Kim Ades is a serial entrepreneur who has spent her life building businesses from the ground up. From starting with a balloon decoration venture to leading an assessment company and now running Frame of Mind Coaching, Kim’s journey is one of resilience, adaptability, and passion. As a single mother navigating new beginnings, she turned challenges into stepping stones, proving that leadership is not about labels but about showing up with strength and clarity. Her story inspires our global community of women and allies who believe in lifting each other up.
Q: Kim, what inspired you to begin your entrepreneurial journey?
I’ve been an entrepreneur since I was a kid—it’s in my nature, you could say. Before founding Frame of Mind Coaching, I owned two businesses: one in balloon decorations for parties and weddings, and another building simulation-based assessments to help companies make better hiring decisions. Entrepreneurship has always been in my blood.
Q: Starting your current business must have come with challenges. What were some of them?
When I started Frame of Mind Coaching, I was newly divorced, a single mom, and living in a new state. It was an unfamiliar situation, and I wasn’t feeling very confident. At the same time, I knew this was the path I needed to take. I was figuring out a new life while building a business from scratch.
Q: Do you work solo or do you have a team supporting you today?
I do have a team. I work with a group of coaches across Canada and the US, along with a marketing lead and a VP of operations. Having the right team around me makes all the difference.
Q: What are your thoughts on women in leadership today?
I may have a different perspective. I don’t think much about being a “woman” leader—it doesn’t play a role in how I show up. I don’t see myself as disadvantaged or restricted by glass ceilings. For me, gender doesn’t factor into how I operate. I believe that for many women, it plays too big of a role.
Q: What advice would you give aspiring women leaders and entrepreneurs?
Resilience is key. Things will get tough—it’s part of the journey. My advice is: don’t take setbacks too personally. The people who succeed are the ones who get back up, try again, and keep moving forward. Experiment, take risks, and remember that failure is not final—it’s just a part of growth.
Q: How do you personally define success?
For me, success is freedom—the ability to do what I want, when I want, and how I want. It’s not about balancing work and life separately, but about being passionately engaged in whatever I’m doing. That freedom of choice is what I consider true success.
“Resilience is everything—when life knocks you down, don’t stay there. Get up, try again, and keep moving forward.” – Kim Ades
Connect with Kim Ades:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimades/
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