“Dragon” on Dragons’ Den | CEO of Venture Communications
Arlene Dickinson is a serial entrepreneur and General Partner of District Ventures Capital, a venture capital fund focused on helping market, fund and grow entrepreneurs and their companies in the food and health space.
She is a three-time best-selling author, podcaster and accomplished public speaker. Dickinson is widely recognized for her role as a Dragon/Venture Capitalist for over 12 seasons on the multi-award-winning CBC television series Dragons’ Den.
Ms. Dickinson’s leadership has been recognized many times, including Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100 Hall of Fame, the Pinnacle Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence, as well as PROFIT and Chatelaine’s Top 100 Women Business Owners. She is a Marketing Hall of Legends inductee and a proud recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Award. Dickinson has served for many years as an Honourary Captain in the Royal Canadian Navy.
She sits on several public and private boards and is actively involved in supporting community and country.
TOPICS
Reinvention
Every one of us will feel stuck at some point in our lives. One day, you recognize that you have followed a path — personal or professional — that suddenly seems closed off or unfulfilling. Whether it’s a relationship that doesn’t connect in the way it used to or a job that started out being exciting but now feels unrewarding, suddenly you look up from your life and realize there is something else you want to do or be. You’re ready for a reinvention.
Lessons from the Den: Succeeding at Business and Being an Entrepreneur
Can anyone be an entrepreneur? Arlene Dickinson’s answer is “yes!” In this talk, Arlene distills a lifetime of experience to reveal everything you need to know—and do—start, run and grow a business. On stage, as on the TV screen, Dickinson is an inspirational speaker. She displays a palpable and infectious belief in the entrepreneurial spirit. Arlene reminds your audience of the major contributions Canadians have made to international business and the entrepreneurial tradition. This keynote is highly requested by parties who are looking to hire Arlene as a speaker.
Leadership and Strategic Marketing
“Like laying bricks to build a house, each dollar you spend on marketing should measurably build your business.” Marketing plays a fundamental role in all businesses- yet it is seldom held accountable the way other departments are. Dragon’s Den star, Arlene Dickinson, teaches your team why marketing must be a top concern of leadership. Additionally, she explains why creativity and accountability must go hand-in-hand. Otherwise, why bother with marketing at all?
Marketing Yourself
Success is often taken for granted; few stop to think about where it came from, what shaped it, what trials were involved. In this refreshing business talk, keynote speaker Arlene Dickinson tells her story, providing a rare look into the making of one of Canada’s most powerful businesswomen. Brimming with lessons in self-doubt and self-confidence, this refreshing talk is underscored by modesty, grit, and enormous heart.
