Welcome to YWAIT, the podcast where inspiring ideas meet real action. Hosted by Kailey and powered by YW Calgary, each episode features trailblazers and change-makers sparking conversations on entrepreneurship, financial wellness, leadership, and personal growth. Why wait? Join us and be part of the conversation.
YWAIT | Women Advancing Ideas Together
Claim This Podcastby Kailey Armstrong
9 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas Sponsors
Podcast Overview
Welcome to YWAIT, the podcast where inspiring ideas meet real action. Hosted by Kailey and powered by YW Calgary, each episode features trailblazers and change-makers sparking conversations on entrepreneurship, financial wellness, leadership, and personal growth. Why wait? Join us and be part of the conversation.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
7/1/2025
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Recent Episodes
September 16, 2025
Franchising IS Entrepreneurship with Alla Brisky
<p>Host Kailey Armstrong has a conversation with guest Alla Brisky, the Regional Manager for Women in Enterprise at TD Bank, about franchising and how franchises are wonderful opportunities for entrepreneurship. Alla and her partner own a franchise in addition to her work at TD Bank. She breaks down why franchises are worth considering, how to finance a franchise, and the systemic barriers women in entrepreneurship face. Kailey and Alla examine the innate resilience of women and how they do not generally just take no for an answer, which makes women ideal entrepreneurs.</p><p><br>One of the defining moments for Alla, in achieving her franchise dream, was realizing that business banks have CSBFL programs, or Canada Small Business Financing Loans. These programs make business ownership accessible for a lot more Canadians. Franchises are worth considering because they come with built-in guidance and do not need to be thought up from scratch. Alla and Kailey discuss why entrepreneurs should follow their passions when choosing a business, the importance of separating personal from business finances, and not being afraid to sit down with a banker for advice on business options. Alla’s experience in banks, women entrepreneurship, and having her own franchise sheds practical light on how possible it is to achieve success in business with the right financing and a franchise that aligns with personal values.</p><p><strong>About Alla Brisky:</strong></p><p><br>Alla Brisky has spent over a decade with TD, building expertise in personal and business banking, and people leadership. She now serves as Regional Manager, Women in Enterprise with TD Business Banking, where she is passionate about helping women entrepreneurs access the capital, knowledge, and resources they need to start, grow, and scale their businesses. Beyond her role at TD, Alla is also an entrepreneur, co-franchising a Pet Valu location with her spouse, where she brings her love for community and business growth to life.</p><p>—</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Contact Kailey Armstrong | YW Calgary: </strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.ywcalgary.ca">Website</a></li><li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/YWcalgary">Facebook</a></li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/ywcalgary/">Instagram</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/ywcacalgary/">LinkedIn</a></li><li>Email: <a href="mailto:communications@ywcalgary.ca">communications@ywcalgary.ca</a></li></ul><p><strong><br>Contact Alla Brisky | Regional Manager, Women in Enterprise, TD Bank: </strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://smallbusinessadvisors.td.com/ab/calgary/421-7-avenue-southwest-allabrisky">TD Website</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/alla-brisky-8933a564/">LinkedIn<br></a><br></li></ul><p><br></p>
September 9, 2025
Communication in Leadership with CEO Sue Tomney
<p>Host Kailey Armstrong welcomes the CEO of YW Calgary, Sue Tomney, to the show to reflect on her leadership journey and the pivotal moments that shaped her career. Sue talks about courage in leadership, saying ‘yes’ to new opportunities even when self-doubt rises up, and acknowledges the mentors and colleagues who saw her potential. Kailey and Sue uplift women, discussing the unique strengths women bring to leadership and how supporting each other creates communities of encouragement. </p><p>Sue explains how part of good leadership is empathy and understanding how decisions impact not just the person we’re communicating with but potentially their colleagues, friends, and family. She points out that leaders should preserve their authentic selves while also adapting their tone depending on the audience to ensure the message is received well. As Sue looks back on her fifteen years of being a CEO, she stresses the value of surrounding ourselves with friends who challenge our thinking and urges everyone to continually seek new challenges and embrace courage. The conversation is a beautiful glimpse into powerful leadership and empathetic communication. </p><p><br></p><p><strong>About Sue Tomney:</strong></p><p>As Chief Executive Officer of YW Calgary, Sue Tomney is responsible for the strategic leadership of more than 300 diverse team members who offer shelter, housing, counselling, language and empowerment programs to some of the most vulnerable women and families in Calgary. In recent years, Sue led transformative work at YW through the development of a new vision, mission and organizational values. In addition, her leadership ensured the completion of three new trauma-informed, state-of-the-art