Successful founders build companies that work in the real economy. Bobbie Racette is one of them.

Racette is the Founder and President of Virtual Gurus, a talent-as-a-service platform that connects remote assistants with businesses across North America and has delivered hundreds of thousands of hours of work for a diverse community of professionals.

She built Virtual Gurus from the ground up after being laid off during the 2016 downturn, growing a small idea into a technology company that has raised significant capital and expanded its reach while centering opportunity for historically underrepresented talent.

Her leadership reflects a practical model of tech entrepreneurship grounded in execution and scale, turning disruption into durable economic participation and building a business that extends opportunity beyond conventional markets.

This conversation explores how Indigenous women are exercising economic leadership by building and scaling technology-enabled businesses that deliver real work, real income, and real impact.

ABOUT BREAKTHROUGH NATION

Breakthrough Nation spotlights people whose ambition, grit, and sense of duty are moving Canada forward. I’m Karen Restoule, your host, and each episode features leaders delivering real results across regions and sectors.

About Series 2.

Series #2 brings the spotlight on Indigenous women entrepreneurs who are building businesses, creating jobs, and exercising real economic leadership. You’ll hear from people who are motivated by ambition, opportunity, and the desire to create something of lasting value that delivers results – real results.

You’ll hear from former Chief Karen Ogen of the Wet’suwet’en Nation, former Chief Kim Baird of the Tsawwassen Nation, and Claire Sault of the Mississaugas of the Credit Nation, alongside entrepreneurs like Lorie Restoule-Young, cofounder and head of Young Forestry Services, Trisha Pitura, cofounder of Mini Tipi, and others who are moving capital, people, and ideas into action.

SERIES 2 is presented in collaboration with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.

Make sure you subscribe to never miss an episode.

Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on: iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

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Thank you for joining us on Breakthrough Nation podcast.

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As Indigenous entrepreneurship increasingly moves from small-scale retail into nationally competitive commercial platforms, Chelsee Pettit has emerged as one of the most ambitious and execution-driven founders operating in Canada today.

Pettit is the founder and President of Aaniin Retail Inc., the Indigenous-owned retail and apparel company behind aaniin—a lifestyle and fashion brand rooted in Indigenous language, culture, and design that expanded into Canada’s first 100% Indigenous-owned department store concept.

What began as a focused idea around language visibility scaled into a broader retail platform. Under Pettit’s leadership, aaniin grew from a streetwear label into a commercial ecosystem that showcases Indigenous designers, supports dozens of Indigenous-owned brands, and competes directly in Canada’s mainstream retail market.

Her leadership reflects a distinct form of economic execution: disciplined brand development, inclusive business design, and a clear strategy to expand Indigenous commercial presence at scale – turning aaniin into both a brand and an economic platform.

This conversation explores how Indigenous women are exercising economic leadership by building and scaling businesses and moving beyond niche markets and into durable, growth-oriented commercial enterprises.

Note: This conversation was recorded in fall 2025. While some references are time-specific, the leadership insights remain relevant today.

ABOUT BREAKTHROUGH NATION

Breakthrough Nation spotlights people whose ambition, grit, and sense of duty are moving Canada forward. I’m Karen Restoule, your host, and each episode features leaders delivering real results across regions and sectors.

About Series 2.

Series #2 brings the spotlight on Indigenous women entrepreneurs who are building businesses, creating jobs, and exercising real economic leadership. You’ll hear from people who are motivated by ambition, opportunity, and the desire to create something of lasting value that delivers results – real results.

You’ll hear from former Chief Karen Ogen of the Wet’suwet’en Nation, former Chief Kim Baird of the Tsawwassen Nation, and Claire Sault of the Mississaugas of the Credit Nation, alongside entrepreneurs like Lorie Restoule-Young, cofounder and head of Young Forestry Services, Trisha Pitura, cofounder of Mini Tipi, and others who are moving capital, people, and ideas into action.

