April 16, 2026 - Surrey & White Rock Women in Business Awards

Manjit Minhas is known across Canada as a star of Dragons? Den, the hit CBC series she?s joined for 10 years after establishing herself as the formidable entrepreneur behind Minhas Breweries & Distilleries ? a privately-owned global empire with annual revenues in excess of $220 million.

As a star investor on CBC?s Dragons? Den, she has backed dozens of businesses across various industries. Manjit?s expertise in scaling businesses, creating sustainable products, and breaking into competitive markets has made her a highly sought-after speaker and board member. She brings a unique blend of hands-on business experience and visionary leadership to every project she undertakes.

A powerful leader and speaker, Manjit uses her success to clear a path for all entrepreneurs of every age and gender. In smart, engaging talks, she shares the secrets that every business leader needs to know: from the right way to set goals (and why you might be doing it wrong), to finding a mentor who can bring the best out of you (and why even CEOs need mentors). Audiences walk away from her talks inspired and equipped to find breakthrough success in any industry.

In 2024, the United Nations Association in Canada honored Manjit with the Global Citizen Laureate Award in recognition of her commitment to the UN goal of gender equality.

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Manjit started her companies as a 19-year-old petroleum engineering student by selling her Toyota RAV4 to enter the alcohol industry with the $10,000 return ? and her brother, Ravinder. Despite competition from the multinational corporations controlling the beer industry, Minhas managed to establish itself in the marketplace by offering higher quality products at a better value than the competition and, within a decade, Manjit and Ravinder part time job had become a $100 million operation.

The siblings became the youngest brewery owners in the world in 2006 when they purchased the second-oldest brewery in the United States: the Joseph Huber Brewery in Monroe, WI. The facility was renamed the Minhas Craft Brewery and modernized to meet the demands of an ever-evolving industry.

Today, Manjit has over 90 brands of beers, spirits, liqueurs and wines. Her products are sold in five provinces, 47 American states and 16 other countries. Minhas companies have sold over 12 billion pints of Boxer Lager, Mountain Crest and other beers. She?s also created unique and successful distilled spirit products in numerous categories form vodka to whisky to Irish cream.

In addition to creating custom brands for retail chains, Manjit also collaborates with celebrity partners such as Artingstall?s Brilliant London Dry Gin, with Hollywood luminary Paul Feig, and MONEYBAG? Vodka ? an ultra-premium, 10x distilled luxury vodka with legendary KISS co-founder Gene Simmons.

Manjit believes in social responsibility and has used her engineering background to innovate production processes using the least amount of chemicals, gas, electricity and water. Manjit also created a special 48-can pack for Costco with no plastic rings and the least amount of paper box material necessary to prevent excess materials from ending up in landfills.

Manjit was the first brewer in Canada to voluntarily print warnings about drinking and driving, and the risks of consuming alcohol during pregnancy on beers cans. Meanwhile, Canadian and American consumers who suffer from celiac disease and similar dietary sensitivities have benefited from her innovative method of making delicious gluten-free beer from sorghum.

Manjit is passionate about giving back to her community and provides her time, energy and money to numerous charities such as serving on the boards of the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, Hull Services and a YWCA board that raised $50 million for a crisis shelter. She also co-chaired a $60 million United Way of Calgary and Area fundraising campaign.

And, in 2023, Manjit was honoured to have been appointed by the Department of National Defense as the Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Canadian Armed Forces? Queen?s Own Rifles of Canada.

Manjit made history in 2024 becoming the first woman owner of a CEBL team when she and Ravinder invested in the Edmonton Stingers ? two-time champions of the Canadian Elite Basketball League.

Manjit also sits on the boards of Enbridge, YYC Airport Authority, and ATB Financial.

As Manjit has experienced the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, she is keen on helping others who work hard to create successful businesses and was excited to be approached by the CBC to star on Dragons? Den in 2015. Being a venture capitalist on the Den allows Manjit to share her experience and expertise about being an entrepreneur with millions of Canadians each week.

Manjit has invested in more than three dozen businesses over the past ten seasons.

When not on the set of Dragons? Den, calling on international buyers and suppliers or scouting new trends and industry innovations, Manjit Minhas continues to live in Calgary with her amazing husband and two daughters.