Please join me in welcoming Andrea Sesum, founder and former CEO of Ontario College of Business & Technology, Co-Founder of HER Digital Academy and founder of Women in Entrepreneurship. Andrea Sesum is an expert in the business of education, and on a mission to create world-class learning experiences that help women. Over the course of her career, Andrea has combined her passion for higher education, innovation, and diversity & inclusion. Now recognized as a global leader in these areas, Andrea is a regular keynote speaker, and winner of City of Toronto’s Access, Equity & Human Rights Award (2015), CSPN’s Leader in Diversity & Inclusion (Year), and Nominee for RBC’s Canadian Woman of Influence (Year)In this podcast, Andrea discussed how do business leaders and aspiring women entrepreneurs bounce back from uncertainty and start businesses under challenging circumstances and shared her advice to women entrepreneurs running their business smoothly during these tough times.

Sustainability and protecting natural resources are central to the Company's purposeFlow Water Inc. is a premium spring water company with a diversified line of wellness-oriented beverage products sold online and at retailers throughout North AmericaPlease join me in welcoming Nicholas Reichenbach, Founder and CEO of Flow Alkaline Spring Water​, a seasoned executive & serial start-up, investor and consumer product entrepreneur, Nicholas has built a robust track record, founding, creating, and building multiple businesses in the consumer goods, social media, internet/mobile technology, entertainment and hospitality space. He founded flow with a vision and purpose to inspire the wellness of the world with the power of water. In 2015, he saw an opportunity to utilize the abundant, beautiful water from his family's artesian spring in South Bruce County, Ontario, and inspire change toward more mindful consumption.Recent years have seen a slow but significant turn away from plastics due to the awareness of its negative impact spreading amongst the general public. While the reduction of plastic bag usage has been holding the spotlight, plastic bottles play just as big of a role in this global situation.In this podcast, Nicholas discussed how Flow Water is addressing the global plastic problem, what initiatives has he put in place to ensure the environmental aspect and why does he believe it’s important for entrepreneurs to be innovators.

One of the biggest challenges new companies face is how to grow their customer base without overloading their servers. Everyone wants a million subscribers. But not every new company has the computing power to handle that much traffic.We chatted with Eric Gales, Country Manager for Amazon Web Services (AWS) Canada to learn how Eric brings a wealth of expertise, advising small, medium-sized, and large businesses on how to transform their business with technology including the latest cloud and machine learning innovations. Eric infuses customer obsession in all AWS Canada operations including business development, sales, partner alliances, marketing, solutions architecture, customer support, and technical skills development.Eric was instrumental in launching AWS’s first Cloud Region, in Montreal, in 2016, allowing customers to host data locally. Since then, Eric has played a pivotal role in helping Canadian businesses adapt and respond to Canada’s changing landscape.In this podcast, Eric discusses how AWS is supporting small businesses in Canada? The main benefits of using cloud computing and what the specific programs or incentives AWS has placed to help small businesses weather the storm of pandemic

Today’s marketplace is hyper-competitive, and big businesses armed with data, apps, and other technologies are tough to compete with.Please join me in welcoming Tony Chapman, Keynote Speaker, Moderator, Media Personality and the host of chatter that matters. In this podcast, Tony shares his advice to small business owners on how to build a competitive advantage, and fight back competition.Tony built two internationally renowned communications agencies and co-founded a research firm. Eight years ago he sold his remaining interests to speak his mind and host conferences around the world. In 2019, he launched a new platform Chatter that Matters. He draws upon his three decades of experience as a consumer expert and business strategist, helping multi-national and entrepreneurial organizations build profitable go-to-market campaigns. His intent is to help everyday Canadians and small business owners get to where they need and deserve to go. 

Despite new and complex challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) continues to work with other government departments and the importing community to facilitate the entry of COVID-19 vaccines and personal protective equipment (PPE) and to further advance measures to make legitimate and essential cross-border travel and trade processing more secure and efficient.Discover what the CBSA has implemented during the pandemic, what initiatives are they taking to harness technology and accelerate the implementation of innovative solutions, with our exclusive chat with, Fred Gaspar, the Director-General responsible for the Commercial Program Directorate, Commercial and Trade Branch, of the Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA).

