From Oil & Gas to Wellness Mogul: Gaurav Gupta’s Journey to 12+ Spas Across Canada

November 21, 2025 0:00:27

Gaurav Gupta, Owner of Leela Eco Spa, Leela Thermal House and SKA Thermal Spa.

Entrepreneur with a passion for purpose-driven growth, operational efficiency, and people centered leadership. He combines a background in engineering and global business with a hands-on approach to building service based brands.

After 6 years in Oil & Gas (SNC-Lavalin & Suncor Energy), he transitioned into entrepreneurship in 2014 by acquiring Leela Eco Spa, despite no prior experience in the wellness space. What began as a single spa in Calgary has grown into a portfolio of 12+ locations across Canada, including the launch of SKA Thermal Spa, Calgary’s first urban thermal wellness concept.

Today, Leela Eco Spa and SKA Thermal Spa support over 350 team members and serve 140,000+ guests annually. The growth has been guided by lean systems, strong financial discipline, and a commitment to uplifting both clients and team members through exceptional service and meaningful experiences.

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On a mission to help others embrace a holistic, healthier lifestyle

October 22, 2025 0:17:44

Amanda Schmidt is the heart behind Purely Inspired Living. The 28-year-old’s own path to wellness began with a lot of frustration and self-doubt. She spent years investing time, energy, money, and resources into her health but still felt stuck — constantly fatigued and holding so much grief of not feeling well. That’s when she discovered ONDAMED®️, and everything shifted.

As Calgary’s only certified ONDAMED®️ practitioner, her mission is to help others embrace a holistic, healthier lifestyle through personalized, non-invasive care. With Purely Inspired Living, she’s building not just a wellness practice but a community that supports self-empowerment, confidence, and discovery — rooted in the belief that we all carry the innate ability to heal.

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A Hug in a Bowl personified

September 23, 2025 0:29:12

Sharon Hapton, a successful Calgary-based businesswoman and mother of two, is the founder and CEO of Soup Sisters and Hug in a Bowl Enterprises.

In 2008-2009, leading up to her 50th birthday, Sharon channeled her belief in the healing power of homemade soup into founding Soup Sisters, a grassroots organization. Recognized nationally and regionally for her work, Sharon has led the movement that has delivered over 4 million ‘Hugs in a Bowl’ to families and individuals in crisis. She has received numerous accolades, including being named one of Chatelaine’s and CityTV’s Women of the Year and receiving the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada in 2016.

“I am a soup maker. I have cared for family and friends with soup for most of my adult life. If someone was down or needed some extra care, I would show up at their door, most often unannounced and with soup. I knew that this simple gesture had the power to change their day, and in the process of making it, I was letting them know how much I cared.

The whole exchange – the soup-making, the visit, the comfort it provided and the appreciation it returned – created a fulfilling cycle of giving. Here is the recipe for Soup Sisters. All it took was for me to realize that I didn’t need to look beyond my truest self and that what I was looking for had always been inside me, just waiting to be recognized. After all, I am, and always have been, a soup maker.”

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From Colleagues to Co-Founders: The Bridge Medical Communications Story

August 6, 2025 0:32:57

Lorie Spence and Carolyn Pritchard founded Bridge Medical Communications, which was built to fill the patient and healthcare provider gap in the healthcare system.

With a combined 40 years in Business and Healthcare Comms, Lorie and Carolyn witnessed the challenges facing the industry. This ignited their passion to bridge the gap between the industry and patients. Bridge’s vision is to empower healthcare professionals to optimize patient outcomes through innovative communication tools, creative solutions, and strategic collaboration. With their unique expertise.

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The entrepreneurial spirit is in her blood

July 10, 2025 0:19:40

Christine Buhr is a Calgary-based entrepreneur and community builder dedicated to creating innovative wellness and entertainment experiences. As the Calgary franchisee for FS8, a next-generation fitness concept, Christine is focused on expanding its unique blend of movement, mindfulness, and community across the city. She’s also preparing to bring Vaura Pilates to market in the future.

]With over 15 years in the family entertainment and retail industries, including operating Shakers Family Fun Centre and working with brands like The Body Shop, Christine has launched and scaled multiple ventures. She previously hosted The 3rd Degree Podcast and The Weekly LBX Show, spotlighting trends and leaders in the experience economy. Her work has been featured in Maclean’s, The Calgary Herald, Business in Calgary, and Fun World. Christine earned her Entrepreneurial Masters Certificate at MIT’s Endicott House and believes that experiences, whether in wellness, business, or community are the true currency of the future.

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Transforming Youth Mental Health Through Mentorship & Community

June 30, 2025 0:16:56

Jamie Conroy is the beating heart of Orenda, an Alberta-based non-profit organization that promotes the mental health and well-being of youth, families, and individuals through a range of mentorship programs, workshops, and retreats. With a Bachelor of Education and 12 years of experience, Jamie has worked with youth and communities across various projects — from the Inspired Youth School Project to the Boys and Girls Club of Calgary, as well as the NHPCA, the Chamber of Okotoks, CBE, and the Foothills School Division. She is also certified in yoga and life coaching, and brings both depth and versatility to guiding people and building systems that make a lasting, positive impact. Guided by the principle of challenging and loving simultaneously, Jamie develops family- and community-driven programs that prioritize trust, safety, and connection. Through Orenda, she is helping create a world where personal and collective transformation, youth and family development, and community-building thrive.

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Living Life at a Ten

March 19, 2025 0:29:23

Kristen Gale is the spirited force and founder behind THE TEN SPOT®️ beauty bars’ rise from a singular Toronto location to an acclaimed international franchise with over 40 bustling bars across Canada and the U.S., with a dozen more in the pipeline.

Starting her business at just 24 years old, Kristen has become a trailblazer in the beauty and franchise field with her entrepreneurial flair garnering her numerous accolades, including a spot on Canada’s Top 40 Under 40, the Chatelaine Magazine W100 list, and recognition as one of EY’s Winning Women. Under her leadership, THE TEN SPOT®️ has clinched prestigious awards such as Profit Magazine’s 500 Fastest Growing Companies for four consecutive years, Entrepreneur’s Top Global Franchise list for two, and the CFA’s Franchisee’s Choice Awards for five years running.

Kristen’s mantra, “LIFE AT A TEN®️,” is far more than just a slogan – it’s the driving force behind everything she does and is the embodiment of her approach to both business and life. She’s passionate about empowering women to live their LIFE AT A TEN®️ and believes business ownership is one of the very best ways to do so, since nothing gives you the freedom and control over your life and earning potential like entrepreneurship does! In addition, Kristen’s newly launched signature online LIFE AT A TEN®️ Program, shares her proven strategies, insights, and hands-on experience to empower high-achieving, overwhelmed women who “have it all” to CEO THE SHXT OUT OF LIFE®️; helping women shift from stressed-out and stuck to optimized and energized, thriving in every aspect of their personal lives so they can create and live their own version of LIFE AT A TEN®️.

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On a mission to make the world a healthier place, one sip at a time

March 5, 2025 0:21:07

Mitch Jacobsen is a former engineer turned beverage entrepreneur. He is the receptionist, the janitor, and sometimes the CEO at Rviita [pronounced Ree – Vai – Tuh and short for ‘revitalize’] Energy Tea, which is a natural energy drink now carried in over 1200 stores across Canada and is a top selling energy drink on Amazon and recently listed in select Costco locations. When he’s not obsessing over how to cram more goodness into a sleek, eco-friendly beverage pouch, Mitch is probably brainstorming ways to make energy drinks that don’t make you feel like you’ve licked a battery. Armed with a passion for sustainability and fueled by his own product (literally), Mitch is on a mission to keep you awake and make the world a healthier place, one sip at a time.

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Build your network of support for success

January 15, 2025 0:29:37

Maureen Codispodi, founder and director of Help Clinic Canada, is a force of change in the landscape of mental health support in Canada. As a seasoned mental health and education professional, she is committed to breaking down barriers to mental health services and, with the support of her team, is making an impact in the lives of Canadians.

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From Big Tech to Healthcare: Zameer Rizvi’s Mission to Improve Patient Care

December 19, 2024 0:30:34

Ontario-based Zameer Rizvi is the Founder & CEO of Odesso and has a great entrepreneurial story.

Zameer has two decades of institutional and professional experience with notable companies such as Amazon, VMware, Amgen, Citrix, and Blackberry.

Patient care has been deeply neglected as healthcare systems are overburdened and underfunded. Zameer recognized this in and realized he had to do something and so he launched Odesso in 2017. Odesso helps healthcare providers shift focus back to the patient by alleviating operational challenges. The company powers some of the most notable players in North America’s healthcare industry today. Odesso helps healthcare providers shift focus back to the patient by alleviating operational challenges. The company powers some of the most notable players in North America’s healthcare industry today.

He’d love to share his journey, why he started the company, where it’s at and how it’s helping solve one of North America’s biggest health challenges today.

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