught me far more than how to run a media platform. It has taught me about leadership, purpose, consistency, trust, and the true power of storytelling.

Here are ten lessons that shaped everything.

1. Start with a problem, not a platform

Many founders begin by asking what they want to build. I started by asking what needed to change.

Women of Rubies was never about creating another website. It was about creating opportunities for women whose expertise deserved greater visibility. Purpose creates staying power. Platforms evolve, but purpose keeps them relevant.

2. Storytelling is one of the most valuable business assets

People rarely remember statistics. They remember stories.

Throughout my career as a journalist and communications strategist, I’ve learned that the most influential leaders are not always the most accomplished; they are often the ones who communicate their ideas clearly and consistently.

Every interview, feature story, and founder profile reinforced one truth: Stories build trust faster than credentials alone.

3. Visibility creates opportunities

One of the greatest misconceptions I encounter is that visibility is about fame. It isn’t.

Visibility is about discoverability. When people know who you are, understand what you do, and trust your expertise, opportunities begin to find you.

Over the years, many women featured on Women of Rubies have gone on to secure speaking engagements, board appointments, media interviews, partnerships, grants, awards, and new clients because someone discovered their story.

4. Consistency matters more than perfection

There were seasons when publishing content felt easy. There were also seasons when it was incredibly difficult.

Life changes.

Businesses evolve.

Resources fluctuate.

But consistency compounds.

Publishing one meaningful story after another eventually became thousands.

The lesson?

You don’t build authority overnight. You build it one piece of content at a time.

5. Relationships are your greatest marketing strategy

Women of Rubies has never relied solely on advertising. Our growth has been built through genuine relationships.

Journalists.

Authors.

Founders.

Corporate leaders.

Community organizations.

Partners.

Sponsors.

Every meaningful collaboration began with trust. In communications, relationships remain one of the strongest forms of long-term marketing.

6. Great content serves before it sells

As the digital landscape has changed, I’ve become increasingly intentional about creating educational content that answers real questions. Whether we’re writing about media visibility, personal branding, Google Knowledge Panels, AI search, storytelling, or communications strategy, our goal is simple:

Help people first.

Search engines have changed.

AI has changed.

But valuable content continues to outperform promotional content because it solves problems.

7. AI is changing discoverability, but authority still matters

One of the biggest shifts I’ve observed is how people search for information. Increasingly, entrepreneurs are asking ChatGPT, Google AI, Perplexity, and other AI assistants instead of typing simple search queries.

That means digital credibility matters more than ever. Brands that consistently publish accurate, well-structured, trustworthy content are more likely to be cited and recommended.

This is why I believe digital footprint has become one of the most valuable business assets any professional can build.

8. Your reputation is built long before people meet you

Most people will Google your name before they schedule a meeting.

Potential employers.

Clients.

Conference organizers.

Journalists.

Investors.

Your online presence has become your first introduction.

Every article, interview, LinkedIn post, podcast appearance, and media feature contributes to the story people form about you.

Build that story intentionally.

9. Success isn’t measured only by numbers

Yes, I’m proud that Women of Rubies has featured over 3,000 women. I’m proud of the awards.

The partnerships.

The global reach.

But what matters most are the messages that say:

“Your story gave me hope.”

“I finally felt seen.”

“That interview opened a new opportunity for me.”

Those moments remind me why this work matters.

Impact will always outlast impressions.

10. Keep building, even when no one is watching

Every platform has quiet seasons. Every founder experiences doubt.

Every entrepreneur wonders whether the work is making a difference.

The truth is this:

People often see the results long before they see the years of consistency that created them.

Keep publishing.

Keep improving.

Keep serving.

Your next article, interview, conversation, or opportunity could become the one that changes everything.

Final Thoughts

Building Women of Rubies has never been about creating content for the sake of publishing. It has been about creating opportunities through storytelling.

As communications continues to evolve through artificial intelligence, changing search behaviour, and new digital platforms, one principle remains unchanged:

People trust authentic stories.

Whether you are building a business, leading an organization, launching a nonprofit, or growing your personal brand, never underestimate the power of being intentional about your visibility.

Because when the right people discover your story, new opportunities become possible.

About Esther Ijewere

Esther Ijewere is a Canadian-based media strategist, brand visibility consultant, journalist, and Founder of Women of Rubies. Through strategic storytelling, communications, and media visibility initiatives, she has helped amplify the voices of more than 3,000 women globally while training hundreds of entrepreneurs and professionals to communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact.

Ready to increase your visibility?