Just because your business is considered “small” or “medium” sized, it doesn’t mean you need less from your technology than “big” businesses. In fact, you probably need more. You need more support, more efficiency and more flexibility precisely because your business isn’t big. That’s why Lenovo has created Small Business Solutions.Please join me in welcoming Colin McIsaac, Executive & General Manager at Lenovo Canada. Where Colin shares information on some of the future projects or initiatives that Lenovo has planned that can benefit small and medium-sized business ownersColin’s 23 years of experience spans multiple roles, opportunities, and experiences in the technology business. He has held numerous key leadership positions in both Canada and the US at both Lenovo and IBM. He is passionate about driving broad market engagement and has a strong desire to help enable the customer journey to successful business outcomes.At CES® 2021 Lenovo unveiled its vision to redefine meaningful innovation in technologies, Lenovo is predicting that the next decade will be defined by smarter technology for all,In this podcast, learn more about  Colin’s thoughts on this vision and when it comes to running small and medium-sized businesses through advancing technology, what is the number one benefit for entrepreneurs using the Lenovo brand

FUTURE PROOF your brand with PURPOSE and a PLAN says, Peter S. Drummond, Co-Founder of PSD+G Strategy Group & 32 DegreesAs Principal and co-founder at PSD+G Strategy Group Peter have devoted 30 years to helping his clients achieve business success. With his wisdom, wit and creativity, partnered with a keen desire to understand their DNA and core strategic challenge, Peter has earned a loyal following among big brands, start-ups and not-for-profits. His passion is building purpose-driven brands, especially those with social impact.In this podcast, we discussed how he perceives the changes that have happened since the pandemic arrived and in his perspective how did these changes affect the small businesses here? He also shared his advice on how can business leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs bounce back from uncertainty and start businesses under challenging circumstances

 "Small businesses can eliminate manual data entry with Sage AutoEntry, an innovative solution that automates the extraction and processing of receipts, bills, invoices, expenses and statements and uploads them directly into the cloud"Learn how Nancy Tichbon is passionate about helping entrepreneurs realize their dreams by empowering them with the tools needed to thrive in today’s challenging business climate. She brings over 20 years of visionary leadership to her role, nurturing key relationships that drive exceptional experiences for Sage colleagues, partners and customers.In this podcast, we discussed how Sage Canada could help entrepreneurs with the TaxCycle Integration and advise how businesses can move forward through these challenging times

Welcome to CanadianSME small business podcast, today we are chatting with Robert Gaureau.Robert Gauvreau is an award-winning CPA and founding partner of Gauvreau & Associates CPA who specializes in helping entrepreneurs grow, scale and turns a profit. With upwards of 500 clients including businesses recognized on Fortune 500 and Growth 500 in North America, Robert’s firm not only provides advisory, accounting and taxation services but also helps entrepreneurs find financial success and generate significant wealth.Observing the hectic situation in the world right now it’s important for businesses to really stay on top of the measures that governments are taking in regard to tax deadlines and reliefs.In this podcast, Robert shared his tips on accounting and we discussed how important is it for small businesses to be aware of any risk ahead?

The statistics have shown retail settings to be a low source of COVID infection: approximately 0.25% of cases (or about 1-in-every 400 cases). As The Voice of Retail, Retail Council of Canada (RCC) is here to help retailers navigate through this crisis.Learn how RCC is advocating a support plan for safe recovery and reopening in Ontario with our chat with Diane J. Brisebois, president and CEO of Canada's Retail Council.In this episode, we discussed some of the initiatives the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) has put in place to help small businesses during these challenging times, some of the challenges Diane has seen retailers face during the pandemic as well as and her advice to small business owners to help them return to the new normal.

“Being a woman entrepreneur in Canada came with some significant challenges and barriers” says Nancy Wilson, CEO and Founder of the Canadian Women's Chamber of Commerce. The first (and only) Chamber of Commerce in Canada that represents the unique and diverse voices of women-identified entrepreneurs and business owners.Learn more about the real tools and resources available for growth and valuable connections that are useful for women entrepreneurs, Nancy's advice to women entrepreneurs and how you can be a member of CanWCC.In this episode of the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, we will discuss some of the challenges and barriers in Canada that women entrepreneurs face and how the Canadian Women's Chamber of Commerce is helping.

CEO and founder of Nerds On Site Inc, Charlie Regan, is ready to take on the world. Through his expertise,  dedication, and years of experience in the tech industry, Charlie has made the company one of Canada’s highest IT solutions company.  Understanding that the technology industry is evolving at an increasingly fast rate, Charlie brings an innovative approach with his team to ensure that clients are getting the best IT solutions in the market. Learn more about how Nerds On Site specializes in providing cost-effective, leading-edge solutions to Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME), serving as the complete SME IT solution specialists.In this episode of CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, we discussed cybersecurity for small businesses, how business leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs can bounce back from uncertainty, start businesses under challenging circumstances and advise small business owners.

Whether businesses have pivoted successfully or are still struggling, most still have a short-term focus and remain largely reactive. What’s needed now is to take a breath, look over the horizon into 2021 and plan for what’s possible in the next year, even in the face of large uncertainty.Want to go from overwhelm to 8 figure exits, from having groups of workers to high functioning teams and from stagnant revenues to doubling income? Learn all about it from Warren Coughlin, a business coach, consultant, trainer and facilitator, who has worked with ethical entrepreneurs and mission-driven organizations to help them build businesses that mater. In this episode, we discussed how small businesses could better adapt to the changing times ahead. Three phases are essential for every entrepreneur to know and how businesses can effectively implement the strategic plan.

