The Rise Society

WELCOME TO THE RISE SOCIETY!

Seats are limited. Stories are big. Be in the room!

TICKETS

Our past events showed us that being in these rooms matter.

They taught us that we can eff up, learn, rise higher, and have a damn good time talking about it!

Because let’s be real: your mistakes feel a whole lot lighter when you hear someone you admire share theirs first.

So we’re bringing the humour, the honesty, and the lessons that come from building something real.

Partner with The Rise Society

EXPLORE SPONSOSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Join Us!

You don’t need a business to belong here!

This is the kind of event you can walk into alone and walk out feeling connected.

Leave feeling energized, inspired, and a part of something big.

What’s the ROI of Attending?

Sometimes the best investment you make in your business is the room you choose to be in.

The return on investment from an event like this rarely shows up in just one way.

Sometimes it’s the idea that helps you solve a problem you’ve been stuck on for months.

Sometimes it’s conversations that turns into collaborations, clients, or opportunities.

Sometimes it’s simply being in a room with ambitious women who remind you what’s possible.

Business growth rarely happens in isolation. The right room can change everything.

What Our Community is Saying

Alexa McLane, Owner of Little Lavender Goods@littlelavendergoods

The Rise Society knocked their first event out of the park! It was so nice to see some big names in business share their journeys on how they got to where they are today despite some mistakes along the way. All the presentations felt authentic and that was the best thing to feel as an audience member. Andrea is a total natural when it comes to public speaking. She is someone I admire as a woman in business and I can't wait to learn more from her through future Rise events!

Deanna Smith, Registered Therapeutic Counsellor@hellodeannasmith

I attended We Effed Up, Now What? and was so impressed. The speakers were phenomenal, relevant, relatable and funny. Andrea created such a real and engaging atmosphere with her unique questions and authentic banter. The event was beautifully organized from start to finish: a bright, spacious venue, clear agenda, thoughtful details like the creative booklets and even snacks and juice. I loved the diversity in the room and the focus on collaboration, not competition. Highly recommend The Rise Society events!

Kelly Schmidt | Owner & Principal Designer | Arrow House Interior@arrowhouseagency

I found the Rise Society event not only jam packed with great take aways, but also a very inviting and inclusive space. The event was well laid out and organizers were ready to go and moved the evening along without feeling too orchestrated. The vibe was calm, cool and concise.

Jess, Brand Photographer@blackbirdbrandphotos

I absolutely loved this event! Andrea was such an incredible host and speaker, she truly killed it. The panelists were amazing, and I found so much value in everything they shared. From the food to the people to the beautiful booklet full of prompts we got to take home, every detail was so thoughtfully done. I honestly can’t wait for the next Rise Society event, it’s exactly what Central Vancouver Island needs!

Courtney Sanh, Mortgage Broker@courtney.mortgages

What an impactful event. So many takeaways and such authentic, real talk from each speaker that we could all connect with in one way or another. To top it off, a room full of truly inspiring, bad a$$ women.

Quinn, Realtor@quinnabbey_

I’ve attended and hosted many events and can confidently say, Andrea’s hosting and coordination was top notch!! She was punctual (always appreciated), funny, insightful and seemed to have a great pulse on the room and shared exactly what we all needed. Can’t wait for more Rise Society events!!

Valene Grovum, Certified Dementia Care Provider@valenegrovum

The event was fantastic and I enjoyed listening to all of the panelists share their wisdom and be so vulnerable with their shares of where they went wrong and owning up. I’m looking forward to the Rise Society next event!

Jessy Kimpinski, The Sweat Project@thesweatproject

After a summer of serious burnout, the Rise Society event was exactly what I didn’t know I needed! I walked away feeling incredibly inspired, not just by the fantastic panelists, but also by the electrifying energy from all the amazing women in business around me. The past few days following the event have been my most productive in ages, and I’m buzzing with excitement again! I picked up so many fantastic tips and felt truly seen as we all shared those relatable moments of stumbling. I can’t recommend the Rise Society events enough! I will definitely be back for future events!

Sam Swanson, Co-owner of Oxan Collective@oxancollective

I gained so much insight from the panelists at the “We Effed Up” event! I left feeling inspired, giddy and full of new connections. 10/10 would attend one of these sessions again.

Meghan Weir | Business, Nervous System + Subconscious@themeghanweir

What an incredible community Andrea gathered. It was incredible to learn the behind the scenes of the top dogs for women in business including what we all navigate in life and business. Thank you for hosting and sharing. I look forward to the next Rise Society event. Celebrating you!!

Grada

Well done today Andrea you nailed it, great interviews! I was picturing you having your own talk show at one point during the event (which made me feel old as my friends quickly corrected me and said a podcast host would be more current). So glad to support and also thank you for such a kind shout out as a sponsor! I appreciate the words, it seems crazy to think you were still juicing in your basement way back when - you pulled together a great room as you could see so many organic collaborations across friendships new & old. Congrats on the success of the Rise Society!!

Dany, House of Dandy

What a pleasure it was meeting and hearing Andrea speak today! I honestly wanted to give Andrea a standing ovation at the end. The panelists were selected so perfectly. Each so different from the others but all extremely talented in what they have accomplished. I felt like I was getting advice from old friends. I attend many women's business events and so often feel like I'm hearing the same words and phrases repeated over and over. Not at the Rise Society event. The event was new and unique. You deserve to be very proud of this accomplishment. It was pretty great, and I'm looking forward to the next Rise Society event!

