At last night’s Businesswoman of the Year Awards Gala, presented by the Women’s Business Network of Ottawa, the 15 finalists each took to the stage not only to be celebrated but also to remind us that every achievement comes with a narrative capable of inspiring others.

Many of the stories revolved around risks, sacrifices, dreams and triumphs. There was the successful chiropractor who started her business with more than $250,000 in student loans and less than two grand in her pocket, and the PhD-educated scientist who left her government job to build wealth and stability through real estate.

The awards dinner, held at Infinity Convention Centre, honoured 15 finalists over five categories: Community Impact, Enterprise Leader, Entrepreneurial Leader, both Emerging and Established, and Lifetime Achievement.

The evening, now in its 42nd year, was organized by a team of volunteers and co-chaired by lawyer and divorce mediator Jennifer Reynolds, founder of Fresh Legal, and Caitlin Spearing of OMG Social Media Agency.

Each finalist chose their walk-up music in advance, to be played as they made their way to the stage. The songs were a nice personal touch and added to the energy in the room. Serving as emcee was Alex Keenan, a public speaking and communications consultant at Stage Light Communications.

From left, lawyer and divorce mediator Jennifer Reynolds, founder of Fresh Legal, and Caitlin Spearing of OMG Social Media Agency, chaired the Businesswoman of the Year Awards, held at Infinity Convention Centre on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

“I’m just a little verklempt,” executive coach Lisa Anna Palmer said after accepting her Community Impact award. She supports black and racialized leaders through her work with community navigators of Eastern Ontario 211, Elevate International and Obsidian Leadership Development Centre.

She’s also the co-founder and co-chair of Mustakabali Wetu-Our Future, a Kenyan-based NGO dedicated to youth education, nutrition and early leadership development.

Her intro song was “Alive” by Canadian musician Edwin.

Palmer spoke about the power of women supporting each other, especially during tough times. “On those days when life feels like a gut punch, that’s when we need to extend a hand and help each other back up again, because when we pull together, we pull through.”

Lisa Anna Palmer, founder and CEO of Light Your Leadership, was the Community Impact recipient at the Businesswoman of the Year Awards presented by the Women’s Business Network of Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Jill Fratpietro, partner and employee benefits consultant at OneLife Benefits and Consulting, landed the Emerging Entrepreneurial Leader award.  She’s one of the very few female partners in her industry.

Her walk-up music was “Trustfall” by American singer Pink.

Fratpietro touched on the importance of staying true to herself. “Tonight, I’m reminded it’s not about following someone else’s blueprint; it is about being unapologetically authentic,” she said before acknowledging her business partner, Adam Skube, seated in the audience. “He and I are what I would call perfectly imperfect. We share the same core values but I challenge your perspective, you challenge mine. We’re both better for it and, every day, I’m reminded that we are stronger leading together.”

Jill Fratpietro, partner and employee benefits consultant at OneLife Benefits and Consulting, was the Entrepreneurial Leader (Emerging) recipient at the Businesswoman of the Year Awards presented by  the Women’s Business Network of Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Carley Schelck, CEO at Urban Element, received the Established Entrepreneurial Leader award. She has continued to evolve her 20-year-old business, even after closing her physical space in the historic Fire Station No. 11 on Parkdale Avenue during the pandemic, the room heard.

“And through the inevitable twists and turns of the business landscapes we worked hard to adopt and adapt to the changing world around us. Yet, we stayed steadfast to our roots in our mission and our vision and our core values,” said Schelck, who runs the boutique catering and event company with her partner, Oliver Schelck. She’s also a part-time instructor at Algonquin College.

Schelck spoke about the power of having a close circle of supportive women. “I’m grateful for the open conversation, the authentic dialogue and the ability to share vulnerabilities. Building and joining a network, one you align with and can learn from, is a game-changer in business. It can be a lifeline in challenging times.”

Her walk-up music was Cyndy Lauper’s 1980s pop hit “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”, chosen because it reflects one of her core values. “Entrepreneurship and business ownership is not glamorous,” she opined. “It’s gritty, it’s scrappy and it’s a roller-coaster of emotions on the best of days. In my world, fun is a non-negotiable. I’m still having fun after all these years later, and the joy that I extract from the work that I do is my get up and go.”

Urban Element CEO Carley Schelck, recipient of the Entrepreneurial Leader (Established) award, got some love from husband Oliver and their son, Hannes, 14, at the Businesswoman of the Year Awards presented by the Women’s Business Network of Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa president Christine Crump got into the spirit of the storytelling theme after winning the Enterprise Leader award. She recalled what happened the last time she was honoured in such a way, by the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade in 2023.

“It was a bittersweet moment for me because I knew the next day I was resigning my position in the GTA and moving from the business community I knew and loved,” said Crump.

Sometimes, history repeats itself, she added with a long pause. Talk about suspenseful storytelling.