Entrepreneurial Resilience during challenging timesCanadianSME small business magazine had a chat with Danish Yusuf, an entrepreneur based out of Toronto. In this podcast, we discussed what motivated Dinesh to start his company Zensurance, where he draws his motivation and inspiration to continue to move forward, and how retailers can better protect their business during these challenging times.Danish Yusuf is the Founder and CEO of Zensurance, a Toronto-based technology company revolutionizing the property and casualty insurance space. After completing his degree in Engineering at the University of Toronto, Danish went on to Harvard Business School, where he graduated in 2009. Before starting Zensurance, Danish was a leader in McKinsey & Company’s Digital Financial Services practice, focusing on both Insurance and Banking clients. During this time, he realized how underserved small business owners were by these larger insurers, and how often they were left as an afterthought as big business was prioritized.  Danish founded Zensurance in 2016 to provide a unique, modern and affordable solution to small businesses and help bring the latest technology innovations to the industry. Zensurance works with leading Canadian companies to change the way small businesses manage all their insurance needs.   

Discover what the power of technology can do to enable small businesses to succeed during the COVID-19 Pandemic through this episode where we chatted with Garrick Tiplady, Managing Director at Facebook Canada.Garrick is a global business leader with twenty years of experience managing and advising businesses at innovative, mission-driven companies.In this episode, we discussed some of the initiatives that Facebook Canada has put in place to help small businesses, Garrick’s thoughts on how entrepreneurs should bounce back from uncertainty as well as consumer trends that businesses can apply to their 2021 roadmap.

In the past 20 years, the Black Community in Canada has doubled in size  – and as our community continues to grow, so does our contribution to the Canadian economy. We recently had the chance to with Andrea Barret, President of the Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce.Andrea has been with the Chamber since its inception and is responsible for leading a team that contributes to creating and supporting Black-owned businesses across the country.In this podcast, we are discussing how Andria perceived the changes that happened since the pandemic arrived, the initiatives that the Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce has put in place to help small businesses during these challenging times, and also her suggestions on how black business leaders and aspiring black entrepreneurs can bounce back from uncertainty and start businesses under challenging circumstances.

Welcome to CanadianSME small business podcast, today we are chatting with Paul Roman from Amex Bank of Canada.Paul Roman is Vice President & General Manager of Global Commercial Services Canada at Amex Bank of Canada. Paul is responsible for the strategic direction, management and growth of a market-leading portfolio of business clients and prospects that spans the small business, middle market, and global multi-national segments. He leads a national team of 250+ employees who are focused on all aspects of the B2B payments space – from Card programs to integrated working capital management solutions.In this podcast, we discussed the challenging obstacles for small businesses in Canada, his thoughts on how American Express supports working capital and cash flow solutions for businesses of all sizes across Canada, and his key advice to small business owners regarding adapting to the new normal.

Welcome to the second episode of Canada Business Talks, presented by our exclusive banking partner RBCUp-close & personal interaction with Jean-François Gagné, Founder and CEO - Element AIEntrepreneurs are, by nature, influential individuals who are capable of great things. To maintain that greatness, an entrepreneur must be able to withstand any difficulties their organization may face. That is why any entrepreneur needs to have resilience during challenging times and be the lifeline that employees can support.With the spread of COVID-19, entrepreneurs are facing unprecedented challenges. There is no doubt that many of our businesses and economies will get worse before they get better. It’s essential to learn how to self-manage and make critical business decisions during these times.In today’s episode, Jean-François Gagné, Founder and CEO - Element AI will discuss how you can revive your business during unpredictable times. This interactive session will teach you how to make better business decisions and build entrepreneurial resilience internally and externally. It will also give you the knowledge on how to be socially responsible, build better brand awareness, and address employees and customers. And adapt to the changing landscape as the economy reopens.

We are living in unprecedented times, and small businesses in Canada are feeling the impact. We at CanadianSME want to make sure small businesses are equipped with the right knowledge and tools and are prepared for the new normal.Recently we had a chance to chat with Tabatha BULL, President and CEO, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business.Tabatha is Anishinaabe and a proud member of Nipissing First Nation near North Bay, Ontario. She is the President & CEO of Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business working with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal businesses to help strengthen a prosperous Indigenous economy and Canadian market. Also, a member of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce board, Tabatha is committed to working with members to improve business competitiveness across all industry sectors. Prior to her current role as CEO, Tabatha joined CCAB in the fall of 2018 as Chief Operating Officer.Tabatha, an electrical engineer from the University of Waterloo, led the First Nations and Métis Relations team at the IESO, Ontario’s electricity system operator. Supporting and advising Canada’s energy sector, academics and organizations to ensure a collaborative approach with Indigenous leaders, communities, heads of industry and government, Tabatha sits as a member on both the Positive Energy Advisory Council and the C.D. Howe Institute’s Energy Policy program.The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) positions Aboriginal business at the focal point for strengthening Aboriginal communities, promoting progressive and prosperous relationships, and growing a new economy based on mutual respect and shared prosperity.CCAB provides an array of business development offerings, including certification for Aboriginal-owned businesses (CAB) and companies with Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR). TFAB (Tools and Financing for Aboriginal Business) connects Aboriginal entrepreneurs with tools, training and networks to strengthen and scale their businesses.CCAB builds bridges between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples, businesses, and communities through diverse programming, providing tools, training, network building, major business awards, and national events.Today we are discussing the changes that happened since the pandemic arrive, some of the initiatives that the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business has put in place to help small businesses during these challenging times challenges that Aboriginal Businesses will face post-COVID and her advice to entrepreneurs.

