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The Self-Made Breakfast Tour | Presented by PARO Canada-Toronto Recap

  • Writer: Self-Made Tour
    Self-Made Tour
  • May 30
  • 7 min read

Updated: 1 day ago


PRESENTED BY PARO CANADA
PRESENTED BY PARO CANADA
Highlights from the Toronto Tour Stop

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Toronto on Thursday, May 29, 2025, marking our FIRST stop on the Canadian leg of the tour in Toronto at Hotel X! 


Together, we celebrated women entrepreneurs, built deeper relationships, and super-connected 156 founders with organizations and brands to help them move the needle in our business. The stunning, one-of-a-kind Founders Airline-themed event experience left everyone on Cloud 9!


Check out the Viral Instagram Reel



More than just a breakfast, this beautiful full-day experience was packed with unforgettable moments that sparked a nationwide initiative. With a fresh, forward-thinking energy, the Self-Made Breakfast Tour is dedicated to helping women entrepreneurs take their businesses to the next level. Whether attendees sought to refine their strategy, connect with like-minded founders, or simply gain motivation, the day delivered precisely what they needed to maintain momentum.


Toronto was truly cleared for takeoff. The event's thoughtfully curated agenda offered plenty of opportunities to gain altitude! From expert insights to personalized support, the agenda was thoughtfully curated to support growth in every way. A standout industry-leading panel featured accomplished entrepreneurs and business leaders who shared unfiltered insights and real-world advice.


At the Collaboration Innovation Tables (CITs), attendees engaged in meaningful, small-group discussions around key challenges and trends in today’s business landscape. The AMEX Founders Lounge: Small Business Connections, offered a chance to shop from and support incredible local brands, while the Learning Lounge created space for personalized conversations with professionals in fields like finance, marketing, legal, and more! Turning inspiration into clear, actionable steps.


“Toronto, you showed up in every way!” said Anna Sinclair, Creative Director and Founder of Sinclair Creative Agency Inc. (SCA), the mastermind agency behind the Tour. “This Tour is about giving women the platform, the tools, and the community they need to succeed. And this first stop in Toronto was the perfect way to kick off this incredible movement across the country.”


Kicking off the day and ensuring everyone was in the right mindset and embodying the best energy was Eva Redpath, an award-winning wellness leader and solution-focused life coach, who led attendees through an uplifting meditation, taking them into the clouds and preparing them for an exceptional day.




Thank you to Dean Davidson and Fran Murray Co. for the beautiful speaker gifts.


Thank you to our Partners!


​​We're thrilled to partner with incredible organizations and brands that share our commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs. Because of these generous organizations, over 100 women entrepreneurs received sponsored boarding passes to help them put their money where their businesses need it most during these difficult financial times for many small and medium-sized businesses.



A huge thank you to our amazing decor, design and production team Tanya Abou Jaoude, Founder and CEO of Something Happy, transformed Hotel X Toronto into the ultimate sky-high experience that elevated everyone’s energy, mindset and businesses! As well as Foot Traffic for the epic LED screens, Element Event Solutions and Glamourous Affairs for the gorgeous pieces of furniture and details that elevated the entire venue, and Make My Design for the custom decor vinyl that transformed us all to the clouds.



Food Dudes showed up BIG! And provided out-of-this-world catering. From delectable morning bites to a gorgeous instagrammable brunch, all attendees enjoyed a first-class dining experience!



Thank you to Magnetic Staffing + Photobooth for helping us capture special moments throughout the day as SCA’s continued staffing and photo booth partner! Our Staff were friendly, helpful and super on point, getting 156 guests from point A to point B in less than 15 minutes!


Thank you to our Floral Partner, Hearty Tales Creative Studio Inc., for the absolutely stunning floral arrangements! 


A Day of Sky-High Moments

Kicking off the speaking portion of the day was an inspiring and intimate fireside chat between two powerhouse women in business: Anna Sinclair, Creative Director and Founder of Sinclair Creative Agency Inc., and Sarah Jordan, Deals Partner at PwC Canada. Their conversation delved into the realities of women’s entrepreneurship and leadership, touching on resilience, reinvention, and rising through challenges with purpose. They offered the audience a front-row seat to what it truly means to lead with vision, courage, and conviction in today’s business world.

