Network = Networth

In this episode of Network Equals Net Worth , Dalene sits down with Nithin Jacob Eapen , President of Halifax Design Week and a product designer with 10 years of experience across Milan, Bangalore, and Halifax. Originally from India, Nithin studied design in India and Milan before eventually making Nova Scotia his home. His experience at Milan Design Week inspired him to bring a similar opportunit...

In this episode of Network Equals Net Worth , Dalene sits down with Megan Dirks , brand strategist, creative director, bestselling author, and founder of The Girl on the Left , an award-winning global women's storytelling platform. With more than a decade of experience in branding, marketing, design, and entrepreneurship, Megan has built her career around helping people turn their ideas and l...

In this episode of Network Equals Net Worth , Dalene sits down with Rosanna Pelton , Founder and CEO of ROSAPEL Virtual Executive Assistants . With more than four decades of executive-level administrative experience, Rosanna knows what it takes to keep businesses organized and moving forward. She shares how her career began as a legal assistant in Toronto, what brought her to Nova Scotia, and how...

In this episode of Network Equals Net Worth , Dalene sits down with Anton Kats , entrepreneur, software developer, founder of InstantHero, and the person behind Halifax AI Guy. Anton shares his story of coming to Canada at 12 years old, teaching himself how to build websites, and eventually turning his curiosity about technology into a career in software. Along the way, connections, mentors, and a...

In this episode of Network Equals Net Worth , Dalene sits down with Delphine du Toit , a coach, mediator, and facilitator who has spent more than forty years working where people, power, and organisational systems collide. From labour relations in apartheid-era South Africa to boardrooms, government departments, First Nations organisations, and family disputes, Delphine has built her career around...

In this episode of Network Equals Net Worth , Dalene sits down with entrepreneur and community builder Jenna Ross , founder of Happy Place Property Management and The Nova Scotian Cookie Company. Jenna shares the journey behind growing her businesses and what she has learned about thinking bigger, asking for opportunities, and continuing to move forward even when the next step isn’t always clear....

In this episode of Network Equals Net Worth , Dalene sits down with Jan Underhill , founder of Empower HR Consulting , to talk about what happens when businesses truly put their people first. After approximately 20 years with FutureWorks and a career focused on helping people grow and see new possibilities, Jan decided to take on a new challenge and launch her own HR consulting business. She share...

In this episode of Network Equals Net Worth , Dalene sits down with Wendy Brookhouse , founder and Chief Strategist of Black Star Wealth, for an important conversation about being financially prepared when life doesn't go according to plan. With nearly two decades of experience, Wendy helps professionals and entrepreneurs take control of their financial lives, cut through complexity, and make...

In Part 2 of this conversation, Ed Leach shares the lessons he's learned from a lifetime of building meaningful relationships, creating opportunities, and helping others succeed through the power of networking. Drawing on decades of experience as an educator, entrepreneur, and community builder, Ed explains why some of the best opportunities come from showing up, staying curious, volunteering...

In this episode of Network Equals Net Worth , Dalene sits down with Michelle Carter , entrepreneur, business mentor, and owner of Sincerely, Skin , to talk about building a business that creates freedom, flexibility, and opportunity. Michelle shares her journey from registered social worker to beauty business owner, growing her skincare clinic into a thriving business while creating systems that g...

In this episode of Network Equals Net Worth , Dalene sits down with Ed Leach , educator, entrepreneur, and champion of purposeful aging, to discuss why we need to rethink the way we view aging and the opportunities that come with longer, healthier, and more purposeful lives. Drawing on more than five decades of experience connecting people, mentoring entrepreneurs, and leading innovation, Ed share...

In this episode of Network Equals Net Worth , Dalene sits down with Sahrit Weinstein , dance instructor, creative entrepreneur, author, and mom of three, to explore how courage is not about eliminating fear. It is about taking one small step at a time. Growing up in Jerusalem, Sahrit developed both a love for adventure and a deep sense of caution. Through personal stories of overcoming her fear of...

