Her professional journey began with a Mechanical Engineering degree and progressed through various challenges, expanding her skill set to include everything from coding and graphic design to CEO-level leadership, worldwide customer base and community building, system design and integrations, and acquiring and selling companies.

After 20 years, she sold her main operating company in 2019. During this transition, she learned to evolve from Doing to Delegating, to Empowering, to being—and now to doing in alignment with purpose. She aims to give back, having owned 6 successful businesses and seen just about everything. She is now a certified professional coach and mentor, Authentic Relating and Circling Practitioner & Facilitator, a somatics and psychology enthusiast, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Counselling Psychology. She is deeply committed to relational and personal growth and practices these as a way of life.

You can find her full bio and resume, along with lists of projects she has completed and skills she has acquired, on businessforhumans.ca, where she offers workshops and coaching on leadership, relational skills, and communication. She is open to connecting to support you on your journey.

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Carolyn’s true passion lies in nurturing aspiring entrepreneurs and helping them launch and elevate their businesses. For the past six years, Carolyn has partnered with Start-up Revelstoke, providing support, networking, mentoring, coaching, and training to a variety of clients. 

Given her influential role within the community, it was a natural fit for Carolyn to extend her expertise to the WeBC community. Her journey with WeBC began as a leader in the Taking the Stage® training program, and later as a WeBC Peer Mentoring Group facilitator. Carolyn’s dedication and commitment to empowering local businesses and entrepreneurs make her an invaluable addition to WeBC, so she became a Regional Ambassador in 2023. 

In this new role, Carolyn is determined to empower Revelstoke’s entrepreneurs by providing them with essential resources and valuable support. Carolyn’s wealth of experience and dedication make her a driving force behind Revelstoke’s business community.

Ambassador Q&A

Q: Can you share any lessons you’ve learned and your biggest strengths from your journey as a business owner?

A: The biggest lesson I’ve learned is how important entrepreneurs are to the economic diversification and sustainability of communities. Revelstoke is an entrepreneur-based community, and it allows for the culture and flavor of Revelstoke to come out. It also allows for money to stay within the community and that’s really important, especially when there are all these competing factors like big box stores.

Through becoming an entrepreneur, one of my biggest strengths is being able to pull multiple organizations together to create something bigger. By having the organizations talk to each other, it just benefits the individual entrepreneur so much more. No one person has all the answers, so building out my network within my community where we can all find answers together is important.

Q: What made you want to become a Regional Ambassador?

A: When WeBC asked me if I would take on the Regional Ambassador role, I was excited because it’s another tool I can provide for entrepreneurs here in town. They have a variety of different services, and I can offer options no matter where they are in their journey. What I love doing is connecting people with the available resources, so it was a great fit.

Q: What are you most looking forward to in your new Regional Ambassador role?

A: I’m excited to continue my involvement with WeBC. My previous experiences with the Taking the Stage® program and Peer Mentoring program have been incredibly positive. It’s all about like-minded individuals coming together, which I find fulfilling. 

Q: What advice would you offer aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start their own business?

A: I like to caution against the “Field of Dreams” mentality, where you assume that if you build it, they will come. The more work you can do before you start your business to make sure you’ve done your research properly and understand your customer base, the better. So, the best advice I can offer to aspiring business owners is: do your business plan!

Where to find Carolyn Gibson

LinkedIn

Email: carolyn@thepinesrevelstoke.com 

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Spring Creative is a marketing consultancy with clients across western Canada, specializing in marketing, branding, design, and technical support. Spring Creative serves a variety of clients, but Fern initially focused on working with local businesses. She takes pride in the agency’s collaboration within her community, particularly those making positive contributions.

Fern’s experience with WeBC began a decade ago when she sought resources for her technology-based consultancy. This was the beginning of her special connection with WeBC. For her, WeBC wasn’t just a place for resources; it became a vital support system guiding Fern through the challenges of starting and running her business. Due to her strong ties to her community and her seasoned professional career, WeBC extended an invitation for Fern to serve as a Regional Ambassador in 2023. As she takes on her new role, she is eager to share her experiences and support other women on their entrepreneurial journeys.