Today we are chatting with Darrell Schuurman,Co-Founder and CEO of the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of CommerceAs a Co-Founder and CEO of CGLCC, Darell Schuurman has been committed to CGLCC's mission since 2003. He is a former Managing Partner at DNA Marketing group and has a background in business, sales and marketing. He is the Co-Founder of Travel Gay Canada.In this podcast, we discussed the challenging obstacles for LGBT-owned businesses in Canada to overcome this pandemic, his thoughts on Diversity and inclusion, how to create a thriving and inclusive Canadian economy and also his key advice to LGBT+  entrepreneurs  during these challenging timesFor more information, please visit: www.cglcc.ca

Futurpreneur Canada recently announced the launch of the RBC Rock My Business Start-Up Awards, eight awards of $10,000 each given annually to diverse, young, aspiring entrepreneurs who participate in Futurpreneur’s newly expanded, three-part digital workshop series Rock My Business, and then develop and submit a completed business plan and cash flow statement.Starting in 2017, the quarterly Rock My Business workshop series has been funded by RBC Foundation, in support of RBC Future Launch (the bank’s $500 million commitment to empower Canadian youth for the jobs of tomorrow). Since then, it has equipped more than 1,800 young, aspiring entrepreneurs from across Canada with the skills, confidence and knowledge needed to launch a business, enabling them to work toward developing a launch-ready business plan and realistic cash flow statement, guided by Futurpreneur’s expert business advisors.At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Futurpreneur pivoted to continue supporting aspiring entrepreneurs by reworking the in-person workshops into a digital offering, allowing for greater national participation.To apply for an RBC Rock My Business Start-Up Award, participants who attend both the Rock My Business Plan and Rock My Cash Flow workshops before the end of March 2021 will need to prepare, refine and submit their completed business plans and cash flow statements by the end of May 2021. The winners will be announced in June 2021.To know more about Rock My Business Series, we had a chat  with  Karen Greve Young, CEO of Futurpreneur Canada.Karen Greve Young is the Chief Executive Officer of Futurpreneur Canada, Canada’s only national organization dedicated to supporting young entrepreneurs. Futurpreneur’s unique model combines funding, mentorship and start-up programs to fuel the success of thousands of young entrepreneurs in every Canadian province and territory.Karen is an accomplished non-profit leader dedicated to fostering inclusive economic and social prosperity through new approaches and partnerships.Prior to joining Futurpreneur in 2018, Karen was the Vice President, Corporate Development & Partnerships at MaRS Discovery District, a global innovation hub based in Toronto. During her seven-year tenure, Karen led corporate strategy development, implementation and measurement, managed a global network of innovation partners and oversaw community engagement including marketing, communications and events.

CanadianSME has a chance to chat with Hon. Minister Victor Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, and Chair of Cabinet.  Hon.Victor Fedeli is a lifelong entrepreneur, successful business person, author, and philanthropist, serving in the Ontario government as Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, and Chair of Cabinet.His business experience led his firm Fedeli Corporation to be ranked 34th in the Top 50 Best Places to Work in Canada in 1989. It also served him well, when he was elected to two terms as Mayor of North Bay from 2003 to 2010. As Mayor, Vic focused on fiscal prudence and economic development, restoring hope and solvency to North Bay.We discussed the challenging obstacles for small businesses in Canada, programs and resources that the government implemented to help SMEs keep afloat during the current crisis and also his key advice to small business owners during these challenging times.

