Introducing Mandy Balak, Founder and CEO of Canadian media and events company The Ace Class. We were initially introduced to this babe when she asked Brunette the Label founder Miriam Alden to be a key speaker at an event for The Ace Class in Vancouver, B.C.
Inspired by Mandy’s mission to create a world where women can thrive together, Miriam was honoured to be a part of the event. Less than two years after founding the business, Mandy has grown The Ace Class, expanding into six cities across Canada. She released a popular podcast called ‘Ace Talks‘ and has hosted over 5,000 women at her events. Mandy has also been internationally recognized for her work with The Ace Class. She was awarded
What does babes supporting babes mean to you?
Babes supporting babes means no judgement towards other women. It’s easy to get caught up in a narrative about someone based on the way they look or dress and that’s not fair. It’s important to acknowledge that there’s much more that connects us than divides us. We should be opening the door for other women every chance we get.
Do you have a life mantra/motto that you live by?
If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a no.
What does your day-to-day look like?
My day-to-day is about juggling priorities and is almost always gorgeous chaos. Back to back meetings, phone calls and e-mails — each day is different, which I love. Some days I’m heavily focused on events and working with my team to scout cool venues, find inspiring speakers and ideate on content development. Other days are for future planning projects like our upcoming conference, RISE, or recording an episode of Ace Talks. I get to connect with incredible women across the country on the daily and I feel very lucky for the work we do. Our evenings are mostly packed with events, but when we can, my fiancé and I like to cook dinner at home or meet for a drink to unwind.
What’s your most used app?
Slack for team communication, Google Calendar to run my life, Headspace for meditation, and Instagram. But not necessarily in that order.
Did you always want to be an entrepreneur?
Yes. When I was a little girl, I remember very vividly being at one of my parents dinner parties and someone asked me to draw what I wanted to be when I grew up. I took out my pens and drew a picture of ‘future me’ as I imagined myself. I remember drawing myself wearing pointy shoes, a leopard skirt and carrying a briefcase. I confidently said, “I’m going to be a CEO.” I didn’t know what an entrepreneur was when I was 5 years old, but I think my parents knew what was happening from my first lemonade stand and when I sold herring off my Dad’s boat. I can’t tell you the last time I wore pointy stilettos though.
What product would you seriously stockpile if you found out they weren’t selling anymore?
Glossier Generation G lipstick in Crush.
What emoji best describes you?
Face palm girl, panda or the 100 emoji. It really depends on the day.
Who should EVERYONE be following right now?
@cleowade for good vibes.
@thefatjewish for a laugh.
@theaceclass_ and @brunettethelabel because babes supporting babes!
What’s your favourite place to travel to?
New York. There’s something about the incredible hustle and busyness of the city that makes me feel so comfortable with myself and so inspired by ideas and possibility.
Tell us about a Babe who has supported you?
I’m so lucky to have what seems like an army of women around me, from my incredible team, to the mentors in my life, and friends who cheer me on. Support to me doesn’t mean just nice compliments, it means honesty, constructive feedback and showing up when the chips are down. The babes who have gotten on planes to be there for me and stayed late when work needed to get done are the same women I get out of bed for every day. My mom is also my ultimate cheerleader and the OG boss babe in my life.
How would you describe your personal style?
Laid back. I feel the most myself in a leather jacket, jeans and boots.
What’s the most fulfilling part of your career?
Seeing the impact The Ace Class has on women’s lives across Canada. Also seeing the incredible women on my team grow into their potential. That makes me feel like a proud mama.
Do you have a morning routine?
My alarm goes off at 5:15a.m. Monday through Friday. I’ve learned that if I don’t prioritize myself in the morning, it won’t happen. I hit a spin class at 6a.m. and then make a smoothie while I get ready for work. If I can sit down and write down my priorities for the day before I’m out the door and make the bed too, then it’s going to be a good day.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Toast for dinner and Kung-Fu Girl Riesling.
When I dance I look like….
I feel like this question would be better answered with a GIF.
What quality are you working on yourself right now?
Self-love. As someone who created a business around empowering and inspiring other women to be the best versions of themselves, I’ve been on a journey of self discovery as to why this is so hard for me to do myself. I’ve learned a lot about the narrative that I carry around in my own head. I’m working on turning that around and showing myself compassion, respect and love so I can show up at my best.
What’s the biggest hurdle you’ve had to overcome in business?
Failure. The Ace Class is my third business. I’ve fallen down many times to get where I am today. I now look at failure as something that happens for you, not to you. And I’m very grateful for the lessons failure has taught me.
What advice do you have for those trying to break into your industry?
For anyone who wants to become an entrepreneur, find a mentor who will challenge you — and respect their time. It’s 100x harder than you think it’s going to be, so be prepared to do the work.
Click here to visit The Babe Shop!
Keep up with Mandy on Instagram @mandybalak
Introduction written by Lindsay Pearce.
Photography by @fursafursa