Barb Stegemann

Author and CEO, The 7 Virtues Beauty Inc.

Barb Stegemann is a leading Canadian entrepreneur who will provide a closing keynote to the Summit. Barb will speak to how entrepreneurs can build value - both for their companies and for society. 

Barb Stegemann became known to Canadians when she made the Dragons cry during her successful pitch to venture capitalists on the popular CBC Dragons Den show. (It’s more often the other way around on the Den…) She shared her business model that focuses on building peace and stability in nations that are rebuilding including Afghanistan and Haiti. She sources rose and orange blossom essential oils from Afghanistan to ensure the farmer are not growing the illegal poppy crop that accounts for 90% of the world’s heroin.

Her business model for The 7 Virtues Beauty Inc. was recognized throughout 2011 since her February 2011 appearance on Dragons’ Den with nominations for the Manning Innovation Award 2011, Nominated Chatelaine Women of the Year (Entrepreneur category 2011), she received the Women Innovators Award 2011 from the US State Department for the economy of Canada became Honorary Colonel in the Royal Canadian Air Force in recognition of her message and her actions, “That military and government must not do the heavy lifting alone, that we need a cavalry of businesses to create new models that empower others.”

Barb also spent years in municipal economic development in BC, garnering five national marketing awards from EDAC and led the winning application for The Cultural Capital Grants for The City of Coquitlam. She credits this time working with all levels of government for seeing the importance of business models that do more of the lifting with government. 

Her best selling book focuses upon this philosophy based on Plato’s Republic, that The Good Life is three levels of government, non-profit and private sector working in harmony. The 7 virtues of a Philosopher Queen launched in 2008 is now a best seller and in its 3rd edition. Her book and fragrances are available at the beauty counter with her fragrance collection available across Canada in The Bay department stores.

Barb holds degrees in Sociology and Journalism from the University of King’s College. She lives in Bedford, Nova Scotia with her partner Michael and her children, Victor and Ella.