CanadianSME Small Business Magazine - January 2023 Edition

SMALL BUSINESS EXPO 2023

Conference

Shadi McIsaac, CEO and Co-Founder of Ownr

We want to extend a warm welcome as we embark on this new year with the launch of our first issue. This month, you'll find abundant resources and insights from Canada's top business professionals who aim to guide entrepreneurs in succeeding with their small businesses Allow CanadianSME Small Business Magazine to show you how creativity paired with sound business strategies can lead your venture toward long-term growth!

Ring in the New Year with exciting insights and a special message from over 50 of Canada's top entrepreneurs and business professionals, such as Paul Gaspar, Director, Small Business, UPS; Mary Peterson, Vice President, Enterprise Business Division, Samsung Electronics; Faye Pang, Country Manager, Canada at Xero Canada, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, and Chair of Cabinet, Victor Fedeli; Rob Shewchuk, SMB Segment Lead at Microsoft Canada and many more Dive into our exclusive CanadianSME Small Business Magazine publication to gain valuable strategies to help you flourish this year This issue will also feature Business Woman of the Month and business trends to help your business thrive. Learn “Five Email Marketing Tips for 2023”, an exclusive article by Hank Hoffmeier - Sr. Manager of Marketing and Operations at iContact; and 5 Tricks and Tips for Landing the Right Customers by Thryv. Also, don’t miss out on our exclusive interviews that include, “The makeup and motivations of Canadian small business owners” with Shadi McIsaac; “How to create your business’ marketing plan, CMO breaks it down” with Julia Fitzgerald and “Ways to Secure Funding for Your Small Business” with Avi Bernstein

The CanadianSME Business Awards is designed to recognize and applaud small business owners' contributions to Canada’s economy. We want to assist and recognize the business owners who work hard to make their small businesses succeed since the SME sector is important to Canada's economy. Our nominations for the annual CanadianSME National Business Awards 2022 presented by Google Canada have opened. We are delighted to continue to serve the business community and bring recognition to be small and mediumsized businesses across the country Follow us on our social media channels for more information

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Workplace Wellness Trends to Look for in 2023

Laura Putnam is a leading voice for well-being at work, an international public speaker and author of Workplace Wellness That Works As CEO of Motion Infusion and creator of the leadership training program Managers on the Move, she infuses well-being and vitality into the workplace to help employees, teams and organizations thrive To read Laura’s latest work and to receive her monthly newsletter, click here

Laura Putnam CEO and Founder, Motion Infusion

Over the past 12 months, the working world has been flipped upside down From starting the year with strict social distancing measures still in place, to ending the year by reassuring employees it is safe to return to work, 2022 has been a year of dramatic changes.

Heading into 2023, many of the workplace changes that started this year will gain momentum and become the new normal Below is a list of the top five workplace wellness trends to expect in 2023 What has become exceedingly clear is that employees will no longer settle for check-the-box wellness solutions Rather, they’re demanding solutions that call for organizational restructuring, strong leadership commitment and well-being as a way of doing business

Hybrid Work Will Be Here to Stay

Starting in 2020, the pandemic ushered in a new way of working for the modern-day office worker Technology companies like Yelp went from being businesses that were rooted in a downtown culture to businesses where employees could work from anywhere A Gallup study conducted in June of 2022 found hybrid work increased 2022 from 42% in February to 46% in June While working remotely, or at a minimum, working in a hybrid environment, appeared to be a short-term solution to get us through the worst of the pandemic, it is evident that it is now here to stay

This pandemic-induced opportunity to work in a more fluid environment has unwittingly revealed the human need for autonomy It’s clear that all of us are hardwired to need flexibility in terms of where we work, how we work and when we work With a tight labour market, employers will need to yield to this deep-seated psychological need, allowing their workforce to continue to work under this flexible arrangement or risk the ability to attract and retain employees A recent study conducted by YouGov and Microsoft shows that 51% of workers surveyed stated that they would leave if their employer took away the hybrid option

The Rise of the Four-Day Work Week

Just as employees demanded control over where they worked in 2022, a growing swell of employees are demanding more control when they work Don’t be surprised if many companies introduce a four-day workweek next year to remain competitive in this red-hot labour market

The good news is that the four-day workweek is likely a winwin for both employers and employees A recent global pilot program involving more than 900 employees and 33 employers found that workers reported increased levels of engagement and improved mental health when working a four-day schedule.

With rates of burnout, depression and anxiety at record levels, many employees will expect their employers to make employee mental well-being a priority next year A recent report from Indeed found that 52% of all workers are feeling burned out, which represents a 9% increase from a preCOVID survey

Emboldened by a favourable labour market, employees are expecting their workplaces to take meaningful action, which includes fostering an environment in which there is the freedom to feel and express a range of emotions, according to a 2022 Deloitte report The old-school adage that we should “check our emotions when we come to work” no longer holds true, especially as we move into 2023

Workplace

Wellness

To meet the moment, employers will need to go beyond providing the traditional formula of identifying individuals at risk and providing them with individual resources, such as employee assistance programs or access to apps like Calm or Headspace Instead, organizations and their leaders will need to radically rethink how they can create a supportive work environment that fosters mental well-being. This will call for leaders at all levels to take a proactive role in openly speaking about their mental health to destigmatize the topic while examining structural issues that lead to employee burnout and other mental health issues

Next year, leaders will need to be ready to have more open conversations about mental health, as a recent Monster com survey found that 91% of generation Z employees reported they want to be able to freely discuss mental-health topics with their colleagues and managers Newton Cheng, Director of Health and Performance at Google, is an emerging role model for other leaders to follow in publicly sharing his personal struggles with mental health and the measures he has taken to address these issues (which included taking a leave of absence)

The Labor Movement Will Grow

Employees will continue to use their leverage to create stronger unions across many different sectors In 2022, the labour surge began to yield big victories, such as the union campaigns at Amazon and hundreds of Starbucks stores across the country Petitions to file union elections shot up nearly 60%, and public approval of unions hit its highest point in half a century This will likely lead to more protests, picket lines and walkouts and force employers to provide employees with a greater say in their future The recent push for unionization in some sectors, particularly among employees working in frontline positions, as well as the Great Resignation’ and ‘quiet quitting’ phenomena, are similar manifestations of a drive toward improved work-life balance Whether unionized or not, employees are voting with their feet –and employers are left with no choice but to respond.

Well-Being Is a Shared Responsibility

CEOs are recognizing that employee well-being needs to be a strategic priority As recently shared by Francis deSouza, CEO of Illumina, at a recent CEO roundtable hosted by Fortune and Salesforce, “Employee wellness is imperative It is one of the criteria that people use to choose a job and whether or not to stay at a job or not ”

Alongside this rise in awareness of the importance of well-being at work, leaders also recognize that true well-being is a shared responsibility Heading into 2023, more companies will begin to recognize that the over-reliance on individual responsibility and accountability cannot withstand the effects of structural barriers to well-being, such as work overload, toxicity in the workplace, perceptions of unfairness and lack of inclusion. Simply put, the only way forward is together

A key player in the execution of well-being as a shared responsibility is the middle manager Whether or not well-being is part of the job description, every manager is uniquely positioned to either promote or undermine their team members’ level of well-being Longstanding Gallup research shows that the manager alone likely accounts for up to 70% of the variance of their team members’ engagement with well-being, and our own published data indicates that every manager can create a positive trickle-down effect with well-being when they model well-being, talk about it and create team-based systems that foster well-being Being an effective leader means incorporating well-being into their leadership style

You need a game plan for your business travel and this is why

As we begin to see new trends in travel technology embrace AI and deliver better user experience, many SMEs are seeking the right tech to manage their companys travel in-house But where does service come in when you need it? How can you marry amazing tech with expert service to make sure you ’ ve got the best solution for your travel management?

There’s beauty in balance. And that’s where Corporate Traveller comes in. We believe with the right software, a solid plan, and the support of expert travel consultants, business travel can be unstoppable!

If you ’ ve found yourself having more questions than answers about your travel program, then you ’ re probably in need of an overhaul, and it’s time for a game plan

Why have a business travel game plan?

Whether you ’ re managing your travel in-house or working with a TMC that caters more to large enterprise companies, you might be wondering if you ’ ve got the most efficient solution Creating a plan for your business (and its travel) is invaluable and builds the foundation for a successful program

In sports, a game plan lays out what to do when obstacles get in your way. In business, it’s no different. Simply put, having a game plan can save you a world of headaches

Business travel notoriously has its hiccups From cancellations and delays to last-minute changes and ever-evolving entry restrictions, these speedbumps can cause a business travel plan to come to a crashing halt Add to that – if you have clients or prospects counting on you to meet them, there are relationships at stake

The good news is that investing the bandwidth to make a plan, along with the help of dedicated travel experts and powerful travel tech, you can start seeing improvements almost immediately. Your business’ travel doesn't have to be overwhelming, and even more importantly, it doesn’t have to put added pressure on your in-house resources

Why do businesses need a Travel Management Company?

In short, the right travel management companies (TMCs) should make your life easier A TMC like Corporate Traveller can suggest innovative solutions around expensing and payment systems, online booking tools, traveller profile management, and reporting Our travel management style is designed to streamline processes and drive cost savings, all while exceeding your service expectations

Getting started with a business travel game plan

When evaluating the state of your travel program, we recommend starting with these simple questions:

Can I quickly access my annual corporate travel spend?

Can I easily get the data I need to have full visibility of my travel program?

Does my travel program balance control and flexibility in the best way for my company?

If you ’ re answering “ no ” to any of these questions, we recommend downloading the Business Travel Game Plan This interactive playbook will take you through every aspect of business travel and walk you through how to get the most out of your program From travel policy to sustainability, and everything in between, you’ll be able to paint a perfect picture of what you want your travel program to look like and start maximizing on value and savings!

Ready to get planning?

Our travel experts ensure compliance with relevant regulations in international markets, making sure your team stays up to date with the latest travel restrictions and requirements Plus, our 24/7 emergency support means your travellers are never left stranded outside of business hours

If savings and value top your list of priorities, we’ll deliver that too. Our excellent partnerships with air and land suppliers means you’ll be able to access more options and better flexibility, saving you money on lost credits, restrictive fares, and more

The cherry on top? Our platform Melon makes travel planning, reporting, and management simple Its user-friendly interface is backed by a powerhouse software that is exclusive to Corporate Traveller You can incorporate your travel policy, pull almost any report you could dream of, and keep track of where your people are with a few easy clicks Plus, your travellers can download an easy-to-use app that makes getting in touch with a travel expert, staying on top of their itineraries, and a whole lot more, a breeze, no matter where in the world they are.

Fancy a demo? Let's go!

Shadi McIsaac

CEO and Co-Founder of Ownr

We had the privilege of speaking with Ownr's CEO and co-founder, Shadi McIsaac She discussed her views on the ideal age for starting a business, the factors that motivate many Canadian business owners to start their own enterprises, some potential solutions to the issues of cash flow, inflation, and economic instability, and the tactics to strengthen small businesses Ownr recently published a survey on the traits of Canadian small business owners and the reasons why they decide to become entrepreneurs

As the CEO and Co-Founder of Ownr, Shadi has seen firsthand the value of entrepreneurship for Canadians to shape their lives, and that lowering the barriers to entrepreneurship is essential for the Canadian economy, community, and identity. Throughout her career, Shadi has sought to empower aspiring and existing entrepreneurs by equipping them with the tools they need to focus on what’s most important whether that be scaling their business or finding solutions to today’s global challenges

The makeup and motivations of Canadian small business owners

When did you start your career? How has your journey been as the Co-Founder & CEO of Ownr, a platform that offers a simple and convenient way to register or incorporate, as well as other tools to help entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses?