Q&A

Q: How does Spring Creative contribute to and give back to its local community?

A: We provide services relating to marketing, design, branding, and technology support primarily to the businesses and organizations that are leaders in our community. A lot of our clients have a positive impact on the world within the non-profit, healthcare, and business sectors, and we’re there to support them through the ever-changing digital landscape. It’s important we focus on supporting our community; it’s a really big piece of it.

Q: What inspired and motivated you to start your own business, and how has this journey evolved?

A: I’ve always been drawn to being an entrepreneur and working for myself. I got my start in 1996, through a youth business development program run by our local college and Community Futures here in Nelson. That’s where I had my first real taste of running a business and using the internet for marketing purposes.

From there, I pursued a career path centered around business development and marketing communications, both in the for-profit and non-profit sectors. I have founded and co-founded over half a dozen businesses, have spearheaded community societies and transformed clients’ budding ideas into successful global charities.

Now with Spring Creative, we’re five years in, and the vision that I had for having everything under one roof has come together.

Q: What made you want to become a Regional Ambassador and what aspects of this role are you most excited about?

A: I was drawn to becoming a Regional Ambassador because of my previous involvement with initiatives like the WeBC Mentorship Celebration for International Women’s Day. After participating in panels and discussions on being a woman entrepreneur in remote communities, I was approached to take on the role. I said yes because I know personally what it’s like to live in a rural community in BC and have experienced the challenges of starting a business with limited resources.

I think women entrepreneurs encounter inequalities that have existed with traditional resources and opportunities for support. With WeBC, they’re part of an ecosystem that supports businesses within our region, ultimately enhancing their overall success.

Q: Can you highlight some notable achievements or milestones that Spring Creative has accomplished?

A: We secured a gold award in the Ava Digital Awards for creativity in website design and claimed gold in the Hermes Creative Awards for an impactful magazine ad. We have also been awarded the Client Success, Local Impact Award from our partners in both 2022 and 2023. It feels like it’s really nice to be recognized, and I want to emphasize how important it is to have such an amazing team to work with.

Where to find Spring Creative

Website: springcreative.ca

Facebook: @Spring.Creative.Marketing

Instagram: @spring.creative.marketing

LinkedIn: Spring Creative Marketing

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Guilt & Co. is an intimate live performance venue for customers aged in their mid-twenties to mid-fifties. They have table-side service, offer home-made food, and provide quality furniture & solicitous attention. Their aim is to incubate independent artists, showcase burgeoning talent, and host local & international musicians. 

” We opened Guilt & Co. as an alternative to nightclubs or ticketed music events because as an adult there were little options for entertainment after dinner if you didn’t have a ticket to a live show and didn’t want to go to a dance club or sports bar.”

Today, Guilt & Co. employs 27 staff members and is a renowned live music venue, respected and sought after by musicians, and appreciated and enjoyed by local and visiting patrons alike.

To share her business expertise with other women entrepreneurs, Sonia is volunteering as a Mentor in WeBC’s Peer Mentoring Program.

“I have had various mentors over the years. They have energized me in times of challenge and frustration. They have provided support, encouragement, and direction. Sometimes you need a little help to stay on the path, or to course correct onto a new path. An emotionally and monetarily uninvested mentor can provide a lot of fuel when you’re feeling depleted.”

Mentor Q & A

Q: What made you decide to become an entrepreneur?

A: I have a Master’s in International Affairs. I thought I wanted to join the diplomatic service. After completing my degree, however, I decided I wanted the freedom and independence the life of an entrepreneur could provide. I had one summer job where I worked Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm and I felt constrained by the schedule.  I didn’t want to have that kind of regular programming in my life.

Q: What do you feel is your greatest strength in your business?

A: My greatest strength is the ability to connect with a lot of different people, to make them feel welcome, to put them at ease. Good relationships foster empathy and open doors. People still make the world go round. 

