News Summary

Julie Ellis, co-founder of Mabel’s Labels and an executive coach, shared her insights on setting ‘big gorgeous goals’ during an International Women’s Day event hosted by the Women in Communications and Technology (WCT) Waterloo chapter. Ellis recounted her journey from starting a basement business in Hamilton in 2003 to achieving a multi-million dollar acquisition by CCL Industries for Avery North America in 2015. Mabel’s Labels, founded by Ellis and her co-founders, focused on creating personalized and durable labels for kids’ belongings. Despite early competition, the founders persevered, leading to the company’s eventual success. Ellis, now an angel investor, advocates for supporting women-led businesses, highlighting the significant funding gap between male and female-founded companies. She emphasizes the importance of community, mentorship, and creating intentional time for dreaming and planning in entrepreneurship. Ellis also shares stories of successful women entrepreneurs through her podcast, Figure 8.