Women Leading Change | Skipper Otto

March 8th marked International Women’s Day, but one day isn’t enough to celebrate the impact of women. This year, March 8th also felt like the shortest day of the year, thanks to daylight savings time. A reminder that women’s contributions too often go unnoticed, are cut short, or are confined to a single moment instead of being recognized year-round.

March is also B Corp Month, and at Skipper Otto, we’re proud to be a B Corp and part of a movement redefining what business can be. B Corps meet rigorous standards for social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability—principles shaping a more just and sustainable world. Notably, many B Corps are women-founded and women-led.

Women bring a different kind of leadership to business—one rooted in collaboration, resilience, and creative problem-solving. Women lead differently, and the world will not change for the better without women's voices.

This month, we’re highlighting the intersection of women’s leadership and the power of B Corps—because real change requires businesses committed to an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy. One of those leaders is Patrice Mousseau, the BC-based founder and CEO of B Corp-certified Satya Organic. What started as a mother’s search for a steroid-free solution to her baby’s eczema has turned that need into a brand that is widely available across Canada. We recently sat down with her to find out why businesses like hers are paving the way for a different kind of success.

About Satya Organic

Satya Organic came into being when Patrice’s daughter, Esme, was diagnosed with eczema at 8 months old and prescribed a topical steroid. Desperate to find a steroid-free solution for her child, Patrice, a former broadcast journalist, utilized her research skills and dug into traditional medicine, medical research, and academic studies to find something to help her child. Patrice then gathered the best organic ingredients possible, bought a $15 crockpot from Facebook, and started experimenting. Thus Satya Organic was born—a botanically based balm that cleared Esme's eczema up in just two days. Today, Satya’s product line has expanded and is sold in thousands of stores across Canada, including Whole Foods. Patrice is a member of Fort William First Nation, and Satya is also the first Indigenous brand on the shelf at Shoppers Drug Mart.

Q&A with Patrice, Satya Organic’s Founder & CEO

Sonia Q: Seeing a gap in the market has inspired many women and new mothers to create a product or service. What advice would you give to a woman who is inspired to start their own business?

Patrice A: Be Cautious of Taking Investments: Truly weigh the pros and cons. Not all money is good money, and bringing on the wrong investors can impact your mission, values, and long-term vision. Take your time to find partners who truly align with your purpose and will support your business beyond just financial contributions.

Be Kind to Yourself: Entrepreneurship is hard. Give yourself grace. There will be moments of doubt, exhaustion, and failure—but those don’t define your journey. The most successful entrepreneurs are the ones who keep going, learn from setbacks, and remember that progress, not perfection, is the goal.

Innovation Can Absolutely Come From You: We often think of innovation as coming from big labs, corporations, or tech giants like Apple. But true innovation can be a reconnection to ancestral knowledge—applying the wisdom of our communities, the sustainable practices of our ancestors, and the way we have always known the world should work. Trust that the best ideas don’t always come from new inventions but from thoughtful applications of what we already know.

The People You Work With is a Big One: Who are your customers? Who do you want to spend your time with? Who do you trust? This is not a small thing. Every major challenge I’ve faced in business has stemmed from ignoring my gut and trusting the so-called "experts" instead of my instincts. Surround yourself with people who share your values, respect your vision, and genuinely want to see you succeed.

Q: As an Indigenous woman running a B Corp, how are you approaching the current economic turmoil?

A: As an Indigenous woman leading a B Corp, my approach to the current economic challenges is simple: focus on Canada. Now more than ever, it's crucial to support Canadian consumers, Canadian suppliers, and Canadian small businesses. At Satya, B Corp certification validates that commitment. It’s not just a label—it’s proof that we meet the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility.

Having a B Corp certification allows us to have a stronger connection with conscious consumers. More than ever, consumers want to support brands that align with their values. Having B Corp certification makes it easier for customers to trust that we walk the talk when it comes to ethical sourcing, sustainability, and social impact. It’s helped us strengthen our relationship with our community and attract people who care about the same things we do. It’s also an added layer of accountability and transparency for our business. We don’t just hold ourselves accountable to our customers but also to our team, suppliers, partners, retailers, and the planet

Q: Do you source all your product ingredients from Canada? If not, will the current tariffs affect your business?

A: At Satya Organic, we are not impacted by the recent tariffs as we do not source any ingredients from the U.S. We are proud to prioritize Canadian suppliers whenever possible, and the only exception is some of our packaging components—such as our sticks—which come from outside North America, not the U.S.

That said, we’re always looking to strengthen our Canadian supply chain! We’re currently on the hunt for a Certified Organic Canadian beeswax supplier. If you know of one, let us know.

Every dollar spent locally helps sustain businesses, create jobs, and build a stronger, more resilient economy for all of us.

Canadian Women-Led B Corps

If you’re intrigued by Patrice’s story, take a moment to explore just a few of the other Canadian women-led B Corp businesses we’re fans of:

In honour of International Women’s Day and B Corp month, here’s a full list of all Canadian women-led B Corps to explore. Which of these businesses are you inspired to support?