Meet Leah Yard | Owner of Leah Yard Designs and Host of the “Voted Least Likely” Podcast

We had the good fortune of connecting with Leah Yard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leah, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
This is such an important topic. I used to think that work/life balance was something I needed to be focused on keeping consistent. In fact, I would feel a lot of shame during busy times in my business when I felt I wasn’t present enough in my personal life. I have learned over the years of running a small brand that there isn’t really such a thing as work/life balance. Some seasons I need to focus soley on my business, and that’s ok.

The biggest lesson I have learned is that there is no blueprint for this. Learning how to say no to things is difficult, but it’s a necessary part of building a business.

What should our readers know about your business?
My business is a jewellery brand in Vancouver Canada (Leah Yard Designs). What sets me apart from other brands is my story and how I approach jewellery design. From living on an isolated lighthouse island as a child, to dropping out of high school and working entry-level jobs for over a decade, to accidentally becoming an entrepreneur: my story is far from glamorous.

I launched Yard Designs in 2013. In an industry that values prestige and glamour, I constantly felt like an imposter. I did’t have the background you would expect from a jewellery designer. I tried to hide or “spin” my story for years because I was scared I wouldn’t be taken seriously.

Eventually I let go and shared my story. I shared how I dropped out after grade 9 and got my GED. I shared how I worked entry level jobs into my late 20s. I shared everything I had been worried people would find out about me. And as soon as I did this, my business grew. I learned that not only does this story make my brand unique, my journey has gifted me skills I would not have had otherwise. I am definitely not a born entrepreneur, but I spent years doing entry-level jobs which gave me a strong work ethic. My unusual childhood experience of living on an isolated island where food and supplies arrive once a month gave me the skills to think outside the box, and design with intention.

It has now become my mission to make other entrepreneurs feel less alone on their journey. I launched the Voted Least Likely Podcast in 2022. The goal of the show is to demystify what it takes to be successful, and push past our own limiting beliefs.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One of my favourite spots to go in Vancouver is Granville Island. There is a little water taxi that takes you over, it’s such a whimsical experience! We would grab coffee and a “better than sex brownie” from A Bread Affair, then check out the local shops. For dinner we would go to Alimentaria Mexicana for tacos and a margarita and then head back across the water to English Bay for a walk along the beach.

For another adventure we would go to Gastown. This area is one of my favourites in the city. The cobblestone streets and heritage buildings are beautiful. We’d go for a snack at the Birds and the Beets (or another favourite is Nelson the Seagull). There’s some great local boutiques to check out.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people! I am a firm believer that no one gets where they are alone. I would like to give a thank-you to my partner Kyle, who believed in me when I didn’t. None of my success would be possible without him. I have a close group of friends who have cheered me on over the years, and been understanding every time I have had to cancel a plan because something came up in my business. These are the people who get me, even though many of them aren’t entrepreneurs, they support this crazy life I have chosen:)

There are a lot of books I owe my success to:

Growth Mindset by Carol Dweck
High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard
Relentless by Tim Grover
Grit by Angela Duckworth

Website: Leah Yard Designs: https://leahyarddesigns.com/ The Voted Least Likely Podcast: https://www.leahyard.com/

Instagram: Leah Yard Designs: https://www.instagram.com/leahyarddesigns/ The Voted Least Likely Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/leahyard/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-yard-99255426a

Facebook: Leah Yard Designs: https://www.facebook.com/leahyarddesigns