Meet Laura Suen, RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Start-Up Finalist

Laura Suen is the founder and CEO of Fire and Steel Inc. Formerly a nuclear physicist who worked for TRIUMF, Canada’s National Particle and Nuclear Physics laboratory, she left the science world to pursue her passion for entrepreneurship. From her love of martial arts, Laura started Fire and Steel in her parents’ garage as an eclectic side hobby. The company is an e-commerce retail store that also designs and manufactures original merchandise. Through her efforts, the Fire and Steel team has now grown to 15 staff members and is looking to find more efficient ways to scale. Laura was named one of the 2022 Next Founders cohort that recognizes new notable startups in Ontario. She was also recognized as one of Ontario’s top 30 young leaders of tomorrow through the MaRS Studio Y program in 2014. Prior to this, she also previously competed on CBC’s Canada’s Smartest Person, where she placed 2nd and she competed on Discovery Channel’s Canada’s Greatest Know-It-All Season 2, where she placed 5th overall.

I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur when… I realized I could own every success and failure.

Entrepreneurship is made for me because… risk and long work hours don’t scare me.

The impact I hope to make through my work is… teaching people that being yourself is okay. Take time to celebrate yourself.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned on my entrepreneurial journey is… failing happens. Pushing through it is what matters.

My proudest accomplishment is… being able to offer health benefits to my employees.

The biggest risk I took that paid off was… taking the plunge to be my own boss.

My biggest setback has been… the pandemic turning my business on its head.

I overcame it by…shifting my business online.

The best advice I’ve received as an entrepreneur was… there’s no shame in asking for help when you need it.

I surprise people when I tell them… I used to be a nuclear scientist… and then was on reality TV. Twice.

If I had an extra hour in the day, I would use it to… play a board game with my family. Entrepreneurs don’t spend enough time with their families.

If you googled me, you still wouldn’t know… I still get nervous when I meet new people.

The future excites me because… hover cars and drone delivery will be a thing. I want drones to deliver our packages.

Follow Fire and Steel Inc. on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter (X), Facebook, and TikTok.