Join the Women of Rubies Media Visibility Bootcamp, explore our communications resources, or subscribe to receive practical insights on storytelling, personal branding, and thought leadership.

In Interviews&profile August 12, 2026 By Esther Ijewere

How Mawusinu Jennifer Hodgson Built Toronto’s First Viral 24/7 Braiding Salon

For many women, getting their hair braided often means rearranging work schedules, sacrificing weekends, or waiting weeks for an appointment. But for entrepreneur and healthcare professional Mawusinu Jennifer Hodgson, that challenge presented an opportunity to create something different.

As the Founder and CEO of Passionate Hands 24/7, Mawusinu has redefined convenience in the beauty industry by launching what is widely recognized as Toronto’s first dedicated round-the-clock braiding salon. Her innovative approach has not only attracted attention across the city but has also earned the salon viral recognition for its unique business model and commitment to meeting the needs of busy clients.

A Vision Born From Service

Mawusinu is no stranger to serving others. With over 11 years of experience in healthcare as a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), she has built her career around compassion, care, and improving lives.

As the Founder of Passionate Care Nursing, a healthcare staffing and home care agency, she understands the importance of accessibility and responsive service. These same values became the foundation for her venture into the beauty industry.

Recognizing that many clients struggled to find flexible salon hours that fit their demanding schedules, she saw an opportunity to create a solution that prioritized convenience without compromising quality.

Mawusinu Jennifer Hodgson braiding a client's hair at Passionate Hands 24/7, Toronto's first viral 24-hour braiding salon. — Mawusinu Jennifer Hodgson works with a client at Passionate Hands 24/7, the innovative salon helping redefine accessibility and convenience in Toronto’s beauty industry.

Introducing Toronto’s First Viral 24/7 Braiding Salon

Located in downtown Toronto at 66 Gerrard Street East, Passionate Hands 24/7 operates around the clock, making it one of the city’s most innovative beauty destinations. The salon welcomes walk-in clients daily and offers complimentary hair washing and blow-drying with services including knotless braids, crochet braids, box braids, and other protective styles.

The concept quickly gained attention because it solved a common challenge for busy professionals, shift workers, students, entrepreneurs, and parents who often struggle to find appointment times that fit their schedules. By remaining open 24 hours a day, the salon provides unmatched flexibility and convenience for clients across the Greater Toronto Area.

Visitors can book appointments, explore available services, and check availability through the salon’s website, making it easier than ever to access professional braiding services when they need them most.

Creating Opportunities Through Entrepreneurship

Beyond providing beauty services, Mawusinu has built Passionate Hands 24/7 as a platform for economic empowerment and professional growth.

The salon creates opportunities for talented braiders and beauty professionals to showcase their skills, build their careers, and earn income in a supportive environment. By expanding access to employment and flexible work opportunities, the business continues to contribute to the local economy while helping professionals thrive.

Her success demonstrates how entrepreneurship can be used not only to solve problems but also to create opportunities that positively impact communities.

Mawusinu Jennifer Hodgson featured by Women of Rubies for her work as founder of Passionate Hands 24/7 in Toronto. — Featured by Women of Rubies, Mawusinu Jennifer Hodgson is the founder of Passionate Hands 24/7, Toronto’s first viral 24-hour braiding salon.

Balancing Healthcare and Business Leadership

Managing successful businesses in both healthcare and beauty requires resilience, strategic thinking, and exceptional leadership.

For Mawusinu, the common thread between her ventures is service. Whether she is supporting healthcare clients through Passionate Care Nursing or welcoming salon clients at Passionate Hands 24/7, her mission remains focused on delivering exceptional experiences and meaningful results.

Her ability to successfully lead in two distinct industries highlights the power of purpose-driven entrepreneurship and the importance of staying connected to the needs of the people you serve.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Women Entrepreneurs

Mawusinu’s journey serves as a reminder that innovation often comes from identifying everyday challenges and finding creative ways to address them.

By combining compassion, leadership, and entrepreneurial vision, she has built businesses that serve communities, create jobs, and improve lives. Her story continues to inspire aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly women looking to turn their ideas into impactful ventures.

As she continues to grow both Passionate Care Nursing and Passionate Hands 24/7, Mawusinu remains committed to her mission of leading with passion, serving with purpose, and creating opportunities that make a lasting impact.

Share Your Story With Women of Rubies

At Women of Rubies, we are committed to amplifying the voices of women entrepreneurs, professionals, leaders, changemakers, and organizations making an impact in their communities and industries.

Through media features, storytelling, visibility campaigns, press release distribution, and personal brand development, we help women increase their visibility and grow their influence.

