Social Impact Entrepreneur & Founder of Evio Beauty | Fearless Choices Advocate

Brandi Leifso

Brandi Leifso is a compelling voice in personal development, impact and leadership under pressure. A globally recognized entrepreneur, keynote speaker, author, and instructor at The Schulich School of Business at York University, she is the Founder and CEO of Evio Beauty, a consumer brand built to help people manage the visible effects of modern-day stress.

Brandi founded Evio while living in a women’s shelter at the age of 21 and went on to scale the company across major retailers, raise capital, and donate more than $500,000 to domestic violence shelters. Her work centers on how leaders make clear decisions, manage risk and stress, and sustain performance in uncertain environments, drawing from her lived experience.

She has spoken at the Forbes Under 30 Global Women Summit and for organizations including Toyota, Wells Fargo, and Providence Health, and has been featured in Forbes, Vogue, WWD, Elle, and Allure. Brandi is also the author of Fearless Choices: How to Reclaim Your Power One Decision at a Time (HarperCollins, 2026), with a feature film inspired by her life in development.

Biography

She founded Evio while living in a women’s shelter at the age of 21 and went on to scale the company across major retailers, raising capital from public and private organizations and donating more than $500,000 to domestic violence shelters. Brandi has been featured and recognized by leading publications including Vogue, Forbes, WWD, Elle, Fashion, Chatelaine, and Allure, among others.

Brandi speaks on global stages, including the Forbes Under 30 Global Women Summit, and for organizations such as Toyota, Wells Fargo, Providence Health, and the University of Alberta. She is also the author of Fearless Choices; How to Reclaim Your Power One Decision at a Time (HarperCollins, 2026), with a feature film inspired by her life in development.

Brandi lives in Toronto, Canada, with her husband, Karan, their daughter, Cash, and their two pugs, Otis and Jameson. Outside of work, she enjoys improv classes, spending time with friends, traveling, Peru is her favourite country she’s visited, and making time for yin yoga and sound baths.

Published Books:

Coming February 10, 2026 · HarperCollins Canada

Fearless Choices: How to Reclaim Your Power One Decision at a Time

Written with Eliza Robertson, with a foreword by Maria Gloria. The story behind Evio told from the inside: how Brandi built a company while living in a women’s shelter, and the decisions that made it possible. A feature film inspired by her life is in development.

Expertise

Sustainable Performance
Fearless Choices & Failing Forward
Overcoming Adversity
Authentic Leadership
Resilience & Stress Management
Entrepreneurship Mindset

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Keynote Topics

Fearless Choices: How to Reclaim Your Power One Decision at a Time

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.

From Surviving to Thriving – Mastering Stress in a Chaotic World

Practical Strategies to Build Resilience, Regain Balance, and Thrive Under Pressure

In a world that never slows down, stress feels inevitable—but it doesn’t have to control you. From Surviving to Thrivingis a game-changing keynote that shifts the way we approach stress, resilience, and personal well-being. Instead of just managing stress, this talk teaches you how to harness it, using it as a catalyst for growth, clarity, and success.

Through engaging stories, science-backed strategies, and a fresh perspective on what it means to thrive, this keynote provides the tools to go beyond burnout and create a life where stress no longer holds you back. You’ll leave feeling empowered, equipped, and ready to take control—no matter how chaotic life gets.

Brandi Brings:

A Powerful Shift in Perspective: Brandi reframes stress as a tool, not an enemy, showing how you can use it to fuel growth and resilience.
Real-Life, Actionable Strategies: Attendees leave with practical techniques that make a difference immediately—no fluff, just results.
A Relatable and Engaging Approach: Brandi blends honesty, humor, and hard-won wisdom to make stress management both accessible and transformative.

Key Takeaways:

Master Stress Like a Pro: Learn techniques to navigate high-pressure situations with clarity and confidence.
The 3S Formula for Resilience: Simplify, Stabilize, Strengthen—discover how these three steps help you regain control, reduce overwhelm, and build mental and emotional resilience.
Happiness Amidst Chaos: Science-backed methods to boost well-being and find joy—even when life feels overwhelming.

Stress is inevitable. Struggling with it doesn’t have to be. From Surviving to Thriving gives you the mindset, tools, and confidence to turn stress into a stepping stone—not a stumbling block.

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.

The Fearless Entrepreneur: How to Stop Playing Small and Start Building Big

Every entrepreneur hits that crossroad: stay comfortable or go all in. Brandi Leifso knows what it means to bet on herself when the stakes are high—starting her first business from a shelter and scaling it into a national brand.

This powerful keynote is part story, part strategy, and all about helping entrepreneurs stop letting fear dictate their growth. Brandi shows how fearless choices fuel momentum, unlock opportunity, and transform businesses (and lives).

Why you can’t miss this:

If you’ve been holding back on the big move you know you need to make, this keynote is the nudge—and the playbook—you’ve been waiting for.

Brandi Brings:

A Story That Inspires Courage
From Shelter to CEO, Brandi’s journey proves that you don’t need perfect circumstances to build big—you just need the courage to choose to keep going.
Actionable Entrepreneurial Tools:
Attendees leave with tangible strategies to reframe fear, take bold risks, and grow their businesses with purpose and clarity.
Connection That Sticks: Through humour, candour, and honesty, Brandi creates a relatable and lasting impact that resonates long after the event.

Key Takeaways:

Fear Doesn’t Mean Stop: Learn how to recognize fear not as a roadblock, but as a signpost pointing toward growth.
Choices Create Change: Understand how small, fearless decisions compound into massive momentum.
Resourcefulness Beats Resources: Discover how to innovate, adapt, and thrive—even without perfect funding, timing, or circumstances.
Build Big, With Purpose: Explore why fearless entrepreneurs don’t just chase revenue—they build companies that inspire, impact, and last.

The Fearless Entrepreneur is more than a keynote, it’s a wake-up call for anyone who’s been holding back. Brandi Leifso equips entrepreneurs to stop playing small, start building bold, and make the fearless choices that transform not only businesses, but lives. Because when you stop letting fear run the show, you don’t just build a business — you build your legacy.

Testimonials

Resilience. Leadership. Overcoming Adversity. Stress Management. Brandi Leifso speaks on topics that are universal and relevant to every industry and human. Brandi is a consummate professional. In preparing for our large annual event, she was communicative, attentive, and ensured her keynote was perfectly tailored to our audience. Once she hit that stage, she captivated everyone, engaging the crowd. Looking for a keynote who will immerse your attendees and leave them energized and inspired? Look no further than Brandi Leifso!

Shawn Shapiro, CMEE

I highly recommend Brandi to anyone looking for a speaker who can inspire and empower. Her unique blend of warmth, strength, and practical wisdom makes for an unforgettable talk!

Paula Racher, PCMA CIC

Thank you so much for your email. Brandi was fantastic to work with and was a great addition to our program. We know the closing keynote is a tough spot, but Brandi was a pro and really engaged our audience.Lots of positive feedback from our attendees too- everyone seemed to love Brandi.