facilities – on time, on budget and with no debt. </p><p>Sue has held senior-level positions with both non-profits and corporations prior to joining YW in December 2010: VP, Marketing and Communications for Imagine Canada; Director of Communications and External Affairs at TransAlta Corporation; and Manager, Public Relations & Community Investment for Canadian Airlines International. </p><p>Recently, Sue was selected as a 2025 Calgary Influential Women in Business (CIWB) Social Enterprise Award winner. Additionally, Sue was honoured to be named the 2025-2027 Jarislowsky Co-Fellow in Business Management with the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary. Sue also serves as the Alberta representative on the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference Alumni committee. </p><p>In 2022, Sue received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal and was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 25 Most Influential Women in 2020. Previously, Sue was the Chair of the Governance Committee for Calgary Housing Company, past-chair of CanadaHelps.org and participated in the Government of Alberta’s 2021 Childcare Advisory Group. </p><p>Sue loves spending time with her three (adult) kids Aedan, Liam and Abby and hiking with her beloved Golden Retrievers Rooney and Teddy. </p><p>—</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Contact Kailey Armstrong | YW Calgary: </strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.ywcalgary.ca">Website</a></li><li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/YWcalgary">Facebook</a></li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/ywcalgary/">Instagram</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/ywcacalgary/">LinkedIn</a></li><li>Email: <a href="mailto:communications@ywcalgary.ca">communications@ywcalgary.ca<br></a><br></li></ul><p><strong>Contact Sue Tomney | YW Calgary, CEO: </strong></p><ul><li>Website: <a href="https://www.ywcalgary.ca/">YWCalgary.ca</a></li><li>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-tomney-8a189010/">Sue Tomney</a></li></ul>
September 2, 2025
Centered in Community – Staying Grounded While Growing Boldly
<p>Host Kailey Armstrong welcomes Tazeem Weljie, a consultant and advisor, and, as Kailey describes her, a “connector superstar”, to the show to talk about connections, community, and building a life with intention. When Tazeem was nineteen, she left her hometown of Calgary for nineteen years. Upon her return, she set an intention to have 100 cups of coffee to learn about Calgary, and through that, she built an entire community and business of connections. She shares advice on how to reach outside comfort zones and grow with Kailey.</p><p><br>One of the things Tazeem learned through her 100 coffees was how a community is built with a tapestry of connections, how each person brings something new to the table. The coffees also helped her determine the path she would take with her entrepreneurial career. Kailey and Tazeem talk about how 100% of a skill is not needed to get in the door with something we want, just enough to help us learn and grow. They discuss the value of collaboration over competition, of seeing the people we meet as connected and not something to overcome. Tazeem shares advice on how to start making connections if we’re new to a city, stories on the reward that can come by taking a leap of faith, and having the courage to speak up about what we want and identify it out loud. </p><p><br></p><p><strong>About Tazeem Weljie:</strong></p><p><br>With over 15 years of experience in strategy and business operations, Taz brings a unique blend of knowledge, expertise, and a heart-centered approach to the world of growth and transformation. With a passion for creating order out of chaos, she works with organizations and individuals to create meaningful change. </p><p>Taz is more than a consultant; she's a partner, an authentic voice, and a trusted advisor. She not only understands the external needs of organizations, but also kicks up the dirt to uncover the root causes of challenges within organizations and individuals. </p><p>Grounded in the desire to leave the world better than she found it, and a strong believer in the power of community, Taz is an avid volunteer, sits on nonprofit boards, and donates her time and knowledge to causes close to her. She values the importance of family and friends and enjoys exploring the world through travel. She finds balance and peace through yoga, running, and staying active. She’s a foodie and always up for a good cup of tea!</p><p>—</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Contact Kailey Armstrong | YW Calgary: </strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.ywcalgary.ca">Website</a></li><li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/YWcalgary">Facebook</a></li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/ywcalgary/">Instagram</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/ywcacalgary/">LinkedIn</a></li><li>Email: <a href="mailto:communications@ywcalgary.ca">communications@ywcalgary.ca<br></a><br></li></ul><p><strong>Contact Tazeem Weljie | Tazeem Weljie & Associates: </strong></p><ul><li>Website: <a href="https://www.tazeemweljie.com/">TazeemWeljie.com</a></li><li>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tazeemweljie/">TazeemWeljie<br></a><br></li></ul><p><br></p>
9 total episodes available
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- What is YWAIT | Women Advancing Ideas Together?
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This podcast updates daily.
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