Fresh Idea Collective hosts sold-out female entrepreneurship event

Karis Mapp of CTV News speaks with Shaw’s Ice Cream co-owners Kristine Hayes and Kelly Heleniak during the Business LeadHERship Summit in St. Marys.

Kerry Ramsay, founder of Fresh Idea Collective, hosted another sold-out event this week at the St. Marys Golf and Country Club. The Business LeadHERship Summit brought together leaders and business owners from across Ontario to learn, connect and discuss their business goals.

Keynote speaker Cheryl Himburg spoke about the importance of vision and the courage to imagine what’s possible before the path is fully clear.

“Vision takes shape when you have the courage to imagine what’s possible, even before all the steps are mapped out,” she said. “When we stop believing that what we’ve done so far is the ceiling of what we can accomplish, this is how we start to claim our lives.”

Himburg also shared that a recent stroke earlier this year will not stop her from pursuing her goals and continuing to grow.

“I’m a glass-ceiling breaker,” she said. “When we take an idea that feels impossible and start to ask how we can break that ceiling, we begin to take action, and all of a sudden it becomes possible.”

She emphasized the importance of aligning vision with personal values, noting that when the two are connected, actions and goals become clearer.

Second speaker Aileen Edwards of AME Consulting discussed executive presence, highlighting that confidence is something that must be practised consistently to build momentum.

She explained that hesitation and self-doubt can be perceived by others, while confidence and clarity can inspire trust.

“People benefit from your hesitation – don’t let them,” she said. “Lead clearly, lead with presence, lead believing you are ready, no matter what.”

Edwards also spoke about her experiences as a Black woman in leadership and the importance of believing in oneself before feeling fully ready.

“As women, we need to know how to enter rooms with intention,” she said. “If you don’t trust yourself in the room, people can feel that. Confidence is not volume – it’s a decision.

“Being seen is not ego, it’s stewardship. You can’t build a brand by being invisible.”

The final segment featured CTV News reporter Karis Mapp, who interviewed Tillsonburg entrepreneurs Kristine Hayes and Kelly Heleniak, two of the three sisters behind Shaw’s Ice Cream.

Originally from Tillsonburg, three of six sisters purchased the brand when it was close to shutting down. Having grown up working at their family’s business, Dad’s Ice Cream Shop, they decided while still in college to buy Shaw’s and revive it.

Despite early challenges, the brand has since expanded and is now available in stores across Canada, known for its unique and seasonal flavours.

“We had to wear a lot of hats, but growing up balancing being moms, wives and our own lives, we learned the importance of having the right people in our corner,” said Heleniak.

The pair also discussed adapting their leadership styles to support their team of more than 100 employees, emphasizing the importance of recognizing individual strengths and challenges.

Throughout the day, attendees had opportunities to connect with other entrepreneurs and take part in discussions on leadership, business challenges and work-life balance. Participants travelled from across Ontario, including as far as Ottawa.

The event highlighted the continued growth and impact of female-led businesses in local communities and beyond.

For more information on future events, visit freshideacollective.com.