Q: What is the biggest lesson you have learned in running your own business, so far?

A: The biggest lesson I learned in business is to make sure the right drivers are behind your decisions. I don’t just mean values. I mean more subtle factors like ego, desire to belong or participate, fear of missing out, keeping up with whomever, chasing money, or chasing growth for growth’s sake. 

Q: What advice do you have for other women thinking of starting their own businesses?

A: The advice I would give based on my experience is to ask yourself what you want your day to look like. Really break it down: What activities do you want to do each day, what environment do you want to be in, and what kind of people do you want to be surrounded by? The business you choose will affect all these elements. How do you want to feel day in and day out?

Q: What made you volunteer to be a WeBC Mentor?

A: I volunteer my time because I enjoy spending time with self-driven people because I know I can learn more from the experience, and because it’s right to keep the scale of give and take in balance.

Where to find Guilt & Co

Website

Instagram

Facebook

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“I always liked creating things from scratch. Back when I started working for a marketing agency in Ottawa, where I also became a partner, the original founder and I were the primary drivers for growing that business from essentially a few $100,000 to a few million in annual revenue. That’s really where I got my first taste.”

After earning an Executive MBA, she returned to her hometown in Victoria, BC, co-founding three startups and holding three CEO roles in the tech industry. When COVID hit, Bobbi decided to pause and reevaluate her path. Motivated by her drive to support women entrepreneurs, Bobbi shifted her focus toward helping women business owners navigate their own paths toward personal and strategic growth.

Discovery Foundation’s Strategic Mindset Program

With a vast pool of experiences to pull from, Bobbi joined Discovery Foundation’s Strategic Mindset Program as a Mentor in 2022, facilitating collaborative knowledge-sharing sessions among women business owners. She has returned to mentor another group of women in the program for 2023. This unique peer mentorship program, presented by WeBC, unites women entrepreneurs all over BC to build their networks in small groups led by experienced women tech leaders. The program uses WeBC’s award-winning Peer Mentoring model, which uses action learning to solve business problems in real time and supports women in growing their businesses.

“The Discovery Foundation Program is amazing because of its unique format. I’ve done a lot of one-on-one mentoring, which has its own value, but opening up a space that allows women from different backgrounds to come together and give each other advice and support provides a diversity of feedback that you can’t find elsewhere.”

Mentor Q&A

Q: What challenges did you encounter on your journey as a business owner and entrepreneur?

A: The consistent theme through all of the businesses I’ve been involved in and something that many entrepreneurs struggle with is the revenue side of the business. If you’re in that business-to-consumer market, then in order to generate revenue you have to have a sizable marketing budget. Likewise, if you’re in a business-to-business market, you need to have the persistence and desire to drive a sales-focused mentality for your business.

Q: What do you feel is your greatest strength in your business?

A:  I’m very comfortable in a sales role, which gives me a lot of stamina in the business development space. In my teenage years, I took on various jobs that allowed me to step out of my comfort zone, like raising funds for my softball team or being a tour guide and speaking to large audiences. That was a great foundation for me to begin developing various skills that allowed me to thrive as an entrepreneur.

Q: Why do you volunteer your time as a Mentor to help less experienced women business owners?

A: Being a founder or CEO of a company can be very lonely. In a lot of cases, there are things that you either don’t want to or can’t share with your staff. Having mentorship in place gives women business owners someone in their corner that listens, provides a safe environment, and allows them to think through their challenges, whether they’re personal or business.

Q: You have returned as a Mentor for this program again this year. What do you like about this specific mentorship program?

A: Leading and facilitating sessions for this program was a tremendous experience. I love its format and supportive environment. Having the group setting allows entrepreneurs coming from different backgrounds to share their unique experiences and perspective. Each week, it was someone else’s turn to talk about their business and the challenges they faced. At the end of the session, that entrepreneur always walked away with some fresh ideas, more clarity, and new resources to explore.

Q: What’s the biggest lesson you have learned while being in business for yourself?

