Arlene Dickinson

“Dragon” on Dragons’ Den | CEO of Venture Communications

Business Strategy Business Leaders Campus Speakers Celebrities

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Topics

Accountability/Ownership Change Management Communication Entrepreneurship Leadership Management Strategy Marketing Most Requested Motivation & Inspiration Sales & Negotiation Teamwork & Collaboration Women in Leadership Workforce + HR

Types

CEOs Entrepreneurs Female Business Leaders Female Speakers Media Personalities Most Requested Motivational Speakers

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About This Speaker

Arlene Dickinson is a visionary entrepreneur and leader with a remarkable track record of success. She is the Founder and General Partner of District Ventures Capital, a venture capital fund that invests in innovative companies in the food & beverage and health & wellness sectors. Under her leadership, District Ventures Capital has become a leading force in the industry, with a portfolio of ground-breaking companies that are transforming the way we live and eat.

Beyond her business ventures, Dickinson is a sought-after speaker, three-time best-selling author, and philanthropist. She is widely recognized for her role as a Venture Capitalist on the hit television series, Dragons’ Den, where she has starred for over 16 seasons.

Dickinson’s leadership and entrepreneurial prowess have earned her numerous accolades over the years, including induction into the Southern Alberta Business Hall of Fame, the Marketing Hall of Legends, recognition as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100 Hall of Fame, and the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Awards. Dickinson served as an honorary captain of the Royal Canadian Navy for over 10 years visiting our troops overseas numerous times.

With her unwavering commitment to excellence, her passion for innovation, and her deep dedication to her community and country, Arlene Dickinson is a true Canadian icon and a shining example of what can be achieved through hard work, determination, and vision.

Videos

Speaking Topics: Arlene Dickinson

Lessons from the Den - Succeding at Business and Being an Entrepreneur

Can anyone be an entrepreneur? Arlene’s emphatic answer is “Yes.” In this talk, one of Canada’s most high-profile businesswomen distills a lifetime of experience to reveal everything you need to know— and do—to start, to run, and to grow a great business. On stage, she displays a palpable and infectious belief in the entrepreneurial spirit; she reminds us of the major contributions Canadians have made to international business and the entrepreneurial tradition.

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 to be. You’re ready for a reinvention.

Marketing Yourself

Success is often taken for granted; few stop to think about where it came from, what shaped it, and what trials were involved. In this talk, Arlene tells her story, providing a rare look into the making of one of Canada’s most powerful businesswomen. Filled with the key lessons Arlene has learned throughout her journey, this talk is underscored by modesty, grit, and enormous heart.

Leadership and Strategic Marketing

Marketing plays a fundamental role in all businesses—yet it is seldom held accountable the way other departments are. A superstar marketer driven by corporate objectives, Arlene shows us why marketing must be a top concern of leadership and why creativity and accountability must go hand in hand. Otherwise, why bother with marketing at all? She will help decision-makers grasp the essential strategic function of marketing in an insightful, accessible and frank talk, anchored squarely to the bottom line.

Leading Forward: Business, Patriotism, and helping Build Tomorrow’s Canada

In uncertain times, leadership rooted in purpose matters more than ever. Arlene Dickinson shares stories from her own journey and her growing understanding of just how much being Canadian means and why it’s worth protecting. She explores how businesses can lead from the front, rally their teams around a shared sense of purpose, and help shape a future where we stand a little taller because of who we are and what we believe in.