Anna Sinclair & Sarah Jordan



Following the fireside chat, @AnnaSinclair.ca moderated and guided a dynamic conversation with our Self-Made panellists that left the audience feeling empowered, motivated, and ready to take action. Her thoughtful questions brought out the heart behind each speaker, turning the panel into one of the most talked-about moments of the day.


Thank you to DMZ for leading the development of the questions for our panel and fireside chat! As well as our Jewelry Partner, Dean Davidson Jewelry, for gifting all the speakers!


Panelists included:

  • Christina Hatziioannou, Head of Industry, Financial Services, Google Canada

  • Hannah Yen, Dove Marketing Lead, Unilever

  • Hena Quadri-Cappuccio, Director, CIBC Business Banking

  • Pauleanna Reid, Founder and CEO, WritersBlok



Rosalind Lockyer spoke from the heart during her keynote and 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, 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.



Cheryl, Rosalind & Anna and Roz


A very special thank you to Cheryl Himburg, our main stage facilitator who guided us through this part of the day, and to all the facilitators who volunteered to ensure everyone’s voice was heard and captured during the CITs!


Table facilitators included:

  • Corrine Walsh

  • Francoise Briet

  • Geraldine De Braune

  • Heidi Streu

  • Jenn O'Brien

  • Joy Idoko

  • Katayon Qahir

  • Khouri Long

  • Kylee Monteith

  • Maria Talarico

  • Michelle Jacob

  • Nasim Naderi

  • Nathalie Plouffe

  • Renee Gendron

  • Sarah Sekalala

  • And Annie Hejripour who graciously stepped in as a back-up!


If you’ve thought of additional things you’d like to share, or know another woman entrepreneur who wasn’t at the Tour, we urge you to complete PARO Canada’s Collaboration for Transformation survey that captures the same information as what was discussed during the CITs! You can help us make a difference, as your voice will inform inclusive government policies, practices, and protocols that support women-led businesses nationwide.


Following the CITs was the Learning Lounge, a curated time specifically designed for founders and industry leaders to connect one-on-one, spark new connections, and discuss current entrepreneurial challenges and triumphs.


Thank you to the following advisors for their insights, thoughtful connections and dedication to the Tour’s mission. 


  • Alex Noort, Intuit QuickBooks

  • Andrea Henry, The Secure Startup

  • Anirban Sinhachowdhury, CIBC Business Banking

  • Cecilia Pupo, CIBC Business Banking

  • Eva Redpath, Award-winning wellness leader and solution-focused Life Coach

  • Jacqueline Clarke, The Well Connected

  • Justine Clark, DMZ

  • Kara Branton, Magnetic Staffing

  • Kelly Benoit, Elevate Design and Apparel

  • Maria Talarico, PARO Canada

  • Melissa Torrecampo, CIBC Business Banking

  • Monika Jakarsezian, Magnetic Staffing

  • Rosalind Lockyer, PARO Canada

  • Sarah Jordan, PWC

  • Tanya Hayles, Black Moms Connection



The AMEX Founders Lounge: Small Business Connections and VIP Gifting Partners


The AMEX Founders Lounge: Small Business Connections was filled with numerous Canadian businesses that showcased their products, connected directly with customers, and made many sales. The entire space was packed with women entrepreneurs supporting each other, and the energy was infectious. 


Inside the AMEX Founders Lounge: Small Business Connections was the CIBC Business Banking Lounge and the Intuit QuickBooks Financial Cafe that provided intimate settings for attendees to connect with financial partners, ask questions, and feel equipped to uplevel their finances in all areas of their businesses. 


A huge shoutout to the following Toronto Tour vendors:





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 partners: 


The Self-Made Breakfast Tour volunteer squad were ROCKSTARS and helped create an unforgettable experience in Toronto 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, we urge anyone who’s interested in volunteering to apply HERE.




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, as well as the entire team from Aguilar Media Group!!


Founder Airlines - Now Boarding


The Self-Made Breakfast Tour has officially taken off, and Toronto was only the beginning! Next up, we’re bringing this one-of-a-kind experience to St. John’s, Calgary, Ottawa, and Vancouver, and we can’t wait to connect with even more incredible women entrepreneurs across the country.


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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