# Barbie Bent

> Barbie Bent is the Vancouver-based co-founder and CEO of Jaybird Studios and founder and CEO of Lagree West. An Ivey Business School graduate whose first job was in equity sales at Desjardins, she opened Lagree West in 2015 and co-founded Jaybird with Ariel Swan in 2019. Her work combines studio operations, brand development and design-led expansion.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at Jaybird Studios
- **Organizations:** Jaybird Studios, Lagree West, Desjardins
- **Education:** Undergraduate business degree, Ivey Business School at Western University, Master’s degree in optometry; studied in the United Kingdom
- **Known for:** Founded Lagree West and co-founded Jaybird Studios., Reported in August 2026 that both brands had grown through cash flow without outside investors., Built Lagree West to six locations in Vancouver and Victoria, as reported in August 2026.

## Career timeline

- **2008** — Started on the equity sales desk at Desjardins in the month of the Lehman Brothers collapse.
- **2015** — Opened the first Lagree West on West Hastings in Vancouver in November.
- **2016** — Opened a second Lagree West at Lonsdale Quay within nine months of the first studio.
- **2019** — Co-founded Jaybird Studios with Ariel Swan in Vancouver.
- **2023** — Jaybird added its Yorkville studio in December.
- **2025** — Jaybird added Kingsway, its second Vancouver studio.
- **2026** — Announced Midtown Toronto and Nomad, New York expansion plans.

## Achievements

- Founded Lagree West and co-founded Jaybird Studios.
- Reported in August 2026 that both brands had grown through cash flow without outside investors.
- Built Lagree West to six locations in Vancouver and Victoria, as reported in August 2026.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Discussed planned early-October Midtown Toronto opening and planned November Nomad opening; Midtown was set to introduce Jaybird’s custom reformers.
- **2026-08** — Discussed bootstrapped growth, her Ivey education and mentor Judy Brooks in a published interview.

## Links

- Website: https://www.jaybirdjaybird.com/
- LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/barbie-bent-18987a208
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbiebent/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/barbie-bent
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-16