Danièle Henkel

Danièle Henkel (born January 16, 1956) is a Canadian businesswoman, author, television personality, and politician, who has been serving as a senator from Quebec (Alma) since February 2025. She is the founder and CEO of Entreprises Danièle Henkel Inc., a company known for its popular gant Renaissance exfoliating glove and other health and beauty products. Henkel gained prominence as one of the investor panelists on the television show Dans l'œil du dragon, the Canadian French-language version of Dragons' Den from 2012 to 2016. A longtime public speaker and advocate for entrepreneurship, she has served on numerous organizational boards and initiatives. On February 14, 2025, Henkel was appointed to the Senate of Canada by Governor General Mary Simon on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Her father, a soldier, was declared missing around the time of her birth, and she was raised by her mother; although her mother was Jewish, Henkel was brought up in the Catholic faith.

At the age of 18, Henkel entered an arranged marriage with her older brother’s best friend, Ahmed, despite her initial reluctance. Her husband was an Algerian engineer, and Henkel began working in the late 1970s at the U.S. Consulate in Oran. She eventually became a political and economic adviser to the U.S. ambassador in Algeria, a position she held for over a decade. In 2018, she launched a digital media platform called *DanièleHenkel.tv* (Henkel Media) dedicated to entrepreneurship and “well-being” content, with the aim of supporting and networking the entrepreneurial community in Quebec and the Francophonie. Over the next five seasons (2012–2016), Henkel appeared on the show and became a familiar television personality in Quebec, often praised as a role model for women entrepreneurs. As a public speaker (conférencière), she has addressed audiences in Canada and internationally on topics such as entrepreneurship, education, diversity, and women in business.

Community involvement and advocacy Henkel has been active in mentoring and community initiatives, often focusing on women’s empowerment and health causes. In 2003, she established the Académie Danièle Henkel, a professional training academy to improve the skills of practitioners in the medical-aesthetics field across Canada. She served a three-year term in that role, during which the park undertook major projects for Montreal’s 375th anniversary. Henkel has frequently emphasized the importance of education, diversity, and “the power of women” in her public initiatives, and she continues to mentor young entrepreneurs. The honor was presented to her in Paris by Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who praised Henkel’s unique life path. Québec Businesswomen’s Award – International (2012): She received the Réseau des femmes d’affaires du Québec (RFAQ) Award in 2012 for Entrepreneur active internationally, honoring her expanding business reach beyond Canada. Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women (2019): Henkel was named one of Canada’s 100 most influential or powerful women by the Women’s Executive Network (WXN) in 2019, recognizing her leadership and impact in business.

Personal life Danièle Henkel is the mother of four children, all of whom immigrated with her to Canada and later became involved in the family business. She has spoken often about the influence of her mother, Fortunée, in shaping her values and resilience. Henkel’s life story – from fleeing conflict in North Africa to achieving business success in Canada – has been cited as an inspiration for immigrants and women entrepreneurs. She became a Canadian citizen and is fluent in French, Arabic, and English.