From a young age, I watched immigrant parents shape their lives in Canada as small business owners, so I deeply understand the importance of entrepreneurship in providing independence and financial freedom Now, as the CEO and CoFounder of Ownr, I continue to see entrepreneurship shaping the lives of Canadians and how lowering its barriers is essential for our economy, community and identity Especially with what we ’ ve seen in the past year, with the job market and the rising cost of living, we want to show people that small business ownership is not only a viable career path but an amazing opportunity to create financial independence

What are your thoughts on Ownr's recently published survey on the characteristics of Canadian small business owners and the reasons why they decide to become entrepreneurs?

From our survey, we saw that the number one reason for Canadians to start their own business was to gain more purpose in life (27 4%), and surprisingly, 29 4 percent stated that financial factors did not motivate them to start their business. While the majority (59.9%) hope their small business will provide for themselves or their dependents, it’s not always the main motivator. With these results, we see that Canadians are continuing to choose entrepreneurship because it gives them long-term fulfillment, and we ’ re so proud to support them in finding and accomplishing their purpose

What is your perspective regarding the ideal age for starting a business, considering that the majority of Canadian business owners wish they had done it sooner?

What’s so exciting about entrepreneurship is that there truly is no ideal age The survey revealed that the top two stages of life are when Canadians start their business when they are in a full-time career (45 1%) or as young kids (20 9%) So for some, entrepreneurship has been a life-long goal While for others, it’s something they only started considering once they were in a traditional 9-5, and perhaps they realized it wasn’t the right path for them

Instead, the biggest consideration seems to be the cost of starting a business Over half (51 3%) of respondents listed getting enough money to start the business as one of the top three challenges they had to overcome at the beginning of their journey That’s why we recently lowered our sole proprietorship registration fees from $89 to $49 one of the lowest registration fees in Canada – to help make getting started easier

There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but there are always ways to help Ownr is doing our part by making entrepreneurship accessible and affordable – providing low-cost options to register your business and day-to-day compliance tools to streamline administrative work

What were the driving factors for many Canadian entrepreneurs to launch their own businesses, according to the survey?

The top three reasons were to gain more purpose in life (27 4%), more flexibility in dayto-day schedule (20.1%) and creative freedom (19.6%). Starting their own business to gain an additional revenue source ranked fourth (18 8%)

Even more, telling is what small business owners are hoping to achieve long-term through entrepreneurship The top five answers were: provide for me and/or dependents to maintain a work-life-balance, and a fulfilling career, create something from the ground-up and make a difference in their community Through this, we see that entrepreneurship is not only for the individual but also creates an opportunity for a positive impact on the wider community

If Canadians are looking for a way to support their local entrepreneurs, we saw that 59 9 percent of small business owners said that the holiday season is crucial, with over 1-in-4 (29%) saying that it’s extremely important to their business So when buying gifts or festive items for the home, please consider supporting the small business owners in your community by shopping locally

Since the majority of them stated that more customers over the holiday season are crucial to their business, what are the strategies to strengthen small businesses that will help them prosper this season?

Throughout the pandemic, we ’ ve seen an influx of e-commerce that is here to stay For small business owners, it’s important for them to build an online presence, even if they have a brick-and-mortar store, as consumers usually shop online first This doesn’t have to be an expensive, complicated website – it can be as simple as taking extra time to build a social media presence via an Instagram profile or even sharing stories about your business on TikTok

What are some potential solutions to the problems of cash flow, inflation, and economic instability that businesses are currently most concerned about?

UNLOCKING THE POWER OF INCLUSIVE WORKPLACES

YOUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN A TIGHTENING LABOUR MARKET

As employers across Canada continue to experience challenges in finding and retaining workers, this is a crucial moment to boldly adopt person-centered solutions for women to thrive in the labour market

As a leader in employment support, training and reskilling programming for women, YWCA Canada has a unique vantage point into how workplaces can adapt to attract and retain women employees For over 150 years, we ’ ve been at the forefront of a movement: to fight gender-based violence, build affordable housing and advocate for workplace equity

YWCA Canada has identified tangible ways employers can build work environments that address the unique barriers women face in employment, through its national research project: Born to Be Bold: Measuring success for women ’ s access to the labour market, funded by the Government of Canada The practices described below provide a pathway for employers to create more inclusive workplaces where everyone can thrive

Adopt

flexible working arrangements

While the COVID-19 pandemic drove the wide adoption of remote work in many workplaces, as we emerge from this crisis, incorporating flexible work is an important step employers can take towards creating a more equitable labour market In the Born to be Bold findings, flexible working arrangements was a top recommendation from research participants 63 1 percent of survey respondents selected “work hours flexibility” as a component of their ideal job Flexibility in working conditions was also mentioned in 52 percent of focus groups and interviews

As one focus group participant stated, “Life doesn't fit into a nine-to-five box.” Flexibility in work hours and location will enable women to access the labour market while balancing other responsibilities such as unpaid care and domestic work caring for elderly family members, and to tend to increased domestic responsibilities during conventional work hours

long-term

It is important to be intentional about how flexible work practices are created and maintained in your organization’s larger culture When not thought through, flexible work can frustrate efforts for wider workplace equity and inclusivity Take a look at YWCA Canada’s Move Forward Employer Resources for help in crafting your flexible work culture

Acknowledge the Value of Lived Experience & International Credentials

Expertise is not purely measured by education or professional experiences, as often required for employment opportunities Accepting or acknowledging lived experience in work recruitment was a need identified by many of the participants YWCA Canada spoke with, particularly amongst mothers, young women, and newcomer women As one participant expressed that for newcomers, it’s as though they are “expected to start at the bottom and be satisfied with any work opportunity” despite any other experiences

Recognizing and evaluating lived experience and/or expertise and experience outside of Canada in recruitment and job advertising can increase various women ’ s access to roles and employment they have traditionally been kept out of.

In addition, supporting newcomer women in accessing accreditation, equivalencies, and presenting non-Canadian work experiences in job applications are actions that can support women with different experiences

In recruitment and hiring processes, assess whether listed qualifications are truly necessary for the job or can be captured by other experiences Creating safe environments where individual contexts can be discussed without fear of losing or not obtaining employment through clear policies and accountability was a common response in asking participants’ needs from an employer

Take Action on Workplace Violence

All employees should have the ability to work in safe and affirming environments Yet, women, especially Black, Indigenous and racialized women, 2SLGBTQ+ women and women with disabilities continue to report experiencing violence at work These experiences of violence lead to turnover, reduced productivity and lack of advancement

To take action, employers can make a commitment to organizational wide learning and clear and responsive processes and policies to meaningfully address violence and protect workers Wondering where to start? Take a look at YWCA Canada’s resources for employers, Catalyst’s extensive work in this area and Right to Be (formerly Hollaback)’s training and resources

Paid training and learning opportunities

To address skills gaps and prepare for the future of work and labour market growth, employers should offer paid training, placement, and learning opportunities for their team members As many participants expressed the need for more training opportunities, they relayed sentiments that if such opportunities were made available through their employers, they would not have to choose between education and training versus survival. Not having to balance financial concerns and burdens while attaining skills will allow more focused and productive employees, ultimately benefiting their employers An important way to make continuous learning accessible and attainable for both employers and employees is embracing micro-credentialling in skill-development

For more information about YWCA Canadas work on building inclusive workplaces, visit www ywcacanada ca/moveforward

Rodney C. Cook,

Vice President, Workplace Health and Safety Services, WSIB

We had the pleasure of speaking with Rodney C Cook, Vice President of Workplace Health and Safety Services, at WSIB, who provided his insights on the WSIB's Health and Safety Excellence program, its elements, prerequisites, and advantages provided to businesses taking part in that program, as well as advice for small businesses looking to raise their health and safety standards.

For more than 20 years, Rod Cook has been a leader in business transformation in both the private and public sectors. In his current role as Vice President of Workplace Health and Safety Services (WHSS) at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), he oversees all aspects of workplace health and safety programs In 2019, Rod led the branding and launch of an innovative, streamlined digital health and safety program in partnership with leaders across Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety System The new Health and Safety Excellence program would allow businesses to customize their health and safety journey and adopt a health and safety culture at their own pace Rod was also appointed to the Prevention Council to provide advice to the Minister and Chief Prevention Officer and represents Ontario on the tripartite Board of Council of Governors at the Council of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.

Unveils The Health and Safety Excellence Program of

WSIB:

A n I n - D e p t h L o o k

Can you tell me about the WSIB's Health and Safety Excellence program? What are the main components of the Health and Safety Excellence program?

In a nutshell, our Health and Safety Excellence program help businesses in Ontario make their workplaces safer while earning rebates on their WSIB premiums

Businesses work with a WSIB-approved health and safety professional, known as a program provider, to develop an action plan to address their unique health and safety needs, from controlling a hazard to emergency preparation and everything in between

Providers can help businesses reduce the risk of injuries and illnesses in their workplace, improve ways to help people get back on the job after a work-related injury or illness, and create a stronger health and safety culture, whether theyre just getting started or building on the safety practices they already have in place.

How can businesses benefit from participating in the Health and Safety Excellence program? What kind of support does WSIB offer businesses that participate in the Health and Safety Excellence program?

First and foremost, the program helps businesses protect their most valuable asset, their people, by reducing the risk of workplace injury and illness We hear from businesses all the time that their team members are like extended family, and ensuring they get home safely each day is priority number one In addition, when businesses make their workplace safer for their team members, morale and productivity can go up

The program also helps businesses boost their bottom line Businesses can typically earn between $1,000 and $50,000 (depending on the premiums they paid in the previous year) in rebates for each health and safety area they address and can tackle up to five different areas at a time And in 2023, smaller businesses with 1 to 99 full-time employees can earn double their rebates, plus receive an additional $1,000 toward their health and safety action plan just for signing up!

What do you think is the most important aspect of health and safety?

Businesses can also earn digital recognition badges they can display on their website, in email signatures and in other marketing materials to demonstrate their commitment to workplace health and safety

Creating a positive workplace health and safety culture is key It’s important to involve team members in making safety improvements, ensure they feel comfortable bringing forward ideas and potential issues, and that they feel that their feedback is heard and acted on. A collaborative approach to health and safety helps boost team morale, promotes buy-in amongst staff, reduces turnover and creates a safer workplace that everyone can be proud of

How does the WSIB decide which companies to enroll in the program? What are the requirements for participating in the Health and Safety Excellence program?

The program is open to any business in Ontario with an active WSIB account No matter what size their business is, what industry they’re in or where they’re at in their health and safety journey, the program can help them make their workplace safer while putting money back in their pocket

Interested businesses can start the enrolment process today, our team is here to help.

Do you have any tips for small businesses that are looking to improve their health and safety standards?

All businesses should look to the data they have available to make decisions about where to focus their health and safety efforts Data comes in many forms, including feedback from team members, inspection reports and information from workers’ compensation boards, such as the WSIB’s Safety Check, which includes statistics for small businesses across Ontario Analyzing data can help businesses identify where to make improvements and where the biggest risks are depending on the nature of their work

Talking to peers and getting involved in industry health and safety associations are also great ways to learn how to improve health and safety in any workplace A business may not have experienced any workplace injuries or illnesses previously, but that doesn’t mean they can’t happen

And, of course, businesses can always enroll in the Health and Safety Excellence program if they need help identifying how best to improve their workplace health and safety!

Canadian Entrepreneurs Leading By Example

Canadian business owners are changing the small business sector, exploring the market's opportunities, and shattering predefined barriers by introducing novel products and services with strategic business plans to increase revenue, foster growth, and promote expansion

Here are 10 Canadian entrepreneurs bringing that change:

Ami Shah

Ami Shah leads Peekapak’s team as their CEO and Co-Founder A graduate of INSEAD in the highly ranked MBA program by the FT, she also holds a BBA from Wilfrid Laurier University Ami is a talented marketing director who began her career at Procter & Gamble, where she developed significant marketing expertise She has also served as director of retail marketing at a start-up in the consumer goods industry.