SERIES 2 is presented in collaboration with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.

Make sure you subscribe to never miss an episode.

Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on: iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

WATCH podcasts in video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakthroughNationCA

Thank you for joining us on Breakthrough Nation podcast.

Follow along at:

YouTube: / @breakthroughnationca

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakthroughnation

Twitter: @ambitionandgrit

Instagram: @breakthroughnationca

Facebook: www.facebook.com/breakthroughnation

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The mark of serious leadership is not ambition alone, but the ability to turn big vision into sound governance, strong economy, and real results for citizens. Kim Baird has done exactly that.

A former Chief of the Tsawwassen First Nation, Principal of Kim Baird Strategic Consulting, and now serving as the Nation’s Chief Administrative Officer, Baird has played a central role in shaping Tsawwassen’s modern governance and economic trajectory.

During her tenure as Chief, she led the Nation through foundational governance and economic transformation, positioning Tsawwassen to pursue ownership, investment, and long-term commercial partnerships. Today, Baird continues to apply that experience to Nation-building, governance, and sophisticated economic strategy within Tsawwassen and beyond. Her work reflects Nation-level economic leadership grounded in disciplined governance, execution, and long-term value creation.

This conversation explores how leaders exercise economic leadership by focusing on strong governance, making consequential decisions, and creating the conditions for durable prosperity.

ABOUT BREAKTHROUGH NATION

Breakthrough Nation spotlights people whose ambition, grit, and sense of duty are moving Canada forward. I’m Karen Restoule, your host, and each episode features leaders delivering real results across regions and sectors.

About Series 2.

Series #2 brings the spotlight on Indigenous women entrepreneurs who are building businesses, creating jobs, and exercising real economic leadership. You’ll hear from people who are motivated by ambition, opportunity, and the desire to create something of lasting value that delivers results – real results.

You’ll hear from former Chief Karen Ogen of the Wet’suwet’en Nation, former Chief Kim Baird of the Tsawwassen Nation, and Claire Sault of the Mississaugas of the Credit Nation, alongside entrepreneurs like Lorie Restoule-Young, cofounder and head of Young Forestry Services, Trisha Pitura, cofounder of Mini Tipi, and others who are moving capital, people, and ideas into action.

SERIES 2 is presented in collaboration with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.

Make sure you subscribe to never miss an episode.

Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on: iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

WATCH podcasts in video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakthroughNationCA

Thank you for joining us on Breakthrough Nation podcast.

Follow along at:

YouTube: / @breakthroughnationca

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakthroughnation

Twitter: @ambitionandgrit

Instagram: @breakthroughnationca

Facebook: www.facebook.com/breakthroughnation

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Indigenous women increasingly shape Canada’s business landscape from the ground up, Trisha Pitura stands out for building a brand where design and market relevance meet.

Co-founder and Head of Design at Mini Tipi, a lifestyle company based in Québec, Pitura has been central to shaping a business that competes on quality, craftsmanship, and originality. Mini Tipi produces high-quality blankets, shawls, ponchos, and accessories rooted in authentic Indigenous design and manufactured locally in Canada.

Under her creative leadership, the brand has moved well beyond niche retail. This past fall, Mini Tipi appeared on Dragon’s Den, gaining national exposure, and has since secured high-profile partnerships, including recent collaborations with @Mastercard and the @Toronto Maple Leafs.

Pitura’s work spans creative direction, artist collaboration, and brand development, ensuring that each product reflects artistic integrity and cultural meaning without losing sight of scale, execution, or customer demand. The result is a business that operates confidently in competitive retail markets while maintaining a clear and disciplined creative vision.

This conversation explores how Indigenous women are exercising economic leadership through design innovation and business execution, building companies that meet the moment in a real way – through products people choose, buy, and keep.

ABOUT BREAKTHROUGH NATION

Breakthrough Nation spotlights people whose ambition, grit, and sense of duty are moving Canada forward. I’m Karen Restoule, your host, and each episode features leaders delivering real results across regions and sectors.