There are many ways Canadians can help stop the spread of COVID-19, but as demand for safe and effective PPE continues to increase, the need to produce and supply medical-grade PPE domestically is critical in the fight against the virus.To address this gap, recently, CSA Group announced the opening of Canada’s first accredited, special-purpose laboratory dedicated to testing and certifying the safety of medical-grade PPE, including masks, filtering facepiece respirators, medical gloves, protective drapes and apparel such as surgical and isolation gowns, intended for use across Canada. Manufacturers have been increasing production for these crucial supplies during the pandemic to meet the high levels of demand to protect Canadians who are immunocompromised and on the front lines facing COVID-19 every day. With CSA’s facility, businesses can feel secure purchasing CSA certified PPE for their workforce and have greater access to these crucial supplies domestically.Recently we sat down with Dana Parmenter, Commercial Vice President, IndustrialDana Parmenter was appointed Commercial Vice President, Industrial on June 1st, 2016.  In this role, Mr. Parmenter is responsible for leading and developing CSA Group’s global commercial market sector strategies, and anticipating industry and market developments and activities.  He is accountable for determining strategic business opportunities for the Industrial business and developing effective sales and marketing plans that reflect customer needs.Prior to this role, Mr. Parmenter was the Global Business Unit leader for the Hazardous Locations (Hazloc) & Photovoltaics business segments at CSA Group where he was responsible for developing and implementing a global strategy. Mr. Parmenter has also served as Managing Director for CSA Group in the United Kingdom, heading up the Sira group of companies, acquired by CSA in 2009.  His extensive experience includes implementing initiatives for integration, procurements, accreditation, key account management, strategy, alignment and efficiency in both sales and operational capacities.

Recently OVHcloud Start-Up Program Opens Up To Scaleups For Its 2020 EditionAfter a successful 4 years effectively supporting over 2000 startups around the world, the newly named "OVHcloud Startup Program" relaunches in 2020 and marks the start of an improved program. Startups who join the 1-year program will receive specific tech support and credits on OVHcloud products right from the get-go. Together with a strong ecosystem of business partners, the OVHcloud startup Program provides reliability and security to innovative businesses, helping you facilitate exponential, and international growthWith a strong presence in Canada since 2011, OVHcloud is a global and the leading European cloud provider operating 400,000 servers in its own 30 data centres in 4 continents.We had the opportunity to chat with Malgorzata Ratajska-Grandin.Małgorzata Ratajska-Grandin is a Global Leader at OVHcloud Startup Program. Previous to this role Małgosia held the position of President of Carrots Foundation, an international non-profit organization whose main mission is to attract women to the tech sector. She co-founded a mobile health startup Yagram Health. In 2017 she was rewarded with the title Innovator under 35by MIT Technology Review for the mobile app dedicated to mums-to-be. She received her M.A. in Political Sciences from Warsaw University, she studied at Sciences Po Paris and received a French Government fellowship for her second Master at Université Panthéon-Sorbonne. In 2018 was nominated for the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program for Women Leaders in STEAM, in which she represented Poland. Małgosia is a mother of two wonderful girls Zofia and Julia.

Hi everyone, this is Sheliza Yacoob from CanadianSME business magazine, please join me in welcoming, Anne Genge CEO of Alexio Corporation, Alexio is Canada's Cyber Risk Solution for Healthcare & Small BusinessAnne is 2020 CDM 'Most Innovative Woman in Cybersecurity'. She is a Certified Information Privacy Professional with a specialization in healthcare. She also holds certifications for HIPAA Security and PCI Compliance. With over 20 years of experience, Anne knows the challenges healthcare providers face with technology. She and her team at Alexio Corporation work with small businesses and healthcare professionals to minimize data risk and keep business systems running smoothly.Alexio is also sponsoring this year's Excellence in Data Privacy & Security award,Data privacy & security are not just legal requirements, enacting them ensures business success and sustainability. The Excellence in Data Privacy & Security Award is given to the company that has proven that data privacy & security are a top priority.Businesses who demonstrate that they have a formal privacy officer, have written policies in place, implement proper network security measures, and invest in security awareness training will be considered for this award, and is the main factor judges will refer to when it comes to choosing the winner.Small Businesses of all industries (who are not IT or security companies) are eligible under this category.Please visit www.smeawards.ca to apply now.

Royal Bank of Canada, last week announced the results of Canada United, a nationwide movement to support Canada’s local and small businesses during COVID-19. The movement featured more than 70 corporate brands, the national network of the Canadian Chambers of Commerce, and Canadian business associations who rallied together in support of Canada’s small and local businesses. Cities across the country also did their part, with 44 municipalities making official proclamations in honor of the Canada United Weekend, which took place August 28 - 30.The Canada United movement, with the support of the Federal Government, also raised more than $14 million for the Canada United Small Business Relief Fund. The fund will provide thousands of eligible small businesses with grants of up to $5,000 to cover expenses related to personal protective equipment (PPE), renovations to accommodate re-opening guidelines and developing or improving e-commerce capabilities.To know more about Canada United Movement, please join me in welcoming Lori Darlington, Vice President, Small Business and Strategic Partnerships, RBC. Small business owners who are interested in the program can visit GoCanadaUnited.ca to learn more about the grant and eligibility criteria.Lastly, as businesses continue to respond to the uncertainty caused by COVID-19, there are a number of RBC resources available that can help clients prepare for the new normal. To learn more, business owners are encouraged to explore RBC’s Small Business Navigator hub online at www.rbcroyalbank.com/business/small-business-navigator/index.html