Ami founded Peekapak, an award-winning socialemotional learning (SEL) software platform, out of her passion for educating young people and her experience working with social enterprise organizations in Vietnam, India, and Canada Peekapak supports schools and districts by empowering teachers, engaging students, and connecting parents to learning For her work with Peekapak, Ami was awarded a Women of Influence award in 2022

Maryam Munaf

Maryam Munaf grew up in Abu Dhabi, learning about dates through her trips to the dates market with her father Later, she graduated with a BSc in Nutrition and Food Technology and worked as a senior nutritionist at a top healthy catering company, where her role focused on healthy recipe development and weight management

In 2013, she moved to Toronto and pursued her dream of developing a successful vegan product line First, she created an online platform for healthy recipes and tips to inspire people to live healthier lives Then, she founded Healthy Genie to prove that a treatment could be healthy, delicious, and chic Their product line was carefully created and developed by Maryam, who believes in eating 'clean '

Tanya Droege

Tanya Droege's interest in natural products was born out of necessity When she got pregnant at 18, she began making soap, shampoo, and toothpaste because she was financially strapped and concerned about the chemicals in products Then, at 19, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and her doctor suggested supplementing her diet with seaweed Seeing the result and seaweed's tremendous health benefits on her road to recovery and her passion for the plant, she wanted to share this knowledge with others

Sealuxe makes a difference in your skin's health by using seaweed in their products They focus on developing allnatural, handmade products that smell amazing, have real benefits, and make you feel fantastic Their products contain wild, sustainable seaweed harvested in British Columbia, Canada and have ethically sourced ingredients and sustainable packaging.

MeditationWorks is passionate about a life well lived They offer virtual mindfulness, meditation, workplace wellness experiences, and a mobile Airstream Mindstream studio It customizes conscious workplace wellness experiences that are right for you and your organization

Lorne Blesse Jr

Traci Shepheard

In July 2019, Traci Shepheard left her corporate job of more than 20 years to start MeditationWorks MINDSTREAM. Canadas first mobile meditation studio aims to positively interrupt people's days by educating them about the advantages of meditation After participating in and working on numerous once-in-alifetime thrills, the idea for a mobile wellness experience, a mental wellness tour, emerged

Traci has personal experience with the priceless advantages of meditation and how it can help with stress management She wanted to create an aspirational, unique, and approachable meditation experience that comes to you

Lorne Blesse Jr had two aspirations as a child growing up in northern Alberta along the great Peace River: to play hockey and to open his own company and be the boss After realizing that he would unlikely play in the NHL, he opted to pursue his other passion of working for himself He has worked for his First Nation as a young Indigenous community member in the Economic Development Department, where he has focused on helping young people launch enterprises It re-ignited his desire to start his own business He wanted to create the life he wanted

Kiwetin Clothing is an Indigenous clothing brand based in northern Alberta Their brand is for everyone who supports Indigenous culture. Through Kiwetin Clothing, he hopes that this clothing line will showcase Indigenous culture positively Mixing aspects of the surrounding landscape creates something uniquely Canadian for all Canadians

Nana Boateng

Nana Boateng Osei is the CEO of Bohten Eyewear, which creates Canadian-made eyewear using reclaimed materials

He is a Carleton University undergraduate who was British-born, Ghanaian-molded, and American-raised, with extensive expertise in the business and advertising fields His journey into entrepreneurship began with planning adventure excursions and limousine evenings between Ottawa and Montreal

His growth and discoveries taught him how to incorporate sustainability into product development, high-tech manufacturing, and consumer goods design Bohten’s state-of-the-art African-inspired eyewear is engineered to optimize the viewing experience while adding an effortless luxury to your gaze Their products successfully meet the industry standard by collaborating with the world’s top brand developers, engineers, and artisans They envision shifting cultural paradigms, optimizing the eyewear experience, and bridging the lineage between our forefathers and future generations.

Liven creates plant-based foods to achieve their full potential in flavor, texture, and cooking experience while assisting alternative protein foods in attaining parity with their animal counterparts regarding nutrients and mouthfeel By going animal-free, they aid in scalable, environmentally-friendly, and cruelty-free protein production to feed the growing population

Angeza Mohammed

Fei Luo

Fei Luo is the CEO and co-founder of Liven, the first precision fermentation protein company in Canada Before Liven, Fei was an environmental consultant, providing sustainable solutions for the resource industry using biotechnology Liven currently produces animalfree collagen ingredients, a unique ingredient offering equal specialty nutrition and functionality as collagen without using animal products In addition, Liven is developing technology to make collagen from plantbased side streams, building a circular economy in the food value chain

Angeza Mohammed is the founder of The Consulting Nest She created The Consulting Nest because she desired something like this five years ago when she started her consulting company She worked in the health system, focusing on population health, public health, health equity, diversity, risk management, integrated risk management, policy, communicable disease, harm reduction, and the overdose crisis

Angeza desires to connect people, mentor them, and encourage everyone to lead a fulfilling life and career while creating the lifestyle they have always dreamed of Hence, she founded The Consulting Nest as a marketplace for knowledge sharing They help you connect with and hire highly qualified and vetted professional consultants in the health, government, research, academic, and non-profit industries to accelerate your initiatives, projects, and programs efficiently

Ryan Benoit Jad Robitaille

Ryan Benoit was born with cerebral palsy. He wanted to create a brand to allow people to be more positive and to help them gain a different perspective on life He wanted to positively impact the general public and thought of no better way than a clothing line He recognizes that a positive mindset can do wonders for an individual This is what he wants to share with his positive clothing line

Positive Inception is built on a foundation of love, creativity, dreams, teamwork, perseverance, and positivity Inception means starting or beginning something in life that requires thinking positively and having positive thoughts and intentions

This inspirational apparel brand aims to inspire people with the amazing things in life, help them develop positive perspectives, and expose them to passion, creativity, and imagination.

Jad Robitaille is an experienced administrator with a track record of accomplishments in the transportation industry She has a master's in environmental studies from Queen's University, focusing on sustainable buildings She is skilled in project management, sustainable development, analytical skills, sustainability, renewable energy, and data analysis, and she is a strong professional in information technology

Mini-Cycle is a resource for parents looking for elegant, comfortable, and durable clothing for their children Their mission is to promote sustainability and reduce the impact of childrens fashion on the environment They execute this in three steps First, buy new, durable, and ecological clothing; second, buy back all clothing purchased from Mini-Cycle at a fair market price; and third, sell or reuse used Mini-Cycle items until they are completely worn and recycled a significant way As a result, a closed-loop cycle (a mini-cycle) will be created in which only sustainable and environmentally responsible children's clothing will be purchased and reused.

The possibilities of entrepreneurship are expanding as more people enter the industry with passion, dreams, a planned strategy, creativity, and determination to succeed Incorporating digital innovations is helping small businesses to ease routine and complex tasks, thereby focusing on areas that require their attention and working towards the success and growth of the organization

Entrepreneurial success stories inspire aspiring business owners to strive for their dreams and success To read more about these success stories, subscribe to CanadianSME Small Business Magazine https://lnkd in/dbqmSKN For the latest updates, visit our Twitter page at @canadian sme

Business Woman of the Month:

Elle AyoubZadeh

Founder, CEO and Creative Director at Zvelle

Charting Her Own Path

Elle AyoubZadeh was born in Iran a few years after the revolution of 1981 and lived in Dubai until she was 13 When her mother realized the limitations of life in the Middle East for girls, they shifted to New Zealand for an open and progressive environment which offered great opportunities

She lived in New Zealand until she got her master's degree in business with a specialization in international marketing in the luxury sector Then, in her quest for new experiences, Elle decided to shift to Australia and began her career in the finance industry with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia's retail division.

After spending two years in Australia, Elle found her next calling when she came across the advertisement line "Good things last longer in Canada" twice So she decided to believe in her gut feeling and took an internal transfer within the global company State Street Asset Managers, where she was working then in Australia

Elle came to Canada in 2007 and worked for her firm until 2010 Then, she decided to take a career shift and enter the world of venture capital and angel investing So she gave up her corporate job and joined Maple Leaf Angels as Assistant Managing Director, one of Ontario's first angel investment groups

All these career journeys led Elle AyoubZadeh to realize her interest in entrepreneurship and to build a company out of her passion for sustainable design and diversity- Zvelle

Creating Empowering Narratives

During her upbringing in different parts of the world, Elle AyoubZadeh was taught to value the things bought and to use them for years She wasn't used to the culture of fast fashion

Hence, she always appreciated unique designs that nobody else had But she always needed help finding shoes or accessories that were well-crafted and didn't cost $1000 It was also when she looked at how fashion portrayed women It was a time when there wasn't much conversation around diversity, and all advertisements represented one particular type of woman

Big companies with a lot of money and smart, talented people behind them created pathetic images of women and represented the wrong way women want to be spoken to, none of which she could relate to

She wanted to do something about all these issues she found problematic in the industry. She realized that her passion was in shoes and built Zvelle as a direct-to-consumer brand, which allows selling the products at a good price point by getting to know their customers, offering them the kind of service they like, and having control of the narrative regarding women

Championing Individuality

Elle AyoubZadeh is the Founder, CEO and Creative Director at Zvelle.

Elle wanted to create a brand that championed individuality that stirred intellect, emotion and creativity She wanted to tell stories through her design Her stories are drawn from her passion for creativity, craftsmanship, culture and life

Before even having a brand of her own, she used to travel to Italy, Spain and Brazil to meet factory owners and learn about crafting shoes She did not speak any of these languages, but craftspeople have their language, which is not always spoken She understood that innately and developed it with time and experience

She trained in shoes and bags on the factory floor, working with factory owners and their modelists and craftspeople She feels most alive in the factories among people creating dreams with their hands

Sustainable Craftsmanship

Zvelle began with a determination to do things differently. The motto "Walk How You Want" comes from Elle's experiences and belief that following the beat of your own heart is more valuable than trying to fit in

They produce in small batches and choose a sustainable approach to production by using existing luxury materials within 100km of their factories It allows them to minimize waste and repurpose their materials There is no sustainability without the human element; humanity is at the heart of everything they do

Luxury craftsmanship is in Zvelle's DNA and is paramount to them They offer intuitive, assured, classic designs expressed in luxury materials and craftsmanship They follow no trends, no seasonal collections, or colours

Their bags are designed by Elle and handcrafted in Italy using the best materials to create exquisite crafts that last.

Their collections are entirely produced in Italy, working closely with established, family-run factories Each factory is handpicked for its unique specialization, local luxury suppliers, and dedication to sustainability

Zvelle designs aspire to be more than just fashion or status symbols; they remind you to walk how you want. Elle AyoubZadeh considers her work an outlet for independence and self-discovery. To know more about her work and brand, visit the website at https://zvelle.com/.

Entrepreneurial journey is a path of learning from your experiences and applying that information to create the brand of your dreams. To read more about such inspiring entrepreneur stories, subscribe to CanadianSME Small Business Magazine https://lnkd.in/dbqmSKN. For the latest updates, visit our Twitter page at @canadian sme.

Hank Hoffmeier Sr. Manager of Marketing and Operations at iContact

Email Marketing

Tips for 2023

The holiday season may be over, but that doesn't mean your email marketing efforts should be! In fact, the post-holiday period is a great time to engage with prospects and customers, keeping them in the know about your brand

Email marketing should absolutely be a staple in your marketing efforts throughout 2023 That’s because it has an average ROI of 3800%, and the average order value is at least three times higher than on social media This makes email the most affordable and effective marketing channel!

