Strong. Creative. Leaders.
Meet a few of our favourite business owners, creative thinkers, team leaders, and friends that have forged their own paths in business, life, and entrepreneurship.
Get to know Sara Koonar, Hannah Kim, Kate Makinson, and our very own Jaimie Harris.
Hannah Kim
Alongside her two sisters, Hannah Kim is the Co-Founder of ai — one of the fastest growing vegan handbag companies in Canada. ai works with local artisans to create sustainable luxury pieces that are made in Seoul, South Korea and shipped directly to consumers from the brand’s Toronto-based HQ.
Q & A
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What part of your job are you most passionate about?
Creating pieces we love and being able to share them with others — it’s honestly a dream come true to be doing what we’re doing.
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What is your greatest professional vs personal achievement so far?
Professionally, being interviewed by Jeanne Beker was an incredible achievement for us. One of my fondest memories from childhood was gathering around the TV with my grandmother, mother, and Bek (our middle sister) for our weekly viewing of Fashion Television. So to have met Jeanne this past year and for her to want to interview us, was amazing and totally surreal. Personally, being able to work with my sisters every day is pretty fantastic.
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What is your favourite way to manage stress or how do you de-stress?
I love working out AND I love eating — both equally help me manage stress — LOL. Weekends are for indulging in good food and wine and exploring the city’s restaurants with friends and I make sure to be active each and every day — it sets me on the right track for the day ahead.
Kate Makinson
Kate Makinson is the Founder and President of Kate Makinson Communications Inc. — a Toronto-based Public Relations agency that proudly partners with and supports female-founders and women-led businesses in the fashion, beauty, and lifestyle space.
Q & A
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What part of your job are you most passionate about?
Supporting female founders and women-owned businesses. When I went out on my own, I wanted to build a roster of clients that I felt PASSIONATE about supporting and that I could authentically shout about from the proverbial rooftops. Our job ultimately, as publicists, is to tell the world about how fantastic our clients are — this is truly SO much more fulfilling when you get to choose who you partner with and be selective about who and what floats your boat. I’m so incredibly inspired by the women and women-led businesses we represent. I’m their biggest fan — and I think that comes across in the work we do.
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What is your greatest professional vs personal achievement so far?
Professionally, making the decision to go out on my own mid-Pandemic is something I’ll forever be proud of. I’ve never felt more fulfilled in my career and building a brand and business I’m proud of, has been cup-filling.
Personally, it’s all about my boy. Becoming a mother has been transformative for me in every aspect of my life - he is and will always be, my greatest personal achievement.
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What is your favourite way to manage stress or how do you de-stress?
I’d love to tell you I’m really into self-care and bubble baths and crystal energy... But, in reality, I have a toddler, a needy dog and I run a business and a household so if I get 30 seconds to myself, it’s a miracle.
I do my best however, to grab a little me time in a few small ways each day in order to manage it all!
My latest mini moment is taking 5 each morning to complete the day’s Wordle and when I take the dog out, adding extra blocks to one of our daily strolls while enjoying a podcast.
I am also doing my best to prioritize sleep and creating a routine that optimizes that which has meant: less TV and more books; a cup of night time tea before bed, and of course, wrapping myself up in my favourite bamboo jammers from This Is J :)
Sara Koonar
Sara Koonar is the President of Platform Media & Management Inc, Canada's leading influencer talent agency, based in Toronto. Sara and her team work to streamline the relationships between the world's leading brands and the country's top content creators, producing engaging and impactful influencer marketing campaigns. Meaningful marketing and representation are at the core of Sara's values.
Q & A
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What part of your job are you most passionate about?
I really love seeing our creator's dreams come true. I feel as though I live through each of them. I get a lot of excitement out of seeing others succeed and I think that's why this business really suits me. Especially amplifying voices that have not been given the same opportunity to be in the spotlight.
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What is your greatest professional vs personal achievement so far?
I am the type of person that is always adding to my goals, so I never really feel like I've made it. But, this year my team has grown to 12 people, and that in of itself, knowing that I've been able to create careers for 12 full-time employees, and help over 50 creators make a living is beyond what I'd have ever dreamed.
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What is your favourite way to manage stress or how do you de-stress?
I love quiet time alone. After a busy workday, which usually involves a lot of socializing, I just need 30 minutes to sit down and decompress with no screens, no sounds, and just browse through a magazine or read a few chapters of a book.
I also love to cook! Making Italian and Indian dishes that my grandmothers passed down to me is just a nice way to wind down after a long day. But, most importantly, what really helps me manage my stress is setting boundaries and not being afraid to say no when my plate becomes too full.
Jaimie Harris
Jaimie Harris is the Founder and Head of Creative Thinking at This Is J Inc. — a sleepwear and loungewear lifestyle brand. Since its inception in 2003, This Is J has been a female run, ethically manufactured in Canada brand, collaborating with and employing people in their community.
Q & A
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What part of your job are you most passionate about?
Being creative has always been my passion - from pattern design to textile printing, marketing campaigns, and photoshoots - conceptualizing and creating is where i'm happiest and most engaged. I feel so lucky being able to provide comfort and style to the This Is J community.
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What is your greatest professional vs personal achievement so far?
As I approach my 20th year in business, I am feeling proud and grateful for the longevity I've had in this business, all that I've learned and overcome along the way, and how we've grown. Working with a predominantly female team and the collaborative environment we've created makes work a fun place to be.
Personally, the kindness and empathy of my three children feels like my greatest achievement. When I see the way they interact with others it makes me feel like I've done something right. Although finding the perfect work life balance can be challenging, I'm proud that my kids are growing up with a strong female role model. -
What is your favourite way to manage stress or how do you de-stress?
Comfort is key! Being comfortable is the best way for me to shed the weight of the day. The #1 thing I do every single day is change into a set of Henley Harem Bamboo Jammers the second I walk in the door. It's my first step towards relaxation. Carving out a few minutes of calm and quiet without technology (iPhone away!) once my kids are asleep is essential. My weekend de-stressing ritual is to stay in my Jammers as long as possible with a fresh warm coffee in hand.
Today, as we highlight the accomplishments and hard work of women and strive towards a gender equal world, our thoughts are with the women of Ukraine, their families, and their future.
This week, we will be donating 15% of sales to the National Bank of Ukraine Humanitarian Assistance fund.
