Speaker Bio
Nationally recognized as one of the top business leaders in Canada, Arlene Dickinson is the Founder and General Partner of District Ventures Capital and Executive Chair and Co-Managing Partner of Believeco: Partners. She has had the wonderful experience of being a Dragon on the award-winning show Dragons’ Den for 15 seasons – making her the longest running female Dragon in the show’s history. She is also a three-time best-selling author and a seasoned public speaker, frequently travelling the country to speak and inspire teams, students and leaders.
Arlene immigrated to Canada with her family at age three, arriving with few belongings but full of hope and excitement at the prospect of a new life. Deeply influenced by the curiosity and gratitude that her father, a teacher, displayed towards their adopted country, Arlene set out to make the most of the opportunity. While working at a TV station, Arlene was introduced to world of marketing, and quickly fell in love. While raising four kids, she climbed up the ladder, eventually owning and running her own business. Arlene now sits on many public and private boards and is highly active in community organizations, with an enduring passion for health, food and beverage and women in business. She is deeply involved in various charities and foundations and has made a priority of giving back to the communities and the country that afforded her the opportunity to have such an incredible life and career.
Arlene has been included in Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100 Hall of Fame, PROFIT and Chatelaine’s Top 100 Women Business Owners and the Marketing Hall of Legends. A proud recipient of the Pinnacle Award for Excellence and the Queen Elizabeth Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Awards, Arlene has received numerous other awards and accolades – both for her work as an entrepreneur and her many philanthropic efforts, including acting as an ambassador for Second Harvest. She has served for many years as an Honourary Captain in the Royal Canadian Navy and has received honourary degrees from Mount Saint Vincent University, Concordia University, Saint Mary’s University, Olds College, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and University Canada West.
Speaker Topics
Can anyone be an entrepreneur? Arlene’s emphatic answer is “Yes.” In this talk, one of Canada’s most high profile business women distills a lifetime of experience to reveal everything you need to know—and do—to start, to run, and to grow a great business. On stage, she displays a palpable and infectious belief in the entrepreneurial spirit; she reminds us of the major contributions Canadians have made to international business and the entrepreneurial tradition.
Every one of us will feel stuck at some point in our lives. One day, you recognize that you have followed a path—personal or professional—that suddenly seems closed off or unfulfilling. Whether it’s a relationship that doesn’t connect in the way it used to or a job that started out being exciting but now feels unrewarding, suddenly you look up from your life and realize there is something else you want to do or to be. You’re ready for a reinvention.
Years of working alongside Canada’s top businesses has given Arlene deep insight on a wide variety of topics. From marketing and branding to the value of leadership and relationships, Arlene has inspired and motivated teams across many different sectors. Her own amazing story, and her astonishing achievements as a woman in a male-dominated environment, has shaped a unique perspective on important life lessons on the path to success and happiness. Her experience as a Dragon has given her the skills to communicate to a wide variety of audiences, from business leaders to graduating students.
Success is often taken for granted; few stop to think about where it came from, what shaped it, what trials were involved. In this talk, Arlene tells her story, providing a rare look into the making of one of Canada’s most powerful business women.
Filled with the key lessons Arlene has learned throughout her journey, this talk is underscored by modesty, grit, and enormous heart.
Marketing plays a fundamental role in all businesses—yet it is seldom held accountable the way other departments are. A superstar marketer driven by corporate objectives, Arlene shows us why marketing must be a top concern of leadership, and why creativity and accountability must go hand in hand. Otherwise, why bother with marketing at all? She will help decision-makers grasp the essential strategic function of marketing in an insightful, accessible and frank talk, anchored squarely to the bottom line.
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