Here are five steps to take to plan for success in 2023:

Hank is an author, speaker, podcast host and Sr. Manager of Client Solutions at iContact, a Ziff Davis company. With a passion for all things digital and social, combined with more than 20 years of experience in sales and marketing, he has been dubbed the Digital Marketing Infotainer because he makes marketing fun and successful

Analyze your results

First, analyze the results of your holiday campaign efforts for last year and this year Determine what worked well and what didn’t Use this information to improve your future email campaigns

Next, analyze your open and click-to-open rates, as they will tell you how well your subject lines and CTAs (call-to-actions) worked Review your subject lines, content, and images, as well as your sending frequency

It is also important to analyze your unsubscribe and complaint rates to determine if/when your audience became disengaged with your emails or your brand as a whole Use this information to decide if you need to change something, like your sending frequency, content, or offers

Look for trends in your data such as increases or decreases in opens, clicks, spam complaints, and more It will help paint a picture of your efforts and results so that you can plan for the future

Send frequency

Second, move to a regular schedule for your email campaigns Being consistent without being annoying is key when it comes to keeping your audience engaged You should dial back if you increase your send frequency during the holidays

It is normal to send more emails around the holidays to help increase visibility and sales, but that may not be what your subscribers signed up for and you may unsubscribe or mark your message as spam Give them a break

Even when the holidays are over, the celebration does not need to stop! Other holidays, such as Valentine’s Day and St Patrick's Day will help you and your audience stay in the holiday marketing spirit Maybe sprinkle in some fun lesser known holidays such as National Cookie Day or Give a Hug Day

Need help with crafting email subject lines that will help you crush it in 2023? Look no further than the iContact Ultimate Subject Line Guide It is packed with 501 examples of good (and not-sogood) subject lines based on data from real customers that sent emails using iContact It is broken down by types of emails as well as by industry.

List hygiene

Finally, engage with your subscribers and anyone who has become disengaged Run a win-back campaign to re-engage with subscribers that are no longer interacting with your emails. It’s healthy to clean out those that are too far gone!

Third, use data to segment your audience and send relevant messages at the right time There are many ways to create segments, but here are four main options: 1

Demographic: Age, Gender, Income, Education, Occupation

Psychographic: Lifestyle, Values, Concerns, Personality, Attitudes, AIO (Activity, Interest, Opinion)

Behavioural: Opens and clicks (did or did not) Geographic: Country, City, Density

Once you have your segments, you can use them to send targeted and relevant emails that will help with engagement and increase conversions

Use segmentation Plan ahead

Fourth, create a sending schedule This will help you start off on the right foot and keep your audience interested while ensuring that you always have content for your campaigns!

Speaking of disengaged subscribers, it is important to clean your list of dead weight since it is skewing your metrics and can hurt your email deliverability (getting into the inbox) Identify subscribers that have been in your account for some time, say six months or a year, and perform list hygiene or a win-back campaign for those that have not opened or clicked an email in the same amount of time

Conclusion

There you have it – Five tips for success for your email marketing campaigns in 2023! Wishing you a Happy New Year and continued email marketing success

Make sure to follow iContact on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and check out the iContact blog often for helpful digital marketing articles You can also sign up for our monthly newsletter, which provides you with tips and will allow you to live events and webinars Sign up today

Female Developer, Builder and Manager: Sky McLean

How will

describe

entrepreneurial journey

building a brand from the ground up and expanding from 1 property to 9 properties, and making it to the top of Canada’s maledominated Hotelier industry?

Simply put, the journey is indescribable It is so full of ups and downs, challenges and successes that it is hard to put words to the last five years That being said, having nine properties open and having hundreds of people experience my vision on a daily basis is the most rewarding feeling imaginable Overcoming challenges while growing a team and a brand in various communities has been a priceless experience It has definitely been challenging being in two male-dominated industries, hospitality and real estate, but I did not let that obstacle bring me down In fact, it further motivated me to grow the business and prove to the world that women can do it too. I grew $24,000 to a $500,000,000 company in five years and that is solid proof that it is not only men who can excel in this industry.

Sky McLean

CEO and founder, Basecamp Resorts

We had the chance to speak with Sky McLean, the CEO and founder of Basecamp Resorts, who shared her experience as an entrepreneur with us We also talked about how to find investors strategically, how she turned her passion into a successful business, the value of identifying the target market when starting a business, and her advice to aspiring business owners.

I try to gauge my search for investors towards business owners and entrepreneurs in the local communities where we are growing The appeal of bringing more tourists into these towns is what attracts local business owners and entrepreneurs to invest It is also critical to find investors who share my vision and are passionate about the communities I am building in These factors, coupled with the lucrative nature of the business, have enabled us to attract the right investor profile to expand the business

Canadian entrepreneur Sky McLean is building a hospitality empire with her company Basecamp Resorts. McLean built the modern mountain hospitality brand from the ground up

Born and raised in Ontario, McLean got her MBA in real estate from Schulich School of Business at York University Her appreciation of the outdoors and winter sports led her to move to Calgary after graduation, where she worked with a local developer

you

your

of

How can you strategically find investors who share your dream, considering that investors are essential to the expansion of every business?

How does it feel to incorporate your own passion into your business as a means to put yourself up for success after creating a brand that allows others to enjoy discovering some of Canada's most stunning mountain towns?

Being able to be successful in something that I am so passionate about is incredible People always say, “find a job you love doing and you will never work a day in your life,” and that accurately describes the last five years of my journey Being able to provide people with a “Basecamp” to some of the most beautiful places on earth is an honour and something I hope to continue doing for many years to come

Building a company is a lot of work If I wasn’t passionate about the business model, the locations and the people, I would not be where I am today

However, it is my powers of persuasion and honest approach to business that has enabled the business to grow and succeed when it sometimes felt that I had nothing but roadblocks. When obstacles present themselves, I get to the root of the problem and use my clear communication skills to understand the issue and develop a solution that is concise and clear

What specific advice do you offer for budding business owners who want to convert their passion into a profitable business?

How important is it, in your opinion, to know what the market demands and pay attention to your target clientele when starting a business?

Understanding market demands and clientele is critical to starting a business What’s even more important is staying on top of these market trends and customer demands as time goes on With technology that is evolving ever so quickly, it is key to understand its impacts on business and be able to quickly adapt to ever changing environments

What challenges did you encounter on the road to entrepreneurship? And what powerful techniques did you use to get through those obstacles?

The challenges faced on my entrepreneurial path have been endless From investors committing equity and then changing their mind, to lenders issuing commitments and then pulling them, we have really seen it all Delayed building permits, staff not showing up, trades people lying to our faces are other obstacles that seem to never end.

Take a risk! There is nothing easy about starting a business, but if you never take the leap of faith into the unknown, you will never know what you are capable of It is also important to build a business that one is passionate about It takes a lot of discipline, motivation, and hard work, but it all becomes worth it when you start to see your efforts paying off.

Another piece of advice is to reduce an idea to practice. In my case, I started with one hotel and proved the model before moving on to another one This decreased the risk and allowed me to navigate challenges and avoid making the same mistakes twice Lastly, it helps to focus on your own strengths and find others to fill in the gaps It is important, when the time is right, to build a team full of people who can do certain things better than you That will allow one to divide and conquer and allow an entrepreneur to work their magic

A Small Business Story

How will you describe your journey with over ten years of financial background and experience, including working with RBC as a financial advisor?

I would describe my journey as a bumpy road that has transitioned into a smooth path after all these years Working with RBC provided me with stepping stones of extensive knowledge and laid bricks that transitioned me to where I am today

How did you enter the mortgage sector when mortgages weren't your passion?

And what inspires and motivates you to excel in your field? If you had asked me ten years ago to only focus on becoming a Mortgage Specialist, I would have laughed out loud I dreaded mortgage calls; today, it has become my passion Who would have thought? Something you hate could become something you love once you learn the insides and outsides Do not be afraid to learn; reading and knowledge are valuable

What do you think the key components of successful advertising are?

How do you choose the best solutions for your client? The key attribute for successful advertising, I would say, is to ensure you have the correct client focus. Are you presenting yourself to the right clients that are looking for your assistance? This line of business is not about a sale or a transaction; this is about longevity with clients who have long-term life goals and ambitions just like us I am here to guide you through the process and provide the best advice, I want to be there to celebrate milestones with my clients!

Harveena Dhaliwal

Harveena Dhaliwal, 35 year old Sikh Entrepreneur Woman, born and raised in Mississauga, Ontario. Mother of 2 young children, Boy aged 7, Girl aged 3.

I am a Certified Luxury Home Mortgage Advisor, accredited professional with over 10 years in the financial industry I have built a network of high net worth clients and am known for the variety of talents and skills I have established in my career path Helping people realise their dream of home ownership, it can be incredibly satisfying, but you need to put as much into it as you get out of it

Certified Luxury Home Mortgage Advisor

Being a mother of two young children, what, in your opinion, are the best tips that you would like to give to mother entrepreneurs who battle various difficulties while attempting to advance their careers?

I would say to never give up; times may seem hard in the moment when you may be trying to finish that course or catch up on reading It will get easier, you will overcome the hard times, and the end goal will be unforgettable You will thank yourself for hanging on Some obstacles may come your way, but you need to take time for yourself to grow Ask for extra help, spend quality time with your family and also have time to do what you love most!

What were the challenges that you faced as a woman entrepreneur? How did you overcome those challenges?

I faced some challenges of hardship which naturally came with trying to be the best mother I want to be. Also trying to figure out where I can put time for myself to grow as an individual. However, with development and experience, as well as using the right resources, I was able to take the time to learn and really work on building myself in the areas that needed improvement

I would say it may seem hard at first while trying to build your network and referral sources, but keep your eyes on the prize and do not give up Use social media to your advantage, get yourself out there and become known Feel free to contact me anytime for any questions or advice I would be happy to speak with you!

What professional advice would you want to offer to individuals planning to establish their own mortgage business?

Despite what some believe, not all customers are created equal! While it’s true that any (or most) business is good business, especially for small business owners, there are certain types of customers that stand above the rest.

Aside from the obvious – customers who treat you and your team with kindness and respect, customers who trust and rely upon your expertise, and customers who speak highly of you to others –the ideal customer interacts with and spends money with your business regularly

Not only does this create regular income that your business can rely upon annually or even monthly, but there are also clear benefits to having customers that keep coming back, time and again

Obtaining new customers is an estimated 6-7 times more expensive in both time and money than retaining existing customers – and returning customers, on average, spend 67% more than new ones

With all this in mind, it’s important as a small business to not just land customers but to attract ones that will bring in regular, substantial amounts of business.

5 Tricks and Tips for Landing the Right Customers

Defining the ideal customer profile

The first step in landing the right customers is understanding what the ideal customer looks like for your business

If you work directly with consumers, what kind of consumer will generate the most revenue for your business? Who is likely to interact with or use a variety of your services?

If you work with other businesses, it’s important to consider not only the size of the business but how much of their work they’ll be doing with you Focusing on working with large businesses might be tempting – but if a large business works with several different partners, they may spend less with you than another smaller business that exclusively uses your services.

Additionally, try to seek out customers who work with you regularly and on a predictable schedule This will not only lead to more income over time but will allow you to anticipate what kind of staffing you’ll need throughout the year (or during busy seasons) and help you project your growth more accurately

Get (and keep) customer attention

Small businesses don’t have the brand recognition of larger corporations – so increasing brand awareness and staying at the top of your customer’s minds can take a little extra effort

Increase marketing efforts by sending email blasts, regularly posting to social media channels, and quickly and regularly following up with any new leads you may have Keep in constant communication with potential and existing customers through both personalized and mass communications.