A: Being an entrepreneur is an emotional rollercoaster. In the beginning, things are new and exciting, you have an idea and a plan to get to where you want to be, but eventually you hit a wall. You realize that building a business is hard and that’s why it’s so important to have support structures in place. Whether it’s  a business partner, mentor, or a community like WeBC, pull from your support network, continue pursuing what is working well, and don’t get discouraged when you fail! It’s a part of every business journey.

Where to find Bobbi Leach

Website

LinkedIn

Blog

Contact

Connect with a Peer Group for your business journey

Would you like to connect with other women business owners, as Miki did? You have options!

• Apply now for Discovery Foundation’s Strategic Mindset Program, delivered by WeBC, for tech-focused and tech-enabled businesses
• Learn more about the WeBC Peer Mentorship program and join the waitlist to be notified of upcoming intakes

The post Bobbi Leach, Strategy that delivers growth, Victoria appeared first on WeBC.

Coming from a tech and data science background, Cassandra pivoted toward a career in health when she witnessed her mother and sisters’ journey through their breast cancer diagnosis.

“It was the painful process of going through the experience of having to find clinical trial options and treatments that were available that shaped my career path into this space. My team and I knew there had to be a better way to find out about clinical trials, and more importantly, how to enroll in them.”

Since launching in 2019, they have helped thousands of patients, doctors and caregivers connect with clinical trials and Heal Mary has taken home several awards, including an Ideator Award from Arthritis Society Canada this spring.

Giving Back as a Mentor for Discovery Foundation’s Strategic Mindset Program

Cassandra joined Discovery Foundation’s Strategic Mindset Program as a Mentor after being referred to it by fellow women business owners she met through WeBC. This unique Peer Mentorship program unites women entrepreneurs all over BC to build their networks in small groups led by experienced women tech leaders. The program uses WeBC’s award-winning Peer Mentoring Model™, which uses action learning to solve business problems in real time and supports women in growing their businesses.

“I got started with the Discovery Foundation program because I really like its unique peer group format. You have a set agenda every time you go in, but each entrepreneur brings their own perspective. It really opens your mind up to similarities as well as differences that women face across different industries and provides insights on how to solve them.”

Mentor Q&A

Q: What challenges did you encounter on your own journey as a business owner?

A: One thing we realized over time is that we are much more effective at supporting patients at the community level rather than supporting them individually. Getting feedback from patients really helped us develop our tool in a way that maximizes our impact on the community.

Q: What do you feel is your greatest strength in your business?

A:  I think my greatest skill that I bring to the table has always been building really good teams. I’ve participated in a lot of hackathons, so building teams on the fly and knowing what to look for to be able to develop a product within a really short time frame has always been my specialty. I know how to find people that have the skills, mindset, and passion required for a project’s success.

Q: What has been your experience as a Mentor in the Discovery Foundation mentorship Program?

A: Personally, I love this program because of how it differs from other programs that are out there. The format is really unique and offers a combination of perspectives that you can’t find elsewhere. Every session has a particular agenda, so you know what to expect, but each entrepreneur that participates brings their own challenges and their own lens to the table. The knowledge and insights shared come from a large variety of areas, which opens your mind up to similarities, but also differences across industries.

Q: Have you had a mentor who provided guidance in your own life and business?

A: I’m very lucky to say that I have someone in my life right now who not only is a personal mentor, but an advisor to our company. Having someone with that level of insight, wisdom and caring not only about my business’ success but about my personal growth is an immense source of support. I don’t have the words to describe how valuable it is to receive guidance from someone who has your best interest in mind; there’s nothing like it.

Q: What’s the biggest lesson you have learned while being in business for yourself?

A: One lesson that sticks out for me is: don’t be afraid to ask for help. Sometimes we get into our heads and wait until a certain point in time before we reach out for help. It’s important to remind ourselves that we are being supported, that we do have networks of people who would love to help, they just don’t know that you need it until you ask. Don’t be afraid to ask!

