Brandon Berish
Founder & CEO | Wealthy Unicorn
Today we’re excited to feature Brandon, founder of Wealthy Unicorn, a Canadian startup on a mission to transform financial wellness in the workplace.
With 20 years of experience in business strategy and leadership, Brandon launched Wealthy Unicorn to solve a problem most companies overlook: helping employees build real, practical financial literacy.
Brandon shares the story behind the brand, the lessons he’s learned building through founder-led growth, and why he sees financial education as the next big unlock for employee well-being.
How did the idea for Wealthy Unicorn come to you, and what inspired you to start the company?
Wealthy Unicorn actually began as a bit of an “insurance policy” during the pandemic. At the time, I was fully employed in a great role, but the global uncertainty made me reflect on what I would do if job security suddenly disappeared. I’ve always been passionate about financial literacy and knew there was a huge gap in how people—smart, capable professionals—were navigating money. They weren’t making poor decisions because they were careless; they simply hadn’t been taught how money really works.
So I started building Wealthy Unicorn quietly on the side. I tested the concept by running trainings with small teams and consistently received powerful feedback. People finally felt seen, empowered, and clear about their financial decisions. That validation stayed with me. After nearly a decade with my previous employer, I decided to stop treating Wealthy Unicorn as a backup plan—and start building it into the bold solution I always envisioned.
I created Wealthy Unicorn to reimagine financial education—making it inclusive, empowering, and actually enjoyable. Our name is a reminder that everyone’s financial journey can be as unique as a unicorn—and just as powerful. We especially wanted to reach underrepresented communities and professionals who’ve been overlooked by traditional financial systems.
And the need is greater than ever. A 2024 survey from Edward Jones Canada found that 84% of Canadians wish they’d received financial education in school to help manage their finances with less stress. Wealthy Unicorn exists to fill that gap—and we’re just getting started.
Founder-led growth can be powerful but demanding. What have been your biggest challenges in transitioning from being deeply involved in day-to-day tasks to leading strategically and scaling the company?
The hardest part has been shifting from “doing” to “leading.” In the early days, I was the designer, the marketer, the sales rep, and the financial educator all at once. But real growth doesn’t come from micromanaging—it comes from building a team you trust and creating systems that allow your vision to scale.
The transition also required me to rethink my time. I’ve learned to protect my mental energy for higher-order thinking: long-term planning, strategic partnerships, and the evolution of our product. That means stepping away from some of the daily details and giving my team the space—and support—to shine.
It’s been an intentional process of letting go, leveling up, and leading forward.
Where do you see the biggest gaps in financial literacy among professionals today, and how does Wealthy Unicorn help bridge those gaps?
The biggest gap is around confidence and context—not access to information. Professionals are flooded with content, yet most of it lacks relevance to their unique needs or financial goals. Whether it’s navigating the stock market, levelling-up their careers, buying a first home, or planning for early retirement, traditional resources don’t speak to modern realities.
Wealthy Unicorn bridges this gap by offering curated, engaging, and culturally inclusive learning paths that make financial education not just accessible, but actionable. Our platform is built for real people with real lives—offering on-demand content, personalized learning, and measurable outcomes.
And the need is urgent. A 2022 survey from the National Payroll Institute (formerly the Canadian Payroll Association) found that 11% of employed Canadians are spending more than their net pay—the highest level ever reported. That level of financial strain makes our work not just relevant, but essential.
People vary widely in how comfortable they are discussing money openly. How do these cultural differences influence your approach to offering financial wellness programs across diverse markets?
Money is personal—shaped by culture, upbringing, community, and even trauma. In some cultures, it’s taboo to talk about money at all; in others, there’s pressure to appear financially successful regardless of reality. These nuances are why cookie-cutter approaches fail.
At Wealthy Unicorn, inclusivity is baked into our platform. We use storytelling, representation, and empathy to design content that resonates across backgrounds. Whether someone is managing debt quietly or building generational wealth, they can find resources that reflect their journey without shame or judgment.
Our flexible, self-paced model also respects privacy. We’ve found that when people feel safe and seen, they’re far more open to learning—and changing—how they engage with money.
Why should HR leaders consider integrating a financial wellness solution like Wealthy Unicorn into their employee benefits strategy, and what tangible outcomes have your clients experienced so far?
Financial stress is the silent killer of productivity and engagement. The data doesn’t lie—54% of Canadian employees report experiencing financial stress, and 32% say it’s high or overwhelming. That stress shows up as absenteeism, disengagement, and turnover.
Meanwhile, a Benefits Canada survey revealed that 80% of employees want financial education at work, yet only 58% of employers currently offer it. That’s a major gap—and a major opportunity for forward-thinking HR leaders.
At Wealthy Unicorn, our clients have reported increased employee satisfaction, stronger engagement in wellness programs, and even higher participation in retirement savings plans. One employer told us our program “unlocked a level of trust” that hadn’t existed before.
And it’s not just about retention—it’s about happiness. ADP Canada’s Happiness@Work Index shows that financial wellness plays a critical role in overall employee well-being, especially as post-pandemic cost pressures rise.
How do you see financial wellness evolving in the workplace, and what role will innovative solutions like yours play in shaping the future of employee experience?
We’re at a turning point. Financial wellness is no longer a fringe benefit—it’s becoming a core pillar of the employee experience, alongside physical and mental health. Smart companies know that if you want a resilient, engaged workforce, you have to help people feel secure not just in their roles—but in their futures.
At Wealthy Unicorn, we see ourselves leading this evolution. Our vision is a world where every employee, regardless of income, background, or industry, has access to world-class financial education. As expectations grow, so will demand for flexible, digital-first solutions that reflect real life.
TELUS Health recently reported that nearly one-third of Canadian employees want financial planning assistance included in their benefits. That’s a clear signal: employees are ready, and they’re looking to their employers to lead.
Our job is to make it easy—for individuals to learn, and for organizations to empower their people through knowledge, empathy, and results.
We’d like to thank Brandon for sharing his story with us and the HR Connect community. If you’re an HR leader, business owner, or people-first organization, now is the time to take financial wellness seriously. Wealthy Unicorn offers inclusive, on-demand learning that meets employees where they are and drives real impact on engagement, retention, and well-being.
If you’re interested in sharing your story and becoming part of our HR Connect series, please reach out to us at info@fip.agency.
Dilara Cossette
Founder
Dilara Cossette is the founder of FIP, a boutique demand generation agency specializing in helping HR tech companies accelerate growth. With extensive experience in the industry, she partners with industry leaders to craft strategies that drive demand, boost pipeline, and elevate brand presence.
Dilara is passionate about fostering meaningful connections and sharing insights from HR tech innovators through the HR Connect interview series.
