I just wanted to send a quick email to you to say THANK YOU!!!!! for being such a special part of Nova Vita Celebrates International Women’s Day 2023!
Anne Herbison-Ruddell, Community Development Manager, Nova Vita Women’s Shelter
Brandi Leifso
Award-Winning Social Impact Entrepreneur, Resilience Advocate, Author & International Speaker
BRANDI LEIFSO is a trailblazing entrepreneur, resilience advocate, and the founder and CEO of Evio Beauty, a mission-driven beauty brand transforming the way we approach skincare and social responsibility. Brandi launched Evio at 21, while living in a women’s shelter to escape domestic violence. Her brand, now with a large retail presence and featured in vogue, forbes, allure… and is dedicated to reducing the impact of stress on skin and community. Evio has donated over $550,000 in products and funding to 28 shelters across Canada, supporting survivors of domestic violence thrive.
Recognized for her transformative work and resilience, Brandi has earned widespread acclaim. In 2018, she was named one of Chatelaine Magazine’s Women of the Year. She has shared her journey on global stages, including the Forbes Under 30 Global Women Summit in Israel. Her contributions to business and social impact have led her to be celebrated as one of Canada’s Top 25 Women of Influence in 2020 and as the Independent Retail Ambassador of the Year in 2021 by the Retail Council of Canada.
Brandi’s first book, Fearless Choices: Make a Decision, Change Your Life, is set to launch with HarperCollins in Spring 2025, sharing her insights on resilience, agency, and the power of choice. Additionally, a feature film based on her life story is in development with producer Maddy Falle, bringing her journey of triumph and purpose to an even wider audience.
Beyond the beauty industry, Brandi supports business owners and corporations, empowering them to create impactful, purpose-led initiatives. Through her own story and work, she inspires others to take control of their narratives and embrace their full potential, offering a compelling reminder that resilience and purpose can lead to transformative change.
Videos
The Resilience Blueprint: Small Wins, Big Impact
Topics
The Resilience Blueprint: Small Wins, Big Impact
How Everyday Moments, Real Connection, and Consistent Practice Build Unshakable Resilience
In a world where burnout, uncertainty, and change feel constant, the ability to stay resilient isn’t optional—it’s essential. Brandi Leifso delivers a high-impact, transformative keynote that redefines resilience for modern teams and leaders. This isn’t about empty motivation or overplayed “grit” narratives; it’s about real, practical tools to cultivate resilience as a team, as individuals, and in the small moments that truly matter.
Brandi brings:
- Relatable stories from her own journey rising through adversity.
- Powerful insights that challenge the lone-hero myth and spotlight the role of teamwork and connection.
- Actionable tools to train resilience like a muscle and uncover its true power in the uncelebrated, everyday choices.
Key Takeaways:
- Connection Over Isolation: Why resilience isn’t a solo effort, and how to create teams that support and strengthen each other.
- Training for Resilience: Practical, consistent ways to build resilience over time, even when life feels relentless.
- The Power of Small Wins: A reframed perspective on how tiny, unseen choices lay the foundation for long-term success.
This keynote isn’t just inspiring, it’s immediately applicable, deeply human, and uniquely empowering for teams navigating today’s challenges. Brandi has a rare ability to blend authenticity, actionable strategy, and a touch of humour, leaving audiences not only motivated but equipped to move forward.
Brandi Leifso doesn’t just talk about resilience—she’s lived it. From overcoming unimaginable adversity to building a thriving career as a leader and founder of a multi-national brand, her message lands because it’s real, relatable, and rooted in experience.
Unfiltered Leadership – Leading With Vulnerability, Vision, and Grit
How Authentic Leaders Inspire Connection, Drive Impact, and Build Trust That Lasts
In today’s world, people are craving real connection, especially from their leaders. Unfiltered Leadership is a powerful, refreshing keynote where Brandi Leifso redefines what it means to lead. Forget the outdated idea of perfection or having all the answers; Brandi shows that true leadership is built on vulnerability, vision, and the courage to show up as your full, imperfect self.
Drawing from her own journey from founding a multi-million-dollar beauty brand to overcoming adversity, Brandi shares how leaning into authenticity creates deeper trust, stronger teams, and lasting impact. With her signature blend of raw honesty, practical tools, and relatable stories, Brandi inspires leaders at every level to show up unfiltered, because that’s where real leadership begins.
Brandi Brings:
- A Story That Resonates: Brandi’s journey, leading through adversity while staying true to herself, makes her a relatable and powerful voice for modern leaders.
- Actionable Strategies: Attendees leave with tools they can immediately apply to lead with more courage, connection, and purpose.
- Connection With Every Audience: Brandi’s mix of vulnerability, humour, and candour creates a genuine connection that sticks long after the event ends.
Key Takeaways:
- Vulnerability is Your Superpower: Learn how showing up authentically—flaws, failures, and all—creates deeper trust, stronger teams, and a culture of openness.
- Lead With Vision and Grit: Discover how to inspire people by pairing purpose-driven vision with the grit to keep showing up when it’s hard.
- Build Connection That Drives Impact: Understand why connection is the foundation of influence and how unfiltered leadership fosters loyalty, alignment, and shared success.
In a world that values perfection, Unfiltered Leadership is a reminder that true influence comes from showing up as you are real, resilient, and unafraid to lead with purpose. Brandi Leifso’s keynote empowers leaders to ditch the mask, embrace their authenticity, and build trust that drives real impact. Because when leaders show up unfiltered, they don’t just inspire, they transform teams, cultures, and futures.