Where to find Heal Mary

Website

LinkedIn

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Apply now to join Discovery Foundation’s Strategic Mindset Program for 2023

Are you a woman entrepreneur in the first five years of business who operates in the tech sector, uses technology as a significant part of the business (such as an eCommerce site), or creates innovative products, services or processes? Apply to join the 2023 program to receive mentorship from Cassandra or other tech leaders and connect with women around BC. Only 32 spots available! Learn more or apply >>>

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“Fearing a new opportunity or decision is only an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and grow. Do the thing you want to do. Jump into the unknown and trust yourself! In my opinion the risk of failure is much better than a lifetime of regret.”

Chickpeace is a zero-waste refill store located in Kelowna that opened its doors in June 2020. Their mission is to reduce single-use plastics from the environment and to empower consumers to make sustainable choices. Chickpeace is currently a team of six.

Before launching her second business, Allisha took some time to volunteer as a Mentor with WeBC. She was matched with Stephanie and Joanna from Umami Crave the Fifth, supporting the launch of their family business. 

“The startup phase is always an exciting time. I love that energy and the creativity that comes to life in that process. I was excited when the opportunity presented itself to support other up-and-coming business women in that stage.”

Mentor Q&A

Q. Why did you choose entrepreneurship?

A. I wanted to be an entrepreneur so that I could lead a business that had a meaningful impact on our community but also have the flexibility and freedom so I could be present for my family. 

Prior to MotherLove, I was a Project Manager for GreenStep Solutions. I completed my graduate studies at UBCO focusing on sustainable communities so I knew that when I decided to start my next business I would want to merge my passion for sustainability and entrepreneurship. That’s how Chickpeace came to life.

Q. How has your business changed since you opened it?

A. Mostly, it’s the same, although we have learned from our mistakes and grown in so many ways. Our values haven’t changed but the ways in which we share these values with our community are much more expansive than I ever thought was possible.

Not only are we supporting individuals on their sustainability journey, but we are also supporting small businesses through our community kitchen, composting program and more. 

Q. What do you feel is your greatest strength in your business? 

A. My greatest strengths are being goal driven and compassionate. I always have a to-do list (or many) on the go. I am constantly on the hunt to be or do better personally and in business. As for being compassionate, I try not to be judgmental and know that our life experiences are all different and that is what makes us come to our own unique decisions and viewpoints.

Q. What’s the biggest lesson you have learned while being in business for yourself?  

A. My biggest lesson while in business is to give me grace and welcome mistakes/failures because they are all opportunities for learning and doing better in the future.

“If I had to pick one thing that stuck out to me the most from my mentor’s guidance, it is leading with love. I find that women business owners lead differently. There is more emphasis on finding a common ground and bonding. I’m so thankful that I got to be a part of WeBC’s Mentorship program and pass on what has been such a valuable compass for me.”

Where to find Chickpeace Zero Waste Refillery

www.ChickpeacePlanet.com

Instagram – @ChickpeaceZeroWaste

Facebook – Chickpeace Kelowna

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Kris has been running her business, Kris McCleary Consulting, a boutique management consultancy and Professional Executive Coaching practice, for 10 years. She creates custom solutions to help leaders achieve results to move themselves and their organizations forward, and she helps leaders transform themselves to perform at their best.

Since starting her business, Kris has completed professional training in Executive and Team coaching at Royal Roads University, earning her Certified Executive Coach (CEC) and Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credentials. In addition, Kris shares her expertise and hard-won insights with students at Thompson Rivers University, where she teaches Project Management and Consulting in the Master of Business Administration program.

Mentor Q&A

Q. What inspired you to start your business? 

A. As I worked with clients on projects, I realized that most organizations need to define the direction they’d like to take the organization in (strategy and vision) and get people and teams involved to reach their goals (change and transformation). As I continued to work with clients, I also realized that I could have the biggest impact by partnering with my clients to help them determine where to go, and how best to lead themselves and their teams to the desired future.

Q. What’s your biggest strength? 

A. My biggest strength is my ability to understand client needs, and help clients achieve their goals, whether it is identifying the direction for their organization, helping them lead projects, facilitating change or helping them and their teams grow as leaders.

