What happens when you stop wearing “busy” like a badge of honour and start building community with intention?
In this episode of the Magic Hour Podcast, I sit down with Danielle and Laura, co-founders of She Summits Forum for a conversation that feels like a warm hug for your nervous system. Their partnership is rooted in joy, play, confidence, and the kind of connection you simply cannot fake. Together, they share how She Summits has grown into a space where women can slow down, lean into their strengths, and find community that feels safe and soul nourishing.
We explore how joy and play return to adulthood when we let them, why women often lose touch with those qualities, and how simple rituals can become grounding practices when business feels heavy. Danielle and Laura talk about the bravery of letting go of the “shoulds,” trusting what feels natural, and choosing a way of working that prioritizes ease, collaboration, and clarity.
Community sits at the heart of this episode. Not community as content, but community as a feeling. Danielle and Laura break down how they create experiences that spark connection from the first hello, why retail spaces are becoming modern gathering hubs, and the underrated skills that make relationships feel real rather than transactional.
Above all, this episode is an invitation to slow down, choose presence over performance, and remember that joy, play, and confidence are not extras. They are your compass.
In this episode, we talk about:
- How joy and play return when we give ourselves permission to soften
- The grounding rituals that support us when life or business feels heavy
- Why confidence grows deeper when it’s nurtured in community
- The art of unlearning old expectations in business and leadership
- Creating space for what truly fits by learning when to say no
- Community as something you feel, not something you perform
- How retail spaces are becoming modern gathering hubs for connection
- The message Danielle and Laura hope every woman building something could hear
If you’ve been craving softness, clarity, or community that feels real and nourishing, this conversation will land like a much needed exhale.
Meet our magical guests
Danielle Leroux, Co-Founder & Community Building Consultant
Danielle is a seasoned communications and community building expert with over a decade of experience. Currently, she serves as the Community Team Lead at Safe Software, where she leads a dedicated team of community professionals and oversees user growth and engagement and community programs for a customer community of 40,000+ users.
With a Master of Arts in Communications from Simon Fraser University, Danielle has a proven track record of driving business growth through strategic communication and community engagement. Her career has taken her from Toronto to Vancouver, where she’s honed her skills in various roles. She has supported businesses of all sizes, from commercial real estate to the beverage industry.
Her passion for entrepreneurship led her to establish She Summits, a platform that empowers women through transformative workshops and experiences. By fostering strong community connections and driving targeted female traffic, She Summits helps retailers elevate their brand and boost sales.
Danielle is a Certified Life and Leadership Coach and an active volunteer, mentoring young women in business and contributing to the growth of the entrepreneurial community. When she’s not working, Danielle can be found exploring the great outdoors, whether it’s running along Vancouver’s seawall, or traveling to new hiking destinations. She also has a secret talent for finding the best coffee shops in any new city.
Laura van der Veer, Co-Founder of She Summits & LUVA
Laura van der Veer is a customer-centric entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in retail, brand development, and customer engagement.
As Co-Founder of She Summits, she partners with leading lifestyle brands to create experience-driven workshops that celebrate women’s wellness, confidence, and connection. Her collaborations with Adidas, Fjällräven, Athleta, Myodetox, Kiehl’s, Fairmont Hotels, and Two Rivers Meats have helped transform how brands engage their communities — turning customers into advocates and experiences into lasting relationships.
Driven by her passion for movement and longevity, Laura has recently co-founded LUVA, a women’s wellness supplement brand launching in January 2026. Designed to support cellular restoration, mobility and joint health, and bone strength, LUVA helps women move freely, live fully, and age beautifully through every stage of life.
A dedicated mentor, Certified Mindset Coach, and advocate for women in business, Laura supports programs like The Forum and WORTH, guiding female founders through growth, leadership, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship. Known for her grounded, relationship-focused approach, she blends strategy, empathy, and mindset to help women and brands thrive with clarity and confidence.
Based in Squamish, BC, Laura is an avid trail runner and proud mom to her 26-year-old daughter. When she’s not out on the trails or leading community events, she can be found tending to her 55+ houseplants or tuning in to her favorite true-crime podcast, Crime Junkies.
About She Summits Forum
She Summits creates empowering, in-person experiences designed to help you reconnect – with yourself, with others, and with what truly matters. Through wellness-inspired workshops rooted in confidence, connection, and community, we bring together women who are craving real conversations, meaningful relationships, and space to grow.
Whether it’s a morning of movement, mindset work, or thoughtful reflection, every She Summits event is designed to leave you feeling seen, supported, and inspired. We partner with your favourite brands – like Fjällräven, Athleta, Kiehl’s, and Adidas – to host these transformative gatherings right in-store, turning everyday spaces into hubs for connection and growth.
And the experience doesn’t stop there. We bring the same magic and momentum from our in-person events into our 7-day online resets and private community – giving you ongoing inspiration, support, and connection no matter where you are. More than just a workshop, a She Summits experience is a chance to take a break from the noise, invest in yourself, and be part of a community of women doing the same. Because when women come together in real life, powerful things happen.
Connect with Danielle and Laura:
Email Danielle and Laura: hello@shesummitsforum.com
Learn more about She Summits: https://www.shesummitsforum.com
Follow She Summits on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-summits-forum
Connect with She Summits on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shesummitsforum
Find She Summits next event on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/she-summits-28967608715
Connect with Laura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-van-der-veer-351aa880
Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-leroux-18569562/
Listen now:
Listen now to the Magic Hour Podcast on Apple Podcast and Spotify.
This episode is brought to you by:
📝 This episode is sponsored by Shopify. Thinking about launching a shop? Start today with a 30-day free trial and build your store with the easiest, most powerful platform out there: shopify.pxf.io/Y9eKnK
Thanks for being here
Do you want to be featured on the Magic Hour Podcast or is there someone that you want to hear in an episode? Send us a message and let us know!
Listen to more Magic Hour Podcasts on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Check out other incredible guests from Season 3 by tapping here!
Follow us on Instagram to see the latest news, marketing tips, and the next Magic Hour Podcast episode.