Meet the Speakers

Sarah Wayne Callies

ACTOR, DIRECTOR

Best known for her iconic roles in Prison Break, The Walking Dead, and Colony, and for directing episodes of The Good Doctor and Firefly Lane, her career is defined by depth, resilience, and humanity. She’s built a body of work centered on women navigating pressure, leadership, and impossible choices - both on screen and behind the camera.

But what drew me to invite Sarah into this room goes far beyond her résumé. Sarah speaks with rare honesty about the real story behind the highlight reel. The pivots, the hard seasons, the moments of doubt, and what it actually takes to keep going when things do not unfold the way you expected. She is thoughtful, grounded, and deeply intentional about how she uses her voice and platform, both on and off screen.

From the moment our first We Effed Up… Now What?! event ended, I knew Sarah would have a powerful impact in a room like this. She embodies the kind of resilience, intelligence, and self-awareness that resonates deeply with women building big, ambitious lives, whether in business, creativity, leadership, or life itself. Her perspective is real, reflective, and generous, and I know this audience will feel seen, inspired, and challenged in the very best way by her presence.

Ashley Jeans

FOUNDER, GUAVA APPAREL

She is a Vancouver Island–based entrepreneur, the owner of Guava Apparel, co-founder of Om Boys Apparel.

Ashley brings an important perspective from the retail world during a time of major change. She and her husband built Guava Apparel together, navigating the realities of running a product-based business through shifting consumer behaviour, rising costs, and the lasting impact of COVID on brick-and-mortar retail.

With a bold vision, Ashley took the leap to purchase a commercial building with the intention of creating a vibrant, collaborative space. When the business landscape shifted dramatically, she was forced to make a hard pivot. Instead of walking away, she adapted, reimagined the space, and rebuilt in a way that continues to support local entrepreneurs today.

What makes Ashley’s story especially powerful is who she is as a human. She is incredibly humble, kind, and open, and she is deeply willing to share the mistakes, lessons, and hard decisions that have shaped her journey. Her honesty and generosity make her story not just inspiring, but deeply relatable.

The theme of We Effed Up… Now What?! is about resilience, learning, and growth, and Ashley embodies all of it. Her experience will resonate with anyone navigating change, uncertainty, and the evolving realities of business. Plus, she is a ton of fun and her energy is infectious!

Sarah Gilks

FOUNDER, HEALTHY ROLE MODELS

As the founder of Healthy Role Models, a Canadian wellness brand that has supported thousands of women in building strength, confidence, and healthier relationships with their bodies, Sarah is a trusted voice in the Nanaimo wellness community.

If you’re local, there’s a good chance you’ve experienced her work firsthand or know someone who has. Over the past decade, she’s become known for her grounded, inclusive approach.

Behind that success is a real learning curve. One of Sarah’s biggest early mistakes was prioritizing growth metrics and performance over people, a choice that came with real consequences and ultimately reshaped how she leads, builds community, and defines success. She’ll be sharing those lessons openly, including how they shaped her views on self-worth, body image, and the long-term impact of perfection culture in today’s society.

I’ve admired Sarah’s work for nearly ten years, and after getting to know her more personally, my respect has only grown. She brings a thoughtful, honest perspective that aligns deeply with the heart of We Effed Up… Now What?! real talk about mistakes, pivots, pressure, and the lessons that truly shape success.

I’m so excited to share her story with a room full of women navigating growth, change, and leadership in real time.

TICKETS

Early Bird

Ends Feb. 14th

$199

Exclusive Insights & Inside Secrets from inspiring women in the worlds of marketing, branding, PR, and influencer strategy.

An incredibly valuable and useful take-home booklet.

Curated and Intentional Networking with Driven, Like-Minded Female Entrepreneurs in a Room of 200 Powerful Women.

A Space for Collaboration, Inspiration, and Growth, Infused with Energy, Fun, and a Positive Vibes.

Complimentary snacks & appies.

Complimentary juice from Good Life Juice.

TICKETS

General Admission

Ends March 20th

$229

Exclusive Insights & Inside Secrets from inspiring women in the worlds of marketing, branding, PR, and influencer strategy.

An incredibly valuable and useful take-home booklet.

Curated and Intentional Networking with Driven, Like-Minded Female Entrepreneurs in a Room of 200 Powerful Women.

A Space for Collaboration, Inspiration, and Growth, Infused with Energy, Fun, and a Positive Vibes.

Complimentary snacks & appies.

Complimentary juice from Good Life Juice.

TICKETS

Last Chance

Starts March 21st

$245

Everything included in General Admission

TICKETS

Meet Your Host

Hi, I'm Andrea Dershin, founder of Good Life Juice and the creator of The Rise Society.

Over the past 11 years of building my business on Vancouver Island, collaborating with and learning from other women has brought me so much joy, wisdom and support. Connecting women who can help each other is a passion of mine, and empowering others in business has always filled my bucket.

I created The Rise Society to make this connection possible for way more of us!

With 16 years of entrepreneurship experience under my belt, 11 of which have been spent growing Good Life Juice and 5 years in Beijing, China, I've learned that success is built on resilience, mindset, community and the right strategies. Whether you come to an event or hire me for coaching, I'm here to hold you accountable and help you take bold, empowered action to build a business that works for you.

A little bit about me:
I'm a wellness-obsessed, business-savvy mom of two teens with a serious passion for self care. I'm fueled by green juice, good friends, spontaneous travel and making things happen. Whether I'm planning the next big event, brainstorming new product ideas or filming a silly reel, I'm always working on something exciting.

I can't wait to see what you create and how The Rise Society can help you get there!

Seats are limited. Stories are big. Be in the room!

Partner with The Rise Society