Q. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt as an entrepreneur? 

A. The biggest lesson I’ve learned being in business for myself is that to borrow a phrase from Hillary Clinton, it takes a village to establish and grow a successful business. There are many people who are interested in, and willing to help you, so make sure to seek out and accept advice.

Q. Do you have any advice for other women who are following your path?

A. My one piece of advice for women entrepreneurs would be to find support and guidance from others that have walked your path before you. Guidance and support through mentorship are key success factors for establishing and growing a successful business. I believe that the best way to grow a business is to grow the woman leading the business and help her be successful.

Q.  How have you used your experience to help other women entrepreneurs? 

A. I teach the Taking the Stage® program and lead Peer Mentoring programs for women entrepreneurs through WeBC and mentor women entrepreneurs through The Forum. I also use my teaching skills to facilitate skill development workshops for WeBC. I support WeBC and other organizations that support women entrepreneurs with my time and expertise because I believe in supporting women entrepreneurs and have experienced the impact of their programs firsthand.

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“SHINE is more than just competitions (hosted all over BC); our holistic approach to dance education provides you with opportunities to develop and practice skills for life”

Tamara Thompson Levi grew up dancing, and began her professional and performing career straight out of high school. She performed for Alberta Ballet, Calvin Klein, MAC Cosmetics, New Balance, and Festival Cruise Line. Tamara has also appeared in numerous movies, music videos and the multi-award-winning dance film ‘Black Angels.’

Seventeen years ago, Tamara stepped away from performing, and into teaching… and as a result, she changed the dance world. 

Tamara is the creator and the creative force behind SHINE Dance Festival. 

“SHINE turns the superficial and polarizing atmosphere that surrounds many student dance events into a holistic experience that recognizes much more than just great dancing.” 

SHINE continues to expand its client base across BC, bridging communities and promoting a healthy dance culture for young dancers, dance instructors, and families. Tamara’s vision for SHINE thrived during the pandemic. Despite the challenges, her work to unite studio owners and competition directors from across Western Canada resulted in creating a meaningful virtual competition experience that continued to bring dancers, teachers, and families together.

Tamara has learned much about herself and what she believes over the last 17 years. Her greatest strength as a woman entrepreneur is easy to articulate. Tamara describes her approach as ‘the personal touch.’ She creates strong relationships with everyone involved with SHINE and provides opportunities for everyone involved in her events to SHINE. 

Tamara has volunteered as a mentor in WeBC’s Mentoring Program for several years as a way to share, educate and help other women create goals that are attainable, using creative solutions to solve problems. Her advice for new entrepreneurs?

“Be brave enough to follow your calling, and use creativity to help chart your path forward.”

As she continues to grow her business across the province, Tamara believes that it is possible to build a business that balances financial success with personal values. If you’re parenting a young dancer, you may have already met Tamara. If you simply love dance, join Tamara in honouring each individual’s personal journey through dance by attending a SHINE festival in your community. 

Where to find Shine Dance Festival

www.ShineDanceFestival.com

Facebook: Shine Dance Festival

Instagram: @shinedancefestival 

YouTube: Shine Dance Festival

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The Makehouse is a sewing studio and retail store offering sewing and textile workshops and a unique collection of fabric, pattern and notions featuring small Canadian businesses. Jenny has built strong relationships within the sewing community of Victoria and partnered with many local organizations including The Royal BC Museum, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, and The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.

Jenny scaled her business with two business loans provided by WeBC. She invested in her retail store and website, hired staff and even purchased a vehicle for the business. Jenny experienced a major increase in sales in the year after receiving the loans, so she feels the money was well spent!

“WeBC also provided me with a Business Advisor who has been a tremendous help and support. I am a huge WeBC supporter.”

Jenny describes herself as “a very resilient person and a great task juggler! My brain keeps delivering ideas and my soul has the strength and determination to see them through! Besides patience and resilience, I have also learned how important family support is for business success.”