Whether you are building a business, launching a new initiative, celebrating a milestone, or looking to share your story with a wider audience, we would love to hear from you.

🌐 Visit us here
📧 Email: info@womenofrubies.com
📱 Call or WhatsApp: (437)-255-7007

Ready to amplify your story? Contact Women of Rubies today to explore feature opportunities, media visibility services, and partnership opportunities.

In Interviews&profile July 29, 2026 By Women of Rubies

Minister Rechie Valdez Announces $173.7 Million Investment to Support Women Entrepreneurs Across Canada

Women entrepreneurs across Canada are set to benefit from a significant new federal investment aimed at strengthening business growth, increasing access to funding, and removing barriers to entrepreneurship.

On June 22, 2026, the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism), announced $173.7 million over five years to continue and expand the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES).

The announcement was made in Lethbridge, Alberta, and reflects the federal government’s ongoing commitment to supporting women-owned businesses as key drivers of economic growth, innovation, and job creation.

Supporting Women Entrepreneurs Across Canada

Women-owned businesses continue to play a vital role in Canada’s economy, yet many entrepreneurs still face challenges accessing capital, mentorship, training, and professional networks.

The renewed investment seeks to address these barriers by providing women entrepreneurs with the resources and support needed to start, grow, and scale their businesses.

“Women entrepreneurs are essential to building the strongest economy in the G7,” said Minister Valdez. “They create jobs, strengthen communities and contribute to a Canada that is strong for everyone.”

Key Funding Highlights

The renewed funding package includes support for several flagship initiatives under the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy:

Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund

A total of $59 million has been allocated to the Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, which provides loans of up to $50,000 to women business owners and entrepreneurs through partner organizations.

The program has already supported more than 1,600 loans to women entrepreneurs across Canada, helping them access the capital needed to launch and grow their ventures.

Minister Rechie Valdez discusses federal investments supporting women-owned businesses in Canada — The federal government is investing $173.7 million over five years to strengthen opportunities for women entrepreneurs.

WES Ecosystem Fund

The federal government will invest $100 million in the WES Ecosystem Fund, which supports non-profit organizations delivering:

Business training
Advisory services
Mentorship programs
Networking opportunities
Market access support

The fund helps women entrepreneurs develop the skills, knowledge, and connections needed to build sustainable businesses.

Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub

An additional $7 million will support the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, a national network consisting of:

10 regional hubs
More than 250 partner organizations
Researchers
Business support organizations
Entrepreneurship stakeholders

The Knowledge Hub plays a critical role in generating data, research, and best practices that inform policies and programs supporting women entrepreneurs.

Building on a Proven Track Record

Since its launch in 2018, the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy has supported more than 500,000 women entrepreneurs across Canada.

The latest investment builds on that success while reinforcing the government’s broader efforts to strengthen small businesses through initiatives such as:

AI adoption support
Export development programs
Tariff relief measures
Red tape reduction initiatives
Inclusive entrepreneurship programs

The government also continues to support diverse entrepreneurs through initiatives such as the Black Entrepreneurship Program, the 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program, and partnerships with organizations like Futurpreneur Canada.

Why This Matters

For many women entrepreneurs, access to funding remains one of the biggest challenges to business growth. Limited access to capital, mentorship opportunities, and professional networks can slow expansion and reduce access to new markets.

The renewed Women Entrepreneurship Strategy investment aims to help close these gaps by creating more opportunities for women to build thriving businesses, create jobs, and contribute to Canada’s economic prosperity.

As the entrepreneurial landscape continues to evolve, investments like these help ensure that women founders, innovators, and business leaders have the tools they need to succeed.

Looking Ahead

The announcement represents a significant step forward for women-owned businesses and organizations that support women entrepreneurs across Canada.

For women founders, business owners, and aspiring entrepreneurs, the continued expansion of the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy offers new opportunities to access financing, mentorship, training, and networks that can help turn ideas into sustainable, scalable businesses.

At Women of Rubies, we celebrate initiatives that empower women to pursue entrepreneurship, build wealth, create impact, and strengthen communities. We look forward to seeing how this investment helps unlock the potential of even more women entrepreneurs across Canada.

Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the Office of the Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism).

In Interviews&profile July 29, 2026 By Women of Rubies

How Atousa Raissyan Is Redefining Healing, Leadership, and Personal Growth

Recently named the 2026 Entrepreneur of Impact, Atousa Raissyan has built a career around helping individuals navigate emotional healing, personal transformation, and conscious leadership. As a transformational speaker, award-winning author, spiritual mentor, and visionary artist, she continues to inspire people around the world to move beyond fear and embrace lives rooted in authenticity and purpose.

