Ten things Dragons’ Den star Michele Romanow can’t live without

1 | My Moleskines It’s distracting when you’re in a meeting and someone’s tapping away on a tablet. I use a proper book—it’s more personal. Even Steve Jobs took notes by hand.

2 | My thirst quencher I’ve been addicted to Vitaminwater for years—specifically the sugar-free lemonade flavour—so I was excited when they asked me to be a spokesperson. It’s made with stevia, the healthiest of the alternative sweeteners.

3 | My iron ring They give one of these rings to every Canadian-trained engineer, as a reminder of their obligation to society. My dad had one and I always thought it was cool. I got mine in 2007, when I graduated from Queen’s. I never take it off.

4 | My runners I ran the Toronto Scotiabank Marathon in these Nikes—they fit like a sock. I kept telling myself the first 30 klicks were just a warm-up. Then, about three hours in, I was like, okay, here’s the actual run: just a 10K! I might try a triathlon next.

5 | My sleep mask It’s the top-ranked mask on Amazon, from the travel company Lewis N. Clark. It’s very cushioned. When you’re only sleeping four or five hours a night, a good nap can make a huge difference.

6 | My pickles My Ukrainian grandmother used to come and live with us every winter. She’d spend the whole time in the kitchen, making pierogies and pickles. The store-bought ones aren’t quite the same, but they remind me of home.

7 | My Napoleon print I got it after seeing the real thing in the Louvre five or six years ago. Napoleon was a controversial figure, but it’s crazy what he accomplished. Here was a short guy from a modest family in Corsica, and he appointed himself emperor.

8 | My down coats I’m always cold—the thermostat in my house is set to a balmy 25 degrees. In the summer, when I’m stuck in air-conditioned offices, I’ll wear a light Patagonia jacket. Then, around September, I break out the Canada Goose.

9 | Uber I love it. It’s my favourite app—besides the one I created, that is.

10 | My cowboy boots I bought them at Lammle’s in Calgary, which is where I grew up. They’re not the super-intense ones with the ultra-pointy toes, but they’re fun enough. And they’re black, so they go with everything.