“As a young woman wanting to be in the outdoor industry, there was always this sense of not quite belonging, and I didn't necessarily put my finger on it until I realized that everyone who was teaching me how to do the things were men… There was always this feeling of, am I good enough? And also, this feeling of who's my role model? I can't find them.” - Lise Brown

Lise Brown was in her early 20s when she set out to find year round work in outdoor adventures in Winnipeg. And it didn’t take her long to find out how challenging it was -- not just to find a job, but to really find a place.

That’s when she co-founded Momenta, along with her business partner Sara Harrison, with the aim of being open and welcoming to everyone, regardless of shape, size, class or skill level.

For 17 years Lise and Sarah have been breaking new ground with adventure therapy programs and outdoor education that’s grounded in personal wellbeing and social justice.

Find out how Momenta’s business model works, why they certified as a B Corp (and garnered B Corp ‘Best in World’ status in 2021!)...and how the core value of having fun has pulled Lise through the tough times as a business owner.

https://experiencemomenta.com/

https://www.instagram.com/experiencemomenta/

https://bcorpdirectory.ca/

“Sometimes I wish I could just plunge in and just go big, you know, I see some companies are younger than [mine] and they're making millions. But then at the end of the day, I always say I like to baby-step it. I need to digest every moment. So then it doesn't get out of control.”

Andréanne Dandeneau is the founder and CEO of Anne Mulaire. Her company designs, makes, and sews award-winning, eco-conscious fashion wear, inspired by her Métis heritage. That all happens right here in Winnipeg – and then these award-winning collections sell to customers across Canada and beyond.

Just over two years ago, Andréanne embarked on a big rebrand and expansion. What does it take to scale up with a set of values rooted in slow fashion, products made in small batches, in-house with natural and organic fabric. And how do you run a business where you are manufacturing and selling products on one hand, and you are encouraging people to buy less on the other?

What’s the secret to her success? “For any entrepreneur out there that is wanting to do something, you really have to think first, at what moment would you be happy, and you're good -- you know, because like success can be very greedy, it can mean so many different things. But at the end, it really has to align with your values.”

Find out how Andréanne is breaking the mold of fast fashion – and doing it in style!

Here's How It's Done is brought to you by Women's Enterprise Centre of Manitoba. It's hosted and produced by Cate Friesen, The Story Source.

https://www.instagram.com/annemulaire/

https://annemulaire.ca/

What do you think of when you hear the term ‘side hustle?’ The first thing that might come to mind is someone who has a 9 to 5 job and starts an enterprise in their spare time, with the aim of making the leap to full-time business as soon as possible. But there are lots of other reasons that people start a side hustle -- to test out a business idea to see if it has legs, make some money on the side, or simply because there’s something they really want to have but no one is selling it.

“For me it was something I wanted to be seen in, and I wanted it to be seen,” says Kim Blackburde Moore. Kim has always loved clothing that had ‘Mama Bear’ on it. “And I think that kind of comes from me being from the Bear Clan. And I said something to my daughter, who at the time would have been 11 years old. She said, “You should really get a Mama Bear hoodie done up but in Ojibwe…and get me a baby bear one.”

Instead of getting two sweatshirts made, Kim invested in a whole lot of products, and then had to figure out how to sell them! That’s how Makade Migizi Clothing and Apparel got started.

Find out how starting this side hustle led Kim to fulfill a lifelong dream of learning her mother tongue. And get inspired to take your passion project to the next level!

Here's How It's Done is hosted by Cate Friesen of The Story Source and sponsored by the Women's Enterprise Centre of Manitoba.