“Thankfully, that will not be happening this evening. I have no plans to leave Ottawa. I am honoured to be a member of this business community, and I will continue to work tirelessly to prove my worthiness of this award.”

Crump delivered a touching tribute to her two “greatest blessings”: daughter Alexandra Pickard, who’s studying at Carleton University, and son Lucas Pickard. They were both there that night to support their mom.

Over the past 25 years, Crump has worked at seven Ontario casino properties, holding senior leadership roles in the male-dominated gaming industry. She moved to Ottawa almost two years ago. “I honestly feel like I was just parachuted into the city to bring this project to life.”

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa is the first fully integrated casino resort in Canada. The massive project took seven years to complete, opening this past summer. “I don’t take for granted how fortunate I am, one, to live in this exceptional city among folks like you and, two, to work alongside such dedicated, ambitious individuals.”

Her song of choice was “Mi Vida Loca” by American country music artist Pam Tillis.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa president and Enterprise Leader award recipient Christine Crump said her “true passion” was her two children, Alexandra, 22, and Lucas Pickard, 17, during the Businesswoman of the Year Awards presented by the Women’s Business Network of Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The Lifetime Achievement award went to corporate lawyer, entrepreneur and adjudicator Bree Jamieson Holloway. In 2022, she became one of the very few women, and the youngest person ever, appointed to the Canadian International Trade Tribunal.

Her walk-up song was the R&B/soul classic You Gotta Be by British singer-songwriter Des’ree.

Jamieson Holloway briefly touched on her childhood, sharing what it was like to carry intergenerational trauma and grow up mixed race “in a world that didn’t know what to do with me.” She also spoke about imposter syndrome, which often takes the form of a persistent self-doubt. Now, she sees it as “proof that we’re exactly where we’re meant to be, stretching, breaking barriers and doing something that matters.”

Applause filled the room when she spoke about equity — not as taking something away from others, but as building a bigger table so that everyone has space to rise together.

The mother of four thanked her family, recognizing two strong women in her life: her grandmother and her mom, the latter of whom passed away from cancer in December 2023. She also expressed gratitude for the women along the way “who opened doors for me, lent me their voices when I didn’t yet have one.”

There were at least two tables of friends out to support her. To them, she said with love: “Each of you has reminded me of the power of connection, of building meaningful friendships and what it looks like to show up for one another.”

Bree Jamieson Holloway received the Lifetime Achievement award at the Businesswoman of the Year Awards presented by the Women’s Business Network of Ottawa and held at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips

In the lead-up to the gala, the finalists had several chances to connect, including through a private meeting with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, who stopped by last night with his wife Ginny and stepdaughter Erica Giustiniani.

Over the past several months, genuine friendships have formed among the women. This became clear during the acceptance speeches, as each recipient made a point of graciously acknowledging their fellow finalists and hugging each other afterward. “Even before tonight I felt like I was a winner just by meeting these amazing women and the sisterhood,” said Palmer.

Here is a complete list of the finalists for each award category:

Community Impact:

Emily Jones Joanisse (Connected Canadians)

Lisa Anna Palmer (Light Your Leadership Inc.)

Julie Findlay (Mom In The Know)

Enterprise Leader:

Meseret Haileyesus (Canadian Centre for Women’s Empowerment)

Christine Crump (Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa)

Adrienne Vienneau (Christie Lake Kids, CHEO, Cognos)

Entrepreneurial Leader (Emerging):

Jill Fratpietro (OneLife Benefits and Consulting)

Helen Tang (HT Realty, HT Foundation)

Kate Laird (Love Your Body Fitness)

Entrepreneurial Leader (Established):

Salima Ismail (CHIROMAX)

Carley Schelck (Urban Element)

Susan Richards (NumberCrunch)

Lifetime Achievement:

Deirdre Freiheit (Freiheit Consulting, Shepherds of Good Hope/Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation)

Bree Jamieson Holloway (Canadian International Trade Tribunal)

Marry Gunaratnam (Northern Credit Union)

From back left, Businesswoman of the Year finalists Carley Schelck, Meseret Haileyesus, Lisa Anna Palmer, Julie Findlay, Kate Laird, Bree Jamieson Holloway, Susan Richards, Emily Jones Joanisse, Adrienne Vienneau. From front left, Jill Fratpietro, Marry Gunaratnam, Deirdre Freiheit, Christine Crump and Salima Ismail. Absent for the photo is Helen Tang. Photo by Eva Wong.