About Series 2.

Series #2 brings the spotlight on Indigenous women entrepreneurs who are building businesses, creating jobs, and exercising real economic leadership. You’ll hear from people who are motivated by ambition, opportunity, and the desire to create something of lasting value that delivers results – real results.

You’ll hear from former Chief Karen Ogen of the Wet’suwet’en Nation, former Chief Kim Baird of the Tsawwassen Nation, and Claire Sault of the Mississaugas of the Credit Nation, alongside entrepreneurs like Lorie Restoule-Young, cofounder and head of Young Forestry Services, Trisha Pitura, cofounder of Mini Tipi, and others who are moving capital, people, and ideas into action.

SERIES 2 is presented in collaboration with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.

Make sure you subscribe to never miss an episode.

Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on: iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

WATCH podcasts in video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakthroughNationCA

Thank you for joining us on Breakthrough Nation podcast.

Follow along at:

YouTube: / @breakthroughnationca

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakthroughnation

Twitter: @ambitionandgrit

Instagram: @breakthroughnationca

Facebook: www.facebook.com/breakthroughnation

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Few Indigenous leaders have navigated the political, legal, and public pressures that have come with energy development in recent years as Karen Ogen.

Former Chief of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation and now CEO of the First Nations Natural Gas Alliance, Ogen has led and advised Indigenous Nations through some of the country’s most contested energy and infrastructure decisions. During her time as Chief, she guided her Nation through complex internal decision-making and consultation processes related to major energy projects – under intense national attention.

Today, Ogen works with First Nations across Canada that are choosing to engage in LNG and natural gas development. Her work reflects Nation-level economic leadership grounded in sound governance, collective decision-making, and execution, where legitimacy is earned internally and outcomes are measured in long-term, generational benefit.

ABOUT BREAKTHROUGH NATION

Breakthrough Nation spotlights people whose ambition, grit, and sense of duty are moving Canada forward. I’m Karen Restoule, your host, and each episode features leaders delivering real results across regions and sectors.

About Series 2.

Series #2 brings the spotlight on Indigenous women entrepreneurs who are building businesses, creating jobs, and exercising real economic leadership. You’ll hear from people who are motivated by ambition, opportunity, and the desire to create something of lasting value that delivers results – real results.

You’ll hear from former Chief Karen Ogen of the Wet’suwet’en Nation, former Chief Kim Baird of the Tsawwassen Nation, and Claire Sault of the Mississaugas of the Credit Nation, alongside entrepreneurs like Lorie Restoule-Young, cofounder and head of Young Forestry Services, Trisha Pitura, cofounder of Mini Tipi, and others who are moving capital, people, and ideas into action.

SERIES 2 is presented in collaboration with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.

Make sure you subscribe to never miss an episode.

Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on: iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

WATCH podcasts in video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakthroughNationCA

Thank you for joining us on Breakthrough Nation podcast.

Follow along at:

YouTube: / @breakthroughnationca

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakthroughnation

Twitter: @ambitionandgrit

Instagram: @breakthroughnationca

Facebook: www.facebook.com/breakthroughnation

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At a time when conversations about Indigenous economic reconciliation often drift into abstraction, Lorie Restoule-Young represents something far more substantive: vision, executive, ownership, and results.

Co-founder of Young Forestry Services, and most recently a Tim Hortons franchise owner, Lorie has built and scaled businesses from her home in northeastern Ontario in sectors where performance, reliability, and relationships matter most.

Her work reflects a practical model of Indigenous entrepreneurship: real businesses, real jobs, and sustained economic activity rooted in her home community of Nipissing First Nation. From forestry to food service to community contribution, Lorie’s approach is disciplined and execution-driven, proving that long-term local impact is built through ownership and day-to-day leadership.

This conversation explores how Indigenous women are exercising economic leadership by starting, operating, and growing businesses. There’s no Disney romance here – just ambition, grit, and a focus on delivering real and lasting results.

