Bridging Barriers and Building Resilience: A Conversation with

Brenda Marie Sheldrake

Welcome to Living and Loving Each Day: Bridging Barriers! I’m your host, Sue Janzen, and I’m so glad you’ve joined us today. My podcast is all about supporting parents, caregivers, and service providers of children and adults with adaptive needs. My mission is to bridge barriers in every aspect of life, and today, we’re diving into a topic that’s close to my heart—resilience.

As a Resilience Coach, I love helping people build the strength and mindset they need to overcome life’s challenges. That’s why I’m thrilled to introduce today’s guest, Brenda Marie Sheldrake—an award-winning entrepreneur, best-selling author, and advocate for resilience and empowerment. She’s dedicated to helping entrepreneurs thrive through community, coaching, and courses, and has an extensive background in community health, anti-oppression training, and inclusivity initiatives.

Entrepreneurship and Resilience: The Key to Long-Term Success

Brenda shared an eye-opening statistic: every hour, one entrepreneur closes their doors for good. This alarming fact inspired her to create a supportive community where entrepreneurs can build the resilience they need to navigate challenges.

“Entrepreneurship gave me the freedom to handle difficult times in my life,” Brenda explained. “I realized that many entrepreneurs quit—not because they lack technical skills like accounting or social media—but because of what they tell themselves about their own capabilities.”

Her goal is to shift that mindset so that obstacles feel like speed bumps rather than mountains. Through her community, she brings in experts—mindset coaches, resilience coaches, social media specialists, and business strategists—to provide the tools entrepreneurs need to succeed.

Brenda is also a sought-after speaker, specializing in LinkedIn for relationship-building and her popular talk, How to Generate Leads Like a Rockstar Without the Rockstar Budget. She’s passionate about building genuine connections that lead to lasting success.

Anti-Oppression and Inclusivity: Creating Real Change

Brenda’s experience in community health and anti-oppression training has shaped her understanding of true inclusivity. She believes that inclusivity isn’t just about putting up welcoming signs—it requires cultural change.

“You can’t mandate cultural change,” she explained. “One of the biggest barriers is the competition of oppression—where people argue about whose struggles are the worst. But the truth is, all forms of oppression are harmful. Instead of competing, we need to work together to create a more inclusive world.”

She emphasized the importance of open and honest conversations about identity, privilege, and belonging, acknowledging that we all have different experiences and perspectives.

Supporting Parents and Caregivers of Children with Adaptive Needs

Brenda also has a deep passion for supporting parents of children with disabilities. She’s committed to spreading awareness about valuable resources, such as the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) in Canada.

“One of the biggest challenges is that so many families don’t even know this program exists,” she shared. “Even worse, if they Google it, they might land on fee-for-service sites that take a huge percentage of their benefits—sometimes up to 50%.”

As a grandmother to a child with Cerebral Palsy and Cortical Visual Impairment, I completely understand the struggle of navigating disability resources. Many parents have to dig and persistently ask questions just to find the help that should be readily available. Brenda’s work in resource-sharing and advocacy is incredibly important for families who need support.

How to Connect with Brenda

If you’re an entrepreneur looking to build resilience, a professional seeking to create inclusive spaces, or a parent searching for disability resources, Brenda Marie Sheldrake is an amazing connection to have!

📌 Find Brenda on LinkedIn: Brenda Marie Sheldrake
📌 Message her and mention this podcast—she’d love to connect!

Thank you for joining us today on Living and Loving Each Day: Bridging Barriers. Be sure to check the show notes for Brenda’s contact details and resources. I appreciate you tuning in, and I hope you found inspiration in today’s conversation.

Until next time, remember—resilience and connection are the keys to overcoming barriers.