CO-FOUNDERS, MINT CLEANING

Monika and Robyn are the co-founders of Mint Cleaning, an award-winning, multi-million dollar Canadian brand known for its eco-friendly, refillable home and body care products. (and perhaps the funnest instagram page to follow!)

“It hasn’t been all sunshine and sparkle sprays - we’ve made a lot of mistakes along the way. Some laughable, some catastrophic.

From ingredient shortages and unexpected tariffs, to broken pumps, wrong packaging, shipping nightmares, and even launching  products that were failures.  We've had to learn everything the hard way. And while we’d love to say we’ve figured it all out, we still mess up almost every day. But we’ve come to believe that those mistakes are exactly what help us grow stronger—and more relatable.

The biggest lesson? Eff ups don’t make you weak. They make you human. They force you to adapt, get creative, and find better ways forward. And when you’re honest about them, you build trust, loyalty, and community around your brand.

We’ll share the behind-the-scenes stories that never make the Instagram grid - and how the missteps along the way have actually helped shape the heart of our business and our community, who have supported us from the beginning.” Monika +Robyn

FOUNDER, HOUSE OF KIYO

Kiyomi is the founder of House of Kiyo.

"One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned as a salon owner is how quickly things can go sideways when expectations aren’t clear. I used to assume people could read my mind (spoiler alert: they couldn’t), and I’d get annoyed or reactive when things didn’t go how I pictured. I’ve had to learn that leadership isn’t about knowing everything or having people become clones of me - it’s about clear communication, patience, and learning how to laugh a little when things don’t go to plan.

I’m excited (and nervous!) to share the lessons I had to learn the hard way when it comes to hiring, communication, expectation and leadership.”

FOUNDER, ELUMA BEAUTY INC | ELATE COSMETICS | FOSTER SKINCARE

Melodie Reynolds is a writer, speaker, and entrepreneur who believes in the radical power of collaboration, community, and conscious leadership.

Drawing from her lived experience as a beauty industry insider, and advocate for ethical entrepreneurship, Melodie writes and speaks on themes of courage, competition, and the quiet revolution of people who “play well with others.” Her work explores what it means to build a life—and a business—rooted in care rather than conquest.

Melodie is best known for founding Elate Beauty, a purpose-driven cosmetics company that challenged industry norms with refillable packaging and transparent practices. But her passion extends far beyond beauty. Through storytelling, public speaking, and thought leadership, she empowers others to redefine success, embrace intentional living, and create impact from a place of integrity.

 “I’ve built a beauty brand from my kitchen to an international company — and I’ve messed up more times than I can count along the way. I believe failure isn’t something to hide, it’s something to learn from — and often where the best parts of your business (and yourself) are forged.” Melodie