Fearless Choices – The Power of Owning Your Decisions
How Small Choices, Brave Actions, and Radical Responsibility Shape Your Life
While resilience is about weathering the storm, Fearless Choices is about steering the ship. Brandi Leifso’s keynote is a high-impact wake-up call for those ready to move beyond survival mode and take radical ownership of their decisions, big, small, and messy.
Drawing on her personal journey from living in a women’s shelter to founding a multi-million-dollar beauty brand, Brandi delivers a raw, relatable, and results-oriented talk that redefines fear as part of the process, not a roadblock. Attendees will leave with practical tools and mindset shifts to take bold, imperfect action, knowing that every choice, no matter how uncomfortable, shapes their future.
Brandi’s signature mix of raw vulnerability, sharp wit, and practical strategies will leave your audience ready to own their decisions, stop overthinking, and start moving toward the life and impact they want to create.
Brandi brings:
- Real-Life Experience, Not Just Theory: Brandi doesn’t speak from hypotheticals, she’s lived it. Her journey from adversity to success resonates deeply because it’s authentic, raw, and relatable.
- Unfiltered Honesty and Connection: She brings vulnerability, humour, and storytelling together to create a keynote that feels like a conversation you needed to hear.
- Immediate, Actionable Takeaways: This isn’t just inspiration, it’s activation. Brandi equips attendees with practical tools they can apply immediately to start making bold, intentional decisions.
- A Relatable, Modern Voice: As a millennial entrepreneur and advocate for personal growth, Brandi speaks directly to today’s leaders, innovators, and change-makers in a way that feels accessible, powerful, and fresh.
Key Takeaways:
- Every Choice is a Turning Point: Understand that decisions, big or small, shape who you become, and the opportunity for change is always in your hands.
- Fear is a Constant Companion, Choose Anyway: Learn to stop waiting for fear to disappear and instead act alongside it, using bold choices as a catalyst for transformation.
- Radical Ownership is Freedom: Discover the power of claiming responsibility for your life mistakes and all and how this mindset unlocks growth, opportunity, and new possibilities.
Brandi Leifso delivers more than inspiration, she delivers transformation. With a relatable voice, actionable strategies, and a story that stays with you long after the applause, Fearless Choices is the keynote your audience needs to stop waiting, start choosing, and take ownership of what comes next.
Behind Closed Doors: Understanding, Supporting, and Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is often hidden, yet its impact ripples through homes, workplaces, and communities. In Behind Closed Doors, Brandi Leifso shares her deeply personal journey from surviving domestic violence to reclaiming her life and building a multi-million-dollar beauty brand. Through raw storytelling and a call to action, Brandi sheds light on the realities of domestic violence and inspires audiences to be part of the solution.
This keynote is designed to move people, from silence to understanding, from awareness to action. Whether you’re raising funds for critical support services or creating workplace awareness, Brandi’s message delivers empathy, empowerment, and a clear roadmap for meaningful change.
Brandi Brings:
- A Personal, Relatable Story: Brandi shares her experience with vulnerability and strength, offering a human perspective on an issue that’s too often hidden or misunderstood.
- A Message of Hope and Action: Attendees leave inspired to take action, whether by supporting loved ones, funding resources, or creating safer environments.
- Practical Tools for Awareness and Support: Brandi provides clear, accessible steps to help individuals and organizations better understand, respond to, and support those impacted by domestic violence.
Key Takeaways:
- Gain insight into the emotional, psychological, and societal factors that keep domestic violence hidden and how to recognize its signs.
- Learn how to show up for survivors with compassion, resources, and action that truly supports their healing and safety.
- Discover how awareness, community action, and individual choices can disrupt the cycle of domestic violence and create meaningful change.
Who This Talk is For:
- Charities and Fundraisers: Drive donations and support for domestic violence resources through a story that inspires action and connection.
- Corporate Teams and Leaders: Educate employees about domestic violence awareness and equip them with tools to build safer, more supportive workplaces.
- Community and Advocacy Groups: Empower advocates and allies to take tangible steps toward breaking the cycle of abuse.
Brandi Leifso’s Behind Closed Doors is more than a keynote—it’s a rallying cry for awareness, empathy, and action. Through her powerful story and actionable insights, Brandi challenges audiences to recognize their role in breaking the silence and supporting those impacted. Change starts when we open the doors, have conversations, and take action together.
Surviving to Thriving: Fresh Perspectives on Managing Stress
In today’s fast-paced and chaotic world, discover how to shift from merely surviving to truly thriving. This transformative keynote offers fresh perspectives and actionable strategies for effective stress management. Through compelling stories and real-life examples, you will learn practical tools to build resilience, achieve balance, and find happiness amidst the chaos. Empower yourself with techniques that not only reduce stress but also enhance your overall well-being and success.
Learning Outcomes:
- Effective Stress Management Techniques: Learn innovative methods for managing stress that go beyond traditional approaches. Discover practical tools to stay calm, focused, and productive in high-pressure environments.
- Building Resilience with the 3S Formula: Explore the unique 3S Formula: Simplify, Stabilize, and Strengthen. Gain insights into how simplifying your life can reduce overwhelm, stabilizing your routines can create a sense of control, and strengthening your mental and emotional resilience can prepare you for future challenges.
- Finding Happiness Amidst Chaos: Discover science-backed ways to boost your happiness and well-being. Learn how to keep a positive outlook and truly enjoy life, no matter how chaotic things get.