Welcome to our final episode of The Finance Cafe for 2025! In this special year-end wrap-up, co-founders Shauna Frederick and Shannon Pestun reflect on the lessons of the past year and share practical habits to bring into the year ahead.

In this episode, Shauna and Shannon dive into a topic every entrepreneur can relate to: you don’t have to go it alone. Entrepreneurship is often celebrated as independence, being your own boss, doing it all, but that can make it feel heavy when it comes to managing your finances. As they discuss, it’s completely normal to feel confused or overwhelmed, especially when many of us were never taught how to navigate business finances in the first place.

They also explore the importance of building a strong inner circle to support your business, including relationships with bankers, bookkeepers, accountants, and lawyers. Using the FLOW framework, they break down how to evaluate these relationships to ensure they are:

• F – Relationship Friendly
  

• L – Learning Centered
  

• O – Ongoing
  

• W – Without Judgment
  

Through relatable stories and real-life examples from their work with entrepreneurs, Shauna and Shannon encourage listeners to lean on trusted advisors and peers, ask questions, and embrace learning as an ongoing process.

Whether you’re reflecting on your 2025 wins or planning for a financially confident 2026, this episode is packed with insights to help you strengthen your support system and make your business thrive.

Tune in and finish the year strong!

In this episode of The Finance Cafe, Shauna Frederick sits down with Julie Dimitri, National Manager for TD Women in Enterprise, to explore how women entrepreneurs and women-led businesses can thrive with the right banking support.

Julie brings over 20 years of professional experience spanning business development, sales leadership, startup operations, and talent management. After moving from Montreal to Toronto to open the Ontario operations of a business she co-founded, Julie quickly became known for her passion for professional development and networking, founding a women’s group to connect like-minded professional women early in her career. For the past seven years at TD, she has been instrumental in empowering sales teams, coaching for performance, and now leads the Women in Enterprise segment in Business Banking.

During the conversation, Julie shares how TD Women in Enterprise supports women-led businesses of all sizes, from startups to corporations, and emphasizes the importance of building strong, trusting relationships between entrepreneurs and their bankers. She discusses how women founders can feel confident approaching their banker for guidance that goes beyond financial products, including support for scaling their business, a concern many women now prioritize even more than funding. Julie also highlights how TD takes a holistic approach to empowering women, providing opportunities outside of finance that contribute to professional growth and long-term success.

Tune in to learn how women entrepreneurs can leverage strong banking partnerships to elevate their business, and why cultivating that relationship can be a game-changer for growth and confidence.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliedimitri/

Website: https://www.td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business

Thinking about incorporating your business? Before you file the paperwork, make sure you understand what’s really at stake. The decision between a sole proprietorship, partnership, or incorporation can shape everything from your taxes and liability to your long-term financial success.

In this episode of The Finance Cafe Podcast, we sit down with Ronke Omorodion, principal lawyer at Lexion Legal and widely known as “the entrepreneur’s lawyer.” With more than 13 years of experience supporting founders and startups, she breaks down what every business owner should know before choosing a legal structure — and why this decision is one of the most important you’ll make as an entrepreneur.

The conversation explores the pros and cons of each business type and what those choices mean for your personal protection, taxes, and growth potential. You’ll hear how the right structure can set your business up for success — and how the wrong one can create legal and financial challenges down the road. She also emphasizes the importance of getting legal advice early, reminding founders that they don’t have to figure it all out on their own. The right guidance can save time, money, and unnecessary stress while giving you confidence in the path ahead.

At Lexion Legal, the team helps Alberta entrepreneurs tackle their legal needs with energy, innovation, and authenticity. They’re not just a law firm — they’re trusted partners committed to getting things done, and getting them done right.

Beyond her practice, Ronke holds leadership roles with the Canadian Bar Association Alberta Branch and dedicates her time to mentoring teens and supporting not-for-profit organizations. When she’s not advocating for business owners, she’s enjoying family adventures, nature walks, or a good crime movie with her partner and sons.

Whether you’re launching your first venture or thinking about restructuring your business, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to make informed legal and financial decisions that align with your goals.

Website:https://lexionlegal.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronke-omorodion-56b68370/

Financial literacy means more than understanding spreadsheets and statements. It’s about seeing the full picture of your financial health and how it connects to the life and business you’re building.

In this special Financial Literacy Month episode of The Finance Cafe Podcast, co-founders Shauna Frederick and Shannon Pestun invite you to talk money and explore why the term financial literacy sometimes misses the mark. They’re reframing the conversation toward financial wellness, because it’s not just about learning the language of finance; it’s about feeling confident using it.

Financial wellness recognizes that our relationship with money is emotional, cultural, and deeply personal. It’s about aligning financial understanding with purpose, values, and well-being, not just profit. Shauna and Shannon dive into what this mindset shift means for women entrepreneurs, why it’s critical to see beyond the numbers, and how The Finance Cafe is helping women gain both the confidence and clarity to lead their businesses with intention. When we view money through the lens of wellness, we give ourselves permission to grow in knowledge, confidence, and courage.

