Profit Isn't a Dirty Word (But It Can't Be the Only Word) with Tara Milburn of Ethical Swag

In this episode of This Mother Means Business, Laura Sinclair sits down with Tara Milburn, founder and CEO of Ethical Swag, a certified B Corp helping brands connect with people through meaningful, sustainable merchandise. What starts as a conversation about promotional products quickly becomes something much bigger: a powerful discussion about values-led leadership, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and building businesses that prioritize people, planet, and profit.Tara shares the winding path that led her from the sports and entertainment world to government work and eventually to founding Ethical Swag. She opens up about setting boundaries as a new mom long before flexible work was common, the influence of her parents on her values, and why she sees Ethical Swag as more than a company — it is a vehicle for demonstrating that profitable business can be built differently.In this episode you will hear: 00:00 Meeting Tara Milburn and the Mission Behind Ethical Swag 01:15 How Tara’s Career Path Took Shape 03:33 Starting Out with the Vancouver Canucks 06:20 Why Big Thinkers Change What We Believe Is Possible 07:14 Becoming a Mom and Redefining Work on Her Terms 10:28 Standing Up for Herself in Corporate Spaces 11:55 The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Bid Story 14:15 Moving to Cape Breton and Shifting Priorities 16:21 The Early Origins of Ethical Swag 18:41 Discovering the Real Customer for the Business 23:32 Staying Values-Led When Money Is on the Line 24:09 The Influence of Tara’s Parents on Her Leadership 28:37 What Ethical Swag Is Really Doing Differently 32:43 The Big Vision for Ethical Swag 32:57 Why Tara Believes in the Stakeholder Model 36:57 Where to Find Tara and Her Work Tara's Links:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethicalswag/Website: https://ethicalswag.com/LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethical-swag/Join This Mother Means Business Community : www.thismothermeansbusiness.com/community Laura's Links:• Website • Laura's Instagram • LinkedIn • Facebook • Pinterest • TikTok