Hey friend, have we met yet?
WELL RESOURCED REBEL
FIRESTARTER
BUSINESS HEALER
LEADERSHIP EXPANDER
I’m Mandy Balak — author of Chasing Enough, leadership coach, and President of The Gathering Festival, one of the fastest-growing brand and business festivals in the world.
For over 15 years, I’ve been building movements, scaling media empires, and helping leaders perform at a high level without burning out their humanity.
I know what it takes to build something that lasts—what it costs, and what it requires.
And here’s the truth I learned the hard way:
You can’t build an empire on an empty tank.
"Working with Mandy has expanded my business and transformed all aspects of my life, she's a true expander. "
Through 1:1 advisory, group intensives, retreats, and organizational development,
I teach leaders to:
Reclaim time and energy without sacrificing growth.
Build cultures of trust, resilience, and performance.
Align ambition with well-being, so success doesn’t come at the cost of your health or relationships.
Because burnout isn’t leadership.
Being well-resourced is.
MY MISSION
My
Burnout is self-betrayal. It’s not about doing too much, it’s about doing the wrong things.
Energy is your edge. Protect it like your legacy depends on it—because it does.
Success without fulfillment is failure. Chasing more won’t make you feel enough.
Leadership starts with you. You can’t lead others from depletion.
POV
This is the heart of my work and the foundation of my upcoming book Chasing Enough (Spring 2026).
My Story
The Short Version
I’ve been an entrepreneur since I was seven, selling herring and lemonade off a dock in BC.
Since then, I've:
Founded and exited 3 companies.
Scaled It’s Date Night to 500K+ followers and a six-figure exit.
Built The ACE Class and RISE Conference, guiding thousands of women through transformational gatherings.
Served as Executive Director for Best of Calgary.
Now lead The Gathering Festival into its next global evolution.
Every venture taught me the same thing: ambition isn’t the problem—depletion is.
Transformational Retreats
1:1 Coaching Intensives
Workshops + Leadership Development
Deep, tailored support for high-achievers who want clarity, energy, and sustainable growth.
Immersive experiences designed to help you reset, resource, and return with renewed capacity.
For teams and organizations ready to perform at a high level without burning out their people.
Whether you’re a founder, executive, or creator leading under pressure, my work helps you build what lasts—without losing yourself in the process.
HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER
Because your business has a nervous system too.
BRAND + CULTURE STRATEGY
- President, The Gathering Summit
- Executive Coach & Retreat Facilitator
- Transformational Breathwork Founder
- CEO & Mentor, The Well [formerly ACE]
- Founder & CEO, RISE Retreats
- Founder & CEO - It’s Date Night Canada
- Executive Director - Best of Calgary
- Founder & CEO - Branded Magazine
20+ years curating elevated experiences in Hospitality, Leadership and Management
15 + years of building businesses in marketing, media, advertising, and online business earning over 50 million in revenue
Podcast Host of The Well, Formerly The ACE Talks Podcast - over 100k downloads!
Forum Group & Retreat Facilitator, curating transformative experiences for over 100 multiple 6, 7, and 8 figure business leaders
Member of EO Calgary 2017-2020
Board Member of EOA 2019-2020
Board Member, CED Start-Up Program 2018-2019
VIP Experience Host - Cult Gathering 2015-2020
EOS Facilitator 2020 - present
DISC Facilitator 2023 - present
Airbnb SuperHost 2018 - present
Built and produced multiple profitable digital courses
- Executive Coach & Retreat Facilitator
- Transformational Breathwork Founder
- CEO & Mentor, The Well [formerly ACE]
- Founder & CEO - It’s Date Night Canada
- Executive Director - Best of Calgary
- Founder & CEO - Branded Magazine
- Executive Coach & Retreat Facilitator
- Transformational Breathwork Founder
- CEO & Mentor, The Well [formerly ACE]
- Founder & CEO - It’s Date Night Canada
- Executive Director - Best of Calgary
- Founder & CEO - Branded Magazine
RESET Transformational Breathwork Facilitator
Investor
Dog mom, loving wife, gelato taste tester, and Peloton enthusiast
A student of life - ALL IN!
Started my career as a Mortgage Broker—an unaligned path that taught me what it feels like to be out of integrity with your work. I pivoted, went back to school, and earned my Commerce degree—laying the foundation for entrepreneurship.
2008
Founded my first business: one of Canada’s earliest influencer marketing + media companies (before “influencer” was even a word). Scaled to multiple six figures in the first two years.
2012
Named Startup Entrepreneur of the Year by Startup Canada.
Launched a sister media company, a magazine and city-wide award series, publishing 20k+ copies bi-monthly and building a millennial community across Canada.
2014
Received the Alberta Innovator Award for Entrepreneurship + Community Building.
2016
While scaling two media companies, I faced one of the most chaotic seasons of my life: rescuing my father from a Colombian prison. This personal crisis became a defining lesson in resilience, leadership under pressure, and the cost of chasing “enough.” I share the full story in my upcoming book, Chasing Enough (Spring 2026).
2017
Scaled into 6 Canadian cities.
Hosted 15,000+ women at events and retreats.
Honored with Startup of the Year + Women Entrepreneur of the Year by The Stevie Awards.
2018
Launched RISE Summits—multi-day transformational business and personal growth events.
Hosted two sold-out retreats for 300+ women in BC + Alberta.
2019
Pivoted during the pandemic: took my businesses fully online, launched 12 digital courses, led masterminds, and built an online leadership community. Deepened my focus on coaching high-achievers and founders.
2020
My awakening year. Invested in mentorships, mastermind groups, and the Hoffman Process. Learned to release “hustle” as my identity and rebuild from a place of alignment and sufficiency.
2021
Exited my first business in a successful six-figure deal.
Earned ICF + ACC Executive Coaching and Transformational Breathwork certifications.
Began working as Fractional C-Suite for multiple 8-figure businesses.
Re-launched The Well Podcast + my signature WELL Retreats.
2022
Appointed President of The Gathering Festival—leading one of the most influential brand + business events in the world.
2023
Achieved 30% year-over-year growth at The Gathering, scaling revenue, audience, and reach. Introduced a new High-Performance Leadership pillar to serve global brands.
2024
Completed my book Chasing Enough (to be published by Page Two, Spring 2026).
Led The Gathering through another record-breaking year of growth.
2025
MY TIMELINE
ON MY VISION BOARD
less is more
liberation
if it's not a f*ck yes it's a no
keep your heart open
own lane
own race
Own pace
Don't let anyone steal your magic
Fun Facts
When I’m not leading teams or writing, you’ll usually find me on a golf course, cooking up something clean, or hugging trees on a hike. I thrive in nature, love to travel, and believe the simplest rituals—like time outside or a home-cooked meal—are what keep me grounded.
I’m a Taurus sun, Aquarius moon, Virgo rising—4/6 Manifestor, Enneagram 3w4/8—which means I move fast, love deep, and always need the truth louder than the noise.
(The Personal Side)
Ready to Work Together?
If you’re ambitious, high-achieving, and tired of doing it all alone, this is your invitation to reclaim your time, energy, and leadership rhythm.
1:1 Coaching
Retreats + Events
Immersive, transformational spaces designed to reset your nervous system, expand your vision, and return resourced and renewed.
Workshops + Leadership
Labs
For organizations and teams who want to perform at a high level—without burning out their people.
Because calm is competitive.
And the future belongs to the well-resourced.