For Atousa Raissyan, helping people discover those answers has become both a calling and a life’s work.

A transformational speaker, spiritual mentor, award-winning author, and visionary artist, Atousa has spent more than two decades guiding individuals through journeys of healing, self-discovery, and conscious transformation. Through her work, she helps people move beyond fear-based patterns, reconnect with their authentic selves, and create meaningful change from the inside out.

Based in Potomac, Maryland and serving clients worldwide, Atousa’s work has touched the lives of professionals, entrepreneurs, executives, creatives, and individuals navigating personal and professional transitions.

A Mission Rooted in Transformation

Many of the people drawn to Atousa’s work have achieved success by traditional standards. They have built careers, businesses, and accomplishments that others admire.

Yet beneath the surface, many are experiencing burnout, uncertainty, emotional exhaustion, or a longing for deeper fulfillment.

Recognizing this reality, Atousa has dedicated her career to helping individuals explore the connection between emotional healing, self-awareness, and authentic leadership.

Her approach goes beyond surface-level motivation. Instead, she creates spaces where individuals can examine limiting beliefs, release emotional burdens, and cultivate greater clarity, resilience, and self-trust.

For Atousa, transformation is not about becoming someone new. It is about reconnecting with who you truly are.

Helping People Heal Beyond Survival Mode

Over the past twenty years, Atousa has worked with clients facing a wide range of personal and professional challenges.

Through one-on-one healing sessions, mentorship programs, retreats, and transformational experiences, she helps individuals uncover and address the root causes of emotional pain, recurring patterns, and inner conflict.

Her work supports people who often feel stuck despite years of personal development efforts, therapy, coaching, or alternative healing practices.

Using an awareness-centred approach, she guides clients toward deeper self-understanding and lasting transformation.

Her goal is to help individuals move from survival to self-awareness, from fear to freedom, and from self-doubt to self-trust.

Atousa Raissyan, Entrepreneur of Impact 2026 winner, transformational speaker, author, and mentor based in Maryland. — Atousa Raissyan is a transformational speaker, award-winning author, and mentor helping individuals reconnect with clarity, self-trust, and personal growth.

A Voice for Conscious Leadership

At a time when conversations around leadership continue to evolve, Atousa offers a perspective that is both timely and powerful.

She believes that true leadership begins within.

Rather than focusing solely on external success, her work encourages individuals to cultivate emotional intelligence, presence, authenticity, and inner alignment.

This philosophy resonates with leaders who recognize that sustainable success requires more than professional achievement. It requires self-awareness, resilience, and the ability to lead with intention.

Through speaking engagements, mentorship, and educational programs, Atousa continues to inspire audiences to embrace leadership as a journey of personal growth and conscious transformation.

Author, Speaker, and Thought Leader

In addition to her work as a mentor and healer, Atousa is an accomplished author whose writings explore themes of healing, self-discovery, personal empowerment, and transformation.

Her thought leadership has been featured in respected publications including USA Today, NYC Journal, Potomac Lifestyle, and Entrepreneur Herald, among others.

Through her writing and public speaking, she continues to encourage individuals to challenge limiting narratives, embrace personal growth, and create lives rooted in purpose and authenticity.

Transforming Fear Into Freedom

One of the most powerful aspects of Atousa’s work is her belief that healing creates ripple effects.

When individuals heal, families heal.

When families heal, communities become stronger.

When communities thrive, society benefits.

This perspective has shaped her work for more than two decades and continues to inspire those seeking deeper meaning and lasting transformation.

It is also why she affectionately describes herself as a Life Alchemist, someone who helps transform suffering into wisdom, fear into freedom, and pain into peace.

Inspiring Change Through Purpose

Atousa Raissyan’s journey serves as a reminder that impact is not always measured by visibility alone.

Sometimes, impact is measured by the lives transformed, the healing facilitated, and the courage inspired in others.

Through her work as a transformational speaker, mentor, author, and visionary leader, she continues to empower individuals around the world to embrace healing, cultivate self-trust, and lead lives aligned with their deepest values.

As conversations around mental well-being, conscious leadership, and personal growth continue to gain momentum, voices like Atousa’s remind us that true transformation begins from within.

At Women of Rubies, we celebrate women who are creating meaningful impact through leadership, innovation, advocacy, and service.

Know a remarkable woman whose story deserves to be told? 📩 Contact us to share her journey or learn more about our visibility and storytelling opportunities.

Read more inspiring stories at WomenofRubies.com. 💜