In this edition of Women in Business, women were interviewed who are employed in typically male-dominated industries or in a position that was historically filled by a man.

These women share their stories of being underrepresented in their field and leadership roles 含羞草研究社� in the hope that their perseverance and success become the guiding light for the next generation of women in business, so they continue to break glass ceilings and meet their goals.

Women in Business shows who the movers and the shakers are in Kelowna and that there is always a space to share stories of successful women.

Pete the Cat, Hotel Transylvania animated series or Max and Ruby might sound familiar as programs you or someone younger than yourself watches, but did you know that these shows were made and produced right here in Kelowna by Okanagan artists at a local animation firm?

Ashley Ramsay含羞草研究社檚 Yeti Farm Creative, based in downtown Kelowna, has produced internationally-recognized children含羞草研究社檚 shows and is poised to do more. As the COVID-19 global pandemic hit, people stayed home and used streaming services more, which Ramsay said increased the demand for content resulting in Yeti Farm thriving rather than diving.

But before it became a success, Yeti Farm actually started out as a 含羞草研究社渟ide hustle含羞草研究社�, according to Ramsay.

含羞草研究社淢y husband was doing freelance animation work at different agencies, and I was on maternity leave for our first child,含羞草研究社� she said.

含羞草研究社淚 had started a baby product business at the same time, and so it started out as our side hustle and over the years, we were able to grow it here at home in Kelowna.含羞草研究社�

Founded in 2007, Yeti Farm didn含羞草研究社檛 fully take off until 2013, beginning with five employees and now, the studio employs 175 producers and animators. As a woman leading a team in a traditionally male-dominated, Ramsay said it has had its challenges.

含羞草研究社淚 think there含羞草研究社檚 always a struggle when you含羞草研究社檙e a female entrepreneur, especially when you含羞草研究社檙e trying to raise capital. There含羞草研究社檚 a lot of preconceived notions about women含羞草研究社檚 roles as a natural bias when we walk into a room with a company that含羞草研究社檚 got a kickass balance sheet and revenue that含羞草研究社檚 going up 300 pre cent,含羞草研究社� she said.

含羞草研究社淚 sometimes wonder what is the biased lens that they含羞草研究社檙e looking through. Sometimes you can含羞草研究社檛 even really put your finger on it, but that含羞草研究社檚 been the most challenging thing. But as a woman leader, I don含羞草研究社檛 really walk in the door every day and think 含羞草研究社榦h I含羞草研究社檓 a woman含羞草研究社�, I just feel like I含羞草研究社檓 doing the best I can as a leader for the company no matter my gender.含羞草研究社�

Ramsay said one of the keys to her success is persistence.

含羞草研究社淚 honestly think it含羞草研究社檚 persistence. When you have a vision and a goal, which for us was to create as many jobs as possible in this industry and being able to put Kelowna on the map, you just have to keep going. You don含羞草研究社檛 really overcome something unless you see a goal through and you see it happening. You just got to keep going. You can含羞草研究社檛 let anything take you down.含羞草研究社