Arlene Dickinson
Arlene Dickinson is perhaps best known as one of the star venture capitalists on the award-winning CBC series, Dragons’ Den. As one of Canada’s most renowned and successful marketing and communications entrepreneurs, she has spent 10 seasons in “the den”, and has also appeared on the reality TV shows, The Big Decision and Recipe to Riches.
After eight seasons on Dragons’ Den, Arlene set out to create a support system to help Canadian entrepreneurs succeed. Today, she is the general partner and managing partner of District Ventures Capital, which is one of Canada’s most respected venture capital funds supporting innovative, Canadian-based food, beverage, and health companies. Arlene is also the CEO of Venture Communications, where her creative and strategic approach turned it into one of Canada’s largest independent marketing firms.
Together, District Ventures Accelerator, District Ventures Capital, and Venture Communications is Canada’s first ecosystem focused on turning successful Canadian companies into globally respected brands through capital, mentorship, and marketing.
Arlene is the author of three bestselling books, Persuasion, All In, and, her most recent, Reinvention. Her success and leadership have been recognized with multiple honours and awards, including Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100 Award and the Pinnacle Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence. She is also an inductee in the Marketing Hall of Legends, and has been honoured with PROFIT and Chatelaine magazine’s TOP 100 Women Business Owners Awards. In 2012, she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal.
In addition, Arlene is an honourary captain of the Royal Canadian Navy and the recipient of four honourary degrees. She also sits on numerous public and private boards and is dedicated to giving back to her community and country.
Arlene currently resides in Calgary.