SP ECI AL ADVERT IS IN G FE AT UR E BY CIB C P R IVAT E WE ALT H M AN AG E M E N T
MONIKA DEOL We talk cosmetics, work ethic and living the Canadian dream with the TV icon and ground-breaking entrepreneur. HOME BASE Vancouver ACHIEVEMENTS (SO FAR) Mother of four, Canadian television rock star with Citytv, Much Music and CTV, and cosmetics entrepreneur. CURRENT PROJECT Cosmetics brand STELLAR, aimed at the medium skin-tone market and available at Sephora. GREATEST SOURCE OF INSPIRATION “My husband and children.”
Monika Deol, CIBC Private Wealth Client
WHERE DID YOUR LOVE OF COSMETICS COME FROM?
My mother never left the house without makeup. She came to Canada from India with three small children. She had a very demanding lifestyle, but the 60 seconds she took to put on lipstick and foundation were hers. I love that ritual. ARE YOUR KIDS INVOLVED IN THE NEW BUSINESS?
They’re my testers! Also our oldest daughter is in business school, so she’s helping in the summers, working for our start-up and learning a whole lot about business in realtime, first-hand. Our second daughter has an incredible
sense of aesthetics, our son is very computer savvy and our youngest daughter has been a gifted worker bee. Everyone makes a contribution.
the mountains, and the sunset. Every day it’s like looking at a different work of art.
nothing that is above you. Your job is to take in the problems, solve them and move on. And work like a farmer!
WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER MOST FONDLY FROM YOUR DAYS ON
WHAT ARE THE THREE MOST
YOU GREW UP IN THE PRAIRIES,
TELEVISION?
IMPORTANT QUALITIES TO A
YOU WORKED IN TORONTO AND YOU
Lots of crazy insane moments on live television that could only have happened at Citytv and MuchMusic! I found a medium that allowed me to connect with a large number of people in a very intimate way, and it was life-changing.
SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR?
SETTLED IN VANCOUVER. WHAT DID THAT TEACH YOU?
Growing up on a farm, I saw resilient people spreading manure out on a frozen pasture with -40 wind chill. It taught me work ethic. Later, seeing Toronto develop into a world-class city and become a happening place was inspiring. And now in Vancouver, I’m fortunate to wake up every morning and look onto the sea,
WHAT’S YOUR BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY, IN A NUTSHELL?
Always deliver, on time and on budget, and work like there’s nothing that’s below you and
Resilience, courage and responsibility with capital. HOW WAS IT, HAVING YOUR PORTRAIT PAINTED BY JEN MANN?
On one hand it was flattering, but in a surprising way it really made you introspective. I felt like the artist wanted to know who I am, and therefore it made me reflect on who I am. I don’t think you get the time to think about those things every day.