Hi Everyone, this is Sheliza Yacoob from CanadiaSME Small Business Magazine, please join me in welcoming Anna Sinclair – a mom of 2 boys under 4 – who started an initiative for moms who own small businesses and have been impacted by COVID who deserve the chance to keep going. She started the company The Total Mom Inc. in 2017 after she wasn't getting the support she needed as a working mom which led her to produce The Total Mom Show which was the first-ever large-scale holistic festival for moms. After having to cancel 3 major events this spring which was her company's bread and butter, she spent day and night since April with 2 small children trying to attract business development centers, banks, and brands to support her in the mission of turning a business competition into something more! The Total Mom Pitch is a competition that aims to support entrepreneurship among moms. We believe that a community of women who stand together, succeed together and that is why we are connecting successful female leaders with ambitious moms. Pitch your business for a chance to win a $10,000 cash prize along with $20,000 in business services, including mentorship from A-List Coaches and Entrepreneurs! The Pitch allows moms across Canada who own a small business to participate and connect with other entrepreneurs during the competition and beyond while receiving expert feedback. The initiative recently got the attention and support of Scotiabank Women’s Initiative and Visa Canada “She’s Next” which is huge for any small business to get. If a small-town mom can do something like this, thousands of Canadian moms can get online and make it happen too! Canadian moms can apply from now to the Deadline: November 12, 2020 Apply online ttmp.thetotalmomshow.ca The finale is on March 15th, 2021 which will bring together students, small business owners, executives, and business ecosystems to help us all get back on track.

CanadianSME small business magazine has always encouraged and supported women entrepreneurship. It is our goal and mission to support and promote women entrepreneurs across Canada. Today, we had a chat with our businesswoman of the month, Cara Hirsch, Founder of Hirsch + Associates, and discussed the opportunities and challenges women entrepreneurs face. The 31-year-old Winnipeg native started her namesake real estate consulting company, Hirsch + Associates, in January 2019 afterleaving Milborne Group, where she worked for 9 years before deciding to venture off on her own. With over 10 years ofexperience in the Toronto market, she has sold 7,800 units and has launched 30+ successful projects to date, from inception all the way until they are built. As a real estate investor herself (she began buying a property at just 24-years-old), it only seemed fitting that she take the next step in her career and start her own firm.In an industry that is slow to change, largely male-dominated, and saturated with companies that have been passed downgenerationally, it can be daunting to start your own business. However, it has proved to be a successful decision as Hirsch +Associates impressively launched two large developments just shy of 1,000 units, selling just under $1 billion in revenue in their first year.

We had the opportunity to chat with Patrick Diab, Chief Product Officer, Moneris on their new initiative to help small businesses to move online easier, Moneris Online. Moneris Online allows small businesses to use Bookmark’s Artificial Intelligence Design Assistant (AiDA) to build a personalized, fully functional website in a matter of minutes. To complete the e-commerce site, Moneris Checkout and fraud protection tools like Moneris Kount and 3-D Secure are integrated into the shopping cart to enable quick and secure payments. “In today’s economy, helping small businesses start with an online store or taking their business online is critical to their livelihood,” said Patrick Diab, Chief Product Officer, Moneris. “Our ability to provide merchants with an e-commerce package that they can easily and quickly put to use is a testament to our commitment to help Canadian small businesses succeed.” In January, Moneris announced its investment in, and partnership with, Bookmark to deliver online business solutions. Moneris Online is the first major integration between the two companies.

Miki Velemirovich, President of Cargo, had a chat with Honourable Mary Ng Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion, and International Trade, and discussed export promotion, women entrepreneurship.

In this episode, we chatted with Chris Fabes, Canadian Channel Leader for Lenovo North America, and discussed about the products Lenovo offers to small business owners to work efficiently, also his thoughts on how the global pandemic is inspiring new innovations in the tech industry.About Chris Fabes;Big picture and out of the box thinker with a hunger for constant learning, customer experience, and true focus on people being the best asset and most valuable currency. He is a bilingual, results-oriented leader with over 14 years of working practice in customer experience, sales and marketing.Curiosity fuels his passion and giving without expectations are at his core which transcends business and enters the way he deals with relationships and investment in others. Hustle and grit are two ingredients that make up his hunger for always pushing boundaries and creating new paths, welcoming bold and free-thinking. He’s a millennial, bucks expectations by being a leader with ink, and can be heard expressing his interests of basketball, great beer, music, and memorable experiences.Chris lives in Montreal with his wife, two daughters, and a couple furry tail-wagging friends.

