We are thrilled to announce the next feature in our ongoing blog series, Breaking Barriers: Women Who Lead. Throughout 2025, we will highlight various women leaders who advocate for gender equity, believe in the power of sport, and continue to support and amplify the need to get more girls in sport and physical activity. They are women who broke down barriers (and continue to do so), are leaders in their fields, and who hope to leave an impact on their sectors. We’re so excited for our series to return by chatting with Rachel Mielke, the Founder and CEO of Hillberg & Berk, a Canadian jewellery company. Girls Forward’s work wouldn’t be possible without our partners, and we’re thankful for the generous support of Hillberg & Berk in fuelling our mission to empower girls through sport and physical activity.

---

SHINING A LIGHT ON GENDER EQUITY THROUGH JEWELLERY AND SPORT. Rachel’S JOURNEY with family, self-expression, and storytelling

The story of Hillberg & Berk begins at a kitchen table in Regina, Saskatchewan, with a name rooted in love.

“I’m the Founder and CEO of Hillberg & Berk, a company I started at my kitchen table 18 years ago,” says Rachel Mielke. “I named the business after my great-grandma Hilda Bergman and my dog Berkeley. Both of them were very important parts of my life.”

The name carried significance from the start, but what Rachel didn’t know at the time was how connected it would become. 

“After my great-grandma passed away, we discovered that she had taught herself how to make jewellery, and we found pieces that she’d made. I learned this after she died. It was such a cool connection that I didn’t even know when I named the company after her.”

Hillberg & Berk has since blossomed into a recognizable Canadian brand known for sparkle and confidence. However, for Rachel, the heart of the business has always been community and helping women express themselves authentically. 

“I saw a lot of strength in the women in my family, many of them who held non-traditional roles at the time,” she says. “I saw the women of my family doing things that were unexpected, and I found that inspiring.”

Those early influences, especially her mom’s values, continue to shape the company’s mission today. 

I saw a lot of strength in the women in my family, many of them who held non-traditional roles at the time.”

Rachel says her mom raised her to be a “very community-minded person, to care for and think about others first, and to use your talents and gifts to help others.”

Those values are reflected across the company, especially in its people. “I’ve witnessed this across our team members in the company, especially those who have been with the business the longest,” Rachel says. “Sports experience is a huge asset in the background of our star players; many of them had that in their lives, and it shows in their leadership ability.”

That connection between sport and leadership stuck with her. “94% of all female executives have played sports throughout their lives,” she says. “That was eye-opening for me, as it reiterated the importance of keeping girls in sports.”

Today, Hillberg & Berk’s commitment to women in sport shines through – from product design to national partnerships. 

“Whether it’s sport, work, or your most important occasion, having the ability to express your own style and individuality is universally important,” Rachel says. “Sometimes sport or work uniforms limit one’s ability to express their individual style, and that’s why H&B has become the go-to for many female athletes and women who wear uniforms in their day-to-day.”

94% of all female executives have played sports throughout their lives. That was eye-opening for me, as it reiterated the importance of keeping girls in sports.”

The brand continues to expand nationwide. “There are still a lot of Canadians who don’t know about H&B,” Rachel says. “And we’re thrilled to bring our product and mission to all of Canada in the next couple of years, through retail locations and our exciting partnerships with the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Professional Women’s Hockey League, Girls Forward Foundation, and more.”

And when it comes to what’s possible in the women’s sports space, Rachel believes the surface is only just being scratched. “We’re just getting started with what’s possible in this realm,” she says. “We’re really looking forward to continuing the search for new partnership opportunities to grow and expand our product offering in relation to women in sports.”

Equity remains at the core of that mission. “Real progress looks like a world where barriers are simply not there, and equity is present across the board,” Rachel says. “Progress is when equal pay, representation and support, both in professional sports and careers, exists.”

We’re really looking forward to continuing the search for new partnership opportunities to grow and expand our product offering in relation to women in sports.”

That same belief sparked the launch of Know Her Stories, an empowering series built to spotlight women driving meaningful change. 

One of those stories features Nakissa Koomalsingh, also known as Keesa K, the founder of Hoop Queens, Canada’s first paid women’s basketball league. 

Hoop Queens is “changing the narrative for women’s basketball across the country,” Rachel says. It’s an organization “working tirelessly to improve culture and support other women.” 

For Hillberg & Berk, it’s always been about more than jewellery. It’s about celebrating the brilliance in every woman and helping her shine in her own way, wherever her story begins. 

---

Our Breaking Barriers: Women Who Lead blog series highlights women in leadership positions who are passionate about empowering girls through sport, physical activity and education. Launched in January 2025, the series will highlight various women throughout 2025. If you are interested in learning more or supporting this series, please email us at info@girlsforward.ca