One lesson that Jenny learned on her entrepreneurial journey was: “almost EVERYTHING takes longer than you planned! Give yourself a break sometimes.”

Jenny has now sold the business to make a new life in a different province. Jenny will still be in the sewing business but in a different way.

After 10 years of change and growth, Jenny worked with her team on a co-op model that would allow some of her staff, along with a few community members, to purchase the business collectively.

Jenny’s new focus is on exiting her business with the same enthusiasm and passion that she started with.

Jenny is working with her WeBC Business Advisor to finish her entrepreneurial journey strong!

Where to find The Makehouse

www.themakehouse.ca

Instagram: @themakehousecoop

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VIV Coaching is a Metro Vancouver-based executive coaching business that serves small to medium-sized businesses and helps them thrive in today’s ever-changing world. 

Prior to starting her business, Sara was a management executive and consultant for two decades. She worked across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and helped organizations develop global markets in both corporate and non-profit settings. She has worked in multiple fields from Oil & Gas, steel, real estate development, architecture, renewable energy, and sustainable development, to fashion, art, culture, and the Olympics. 

“I want to share my global experience and expertise to help others thrive.”

Sara saw a niche market and decided to devote her time, and energy, using her years of experience working all over the world, to change the way that leaders and entrepreneurs worked with coaches. 

Two years later, Sara has four staff members who work with executives and entrepreneurs who are frustrated or overwhelmed and who need guidance to manage change while also continuing to grow.

Client Q&A

Q: What’s the biggest lesson you have learned on your entrepreneurial journey?

You don’t have to get it perfect; you just have to get it going! There is no right or wrong. Take it as your learning journey. We make different choices and get different results or consequences. 

I replace the words “right” or “wrong” with “beneficial” or “non-beneficial”. Whether the result is beneficial or non-beneficial, there is always a lesson to learn, so we improve and move forward. 

After all, success is really about making baby steps, making a small achievement on top of a small achievement, on top of a small achievement. 

Q: How has your community played a role in your business’ success? 

I didn’t really have a sense of community before the pandemic started, as I was so overwhelmed with my work overseas and my constant travel. The pandemic caused me to focus on my local community and I even started watching local news!

I began to reach out to the community for support and to offer help to others. My community inspired me and made me feel less isolated during such a difficult time.

Q: How do you give back to your community? 

My mission is to build a kinder world where nature and our humanity thrive together. I like being involved in philanthropic projects particularly in building green cities, supporting children’s education, and promoting cultural inclusion through the arts. 

I worked on the “City of Tomorrow” Initiative in 2007, which promoted cultural inclusion through the 2008 Olympics, and the development of education for underprivileged and marginalized children in developing countries. 

Q: What do you feel is your greatest strength? 

My ability to think strategically! I like to keep an open mind, be flexible and be curious of changes and uncertainty. I’m also extremely good at handling crises and unexpected situations. 

Q: What inspired you to volunteer your time as a mentor in the WeBC Mentoring program?

I think the pandemic left all of us feeling quite helpless. I saw many entrepreneurs who were worried and confused and struggling to survive. I wanted to use my experience to help in some way so I reached out to WeBC. 

I have been inspired by each of my mentees and would like to thank them all! Their progress and breakthroughs are the magic light that has me waking up each morning energized and excited to face a new day. 

I also worked with women in the IGNITE Program and have learned from so many amazing women who are making a powerful impact in our community and all over the world.

Q: How has a mentor provided guidance in your life or influenced your business?

Oh, that was a very long time ago when I worked in the oil industry. One of the senior advisors told me that the most important thing to remember was to do business responsibly and to always keep those in need close to your heart. 

That advice has been my North Star, guiding me through careers in oil & gas, renewable energy, and sustainable development, right up to the present day in my work as an entrepreneur coaching and supporting others in their impact-driven business journey!

Q: If you could give one piece of advice based on what you have learned/experienced, what would it be?  

Don’t hesitate to reach out for support! There are so many resources out there, you just need to reach out!

https://vivcoaching.ca/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/vivcoaching/

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