Recently we  had the opportunity to chat with  Lindsay Nahmiache, CEO of Jive PR + Digital.Recognized as one of the 100 Most Powerful Women by the Financial Post, an Enterprising Women of the Year, Top 40 Under 40, PROFIT: Top Female Entrepreneurs, and ambassador to UN for Women's Entrepreneurship, Lindsay helps companies create financial and social impact in the brand and entertainment industries.As co-founder and CEO of Jive PR + Digital, an award-winning public relations agency in Los Angeles, Vancouver and Toronto, Lindsay and her team are known for using creative storytelling to get people's attention and turn them into loyal customers.An ambitious entrepreneur, Lindsay returned to North America to start Jive after six years working abroad for E! Entertainment in London, UK and Contiloe Films in Mumbai, India.We discussed challenges and opportunities for women entrepreneurs, diversity and inclusion in today's world and social media for small businesses.

TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN ESSENTIAL IN HELPING CANADIAN BUSINESSES ADAPT AND THRIVE, IN ORDER TO STAY COMPETITIVE DURING THESE TIMES AND CONTINUE SERVING THEIR CUSTOMERS.*Salesforce Canada and Maru/Blue Omnibus Data - June 10-25, 2020● 83% of businesses agree that technology has allowed their business to quickly pivot and adapt in today’s business environment● Six in 10 businesses who were prepared to reopen felt ready to do so because they were able to use technology to quickly pivot● When asked about future shopping behaviours, if stores were to fully reopen tomorrow:○ A third (33%) of Canadians say they would shop in-store, no problem○ 30% of Canadians say they would split their shopping between in-store and online○ 17% of Canadians say they would only shop in-store for necessary products and services that are not available onlineCanadianSME small business magazine had the opportunity to chat with Vala Afshar, Chief Digital Evangelist at SalesforceVala Afshar is an award-winning inventor and sought after expert in digital business transformation, digital marketing and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and virtual reality. As Chief Digital Evangelist at Salesforce, Vala collaborates with C-suite executives, industry analysts and thought leaders from around the world on opportunities for digital change. He’s also been recognized as the top influencer to CMOs on Twitter by Fortune Magazine.Today we discussed the general business trends right now, tech challenges for small businesses and how to overcome those challenges, how Salesforce is helping businesses in embracing technology  in their journey to the new normal and his advice to entrepreneurs during these challenging times. 

Today we had the chance to chat with Anne De Aragon the Vice President and Country Manager for GoDaddy CanadaAnne De Aragon is the Vice President and Country Manager for GoDaddy Canada, the company that empowers everyday entrepreneurs. In this role, she is responsible for all GoDaddy operations in Canada, leading the charge on business strategy and growth in Canada. Anne De Aragon joined GoDaddy in 2015 bringing her expertise of the small business and entrepreneurial landscape in Canada to the team. Throughout her tenure at GoDaddy, she has worked closely with Canadian SMBs to understand their needs to help them reap the benefits of having an online presence. Anne has also been a driving force behind GoDaddy’s partnership with the Toronto Raptors for the past three years, resulting in some of the most successful branding campaigns in the company’s history.  In this episode, we discussed how GoDaddy Canada helped and helping Canadian small business owners during Covid-19, why an online presence is a must for small businesses and she also shares her thoughts on the recent survey by GoDaddy survey that was commissioned by Logit Group. 

Today, we have TARA HUNT, CEO + PARTNER, TRULY INCTara is a digital marketing "native" (meaning she’s been working in digital since 1992, not that she’s a millennial) with over 19 years of experience, the author of one of the first books on how the social web is changing business and a professional public speaker. She has also created and executed proven digital and social strategies across multiple industries.She not only talks the talk of building community and creating content online, she also walks the walk. She is a LinkedIN Influencer, followed by almost 200,000 people. Her Slideshare presentations have been viewed over 2.5 million times. She is in the top 5% of Twitter users worldwide with over 52,000 followers.She is one of the most respected and cited thought leaders in audience development — how to understand the audience, what delights them, what they will respond to, and where/when/how to reach them. She combines a data-centric with a human-centric approach to building an audience, leaning heavily on insights into consumer patterns and behaviors while keeping an eye on online trends and changing expectations.Today we are discussing marketing strategies for small businesses during the crisis, her recent launch of Phlywheel: The New DIY Marketing Platform for SMBs Who Need Agency Expertise at Fraction of the Price and also women entrepreneurship.

Today we are with Colin McIsaac, Executive & General Manager at Lenovo CanadaAs Lenovo’s General  Manager of Canada, Colin is responsible for sales, operations, culture, strategy and customer satisfaction of the region. He has overall P&L responsibility for Commercial, SMB and Consumer products through all major routes to market. Colin’s 23 years of experience spans multiple roles, opportunities, and experiences in the technology business. He has held numerous key leadership positions in both Canada and the US at both Lenovo and IBM. He is passionate about driving broad market engagement and has a strong desire to help enable the customer journey to successful business outcomes. Colin has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto, Canada and sits on the Board of the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) and First Robotics Canada.Today we are discussing technology for small businesses, his thoughts on Future of Work,  How Lenovo is helping small businesses during these challenging times and his advice to small business owners to adapt to the new normal.

