Ever since 2005 I have been trying to convince the large multinational laboratories that I worked for as an executive to start a Life Sciences Division - hey, if you haven’t noticed, we kind of don’t do a lot for oil and gas in January – it’s cold out there! Even in the best of times when there isn’t a recession. It was originally a way to even out our enormous seasonal cash flow peaks and valleys. But as I got into it, and as it became more obvious that I and my two children were experiencing chronic health effects, I became significantly more invested in not only developing this. My two children are on the autism spectrum and I myself have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. But why? The reality is, the genome of a population does not change over a hundred years. Yet, we are seeing dramatic increases in the prevalence of chronic diseases and disabilities that were not even on the radar at the turn of the 20th century. I took the plunge with my business partner in 2014 who has a set of routine environmental chemistry labs in Ontario, whereupon my side of the business tests for the bad chemicals (like lead and BPA) in people and the good chemicals (like essential amino acids, vitamins) and helps you determine how to eat properly, how to change your environment for the better, and how to live in optimum health. We have developed a screen that diagnoses autism comorbidities and diagnoses MS.

Without my business partner, none of this would have happened. And without my husband, who gets me on all levels, this would not have remotely been possible.

I do struggle with this, I admit. I am working on it! Through Canadian Business Chicks I have hired two coaches, and I feel like this is the year where I will conquer this struggle!

-

Don't squash down being a woman so that men will like you more. Being a mom and wife and career woman at the same time is something to be proud of, not ashamed of!

I made a move to a company who promised to help me start doing Life Sciences, and after a year, it was apparent that this likely wasn't going to happen. Fair enough! But this is what I needed to do.

Having special needs kids. Gone are the thoughts of "what private school will we choose" to "gee, I hope he can go to public school". But they are awesome and they are my life and I do this for them.

There are good days and there are days when you say "why am I doing this"? Don't let your inner "bitch voice" tell you that you suck. Because you don't. Just taking the first initial steps proves this.

I have worked with many amazing and talented women, and to name one would be impossible.

Hopefully sitting on a beach with a huge glass of Baileys in one hand! Seriously though, I will never retire. I will always want to be involved, and to be an advocate and mentor.

-

Bailey's. Most definitely.

High heeled shoes. It's my signature, that and my Tiffany's pearls. Let's face it, all legs look better in them, regardless of our weight! And shoes always fit, even when our skirts get too tight :D

Helping other special needs moms understand real science versus pseudoscience.

This is not that fancy: Aspen Beach near Red Deer. We are avid campers (read, "glampers" - we have a 35 foot trailer with 3 slides, obviously) and it is my de-stress and baby quality time zone.

Ronald McDonald House, Autism Canada, Foster Parent's Plan, WWF, Calgary Women's Shelter...there's more, it tends to change around...

This is terrible... You know how Rachel sang "Baby Got Back" to Emma on Friends? Well my first and I - American Bad Ass by Kid Rock and loooots of long drives in the truck! But now it makes me smile:D