Shelley True

As founder and president of TRUEdot, Shelley True leads the agency’s strategic direction and guides the team in delivering bold, results-driven marketing, branding, and design solutions. She is passionate about building long-term client partnerships and helping organizations solve complex business and marketing challenges with clarity, creativity, and impact.

In 2012, Shelley launched TRUEdotDESIGN to meet a growing need for a fully integrated marketing and design agency serving the building sector. She quickly built a loyal client base spanning real estate, architecture, construction, home renovation, and related industries, while also supporting organizations across a wide range of other sectors. In 2015, with the firm at capacity, she acquired Ottawa-based award-winning design studio Avenue Design and successfully integrated the two companies, creating the powerhouse agency TRUEdot is today.

Known as a natural connector, Shelley understands the value of authenticity in every interaction, both online and off. She is a passionate advocate for entrepreneurship and a strong believer in the power of mentorship, leadership, and community building.

Shelley currently serves on the board of directors for Pathways to Recovery and previously spent seven years on the board of the Ottawa Board of Trade. In 2015, she also founded FORE-Play for Charity, an annual women’s networking golf tournament that brings together leaders in the building industry while raising funds for local charities and foundations.

Her leadership and contributions have been recognized through numerous honours, including:

• GOHBA’s Special Achievement Award, Volunteer of the Year Finalist (2026)
• Faces Magazine, Ottawa’s CEO of the Year (2021)
• Distinctive Women, Entrepreneur of the Year (2018–2019)
• Distinctive Women, Entrepreneur of the Year (2016–2017)
• Ottawa Businesswoman of the Year, Finalist (2016)