In this episode, we sit down with Alison Knott , founder of Alison K Consulting , to explore how marketing and networking work best when they're built on genuine human connection. Alison shares her journey from graphic designer to marketing consultant, along with the lessons she's learned helping consultants, therapists, and knowledge experts become more visible while staying true to the...

Justin Hillier has built his career around relationships, leadership, and helping people make confident decisions. From starting in sales at just 17 years old to leading award-winning teams in banking and insurance, his journey has been shaped by a commitment to serving others and creating meaningful connections. In this episode, Justin shares lessons learned from more than two decades of leadersh...

In this episode, we sit down with Polina Baum-Talmor, founder of Poli’s Creations , to explore the intersection of creativity, connection, and opportunity. Polina shares how a passion for hand-drawn artwork evolved into a thriving creative business, where her original designs are transformed into wearable art, custom pieces, and unique creations for clients and events. Throughout our conversation,...

In this episode, we sit down with Jeremy Brake , an event and portrait photographer with more than a decade of experience helping businesses tell their stories through authentic, people-focused imagery . Jeremy has worked with business owners, artists, musicians, fashion events, and workshops, building a reputation for creating photographs that capture not just what organizations do, but who they...

Nicole Edgson and Kirstene Reyes are redefining what it means to build a life and business with intention. As the owners of Intentionally Tiny Custom Homes , Nicole and Kirstene combine skilled trades expertise, entrepreneurship, and a passion for community to create thoughtfully designed tiny homes that challenge traditional ideas of housing and living . In this conversation, we explore their jou...

Viktoria Yadvizhyna , Co-Founder and CEO of Hatka Homes , joins the podcast to discuss one of Nova Scotia’s most urgent challenges: housing. Drawing on more than 15 years of experience across Europe and North America in construction, design, and community-focused project delivery , Viktoria is helping reshape how attainable housing is built in Nova Scotia. After immigrating to Canada and rebuildin...

Marie-Aurore Frey is a Halifax-based finance professional, real estate investor, author, and community leader passionate about helping people build long-term wealth through real estate investing. Alongside her husband, she has built a growing rental portfolio while balancing full-time careers and raising three young children, giving her a practical and honest perspective on what it really takes to...

In this episode, we’re joined by Jenny Tyler, Fundraising Coordinator with Special Olympics Nova Scotia Sackville Bedford, whose work is rooted in care, inclusion, and community. With more than 30 years of experience in early childhood education, disability supports, and advocacy, Jenny began her career in the UK as a qualified nursery nurse before leading a large daycare. After moving to Nova Sco...

What happens when you turn passion into purpose and creativity into community? In this episode, we sit down with Nikhila Shaju, a Halifax-based baker and entrepreneur who transformed her career from the airline industry into a thriving business rooted in creativity, culture, and connection . As the founder of Cakes for You in Timberlea, Nikhila has spent the past five years building a brand known...

Sarah Williams brings a rare blend of strategic communications expertise and hands-on hospitality experience to the world of premium spirits. As Territory Sales Manager for Atlantic Canada at Sovereign Wine & Spirits, she leads the growth of a diverse portfolio of more than 25 brands, navigating a rapidly evolving market shaped by changing consumer preferences and the rise of non-alcoholic opt...

In this episode, we’re joined by Matthew Cicanese : Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, National Geographic Explorer, and a leading voice in neurodiversity inclusion and accessible technology. Matthew brings a rare blend of global fieldwork, corporate training experience, and lived insight as a Deafblind and neurodivergent professional to help organizations rethink how they communicate, design, and innova...

In this episode, we sit down with Corrie Melanson, Strategy and Learning Lead at Sea Change CoLab, to explore what it really takes to build more inclusive, equitable communities and workplaces. Corrie shares insights from their work across three powerful focus areas: advancing accessible and inclusive employment through the Accessibility Confident Employers (ACE) Project , supporting queer entrepr...

In this episode, we sit down with Brian Mattocks, Chief Operations Officer at Podcast Chef , founder, and strategic powerhouse, to unpack what it really takes to build a successful podcast from the ground up. Brian shares insights from his diverse career spanning operations, marketing, and business strategy, and explains how those skills translate directly into creating podcasts that not only soun...