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St. John's Tour Stop: Newfoundland, you stole our hearts!

  • Writer: Self-Made Tour
    Self-Made Tour
  • Oct 6
  • 7 min read

Updated: Oct 8

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The Self-Made Breakfast Tour Presented in Partnership with PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise Canada and a tour stop powered by NLOWE, (Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs) | St. John’s Recap


Thank you to everyone who joined us in St. John’s on Monday, September 29th, 2025, marking our East Coast stop on the Canadian leg of the tour in Newfoundland at Emera Innovation Exchange.


With 150 founders, executives, and innovative leaders in the room, we celebrated women entrepreneurs, created first-class opportunities for connection, and partnered with leading organizations ready to help them chart their next course!


Together, the presenting partner PARO Canada  and Sinclair Creative Agency (SCA) have formed a dynamic duo, doing something not yet done at this calibre across Canada. Bridging the gap between entrepreneurs and executives to impact the future of Canadian policy and entrepreneurship!


Check out our Instagram Reel to see the full Recap video!!



More than just a breakfast, this inspiring full-day experience overflowed with memorable moments that fuelled a coast-to-coast movement. With a spirit of innovation and possibility, the Self-Made Breakfast Tour is all about equipping women entrepreneurs to elevate their businesses. From sharpening strategies to building connections with fellow founders or simply finding a renewed sense of drive, the day offered exactly the boost participants needed to keep pushing forward.


St. John’s was ready for lift-off. The day’s agenda was designed to propel founders forward, with every session focused on sparking growth and momentum. From expert perspectives to tailored guidance, participants had countless opportunities to chart their next steps. Highlights included two powerhouse industry panels, a fireside chat, and advisory sessions where accomplished entrepreneurs and business leaders delivered candid insights and practical advice.


We kicked off the morning with a beautiful champagne wall serving mimosas as a sparkling welcome, perfectly accented with a fluff of cotton candy from our sponsor, Mooosh Candy of Elementary Produce.




After our big reveal through our boarding zone tunnel, we started the day with a powerful intention-setting moment titled “Letter To My Future Self,” powered by Writeway and led by Chantria Tram. This reflective exercise invited attendees to ground themselves in purpose, set bold intentions for their personal and professional growth, and connect with the deeper “why” behind their journey. Afterward, women were encouraged to share what they had written, sparking tears, laughter, and an overwhelming sense of connection. It created a room full of support and motivation, setting the perfect tone to launch the day.



Kicking off the speaking portion of the day was the “Money in Motion: Financing, Safeguarding, and Scaling Innovation” panel, moderated by Carolyn Wakeham, CEO of NLOWE.

Each panelist offered a distinct perspective:


  • Cynthia Sanlian, Vice President, CIBC Business Banking, spoke to how financial institutions can go beyond lending to create real value for entrepreneurs and unlock untapped opportunities for women founders.  Cynthia also gave the room an exclusive insight into CIBC’s upcoming Women Entrepreneur Hub.

  • Jacqueline Lee, CEO, PolyUnity, shared how breaking barriers in slow-moving industries like healthcare requires bold thinking, strong partnerships, and trusted advisors.

  • Anna Sinclair,  CEO & Founder, Sinclair Creative Agency (SCA) reflected on the realities of starting from scratch, bootstrapping, fundraising, and balancing vision with financial discipline, while emphasizing the importance of mindset in growth.

  • Lindsay Winters, VP, Sales Executive, Nasdaq Verafin, highlighted the role of bold moves in scaling fast while maintaining security, and how leveraging cybersecurity builds credibility with both investors and customers.


The conversation wrapped with a powerful closing round: each panelist offered one “bold money move” for women founders to trust themselves and scale with confidence.



A Day of Sky-High Moments


We then continued with our “Tech Enabled, Growth Made” panel moderated by Maggie Courish from Genesis. 


This panel brought together three powerhouse founders — Heather Zurel, Founder/CEO,  Data Farms, Dr. Nikitha Kendyala, Co-Founder, Nucliq Biologics, and Adilya Dragan, CEO & Founder, Starluv, who are transforming their industries through innovation and technology. The conversation highlighted how tech is more than just a sector, it’s a lever that drives growth, unlocks new possibilities, and helps founders scale their dreams into reality.


All three founders spoke to the challenges of applying advanced technologies like AI in their startups, from technical hurdles to scientific complexities, and shared the creative ways they’ve overcome them. Their stories underscored a powerful truth: when innovation meets determination, even the most complex problems can become pathways to growth.