This will remind them of your services and keep you at the top of their minds if and when a need for a service you provide arises

For a small business with a limited staff, it can be difficult to dedicate a great deal of time and attention to this kind of customer outreach Utilize business software to automate as many of these tasks as possible and to set up reminders for more personalized communications

Follow up, again and again

Sometimes the simplest advice is the best advice When you get a new lead, follow up And don’t be afraid to follow up again, and again, and again

It’s easy to get discouraged when a new customer seems eager to get started on a project before going radio silent or when emails to existing customers go ignored You may think they’ve suddenly changed their minds about working with your team, but the real reason is often much simpler – they’ve been busy, and the project, while still one they want to complete, is no longer an urgent priority

Follow up with new clients regularly You may feel like you ’ re annoying them, but they’ll likely appreciate the reminder

For existing customers, don’t be afraid to leverage your knowledge of their business needs to offer additional services they may not know you have or may not have considered using before

Leverage existing customers Streamline the customer process

Customers are most likely to continue working with you if they have a positive experience – and part of having a positive experience has an easy experience

No matter how good the final product was or how well the service was rendered, if making payments is a headache or finding answers to a simple question is a long, complicated process, a customer may not be eager to work with your business again

Make sure to implement a streamlined process to collect payments, including automated payment reminders Make answers to common questions readily available, and make it easy for customers to get in contact with your team when they do need assistance, whether it be through an online chat or a customer service phone line

Business software can also aid you in many of these tasks, allowing you to make the customer experience easy and intuitive without taking valuable time away from the work your team needs to do

How many times have you asked friends or family for a recommendation before making a dinner reservation or booking a vacation? How many times have you taken their advice? If having a positive recommendation from somebody we trust is that important for something as relatively minor as a dining experience, you can only imagine how important it is when making large business decisions

If you have a great customer with whom you work frequently, odds are there is somebody they can refer you to Whether it be separate departments or divisions in the same company, professional acquaintances, or even friends who work in similar industries, a great customer is usually more than willing to sing your praises

Don’t be afraid to ask for referrals or even start a referral program, giving them a discount on their next service when a referral results in more business for your team Even if they don’t have any professional relationships you can leverage, they may be willing to write a review, which can then be included on your website or shared in your next email blast

As you work to increase your reach and bring in new customers, make sure you spend the most time and energy on the ones who will bring the most value to your business Start by determining what your ideal customer looks like, making them aware of your business, and following up regularly

Next, make sure these customers stick around by making their experience a positive and easy one – and allow your strong customer relationships to help you land even more of the right customers.

Co-founders of Unwrapit explain how to make corporate swag more sustainable

Recently, we had the pleasure of speaking with Unwrapit co-founders Peter Deitz and Linsay Moran Both of them discussed the reasons for starting the business, the advantages of corporate gifting for employers who operate in remote or hybrid work environments, and how their company makes sure that the recipients of their gifts receive them wherever they are without having to worry about the logistics, and strategic suggestions for running a business with a social goal

Peter Deitz

Co-Founder at Unwrapit

Peter is a successful serial entrepreneur committed to creating enduring companies that have a deeply-rooted social and environmental purpose. Peter serves as a full-time co-founder of Unwrapit, a social purpose business that helps companies spark and maintain meaningful connections through a fun, innovative, and easy-to-use virtual gifting platform. Prior to Unwrapit, Peter co-founded Grantbook in 2012. He currently serves as Board Chair. Grantbook is a 25-person philanthropic advisory firm that helps foundations operationalize mission and vision by leveraging technology

Linsay Moran

Co-Founder at Unwrapit

Linsay is an operational leader, committed to social impact businesses and with extensive experience in sponsorships and events Prior to co-founding Unwrapit, Linsay played a key leadership role in a rapidly scaling engineering company Linsay is passionate about supporting, mentoring and amplifying women, in all stages of their career. She was proud to manage the Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards as part of an extensive events portfolio across Canada and Ireland with the Women’s Executive Network. Linsay lives in Mississauga, minutes from Lake Ontario with her husband, two kids and a wild little puppy.

Unwrapit

Unwrapit is a B Corp certified, social purpose business; since its inception, they have developed the biggest catalogue of non-physical gifting options The company aims to nudge the multibillion-dollar global corporate gifting industry to an environmentally conscious default

What was the inspiration behind starting Unwrapit, a corporate gifting service for socially and ecologically concerned businesses?

We drew inspiration from the conversations we had with individuals every day, lamenting how wasteful corporate gifting can be From the start, Unwrapit has been on a mission to help companies approach corporate gifting differently

In place of branded water bottles, hoodies, and backpacks, we ’ ve curated a compelling collection of experiential, digital, and charitable gifts instead We’ve done this because the corporate gifting industry has a major waste problem Last year, according to an article in Forbes magazine, U S companies collectively spent $242 billion on their corporate gifting According to a report from Coresight Research, that number is projected to increase by 6% annually through 2024. We know that the vast majority of that spending is channelled into physical gifts, often not wanted or needed and invariably thrown away

We set out to create a more sustainable corporate gifting solution at scale, but we knew that wouldn’t be compelling enough We’ve developed a brandable, recipientfirst approach that offers corporations a way to give and give thoughtfully while keeping their brand front and centre We’ve always given recipients a choice of gifts, recognizing that offering a curated choice of gifts is a powerful way of demonstrating thoughtfulness And we also believe that curated choice IS the sustainable choice as individuals will get a gift they actually use and appreciate

How in your opinion Linsay, is corporate gifting beneficial for employers who operate in a remote or hybrid work environment?

Ensuring that employees know they are appreciated has always been a challenge, even when people work together in person every day Gifting can absolutely play a role in robust employee engagement programs and should be done thoughtfully and with intention

A Gallup survey done in June of 2022 found that 8 in 10 people are working hybrid or remotely, while only 2 in 10 are entirely on-site And this trend continues - we don’t see people returning to the office anytime soon (or ever).

The logistics and expense of sending physical things to a distributed team are significant We speak to customers every day that have lived the challenge of procuring, shipping, re-packaging, addressing and reshipping gifts to team members and come to us looking for a less logistics-intensive solution for many different gifting occasions

Where we ’ ve been so pleased to support customers has been in ongoing campaigns that happen throughout the year and acknowledge key milestones for employees Anniversary or birthday campaigns are always appreciated, and we see 85%+ claim rates with campaigns like this We encourage our customers to offer practical gifts that their employees will appreciate A non-monetary option that we ’ ve found to be popular is also the creation of a custom option such as “Take the Afternoon Off”

Peter, do you believe that swag at IRL events is necessary? How might you suggest that organizers of virtual events best connect their recipients to the event given the inevitable digital distance?

We don’t believe that swag in the traditional sense is necessary at events In fact, there was a recent Fast Company article that articulated this argument far better than we can!

Essentially we would argue that there is room for thoughtful and sustainably-minded incentives at events And that in fact, gifting something to fewer leads who are higher potential is better than the tried and true “give something cheap to everyone to hope that they’ll remember us and our brand.”

Event attendees are more conscious than ever and we would argue that giving away cheap, disposable and wasteful swag will at this point tarnish a brand’s reputation vs bolster it Conversely, being gifted something that’s practical, charitable or experiential will do the opposite and actually create a more positive connection to the brand

On the virtual event front, using a digital solution like Unwrapit can create a seamless experience for virtual event attendees In particular, for events that are hybrid in nature, event organizers may want to ensure that those attending online get the same “feeling” of being at the inperson experience In many cases, it’s also key for sponsors to have the opportunity to feature throughout and as they are always looking for new and innovative ways to reach event audiences

Linsay, how does your business ensure that the recipients receive their gifts where they are without worrying about the logistics?

Because the gifts given through Unwrapit are, for the most part, not physical, the “delivery” is instant And therefore, the feeling of appreciation is also instant Recipients within an unwrapping experience have the opportunity to choose from a curated list of gift options that are available to them in their jurisdiction

Supporting our customers globally is something we do very well, and we ’ re always thrilled when they realize how seamlessly our platform will give a gift to someone on the other side of the world in a thoughtful and meaningful way

We’re fortunate to partner with incredible gift partners such as Covatar, Libro FM, Atrifact, Mine’d, and many more We’ve purposely sought out gifts that are digital in nature Many of them, such as the ones listed here, offer a global solution as the recipient can be anywhere in the world and receive their gift in real time

In view of the fact that consumers of Unwrapit can make donations to more than 1 8M organizations in Canada and the US, what are the strategic recommendations for managing a business with a social goal?

By our calculations, U S companies spend more than $10 on branded items and gift cards for every $1 they donate to charity Thats a significant delta and it begs the question, what would happen if companies gave recipients a choice between receiving a physical corporate gift or making a donation with the money instead? Not everyone would choose the charitable option, but even if a small fraction did, there would be a notable increase in charitable donations each year

We encourage our customers to embrace the concept of social impact within their gifting Many of them come to us and haven’t considered including a charitable option But when they see how easily it can be integrated into their unwrapping experience, they wholeheartedly embrace that as a gift choice

It’s hard to be “all things to everyone ” when it comes to having a social goal, but we encourage businesses to be mindful of whatever their ESG or CSR goals might be in every aspect of their business On the micro level, it may seem that gifting doesn’t have that much of an impact But at the macro level, it would make a momentous difference if companies consciously gave fewer physical items at events, to clients and to their team and, in parallel, encouraged more charitable giving within their gifting efforts

How is the lending landscape changing for small businesses? What are the biggest challenges facing small businesses when it comes to securing funding?

Most small business owners have a clear vision of what they need in order to grow their company but struggle to secure the working capital required to achieve it Furthermore, rapid shifts in new technologies, increased competition, and the state of the economy have led to an increased need for financing

While some businesses are able to channel capital through personal financing or equity investors, most businesses need to rely on small business loans However, it is becoming increasingly difficult for small businesses to access funding from traditional lenders such as banks and credit unions due to the extensive list of requirements Regardless of profit levels, small businesses frequently get denied funding due to factors such as limited business history, insufficient collateral, inadequate capital investments, low credit scores, or because their industry is considered too risky

This is where alternative lending comes in and where 2M7 can help small and medium businesses secure the financing they need to operate and grow their businesses

How does 2M7 Financial Solutions decide which businesses to fund? What factors go into making a decision to provide small business funding?

2M7 Financial Solutions strives to help as many Canadian businesses as possible get access to the funding they need With small businesses increasingly facing more challenges in getting approved for loans and with approval rates in Canada seeing a significant decline over the years, 2M7 developed a proprietary algorithm to evaluate risk and determine creditworthiness in a new way, based on only a few key factors

Ways to Secure Funding for Your Small Business

Avi Bernstein

Founder and CEO of 2M7 Financial Solutions

We had the honour of speaking with Avi Bernstein, CEO of 2M7 Financial Solutions, who provided us with insightful information about how the lending environment is changing for small businesses, the biggest obstacles SMEs face when trying to secure funding, the considerations 2M7 Financial Solutions makes when determining which businesses to fund, its services for SMEs, and advice for SMEs who are looking for ways to secure funding

Avi Bernstein, Founder and CEO of 2M7 Financial Solutions has been a visionary and leader in the alternate lending space for over a decade His mission for 2M7 Financial is to provide simple and quick working capital for small to medium size businesses across Canada With recent shifts in the Canadian financial landscape, digital credit score algorithms and other vetting criteria used by traditional financial institutions have made it increasingly difficult for small and medium-sized businesses to access funding.

If you are a business located in Canada, have been in operation for at least 90 days, havent filed for bankruptcy, and make more than $10,000 in gross monthly revenue – you have a 97% chance of being approved for funding. Its that simple.

2M7’s quick approval process has already helped fund thousands of businesses across Canada that might not otherwise qualify for a traditional loan, despite being profitable We’re proud to support small businesses, and our goal is, first and foremost, to help our small business clients succeed

What advice would you give to small businesses that are looking for ways to secure financing? What do you think is the most important thing for business owners to consider when it comes to obtaining financing?

It is critical that small business owners do their homework before applying for business financing to understand the different types of financing available and determine which lending option is the best one to help grow their business

Each financing option has different application requirements, approval processes, terms and restrictions, repayment schedules, and other factors

For example, business loans from banks tend to have slow processing times and typically require you to provide extensive paperwork in order to qualify Traditional lenders often look at the number of years you ’ ve been in business, your credit score, debt-toincome ratio, and profit margins, and they normally require you to put up some type of collateral – and this type of loan is often not a good fit for most small businesses

What are the benefits of small business funding? Are there any services that 2M7 Financial Solutions offers that could be of benefit to small businesses?