ABOUT BREAKTHROUGH NATION

Breakthrough Nation spotlights people whose ambition, grit, and sense of duty are moving Canada forward. I’m Karen Restoule, your host, and each episode features leaders delivering real results across regions and sectors.

About Series 2.

Series #2 brings the spotlight on Indigenous women entrepreneurs who are building businesses, creating jobs, and exercising real economic leadership. You’ll hear from people who are motivated by ambition, opportunity, and the desire to create something of lasting value that delivers results – real results.

You’ll hear from former Chief Karen Ogen of the Wet’suwet’en Nation, former Chief Kim Baird of the Tsawwassen Nation, and Claire Sault of the Mississaugas of the Credit Nation, alongside entrepreneurs like Lorie Restoule-Young, cofounder and head of Young Forestry Services, Trisha Pitura, cofounder of Mini Tipi, and others who are moving capital, people, and ideas into action.

SERIES 2 is presented in collaboration with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.

Make sure you subscribe to never miss an episode.

Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on: iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

WATCH podcasts in video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakthroughNationCA

Thank you for joining us on Breakthrough Nation podcast.

Follow along at:

YouTube: / @breakthroughnationca

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakthroughnation

Twitter: @ambitionandgrit

Instagram: @breakthroughnationca

Facebook: www.facebook.com/breakthroughnation

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About Series 2.

Series #2 brings the spotlight on Indigenous women entrepreneurs who are building businesses, creating jobs, and exercising real economic leadership. You’ll hear from people who are motivated by ambition, opportunity, and the desire to create something of lasting value that delivers results – real results.

You’ll hear from former Chief Karen Ogen of the Wet’suwet’en Nation, former Chief Kim Baird of the Tsawwassen Nation, and Claire Sault of the Mississaugas of the Credit Nation, alongside entrepreneurs like Lorie Restoule-Young, cofounder and head of Young Forestry Services, Trisha Pitura, cofounder of Mini Tipi, and others who are moving capital, people, and ideas into action.

SERIES 2 is presented in collaboration with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.

Make sure you subscribe to never miss an episode.

Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on: iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

WATCH podcasts in video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakthroughNationCA

Thank you for joining us on Breakthrough Nation podcast.

Follow along at:

YouTube: / @breakthroughnationca

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakthroughnation

Twitter: @ambitionandgrit

Instagram: @breakthroughnationca

Facebook: www.facebook.com/breakthroughnation

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Podlasly, Chief Executive Officer of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, leads an organization that brings together more than 180 First Nations and groups who are involved in some of Canada’s largest infrastructure, energy, and resource development projects. His work focuses on supporting First Nations as owners and partners in major projects, engaging directly with industry, investors, and governments on execution, governance, and commercial participation. The FNMPC’s advocacy has helped establish Indigenous equity participation as a standard feature of major projects across Canada, and played a key role in advancing the creation of Canada’s Indigenous loan guarantee program.

About Breakthrough Nation

Breakthrough Nation spotlights people whose ambition, grit, and sense of duty are moving Canada forward. I’m Karen Restoule, and each episode features leaders delivering real results across regions and sectors.

About Series 1.

Series #1 goes deep with people who are redefining what major project development looks like in Canada. You’ll hear from people who have had to work hard for citizen buy-in, build investor confidence, negotiate through political uncertainty – and still deliver results.

They understand that project ownership is the foundation for long-term prosperity and lasting influence – and that economic sovereignty is built through action.

Series #1 is presented in collaboration with the Macdonald Laurier Institute.

Make sure you subscribe to never miss an episode.

Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on: iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

WATCH podcasts in video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakthroughNationCA

Thank you for joining us on Breakthrough Nation podcast.

Follow along at:

YouTube: / @breakthroughnationca

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakthroughnation

Twitter: @ambitionandgrit

Instagram: @breakthroughnationca

Facebook: www.facebook.com/breakthroughnation

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.