At Hackergal, we believe in the power of stories—especially those led by women blazing new trails in tech. Recently, our founder and Executive Director, Lucy Ho, sat down with Katherine Regnier, CEO and Founder of Coconut Software, for a candid conversation on entrepreneurship, problem-solving, and advice for the next generation of tech leaders.
Here’s what they had to say.
Lucy:
Thank you so much, Katherine, for being here with us and for sharing your story. To start, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Katherine:
I’m Katherine Regnier, the CEO and founder of Coconut Software. I lead a 120-person company primarily based out of Saskatoon, with teams also in Toronto and Vancouver. I actually grew up on a grain and cattle farm in Saskatchewan—so tech wasn’t exactly the obvious path! But growing up around entrepreneurship and problem-solving on the farm really set the stage for me. I always knew I wanted to start my own business; I just didn’t know it would be in tech.
Lucy:
That’s wonderful. Running a multi-million dollar tech company after growing up on a farm is a pretty amazing leap! Was there something specific that inspired you to start Coconut Software?
Katherine:
I’m going to date myself here—but I was always interested in digital tools. I took a computer class instead of Home Economics in high school and was one of the first to jump on digital cameras! I got into tech when I worked for a software company in my early 20s, back when we used to mail CDs for free trials.
What led to Coconut was really personal. I was traveling constantly and found it frustrating that I couldn’t easily book appointments online—something as simple as a massage! I could book a $1,000 flight online in minutes, but not a 30-minute service. I realized, there’s a problem here. And from that moment on, I knew I wanted to solve it.
We signed our first 10 customers and when I spoke to them, I realized their biggest pain point wasn’t even customer convenience—it was that they didn’t have time to handle the calls, voicemails, and emails. It was about streamlining their business. That shift in perspective was huge for me.
Lucy:
That’s so aligned with what we teach our learners—identify a real-world problem and build a solution around it. Whether it’s a local challenge or something global like climate change, it all starts with that one idea. People often ask, “How did you come up with Hackergal?” and like you, it came from recognizing a need, something I felt was missing for girls in tech.
So I’m curious, how much has Coconut changed from the idea you first had?
Katherine:
It’s evolved a lot! What started as a simple online booking idea became a much broader platform focused on transforming customer engagement. We’ve grown the team, expanded across the country, and our mission has deepened. But that core desire to make life easier for both customers and businesses has stayed the same.
Lucy:
It’s so inspiring to see how far your vision has come. As two women CEOs in tech, what advice would you give to the girls and gender-diverse learners across Canada who are just starting their coding journeys?
Katherine:
You don’t need to know everything. What matters is that you stay curious and keep learning. Tech is about problem-solving and resilience. You’ll face challenges, but every single one is a chance to grow.
Lucy:
Exactly. And there’s no one path to success in tech. Whether you start on a farm, in a classroom, or anywhere in between—if you see a problem worth solving, you already have what it takes to be a tech leader.
Inspired by Katherine and Lucy’s stories?
Join the movement. At Hackergal, we’re here to empower the next generation of coders to create change, ask bold questions, and lead with purpose.
This interview has been edited for clarity and flow