Laryssa Korbutiak, co-owner of ORESTA Clean Beauty Simplified, cheered on her friend, Carley Schelck, after Schelck was announced winner in the Entrepreneurial Leader (Established) award category during the Businesswoman of the Year Awards presented by the Women’s Business Network of Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Helen Tang, founder and CEO of HT Realty, was nominated for Entrepreneurial Leader (Emerging) by The Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s chief development officer, Jennifer Van Noort, who is a former recipient of a Businesswoman of the Year Award. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Bree Jamieson Holloway (third from left), who was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award at the Businesswoman of the Year Awards, was surrounded by such friends as Erin Blaskie (Canadian Paralympic Committee), left, Rachel Roesner (Germain Hôtels), Ashley Greco (Pure Country 94), Christine Harrison (Focus Forward Therapy Group) and Deborah Lehmann (The Ottawa Cancer Foundation). Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Shirley Westeinde, who was a businesswoman of the year recipient in 1994, with NumberCrunch co-founder and CEO Susan Richards, who was a finalist in the Entrepreneurial Leader (Established) category at this year’s awards dinner, presented by the Women’s Business Network of Ottawa at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, lawyer and divorce mediator Jennifer Reynolds, founder of Fresh Legal, and Caitlin Spearing of OMG Social Media Agency, co-chaired the Businesswoman of the Year Awards, held at Infinity Convention Centre on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Award recipient Christine Crump, president of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, was joined by members of her team during the Businesswoman of the Year Awards presented by  the Women’s Business Network of Ottawa at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Women’s Business Network of Ottawa board president Karen Wilson on stage during the Businesswoman of the Year Awards held at Infinity Convention Centre on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Freelance photographer and videographer Erica Giustiniani alongside her mom, Ginny Sutcliffe and stepfather, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, at the cocktail reception for the Businesswoman of the Year Awards held at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Alex Keenan, public speaker and communications consultant with Stage Light Communications, emceed the Businesswoman of the Year Awards while accompanied by a sign language interpreter. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Julie Findlay, who was a finalist for the Community Impact award, was surrounded by such supporters as her sister Wendy Norton, Krista Kealey (Ottawa International Airport Authority), visual artist Leanne Cusack, daughter Meghan Findlay, Barb Newton, former award winner Sheila Whyte (Thyme & Again Creative Catering + Food Shop), Lindsay Firestone (University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation) and Korey Kealey (RE/MAX Hallmark Realty) at the cocktail reception for the Businesswoman of the Year Awards. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Kanata MP Jenna Sudds and Meseret Haileyesus, founder of the Canadian Centre for Women’s Empowerment and a finalist for Enterprise Leader, at the Businesswoman of the Year Awards, held at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Rogers TV station manager Gavin Lumsden, a long-time supporter of the Businesswoman of the Year Awards, and Marion Balla, who’s a former award recipient, at this year’s awards dinner, held at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, award finalists Deirdre Freiheit, Emily Jones Joanisse and Adrienne Vienneau became friends through their involvement with the Businesswoman of the Year Awards, which were held Thursday, Oct, 16, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Carley Schelck (second from the left), who was this year’s recipient of Entrepreneurial Leader (Established), with members of her network from the Ottawa chapter of the Women Presidents Organization, including Emilie Wilcox (Nīewe Consulting), WPO chapter chair Nancy Graham and Ottawa real estate broker Jenniffer Alvarenga. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Marry Gunaratnam, a finalist for Lifetime Achievement, at the Businesswoman of the Year Awards with her husband, Kavaskar Nadarajah, and their two daughters, Amelia, four, and Angelina, nine. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Award recipient Jill Fratpietro, partner and employee benefits consultant at OneLife Benefits and Consulting, with her husband, Andrew, left, and business partner, Adam Skube, at the Businesswoman of the Year Awards, held at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips

BYA Nominations Committee chair Lynda Carter, partner at MNP, with her co-chair, Lisa Flanders (Bloom Integrated Health and Movement Centre), at the Businesswoman of the Year Awards, held at Infinity Convention Centre on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Infinity Convention Centre sales manager Komal Kaur, ICC executive vice president of sales and operations Lee Knowles, sales manager Lee Hebb and Naavya Arora, a business student at the University of Ottawa Telfer School of Management, at the Businesswoman of the Year Awards, held at Infinity Convention Centre on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

NumberCrunch co-founder and CEO Susan Richards (centre) was one of the 15 finalists to appear on stage and be recognized by such fellow business leaders as GGFL partner Donna Ho-Faloon, left, and former award recipient Jenny Mitchell, founder of Chavender, at the Businesswoman of the Year Awards. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Former award recipient Delphine Haslé (left), executive director and chief development officer at Perley Health Foundation, nominated Deirdre Freiheit (middle), who’s most notably the former CEO of Shepherds of Good Hope and Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation. Freiheit was joined by her daughter, Eve. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Michelle LeBlanc, wardrobe consultant at OH Style, with fashion designer Eric Hernandez at the Businesswoman of the Year Awards, held at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips

This year’s Businesswoman of the Year Awards, held at Infinity Convention Centre on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, embraced the theme of storytelling, reflected in the displays of books arranged on stage and throughout the room. Photo by Caroline Phillips.

This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WCPD, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Infinity Convention Centre, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada, First Avenue Investment Counsel, RBC, Welch LLP, Brazeau Seller Law.

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