In celebration of Women's Equality Day, QED is shining a light on the female founders and CEOs of companies in which it invests.

Next up is Valérie Robitaille, the CEO and co-founder of XpertSea, a company that builds tech and financial solutions that transform how seafood is farmed and traded to help feed the world.

Its mission is to build a better, fairer and more sustainable aquaculture industry by using reliable data to bring transparency and insights from farm to fork.

Learn more about XpertSea on their website or follow them on LinkedIn here.

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As a female founder in what has historically been a male-dominated industry (both shrimp farming and fintech), what struggles have you had to overcome in your professional journey?

For the most part I have always felt respected and valued by business partners and customers, even in some of the more conservative countries that we serve. I do realize, however, that being a westerner might have helped, and that the reality for female executives i other cultures might be different. I also always had amazing support from our investors; I feel I have been praised when it was due and held accountable when deserved.  

My biggest challenge as a female founder and CEO has been around starting a family. With our fast growth trajectory it just never felt like the right time to have a child. When we realized time was running out, the journey to having our son was very difficult and stressful. When I finally got pregnant, it could not have been worse timing, career-wise. I had to raise our most recent round while pregnant, giving birth around the time we signed the term sheet. All in all, however, it all worked out and I received huge support from our investors, our company and my family. I could have avoided a lot of stress by knowing in advance that it would all turn out okay!

What are the next steps to ensuring female entrepreneurs are supported and funded in the same way that male founders are?  

I think there are many excellent opportunities for female entrepreneurs today, but we need to make sure women know that by introducing them to entrepreneurship and technology at a young age, and by giving them more exposure to positive women entrepreneur role models.

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Valérie operates from a clear mission to change the way the world consumes protein and create a more sustainable planet. Everything she does comes from a deep sense of purpose.

- Lauren Morton, QED Investors

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‍What resources do you turn to when you’re seeking support and guidance?  

I have an amazing female board member who is an accomplished entrepreneur and who supports and guides me.

What can individuals – both male and female – be doing better to elevate female viewpoints?  

First, get women into a position where their viewpoint can be heard. Then, make sure there is no bias in how their viewpoint is perceived. (Ask yourself: If a man had expressed this same opinion or idea ... would I perceive it the same way?)

What is one piece of hard-won advice that you would recommend to any young female entrepreneur?  

If you feel that you have to choose between your family and your career, you are not in the right environment. You don't need to compromise your professional career to have a family.