Browse > Home / Lisa Rousseau, Walking Spree

Lisa Rousseau, Walking Spree


lisa-headpic.jpg
Name:Lisa Rousseau

Hometown:Fredericton, New Brunswick

Current Residence (City, State): Fredericton, New Brunswick

Education: Graduated with honours from St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ontario.
Professional Background (brief, please): Shortly after graduating from college Lisa started a business where she manufactured and distributed her own line of beauty and bath products throughout Ontario and Atlantic Canada. During that time, she built up a web design/management and publishing company and worked in that environment for the past 12 years, both with her own company and with Goose Lane Editions, an award-winning publishing company. She was the publishing editor for two Canadian Veterinary Health Science publications for 4 years. Lisa started up WalkingSpree with her two partners in an effort to help improve health and wellness among people, and in particular, families. She has also been actively involved with community-oriented organizations that promote family health and wellness.

What you wanted to be when you grew up: Scientist

What you are: COO of an online wellness company

Brief Summary of your Start Up: WalkingSpree is the first Canadian company to deliver a comprehensive online wellness package with an advanced Pocket PedometerTM that connects to the computer to encourage walking and staying healthy. For those who struggle with finding time to go to the gym, you can carry your gym in your pocket and your personal trainer is a click away.

Company Website? www.walkingspree.com

What inspired you? I gained a huge amount of weight over the years and with a history of diabetes and other health problems looming over me, I decided it was time to get healthy. I lost 60 lbs, felt better and wanted to find something that could bring about the same feeling of health in others.

How long have you been in business? Brand new, launched Dec 2006

How did you fund it? Funded by one of the partners, our CEO.

Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? Not specifically, although there are certainly many people that have taught me a lot along the way.

Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups? My local Women in Business Network.

Current Business Challenge? Finding time to accomplish everything.

What are you doing about it? Trudging through;)

Favorite motivational quote: Some people dream of success while others wake up and work hard at it.

Family? I’m a single Mom with two young boys, ages 9 and 4. They keep me very busy.

If so, how do you balance family and business? It’s challenging at times. I work all day, and then after they are in bed at night, I’m usually back at my computer.

Favorite book? Hmm, too many favorites, although I can’t remember the last novel I’ve read. I’ve been immersed in marketing and business books for the last year. The most recent book I read and loved was Waiting for Your Cat to Bark.

What do you do to relax? I play basketball.

What do you want to change most about your world? My world? I’d like to have more time to stop and smell the roses;) For “the” world, I’d like what we all want, peace and harmony.

What are you most proud of? First would be my 2 boys, then I’d have to say my accomplishments as a single Mom, that I’m able to take care of my sons. Finally, I’m proud of our team, that we have worked so hard with bringing WalkingSpree together.

What advice would you like to offer other Start Up Princesses? Even getting to this stage took over a year of research and work. I’d say from my perspective, from a pre-launch phase, that to always believe in what you’re doing. Sometimes self-doubt and worry creeps in, but then something amazing happens along the way that just re-inforces how what you’re doing is going to make a difference. So have faith and work hard.

Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? It’s cliché, but for me, it’s the internet. It’s the most amazing resource out there. Information at the click of a button. Being an entrepreneur in today’s world is incredible.

If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? Ruby

Would you be interested in being a Fairy Godmother to another woman entrepreneur? (I am working on a secure system to do this, any ideas?) – Yes

What business subjects would you feel comfortable mentoring in? – E-marketing, web 2.0 related items, graphic design, publishing

Would you be interested in going to lunch with other women entrepreneurs for a “networking tea party”? yes

If you are out of Utah County, would you be willing to be a facilitator of such an event? – sure

Share
Become A Startup Princess

Startup Princess is an international network committed to empowering Women Entrepreneurs by offering resources for women in business to support, mentor, collaborate, learn from, and inspire one another. In 2006, after struggling to raise funding for an initial startup business venture, Kelly King Anderson recognized an important market niche existed for reliable resources educating women desiring to start and grow successful businesses, thus Startup Princess was developed.

Successful women entrepreneurs understand that for every business venture, they are in charge of creating, organizing, developing, managing, and assuming all the risks associated with their enterprise. That can seem quite intimidating but as other women business owners will tell you, it’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it! Success is within your grasp and Startup Princess is here to help.

First, join as a member of Startup Princess and start building a solid foundation. Membership entitles you to a listing in the Startup Princess Online Directory where we list women owned businesses. You’ll also access exclusive content like articles, videos, and audio straight from your email inbox. Coupled with feature interviews, discounts on events, networking connections, and press opportunities, your Startup Princess membership will give any woman entrepreneur a great start for her business!

Then, take advantage of Touchpoint, our annual business conference for women entrepreneurs. Practical planning meets sky-high inspiration at this high-impact event for women business owners to network and develop their approach to business with wisdom and creative direction from other women entrepreneurs across the country.

Need a little help taking your business to the next step? Wish you had a fairy godmother like Cinderella offering you a helping hand? Now you can! Startup Princess is the home of Fairy Godmother Consulting, volunteer mentors sharing tips and insights to bless the lives of other women entrepreneurs.

Startup Princess can offer many benefits to women in business from future women business owners to successful women entrepreneurs. Please call or fill out our contact form with questions, concerns, or general interest and let us help you by giving you full access to everything Startup Princess has to offer!