Small businesses need money to operate and expand – from sourcing and inventory to equipment, staffing, marketing, and more 2M7 helps small businesses easily access the funding they need, which enables them to accelerate their growth

In today’s fast-paced competitive landscape, small businesses need faster access to funding. That’s why we offer unsecured funding up to $250,000 – with funds deposited directly into the business’s bank account within 24-48 hours to use however they need in their operations immediately

2M7 has extensive expertise in Canada’s lending industry and a deep understanding of the challenges that small businesses face, which is why 2M7’s funding is based on simple terms and flexible repayment structures Repayments are based on month-to-month sales performance, so businesses don’t need to worry about debt repayment affecting their cash flow during slower sales periods

Additionally, unlike traditional lenders, 2M7 does not place limitations on how or where the funds can be used We understand that business is unpredictable and that a small business’s priorities can change, so we entrust our clients with the freedom to use the funds however they see fit in order to help their business prosper and grow.

Advice for Small Business Owners - 2023

As the new year unfolds, it is an opportune time for small businesses to reflect on their journey thus far and refocus efforts towards realizing future successes. Small business have been - and will continue to be - instrumental in powering Canada's progress.

Canada's prosperity has been driven by the determination and hard work of small businesses. As voices from all corners unite, business leaders across Canada would like to share their inspiring words with these entrepreneurs as they continue on their journey.

Ontario Government’s wide range of support for Small Businesses

On behalf of the Ontario Government, thank you to the more than 400,000 small businesses who are making a difference in Ontario every day Small businesses are the backbone of communities across the province, creating good-paying jobs and contributing new ideas to our economy

We were fortunate to meet with many small businesses in 2022 From print shops and art studios to restaurants and local grocery stores, these Ontario success stories were heartening to hear, and we know that there are many more out there

Victor Fed

Minister of Economic Developm Job Creation and Trade

Our government is proud to support the hardworking small business community and help more people start and grow their businesses. Whether you run a local corner store or are building a new startup, we ’ re here to help with a wide range of programs to support entrepreneurs and business owners This includes the Digital Main Street program, which we are investing an additional $40 million over the next two years to expand

As we build Ontario, small businesses will continue to play an important role because when Ontario’s small businesses thrive, so do local families and our economy

Thank you to CanadianSME Small Business Magazine for highlighting and supporting Ontario’s small businesses We look forward to working with you and the small business community in the year ahead

The Honourable Victor Fedeli is a lifelong entrepreneur, successful business person, and philanthropist, and serves the Ford government as Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade

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 restoring solvency to North Bay.

Small Business Owners Inspire Us With Their Courage

Small business owners are the economic lifeblood of Canada Year in and year out, over half of all Canadians are dependent on the economic impact of small businesses to help their communities grow and prosper Small business owners are entrepreneurs who see a need in the market and then take action to fulfill it Not only creating a new and important product or service but, more importantly, serving as an example for others of what courage in business looks like

In 2016 Deloitte called out the need for leaders in Canada to have more courage to move our economy forward based on a survey of over 1200 leaders of organizations across the country Courageous leaders take calculated risks, disrupt the status quo, and unite to include the people in their organizations and their communities, always from the perspective of doing what is right to create a more equitable and inclusive society. Most importantly, they understand that courage starts with their own actions and behaviours. Courageous leaders create courageous organizations that contribute to a more prosperous and economically inclusive society for all Small business owners are role models of what it means to have courage, and we need their courage now more than ever

As we look forward to a new year with economic and geopolitical uncertainty, it is easy for people to feel concerned and step back from what needs to be done to continue to move our country forward The courage and inspiration of small business owners are needed now more than ever! Small business owners need to take a long-term view of opportunity in their markets They need to create more equitable and inclusive opportunities for all Canadians to contribute through meaningful, valuable work They need to continue to welcome the talent of new Canadians into their organizations and learn from the diversity of their lived experience

Acting with courage now, more than ever, is how small business owners will help our country thrive in the years ahead

Deloitte is a proud supporter and champion of small business owners, and we are honoured to be the sponsor of the CanadianSME Small Business Awards Diversity and Inclusion Award

As Canadians, I encourage you to support the locally owned, small businesses in your community and show these courageous organizations that together as Canadians, no matter what the future holds - We Got This!

Duncan Sinclair is the Chair of Deloitte Canada and Chile and is also a member of the Deloitte Global Board. Over his 34+ year career, Duncan’s professional activities include serving clients who are global institutional investors, public and private family-owned global businesses in real estate & construction, professional services, mining, consumer business, as well as national and regional governments

Duncan Sinclair

Chair of Deloitte Canada and Chile

The Power of the Entrepreneurial Mindset; A note of Appreciation from UPS

I can’t help but feel a sense of renewal at the beginning of a new year It’s a time to reflect on the year that passed; what worked and what can be improved on and after that reflection, it’s time to get going! As it is for me, many entrepreneurs may almost feel like a new year is a clean slate where goals may change, but their passion for their products and services and their unwavering commitment to deliver day in and day out on their brand promise does not

I’ve been fortunate to meet countless entrepreneurs who came to us looking for logistical solutions to challenges ranging from packaging concerns to supply chain disruptions and global trade barriers but never have I encountered one at a loss to describe the purpose and meaning behind what they do. I have seen many times how you have taken an idea and made it flourish through steadfast belief, a lot of sweat equity and a little help.

For a few years now, we have discussed how so many of you have overcome challenges but as we begin a new year, let’s look to the future and how nothing will stop you from realizing your dreams That, to me, is the epitome of the entrepreneur’s mindset That confidence some might call defiance in their idea and a need to bring it to life For some, that attitude is rooted in “I can do it on my own; ” my view is that it doesn’t and shouldn’t have to be that way; UPS, our Ambassador team, and I are always here to help

In closing, I want to thank all our customers for choosing UPS We’re determined to help you with your continued success For the rest, please know that we are here to answer any questions you have, no matter if you are just starting or are growing Have a wonderful, safe and successful 2023 My hope is that we can continue to celebrate new beginnings together.

Paul Gaspar

Paul Gaspar is director of small business for UPS Canada. His role is to educate and guide small businesses in Canada on ways to better leverage UPS’ tools to help them grow and expand both domestically and internationally. With his team of small business ambassadors, he empowers small business owners to determine the best mix of customized services, technologies and innovations available to them

Director of Small Business for UPS Canada

Canadian Small Businesses, Adaptability and Agility is Key!

Every January, I take a moment to pause and reflect on the year that has passed and to look forward to the year that’s to come.

For me, 2022 was about two things: resilience and community.

Just when I thought I couldn’t be more impressed by the ability of Canadian SMEs to adapt to whatever was thrown at them, I kept seeing examples of resilience and adaptability For many of you, this past holiday season was a critical period - your tenacity in finding ways to succeed during uncertainty is inspiring

2022 was also a year for connectedness I heard so many stories of colleagues and friends meeting for the first time in years, and seeing the community gather in person at events like the CanadianSME Small Business Summit or Xerocon was energizing As incredible as technology is these days, there’s simply no replacement for those in-person connections!

Thinking ahead to 2023, I know this year already has its share of uncertainty and questions If the last few years have shown us anything, it’s that the Canadian Small Business economy is adaptable - the period of the challenge ahead is another opportunity to demonstrate this agility. Those SMEs that continue to evolve their models and ways of working will be the ones that continue to thrive.

For example, we know big changes have happened and are still ahead in fintech, and it’s important for SMEs to be aware of how they’ll benefit Open banking regulations have the potential to revolutionize the automation of your business, and innovation in payments will allow you to get paid even faster It’s critical that you stay up to date on these innovations and work alongside your trusted advisors to integrate them into your operating rhythm For our part, Xero will continue to champion Canadian SMEs through our partnerships and advocacy with policymakers

Finally, there’s the community that Ive spoken about: we need to continue to come together in 2023 to share successes, learnings, and support

So here’s to you and the opportunity in front of you for the year ahead I can’t wait to meet more of you in 2023

Faye Pang

Canada Country Manager for Xero

Faye Pang is the Canada Country Manager for Xero, the global small business platform with more than 3 million subscribers worldwide that's dedicated to making business beautiful Prior to joining Xero, Faye helped launch the Uber Eats app in Toronto in December 2015, scaling the business from 80 restaurants on launch day to 20,000 partners by the end of her tenure

As we kick-off the first few days/weeks of January, I wanted to take a moment to thank all the small business owners across Canada, and recognize the immense contributions they make in moving our economy forward by creating jobs and transforming new ideas and innovations into advanced products and technologies

After two very difficult years, it was great to see small businesses finally bounce back in 2022, many stronger than ever This speaks to how resilient and ambitious Canadian entrepreneurs are and it makes me so proud Thank you for your dedication and congratulations on an incredible year!

Embrace and Prioritize Digital Transformation

Darcy Richard is the Vice President of SMB Marketing for Bell. He leads a team of dedicated professionals who aspire to connect small and medium businesses with world-class wired and wireless networks so that they can grow their business without worrying about downtime or lost productivity Darcy has led the SMB Marketing organization since 2022, and brings a wealth of experience gained across various Bell roles in Marketing, Sales and Operations functions He has a track record of building teams that deliver large-scale initiatives with flawless execution, and brings a passion for process improvement and business analytics to the Bell SMB segment

Vice President of SMB Marketing for Bell Darcy Richard

My advice to small businesses for 2023 is to keep the momentum going by continuing to embrace and prioritize digital transformation It’s more important than ever that small businesses have a network they can count on As the provider of Canada’s best networks –pure fibre Internet and 5G – you can count on Bell to connect your small business to your customers, suppliers and the world

Here’s to a successful year ahead!

Go Global in 2023

I’d love to see more Canadian small businesses succeed globally in 2023, and I’m here to support them along that journey

My message to entrepreneurs – You don’t have to be a large multinational to reach a global market And you don’t need a degree in e-commerce or online marketing, either Consider the Canadian small businesses on eBay, where 99% export to an average of 18 countries.

At eBay, we know that running a successful small business is more than a full-time job it demands a special mix of passion and resiliency That’s why we partner with entrepreneurs to make it easy to move their products online so they can focus on keeping the business moving

We offer small businesses powerful advertising tools and insights, virtual learning, and real-time advice. What’s more, we don’t own any inventory on the platform, and we never compete with sellers.

It’s been that way since the beginning when our founder delivered on his vision to create a trusted marketplace where everybody, not just big businesses, can sell things around the world Nearly three decades on, it’s inspiring to see results from our recent global seller survey where 94% agree eBay is accessible to all and 72% strongly believe eBay wins when sellers win.

We want to help Canadian small businesses succeed because we believe it’s our duty It’s in our DNA We may be a tech company, but really, we ’ re about using technology to connect people

If you have big ambitions for your small business, let 2023 be the year you go global, knowing eBay is here to support you every step of the way

Rob Bigler

General Manager,

eBay Canada

As General Manager of eBay Canada, Rob Bigler enables small businesses to stay local and sell global by connecting them to more than 135 million buyers in 190 countries As a champion of Canadian small business, he is passionate about creating economic opportunity for businesses of all shapes and sizes through ecommerce

As a business leader with global retail experience, Rob has held senior roles at Holt Renfrew, The Selfridges Group and Sears Canada. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Wharton as well as a MSc and BSc from Stanford University. In his spare time, Rob enjoys travelling and new adventures with his wife and four boys.

As we enter a new year, there’s an opportunity for Canadian businesses to grow, reach new customers and expand their online presence According to Stats Canada, small and medium-sized businesses are the lifeblood of the Canadian economy, driving 50%+ of GDP and employing 85% of Canadians But they’re also the heart and souls of their communities I know this first hand, as both my parents were small business owners, so I understand the sweat equity that goes into running a business

We’re currently living in a pivotal moment for our Canadian economy to be more digital first 2022 represented a tipping point for the true potential of digital – our Economic Impact Report estimates that Google tools helped provide $37 billion in economic activity for Canadian businesses, nonprofits, publishers, creators and developers That’s the equivalent of about 1 5% of Canada’s GDP

We've seen time again that digital is the ultimate force multiplier to help SMBs grow And the past few years have underscored that businesses that are more digitally advanced are more resilient and can sell and service customers 24/7, across the globe.

