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Barb Stegemann

Barb Stegemann

Founder & President, The 7 Virtues

Barb Stegemann launched The 7 Virtues from her garage on a Visa card, armed only with a dream to help communities in war ridden nations rebuild. Her vision was inspired after her best friend, a soldier, was severely wounded in Afghanistan. Believing that economic empowerment creates stability, she began sourcing organic, fair trade essential oils from countries experiencing turmoil, from Afghanistan and Haiti to Rwanda and the Middle East.

Sixteen years later, The 7 Virtues is an award winning social enterprise and the only Canadian perfume brand sold at Sephora, now available in over 2,100 stores worldwide across 19 countries. It is also the only B Corp certified perfume brand at Sephora, committed to paying employees a livable wage and leaving a better footprint on the planet. On Canada Day 2024, Barb opened her first perfume atelier in Halifax, where clients design and name their own perfumes, with more ateliers planned across North America.

Barb first came to national attention when she became the first woman from Atlantic Canada to secure a venture capital deal on CBC’s Dragons’ Den. She later earned the title of Top Game Changer in the history of the show when viewers voted for her social enterprise. In 2026, she returned to Dragons’ Den as the first Atlantic Canadian Dragon for CBC’s 20th anniversary two part special.

Her leadership has been recognized with numerous honors, including being named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year, Atlantic Emerging Entrepreneur, and Profit Guide’s Top 30 Cool and Fabulous Entrepreneurs. She also broke barriers as the first female Honorary Colonel in the history of 14 Wing Greenwood, Royal Canadian Air Force and completed her term in 2014 and remains an Hon Colonel for life.

Barb is the author of the bestselling book The 7 Virtues of a Philosopher Queen, now in its 9th edition, and her story is the subject of the award winning documentary Perfume War, available at PerfumeWar.com.

www.BarbStegemann.com | www.The7Virtues.com

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