What if the next generation of entrepreneurs didn’t have to unlearn bad money habits, but instead grew up confident in their financial choices?

In this episode of The Finance Café Podcast, Shannon Pestun sits down with 12-year-old entrepreneur Abby Adams, whose curiosity, drive, and financial awareness are far beyond her years.

At just twelve, Abby has built her own dog walking and care business, balancing the demands of clients, scheduling, and marketing with the same determination as a seasoned entrepreneur. What began as a way to help her community has become a lesson in responsibility, resilience, and financial knowledge—showing that age is no barrier to ambition.

Guided by her mom, Tara Adams, founder of Abridge Consulting, Abby is learning what it means to run a business with purpose—from earning and saving to investing for her future. She’s even met with a financial advisor to understand how to make her money work for her, proving that financial empowerment can start early.

In their conversation, Shannon and Abby explore what it means to take ownership of your finances, how confidence grows through experience, and why the fundamentals of business—relationship-building, curiosity, and hard work—are universal, no matter your age.

What if access to capital wasn’t the biggest barrier for women entrepreneurs? What if the system itself was designed to recognize your potential, your innovation, and the impact you’re already creating?

In this episode of The Finance Cafe Podcast, Shannon sits down with Arielle Land, Director of Operations at Movement51, to explore how the organization is rewriting the story of venture capital—one woman founder at a time. Through initiatives like the Founders Lab, and their ongoing work in education and investment readiness, Movement51 is creating pathways for women and gender-diverse entrepreneurs to grow, scale, and lead with confidence.

Arielle shares how Movement51 is tackling the equity gap in funding, helping founders understand the language of investors, and building an ecosystem that supports inclusive, sustainable entrepreneurship. She also talks about what makes a business truly investment-ready, how to align your values with your growth strategy, and why understanding venture capital doesn’t mean losing sight of your mission.

Whether you’re an early-stage founder curious about funding or a seasoned entrepreneur ready to scale, this conversation reminds us that venture capital doesn’t have to be intimidating—it can be empowering. When women have access to the right knowledge, networks, and capital, the possibilities for impact are endless.

Arielle Land, Director of Op @Movement51LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielleland/

Instagram @arielleland

Corporate socials

@Movement51

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/movement51/posts/?feedView=all

Website: https://www.movement51.org/

What if the end of your year didn’t feel rushed or overwhelming? What if, instead of stressing about budgets, taxes, and unfinished goals, you could pause, reflect, and take intentional action to finish the year with clarity and confidence?

In this episode of The Finance Cafe Podcast, co-founders Shauna Frederick and Shannon Pestun guide entrepreneurs through five powerful questions to reconnect with both their business and personal goals before year-end. Rather than hustling toward the finish line, they invite you to slow down, reflect on your progress, and align your numbers with your values in a way that feels empowering.

Through honest reflections and practical insights, they explore what success looks like right now, which numbers truly matter, what tasks or ideas need attention before year-end, and how to celebrate your wins while also asking for the support you need to move forward. Think of this conversation as a money date with yourself—a chance to pause, check in, and create the clarity you need for the season ahead.

This episode is a reminder that financial wellness isn’t just about the numbers—it’s about the confidence and peace of mind that comes when your goals, values, and actions align.

Explore online programs at The Finance Cafe to learn how to read financial statements, understand cash flow, and connect your numbers to your values. Use code PODCAST10 for an exclusive listener discount.

What if your business finances didn’t feel overwhelming? What if, instead of losing sleep over bookkeeping and cash flow, you had a trusted partner helping you make confident decisions about growth?

In this episode of The Finance Cafe Podcast, Shauna sits down with Sukhanpreet Dhanotta, Partner at Grewal Guyatt LLP, to talk about why building the right financial support team is one of the smartest moves a business owner can make. Sukhanpreet shares how accountants can do so much more than balance the books—they can provide clarity, uncover opportunities, and guide you through the decisions that shape your company’s future.

With more than 15 years of experience as an auditor and advisor, Sukhanpreet has worked with businesses ranging from early-stage startups to multi-million-dollar international companies. At Grewal Guyatt LLP, one of the fastest-growing mid-sized CPA firms in the GTA, she leads the assurance division and brings deep expertise in accounting, tax, and strategy. Outside of her career, she’s a proud mom of two young kids and embraces the everyday adventure of balancing family and work.

Shauna and Sukhanpreet dive into the signs that it’s time to bring on financial support, how to find an advisor who truly understands your business, and why investing in the right partner allows you to step into your role as CEO with confidence. This conversation is a reminder that financial management isn’t just about keeping the numbers straight—it’s about giving you the clarity and freedom to focus on growth, strategy, and building the business you envision.

Linkedin: Sukhanpreet Dhanotta, CPA, CA

Website: https://www.grewalguyatt.ca/