Google Can Help More SMBs Reach Their Potential

Natasha Walji is the Managing Director at Google Canada for Google Customer Solutions focused on helping small & medium businesses grow & thrive Previously she was a McKinsey consultant and a software developer Natasha has actively served the community for 20+ years focused on disaster relief, poverty alleviation, public health and cofounded an organization for children with disabilities. She is an angel investor and is an Investment Committee member for Blue Ivy Ventures. Natasha holds a BSc., Computer Science (University of Victoria), MBA (Yale University) and MSt. Sustainability Leadership (University of Cambridge). Natasha is recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women (WXN).

According to a survey by Deloitte, more than threequarters of the leaders surveyed said their organizations’ digital capabilities significantly helped them cope with the challenges triggered by the pandemic.

Each day, I’m inspired to help Canadian SMBs take advantage of the digital opportunity and take their business to the next level To help more SMBs reach their potential, there are also a number of free tools and resources Google offers Programs like Digital Main Street’s ShopHERE powered by Google to create and optimize your website, or Grow with Google and Google Career Certificates courses for small business owners to grow their skillset And tools to help you gain consumer insights and standouts like Google’s Business Profile, Google Trends, Google Analytics and Market Finder

I am in daily awe of the grit, creativity and heart that SMBs put into running their businesses and serving their customers and communities And very excited to see how Canada’s SMB owners and entrepreneurs expand their digital presence to thrive in 2023!

Natasha Walji

Managing Director at Google Canada for Google Customer Solutions

Businesses should focus on the art and science of creativity

Local businesses are integral to the fabric of communities across Canada They help support the local economy, create jobs, give back and help bring communities together I admire the resilience of small businesses through these last few years 2023 will be the year that small businesses continue to thrive both online and offline Industry research shows that nearly a quarter of small businesses in Canada was started in the last two years, and we know that small businesses have adopted digital tools throughout the pandemic, and many new businesses are digital-first

As businesses plan for 2023, I encourage them to lead with their brand, be creative, and create a community around that brand Building a strong business and brand is a culmination of every touchpoint people have with you

It’s essential to help business owners embrace their creativity, allowing them to connect with customers online and offline. Digital tools enable businesses of any size to reach the customers that matter most to them From video to messaging to branded content in partnership with content creators, each activity can open new doors for driving sales and building a brand in the process

Andrea Van Leeuwen

Canadian

Country Marketing Director and Head of North American Strategy and Operations at Meta

Andrea is a global business leader with 20 years of experience in building and inspiring teams to transform organizations, deliver brand equity & purpose, and unlock growth in new markets Andrea builds and drives the strategic direction and leadership of a rapidly growing advertising business as a member of the Executive Leadership team She is known for bringing creative thinking to find new inspiring ways forward, rather than sticking with legacy methodologies

Combining the art of creativity and the understanding of digital tools can enable businesses to drive success By testing and learning with creative audience targeting and measurement, businesses can experiment, innovate and make strategic decisions based on real data In 2023, we can expect businesses that have found a home online to experiment further combining the art of creativity with data science tools ultimately discovering the strategies that work best for them

To support businesses as they begin or optimize their digital journeys to build their brands and drive business impact, we have multiple resources to take advantage of From learning more about our tools, taking our online courses and staying up to date on the latest best practices, we hope that business owners and teams can gain the creative and digital skills to grow their businesses in 2023 and beyond I am optimistic that 2023 will be an incredible year for Canada’s small businesses, and I look forward to seeing how they incorporate a creative approach to their strategies

Small Businesses Need to Invest in Their Online Presence in 2023

Mary Peterson

Vice President, IT & Enterprise Solutions, Samsung Electronics Canada

Senior Sales and Business Development leader with proven accomplishments in Enterprise & SMB Sales, building High-performing Teams and delivering Top-producing results with Channel Ecosystems and Strategic Alliances

With the world of technology constantly evolving, small business owners have to remain nimble, ready to take advantage of the digital innovations that will help them succeed in 2023. Last year, we saw more businesses leverage exciting new technologies in the digital signage space to invite customers back to their stores with a bang. While strong e-commerce remains important for all businesses today, hybrid is in for 2023. Small businesses should continue to strengthen their online presence but find new ways to enhance the visitor experience both inside and at street level.

Nishant Raina

Director of Product Management, Small Business, Mastercard Canada

Nishant Raina is the Small Business Lead for Mastercard in Canada.

As a product leader, Nishant develops and oversees the Small Business segment strategy by commercializing new products and services and supporting new product development with partners. With a strong passion for helping small businesses, Nishant drives the growth of the Small Business segment at Mastercard and within the entire payments ecosystem

Since joining Mastercard, Nishant has made a measurable impact on strengthening the Small Business segment within Canada and leading key strategy development projects, supporting partners in product development initiatives, and working with regional and global teams to drive thought leadership.

The success of small businesses is Canada’s success

My role as the Small Business Lead at Mastercard in Canada enables me to interact directly with Canadian small business owners across different industries, from healthcare to retail and everything in between I’m lucky to be consistently surrounded by the passion within this amazing community and to play a role in helping small businesses not only survive but thrive As we enter a new year, two words immediately come to mind: resilience and optimism

Small businesses are always pivoting to meet the needs of their customers, especially over the past few years The resilience that has been built while navigating the pandemic has made them stronger –and this strength ultimately comes from optimism Working closely with small business owners has taught me that they view everything as an opportunity Their eyes – minds and hearts – are always wide open, and the glass is always half full The combination of resilience and optimism is something small business owners inherently come to possess as they build their businesses and will be a driving force into 2023 and beyond

Even with resilience and optimism at the helm, small business owners are no strangers to barriers and challenges With this, it’s important for small business owners to remember that they’re not alone Whether it’s partners like us at Mastercard, your peers to collaborate and learn from or the communities that rely on your business, we ’ re here to help you prosper Because the reality is that small businesses are the backbone of the nation’s economy, and that means your success is Canada’s success.

Tips For Your Small Business: Trust, Investment, Employee Retention and More

I know that behind every small and medium business, there is a passionate owner going allin on their dreams I’m honoured to share a message with such driven and visionary people like you. Let’s get to know each other, shall we?

Before joining TELUS, I owned my own restaurant and catering business That experience led me to become deeply invested in empowering this generation and the next generation of business owners That’s why I champion initiatives supporting diverse women entrepreneurs, like the Canadian Women’s Entrepreneur Awards, and organizations supporting underserved youth to identify and climb the career ladder of their choice, like Ladder 2 Rise

If you ’ ve been in pivot-and-survive mode this year, an important piece of next years success puzzle can easily go missing: Inspiring high performance in ourselves and our teams As someone who leads high-performance TELUS teams throughout Canada, South America and the Philippines, I’m sharing some tips you can take into 2023:

Trusdale VP of TELUS Small Business Solutions

As TELUS’ Vice President of Sales for Small Medium Business, Suzanne’s deeply invested in empowering diverse entrepreneurs and business owners to succeed

She’s a strong advocate of diversity and inclusion; Suzanne serves as TELUS’ Global Cochair for Connections (a network focused on the career growth of women at TELUS) and Executive Sponsor for Spectrum (TELUS’ resource group for 2SLGBTQIA+ and allied team members). She has won internal diversity and inclusion awards and currently mentors several high-potential leaders.

Suzanne gives back to her community through her involvement in 100 Women Who Care Oakville, Walk to Conquer Cancer, and Children’s Aid Foundation.

Go beyond mentorship into trust and investment: Choose one high-performing employee and level them up Some call this mentorship, but I break it down into trust and investment How you operationalize this will depend on your business, but they need to see and feel your level of belief in them Cultivating that feeling is where the high-performance magic begins Have a “why day” and create a follow-up note: One of my Managers champions knowing every employee’s “why ” He firmly believes their “why” is the root of what motivates them Knowing those motivations helps employee retention, performance and morale Spend a day in a more relaxed setting to unearth it, then surprise them later with a “here’s why you matter here” note linking back to their “why ”

Create an authentic rally cry: Give everyone a catchphrase to live by. Use repetition to make it stick. For example, I’ve built a collective team spirit by rallying employees around the idea of “One Team One Goal ” At the root of that catchphrase is my honest-to-goodness belief that we win and lose as a team, and I want to see all of us win more

Suzanne

Small Businesses Are The Engine That Drives The Nation Forward

This past year was about a return to normalcy, a return to optimism And while many parts of our lives and our work have felt normal, we now face new challenges including economic headwinds in the form of increased interest rates, and persistent inflation

The end of the year affords us the opportunity to reflect, but also to chart a path for success for the new year While this can feel daunting in the current climate, I encourage you to stay the course

In times of uncertainty, new ideas and innovation can have an outsized impact on your business and on the communities in which you operate Be ambitious about your future Be stubborn about achieving your goals and be collaborative in how you intend to realize them

Colin McIsaac

As Lenovo’s General Manager of Canada and North America Solutions, Colin is responsible for sales, operations, culture, strategy, and customer satisfaction within the North American region. He has overall P&L responsibility for Canada, including Commercial, SMB and Consumer segments and routes. He also has dual responsibility for the Strategic portfolio of offerings for Lenovo North America.

Technology can be a powerful enabler of innovation Explore solutions that can empower your team to be more collaborative, more efficient more productive, and more secure

Small business remains the engine that drives us forward Our success as a nation is contingent on yours

On behalf of Lenovo Canada, we wish you a successful and healthy start to 2023.

Vice President and General Manager, Lenovo Canada & Lenovo North America Solutions

A Time to Reflect

Shenela Tavarayan is the Director of Product Development, at Interac Corp

Her responsibilities include Merchant acceptance and usage, growth of new products and Interchange pricing controls and processes. She is also a co-lead and cofounder of the Women's Employee Resource Group at Interac Corp.

Focused on turning inwards and listening to the perspectives of the strong women at Interac, the Women’s Employee Resource Group helps to inform Diversity and Inclusion program development while fostering an inclusive work environment where everyone feels respected and valued

January is always such an interesting time for me - a time to start fresh, pretend I’m going to eat healthier and set some goals for the coming months. With the holidays behind us all, I imagine many small business owners are also doing much of the same This is a time for all businesses to take stock of what did and did not work in 2022, and plan for what is coming next

My advice to small businesses is not to do too much, instead, take the time to truly understand your loyal customer base Keep them happy, and they will not only remain loyal but will also become your marketers and promoters

As well, do not assume that your processes that are working today will continue to work tomorrow Take the time to review and reenergize how you provide goods and services, how you deal with your own vendors and how you plan for the future.

Finally, take the time for yourself when possible One thing I know about Small Business owners, who are the backbone of Canadian businesses, is that they are the hardest-working people Each of you pours your blood, sweat, and tears into your business to ensure its success Your dedication is a trait I admire so very much, but I truly hope each of you takes a moment in the new year to reflect on your successes and pat yourself on the back for each small achievement which helps you grow

Shenela Tavarayan

Director, Product Development, Interac Corp

My message is simple: I want you to DARE!

DARE to dream about “impossible” goals for your business.

DARE to ask questions about things or steps you might not think you are “ready” for right away Knowledge is power! You will be prepared when the time is right, and you might even be surprised to learn that the timing is already right

DARE to apply for that grant; yes, even that loan, you know your business needs to scale They say you need money to make money! Dare to dive into your numbers and your cash flow projections and come up with a clear ask

DARE to take on this new “big” client even if it may be your first.

DARE to ask for help! Entrepreneurs have a tendency to want to take on everything on their own and figure it out along the way, but there is so much you can gain by asking for the help you need. Always surround yourself with the right people, talent, advisors, mentors etc.

And lastly,

DARE to accept that you might fail at certain things but remain confident that everything is a learning opportunity that will take you to new heights no matter how low you feel The road to success is not linear, clear, or simple

You got this!