Hello Everone, this is Sheliza from CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, please join me in welcoming Nicholas Reichenbach, Founder, and CEO of Flow Alkaline Spring Water. Nicholas Reichenbach, 42, is the founder and CEO of Flow Water, an Ontario-based company that packages alkaline spring water in eco-friendly Tetra Paks in Aurora, Ont. A seasoned executive & serial start-up, investor and consumer product entrepreneur, Nicholas has built a robust track record, founding, creating and building multiple businesses in the consumer goods, social media, internet/mobile technology, entertainment and hospitality space; Flow ( a socially responsible water company), Mindfull INC (an organic Food & Beverage company), Rabbit (a leading social video chat platform venture-backed by Google Ventures, CrunchFund and other leading VCs). Today we are talking about entrepreneurship, resilience and also discusses his recent launch and inspiration behind Collagen

Please join me in welcoming Nunzio Presta. Nunzio Presta is an ex pro hockey player turned entrepreneur! He is also the Founder & CEO of BizON, an online marketplace with over 10,000 active users looking to buy, sell and grow businesses or franchises every day. Nunzio is equipped with a wealth of knowledge when it comes to identifying, building and funding businesses – in addition to being a thought leader on social selling, digital marketing, leadership & entrepreneurship through acquisition. He sits on the board of multiple startups and is part of Startup Canada’s Entrepreneur Success Advisory Council. Today we are talking on buying or selling a business in these challenging times, entrepreneurship Top 25 Business Brokers in Canada report and his advice to small business owners.

Hello everyone, this is Sheliza from CanadianSMe Small Business Magazine, please join me in welcoming Miki Velemirovich, president of Cargo.Today we are discussing how big brands can get connected to small businesses during these challenging times and help them in their journey of surviving, reviving and thriving.Miki Velemirovich is the President of Cargo, a full-service marketing and advertising agency that specializes in helping big brands market to small businesses. Cargo is an expert in the Business to Small Business space coining the term B2SB Marketing®. Prior to joining Cargo, Miki spent 20 years with big brands like IBM and Mercedes-Benz, in a variety of sales and marketing roles so he knows how to build strategies that drive results and move the needle. And this same experience enables him to understand the pain points of big brands trying to market to small businesses: while leading marketing for the commercial vehicle division of Mercedes-Benz, he spent countless hours understanding the motivations, behaviours and the drivers of small business owners in order to reach them more successfully. Now, his quest persists – to continue to build the Business to Small Business Expertise and help big brands be more successful in reaching this highly emotional target. 

Today we are talking to Perrin Beatty, President and CEO, Canadian Chamber. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Salesforce recently announced 62 businesses received the $10,000.00 grant from the Canadian Business Resilience Network Small Business Relief Fund. More than 1100 small businesses across Canada applied to the relief fund. The recipients best demonstrated their financial strain, how the business will use the grant to change or innovate, how the change or innovation will sustain the business’s recovery and allow it to prosper, and how the grant will support the role each business plays in their community. The fund was managed by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and made possible through the generosity of Salesforce. The funding was designed to help small businesses across the country stay afloat and support their recovery efforts, paying salaries, retrofitting their workplaces and acquiring technology to adapt their business model. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce helps build the businesses that support our families, our communities and our country.

Born and raised in Montreal with an East Indian heritage, Priya Chopra is the founder and CEO of 1Milk2Sugars, a thriving public relations agency specializing in influencer marketing, social media and media relations. Priya launched 1Milk2Sugars in 2012 and expanded its footprint within a year, making it one of Montreal’s only boutique agencies to penetrate the national media hub of Toronto. During that same period, Priya helmed the creation of 1Milk2Sugars’ social media division, giving her team first-mover advantage in the now-critical digital space. In this episode, Priya discussed women entrepreneurship, diversity and inclusion, and how to establish your brand purpose.

CanadianSME had the opportunity to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on Small Businesses with Dan Kelly, he also discussed the initiatives CFIB has implemented to help small businesses reopen smoothly.

CanadianSME had the opportunity to chat with David Smith and David Town, from Virtual Leadership Matters, they are offering a COMPLIMENTARY Virtual Interactive 1-hour Learning Session where you can Gain powerful insights from expert professionals ready to help you successfully navigate the unknowns of managing virtual teams in order to maintain and enhance Productivity.

CanadianSME had a chat with Steve McLellan, CEO of Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce and discussed how the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce is helping Saskatchewan businesses to adapt to the new normal.

CanadianSME had the opportunity to chat with Rocco Rossi, President & CEO of Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC).