Inspiring Business Owners Who Lead with Purpose and Passion
In today’s world, more and more business owners are embracing the role of conscious creators—individuals who prioritize purpose, community, and positive impact. We are inspired by the work of several remarkable businesses and entrepreneurs who share this commitment to creating meaningful change.
WE ASKED 5 CREATORS THEIR MISSION
Candace Tierney, Valerie Leloup & Sia Veeramani, Biatris Lasu, Mylee Batista, and Emma Terra all have something in common: they are conscious creators, deeply dedicated to fostering safe environments, building community, and promoting sustainability. These leaders are not only changing the way we do business but also helping to bring people together through their inspiring missions. Let’s dive into what makes each of them stand out as examples of purpose-driven entrepreneurship.
1. Candace Tierney
Founder: Oat & Mill
"At Oat & Mill, we handcraft delicious vegan ice cream from scratch in our own facility. Every bite reflects the love and care we put into our products, ensuring a perfect blend of indulgence, quality and sustainability.
Along with making delicious vegan ice cream, we’re all about making a positive impact. We support the Canadian Wildlife Federation and take pride in our inclusive hiring process, adapting our production environment to accommodate neurodivergent individuals. We’re also involved in events that supportanimal wellbeing, like the recent BKind x Safe event."
2. Valerie Leloup & Sia Veeramani
Founders: NU Grocery
"Since 2017, NU Grocery is on a mission to eliminate waste and reinvent consumption. At NU, customers bring their own containers and refill them with the products they need, in the quantity they need, and contribute to reducing food waste and packaging waste. We love to support local businesses who share our values, and Purple Urchin is definitely one of them. We’re proud to carry PU’s soaps package and waste-free!"
3. Biatris Lasu
Founder: Ottawa Social Girl Club
"At Ottawa Social Girl Club, our mission is to create a vibrant and inclusive community where girls and women in the Ottawa area can connect, build authentic friendships, and foster lasting relationships. We strive to provide a safe and welcoming environment through engaging events and activities that address the unique challenges of making new friends, especially for those navigating non-adult stages of life. Our goal is to empower every member to form meaningful connections that enrich their personal and social lives."
4. Mylee Batista
Model, Artist, Entrepreneur, Positive Influencer
"Being a creative allows me to explore a variety of passions, including modeling, the arts, television, acting, content creation, and even cooking. Despite facing significant left temporal lobe brain damage, I’ve found that it has sparked a newfound creativity in my right brain. I feel incredibly blessed to engage in charity work, helping others, and learning from those around me, all while remaining humble about my own imperfections. My experience in the medical field, particularly in nutrition, has empowered me to advocate for individuals with body image issues, emphasizing that a healthier lifestyle isn’t about strict dieting but nourishing our bodies for a longer, healthier life.
Graduating with honors in health and nutritional sciences in 2020, I currently work in the mom/baby unit at QCH, and I also founded a mental health charity, Ray Of Light, at 18, which has raised over $20,000 for underfunded organizations supporting youth mental health. My volunteer work with various foundations has enriched my perspective, while being named Faces Model of the Year in 2022 provided an avenue for creative expression through storytelling. Living with early dementia, stemming from my premature birth, I use my creativity to combat its progression and advocate for the belief that disabilities do not define us. Growing up hosting over 27 exchange students through programs like Northern Youth Abroad ignited my passion for culture and cooking, shaping my goal to approach every interaction with kindness and equality.
5. Emma Terra
Founder: The Urban Botanist
"I’m Emma Terra, a passionate entrepreneur and the creative mind behind The Urban Botanist. I blend my love for nature, eco-friendly design, and wellness into everything I do—whether it’s discovering and sharing products that nourish the body and reduce toxic load, or crafting green spaces that inspire. As an avid world traveler and explorer, I love sharing my adventures and my unique perspective on life in a way that’s intentional but always fun. My mission? To inspire others to live mindfully, pursue their passions, and embrace a life that is truly aligned and filled with purpose."
PURPLE URCHIN'S MISSION
Rebecca Pereira
Founder and product developer; Purple Urchin
"My mission is to make environmentally friendly bath, body, and skincare products that are 95%-100% natural, smell amazing, feel great to use, are effective, are useful in daily life, and make great gifts. I first started Purple Urchin because I wanted to make a product that would allow me to tap into my creativity without contributing to the amount of stuff that ends up in landfills. Soap fit the bill perfectly. It's a useful product that people actually have a need for (soap is vital to the world population's health and hygiene), it disappears completely when used and won't add to the problem of landfills, it makes an excellent useful gift (no more giving objects that will just end up in a landfill), all while allowing me to be creative and work with my hands.
I'm really interested in environmentalism, and do my best to incorporate that into my business. The majority of our products are packaged in glass containers and we offer the option to refill a variety of our products at our store. Our lip butters come in compostable/recyclable paper tubes. I choose ingredients based on their sustainability (I have never used palm oil in our products, as it is a large contributor to deforestation and wildlife habitat destruction, I don't use sandalwood essential oil as it's endangered), and actively avoid harmful ingredients, such as triclosan, an antimicrobial ingredient found in liquid soaps marketed as "antibacterial", due to it detrimental effects on the environment and wildlife.
Finally, I believe in helping others where possible. Over the past 13 years, Purple Urchin has contributed to countless organizations by donating products and gift cards to community fundraisers, women's shelters, and other social initiatives."