Arlene Dickinson

Perhaps best known for her role as one of the panellists on CBC’s Dragons’ Den, this 20-year marketing veteran has also been ranked as one of Profit Magazine’s Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs for seven years running and awarded the Pinnacle Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence. Arlene Dickinson joined Calgary-based Venture Communications in 1988 as a partner and took sole ownership in 1998. Since then she has expanded it from a small, local firm to one of the largest independent agencies in the country recognized as one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies for three consecutive years. She’s a leader in business and there’s no question that this Woman of Influence has invaluable wisdom to impart.

Arlene is one of Canada's most renowned independent marketing communications entrepreneurs. After joining Venture as a partner in 1988, Arlene took over sole ownership in 1998 and has grown the company into a strategic and creative powerhouse for a blue-chip client list.

Arlene believes strongly that marketing’s purpose is to deliver business results. Her vision has driven Venture’s growth, successfully building it from a local firm into one of Canada’s largest independent marketing firms, with offices in Calgary, Toronto and Ottawa. Arlene’s accomplishments have been recognized with several honours and awards. They include: Global Television Woman of Vision; PROFIT and Chatelaine magazine’s TOP 100 Women Business Owners; the Pinnacle Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence; Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100 Hall of Fame; Ad Rodeo’s Lifetime Achievement Award; and McGill University’s 2008 Management Achievement Award. Perhaps the greatest honour was recognition of Venture as one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies for three consecutive years.

A master entrepreneur with a keen eye for ideas that get results, Arlene has a successful track record of picking companies on the rise. Her instinct for emerging trends and sound investments is exemplified in her role as a panelist on the Gemini award-winning CBC hit series, the Dragons’ Den.

In addition to her roles as CEO of Venture, Dragon, mother of four children and grandmother of three, Arlene lends her time, skills and leadership to benefit the industry and the community. Over the years, Arlene has served on various boards including Ad Rodeo (chair) and the National Board for Kids Help Phone (co-chair). She is currently a director of the Calgary Municipal Lands Corporation and also sits on the Advisory Committees of the Haskayne School of Business and the Stratford Institute at the University of Waterloo.