The Founders Reception: Small Business Connections and VIP Gifting Partners


The Founders Reception highlighted local partners like Marie Powell, Founder of Terra Wellness and Rosemary Antle-King of Travel Time Agency, while also creating space for meaningful connections with presenting partner PARO Canada and sponsors NLOWE and Genesis Centre. Guests enjoyed tasty treats at the Intuit QuickBooks Café, which kept conversations flowing with snacks and bites throughout the day, while our CIBC Business Banking activation had a steady line of guests waiting to receive their professional headshot, taken by Alex Stead.



Following brunch and some networking in the Founders reception, there was an inspiring and intimate fireside chat between two powerhouse women in business: Anna Sinclair, Creative Director and Founder of Sinclair Creative Agency (SCA) and Costanza Safatle, Owner of  Newbornlander. They pulled back the curtain on the raw truth of women’s leadership, tackling topics like resilience, reinvention, and rising stronger through setbacks. The audience got a powerful glimpse of what it looks like to lead boldly, with vision and unapologetic conviction.



Rosalind Lockyer spoke from the heart during her keynote. She ignited a sense of sisterhood among everyone in attendance before the Collaboration Innovation Tables (CITs) took place, which many attendees mentioned as their favourite part of the day. These roundtable discussions, funded in part by Women and Gender Equality Canada and Powered by PARO Canada, were designed to amplify the voices of women entrepreneurs, to not only help shape future-forward policies and programs that directly support women in business but also to spark province-to-province business trade opportunities.



At the Collaboration Innovation Tables (CITs), attendees joined small-group conversations exploring the real challenges, opportunities, and experiences shaping women’s entrepreneurial journeys today. These candid discussions provide a safe space for women founders to share insights that directly influence meaningful change.


The ideas and perspectives are collected anonymously to form a research report that will inform all levels of government. This work goes beyond today’s conversations; it aims to drive systemic change, remove barriers, and improve access to funding so women-led businesses across Canada can thrive.


What makes the CITs especially powerful is their inclusivity. They reflect the diverse realities of women entrepreneurs from coast to coast, ensuring solutions are regionally relevant, culturally responsive, and aligned with every woman’s journey. Together, these tables are helping to build a more equitable and thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem nationwide.



After the CITs, the Learning Lounge provided a dedicated space for founders to connect one-on-one with industry leaders and advisors from their tables, fostering meaningful conversations and exchanging insights on current entrepreneurial challenges and successes.


As the day came to a close, we celebrated with exciting giveaways, marking the perfect ending to a day full of energy, achievements, and meaningful connections. From here, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the incredible partners who made it all possible.




Thank you to our Partners!


We are always  so grateful to partner with incredible organizations and brands who share our passion for empowering women entrepreneurs. Thanks to their generosity, more than 150 women founders were able to receive support that helps them invest in their businesses and continue driving growth during challenging times. 



A huge shoutout to the following sponsors


A huge shoutout to our incredible decor, design, and production teams, Tanya Abou Jaoude, Founder and CEO of Something Happy, Brittney from  Spotlight Events and Glamourous Affairs who went above and beyond to transform the Emera Innovation Exchange into the ultimate sky-high experience! Tanya and her team loaded a 24-ft truck with every single custom activation piece, decor item, and gift, drove it all the way to St. John’s, crossed the ferry, and delivered everything on time, turning the space into an unforgettable environment that elevated everyone’s energy, mindset, and businesses!



We'd also like to give a very special shoutout to our Content Creator Partners for helping us capture all the special moments and Cloud 9 experiences throughout the day, Prince Aryee and his Team from The Resolution!



Thank you to JMS Accountant Staffing for adding that much-needed human touch by providing ROCKSTAR volunteers. They helped create an unforgettable experience in St. John’s for so many women entrepreneurs and community leaders, and we truly couldn’t have done it without them.


From early morning setup to thoughtful conversations and helping things run smoothly from start to finish, they brought the energy required to make this event such a success. As we look ahead to the next stops on the Tour, if you or anyone you know is interested in volunteering, you can apply HERE.




Attendees left with gorgeous VIP gift bags packed with beauty, wellness, and lifestyle products to take their self-care routine to the next level! A huge thank you to our VIP gifting and bag partners:




Founder Airlines - Now Boarding

The Self-Made Breakfast Tour is preparing to land in Calgary, Ottawa, and Vancouver, and we can’t wait to connect with even more incredible women entrepreneurs across the country!


Missed your chance to attend the latest tour stop?


Visit www.selfmadebreakfasttour.com to keep up to date! You won’t want to miss what’s next. Let’s keep the momentum going because when women rise together, we all soar. 


Follow the @selfmadebreakfast tour to see all the viral moments and buzz.

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