Mona-Lisa Prosper

Director of Futurpreneur’s Black Entrepreneur Startup Program

Mona-Lisa is the Director of Futurpreneur’s Black Entrepreneur Startup Program A lawyer by trade, she also gained experience in entrepreneurship, human resources, and economic development through her diverse career Very involved in her community, she served as the President of the Women’s Young Chamber of Commerce of Québec for the past two years and continues to sit on multiple other boards

Digital Transformation Is Still Top Of Mind For Small Businesses

in 2023

Small businesses are the heartbeat of Canada’s economy; they drive our economy forward and account for an astonishing 98% of employer businesses in Canada And their impact on our GDP cannot be underestimated According to Stats Canada, from 2015 to 2019, the average contribution of SMEs accounted for more than 50% of the value added to the country's output

That is why Cisco continues to invest in SMEs. It is critical to Canada's long-term growth and economic prosperity that we nurture these businesses, support their digital transformation and help keep them competitive

What we hear from SMEs is that digital transformation continues to be top of mind and we anticipate that nearly half will invest in digitization in 2023 and beyond

To get them there, Cisco is delivering solutions that focus on business outcomes that matter to SME owners and operators Cisco has defined four areas that are top of mind for SMEs in 2023:

The Hybrid SME: Hybrid work is here to stay According to Cisco research, 93% of SMEs ranked a hybrid workplace as a top 3 business priority SMEs should consider their workforce dynamic and how they are driving a successful hybrid environment

The Smart SME: Consider how you will be selling five years from now. By 2024, 75% of Start-Ups will have a digital-first strategy Investments in digital infrastructure are crucial to your end users ' transactions and overall experience

The Remote SME: What is your employee experience strategy? By 2023, 50% of SMEs will reorganize their company structure How are you leveraging technology to support the employee experience and maintain your company ’ s culture to attract and retain talent?

The Safe SME: If you connect it, you need to protect it By 2024 33% of SMEs will experience security breaches every 3 months. This could mean huge costsit’s critical that organizations of all sizes secure their businesses against threats and attacks

We’ve experienced a lot of turbulence over the past few years, but despite this, SMEs keep going strong We wish Canadian SMEs continued success and are here to support them as they grow and evolve in the coming weeks, months, and years

Lissa Ricci

Head of Sales for SMB Solutions at Cisco Canada

Lissa Ricci is currently Head of Sales for SMB Solutions at Cisco Canada. Lissa has over 18 years experience in Tech Sales and Leadership roles, focused on Small and Medium sized businesses Lissa is proud to be leading Cisco’s technology portfolio and GTM strategy for SMB’s across Canada, along side her passionate teams Lissa lives with her husband and two kids in Toronto

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Support for Small Businesses

With 2022 in the rear-view mirror and our sights set on a fresh start in 2023, I want to take a moment to express my sincere thanks and admiration for Canada’s small business community.

2022 was full of challenges for the business community, with many of them having a disproportionate effect on small and mediumsized businesses You had to navigate through ongoing supply chain disruptions, labour shortages and inflation, to name but a few No doubt many of these challenges will persist in the new year, but I have great confidence in the future of Canadian SMEs because Ive seen, first-hand, the incredible creativity, resilience and strength that characterize the SME business community

From impressive digital transformations to innovative hiring practices and reinvented business strategies, SMEs have proved to be remarkably agile as they prepare for the upcoming economic headwinds While I know that it has not been easy and that there are many who continue to struggle, please count on the Canadian Chamber Network to work tirelessly on your behalf

Small businesses are at the heart of communities from coast to coast to coast. You are essential to Canada’s economic growth and social well-being, and we will do all we can to support your efforts to keep Main streets across the country vibrant and flourishing

On behalf of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, congratulations on your remarkable contributions to your communities and to our country I look forward to working with you in 2023 to build a brighter, more prosperous future for all Canadians

Perrin Beatty

President & CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

The Honourable Perrin Beatty, PC, OC, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the over 200,000member Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canada’s largest and most activated business network Before joining the Canadian Chamber in August 2007, Perrin held the same role at Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) Perrin is currently a member of the board of directors of Mitsui Canada. In 2018, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2020, the Government of Japan awarded Perrin the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star.

A Note of Appreciation for Small Businesses; Canada's Economic Heartbeat

My letter of deep appreciation for small business owners

Small business owners are the heart of our economy, and our collective interest is to keep you beating strong. You bring energy to our main streets, innovation and jobs to our economy, and ambition to our daily discourse

The resilience and creativity you have shown over the past three years are the authentic marks of an entrepreneur You find ways to make things happen even when the prevailing headwinds are relentless, cold, and battering If we could bottle all of the above as an elixir and share it with all levels of the public and private sectors and academia, there would be nothing stopping Canada, as there is little that stops you

Thank you for all you do for your customers, community, economy and country

You truly stand on guard for thee

Tony Chapman

Host of the Podcast and Radio Show Chatter that Matters

Tony Chapman is a top communication expert in Canada. He has been dubbed a Marketing Guru by the media, and he is an expert on how to establish brands, and sell strategically, and profitably in today’s dynamic market. He has been at the forefront of pioneering modern sales marketing and sales approaches, such as social media, and many see him as a pathfinder for the strategies he has used to rethink how businesses communicate with their consumers and traverse the shifting terrain

The Key To Entrepreneurship: Concentration

I have been in small business and tech for years now, and have made a ton of mistakes and enjoyed many successes as well Through serving hundreds of clients through Accountants 2 0 and through my own experience, I have been able to identify some of what makes a high-performing business and owner.

Although there are many concepts that lead to growth with less pain and more enjoyment, Focus is something I believe entrepreneurs need to concentrate on

What do I mean by Focus?

As entrepreneurs, we are wearing a ton of hats I have so many hats that I could be 20ft tall, like hard hats, helmets, visors, and even swag hats from suppliers! We have to worry about so much to keep everything flowing Like how much money do I have, and will there be enough next month to service my employees, customers, suppliers, and family?

Start by focusing on your purpose and why you are doing what it is that you are doing, then look at whom you are trying to serve After you have figured this out, you then would benefit most by systematically offloading the work that doesn’t serve your purpose, so you can Focus on what makes you great and benefits your patrons most.

Most people go into business because they have a skill that they can use to benefit someone but aren’t necessarily doing it to run a business and all of the stresses that come with it Find the areas that cause you the most pain, perfect them yourself, then train someone else to take it over, or outsource it to people that specialize in it and can do it better

By offloading, you get to focus on what matters most to you, your patrons, your team, and your family I hope this starts to paint a picture of how to get more enjoyment out of being a small business owner

Share your thoughts with me on how you are moving towards business enjoyment, or maybe some pointers you have found to be useful

Ted Williamson

President of Accountants 2.0

Ted Williamson, Passionate About Simplifying the Entrepreneurial Journey

With over fifteen years of experience owning and managing businesses from contracting, professional services and technology Ted Williamson offers a strong vision and knowledge of the future of business and of the bookkeeping, accounting, and advisory industry He currently serves as President of SRT Accounting for the past six years, where he has helped hundreds of owners and entrepreneurs comply with regulations and improve their business' accounting best practices through his unique philosophy of communication, cooperation, and transparency

In 2020, Ted launched Accountants 2.0 to improve how the client/firm relationship is adjusting to the needs of today's business owners. As the accounting industry continues to evolve, Ted's focus is making certain that business owners are not left behind and benefit from industry improvements, emerging technologies, and business strategies.

SmallBusinessesCan StandTogetherTo EmergeStrongerThan Ever

Our team at The Answer Company is approaching the coming year, reinvigorated by purpose and, as always, focusing on the people behind businesses – the employees and the community

Like many of our clients, we understand the challenges and rewards of running a small business firsthand In our decades of ERP and technology consulting, we’ve dealt with our fair share of economic uncertainty While our past experiences serve as a guide, we know today’s circumstances present a unique opportunity for us to help companies like never before. These experiences have only strengthened our commitment to helping businesses like yours through times of crisis and uncertainty.

During the pandemic, we worked to help businesses through their digital transformation journeys, increasing efficiency and optimizing workflows to enable better, more timely decision-making This year, our purpose statement, to Propel Businesses Forward, remains a top priority, and we ’ re grateful to stand together with the small and medium business community to weather economic storms and build resilience for the future As a certified digital advisor for the Canada Digital Adoption Program, we ’ re helping businesses leverage digital solutions and technology. We provide support from eligibility assessment; business needs analysis and strategic planning to implementing & adopting awardwinning solutions like Sage & Acumatica

Our purpose is our North Star, guiding all of our decisions In 2023, we ’ re also taking time to ensure every team member understands how they contribute to our purpose and find meaning in their work We’re committed to retaining our status as a Great Place to Work and look forward to our SoWell committee – who spearheads our social & wellness initiatives and CSR activities – finally getting back together to plan time for us to connect with our colleagues and our communities

We encourage other business owners to take a similar approach and stay true to their values In order for us to emerge more agile, resilient, and stronger than ever, we’ll need to stand together Now is the time to lean on your resources, seek support, and tap into your network Whether it's through connecting with other small business owners, seeking advice from industry experts, or leveraging technology to streamline operations.

Here's to a successful 2023 and beyond.

Shawn Ostheimer

Founder and President, The Answer Company

Beginning in 1994, Shawn has spearheaded The Answer Company’s growth to become one of the largest Independent ERP and Accounting software implementation and consulting firms in Canada

Shawn works actively with top technology partners like Sage and Acumatica to bring their solutions to life with customers With over thirty years of experience implementing financial and management software systems, Shawn has contributed to every facet of improving clients’ businesses

AlbertaChambersof CommercePromote Alberta’sRoleAsThe VoiceOfSmallBusiness

Alberta offers an incredible business ecosystem for entrepreneurs and start-up projects, with a welcoming and supportive community offering enthusiasm for the prosperity of business

Whether your enterprise is mining, manufacturing, forestry, tourism or selling artisanal jam, Alberta is a phenomenal starting point or next step in developing a business venture

Alberta’s SMEs offer some of the most creative and unique market offerings available anywhere in the world: from feeding the world through our cutting-edge agricultural sector to the powerful artificial intelligence hubs in the province Industry markets in Alberta are uniquely equipped to enable greater cross-industry collaborations, projects, and the creation of new technologies

The provincial oil and gas sector is recognized globally for its technology-driven and responsible production practices, and the energy sector in Alberta is expanding to meet the demands of the future

Cleantech, like solar and wind farms, already powers our communities, and we are attracting significant investment to put Canada on the global forefront of hydrogen power to bring the future of energy into the present

Shauna Feth

President & CEO Alberta Chambers of Commerce

Shauna Feth has been the President and CEO of the Alberta Chambers of Commerce (ACC) since June 2022.

Prior to assuming leadership of the Alberta Chambers of Commerce, she spent 12 years as Executive Director of the Alberta Business Family Institute at the University of Alberta School of Business. Shauna is a designated Family Enterprise AdvisorTM who was born into a third-generation business family and has been actively and effectively promoting, educating, and supporting outreach programs for entrepreneurs and business families for almost 15 years

This technological edge and our long history of being able to adapt quickly have allowed Alberta to build a reputation for being a jurisdiction where decisions are being made to promote business every day positively Those decisions are informed by 115 local chambers of commerce – the Alberta Chambers of Commerce – a network representing businesses from all corners of the province We are the largest association of SMEs in the province, nearly 24,000 strong

Chambers is proud to promote the culture of enterprise Alberta is known for worldwide. Together, as the voice of small businesses in Alberta, we promote an environment that helps entrepreneurs succeed. We inform business and investment decisions daily, regularly engaging business leaders to understand what they need to grow their operations Supporting local talent development and competitive taxes are common priorities we advocate to help businesses scale up

Here in Alberta, we offer everything a new entrepreneurial venture needs to thrive To those with an entrepreneurial spirit, we invite you to start your next business under our beautiful prairie and mountains skies

Make 2023 Your Year

For Financial Greatness

Robert is an award-winning FCPA who works exclusively with entrepreneurs to help them make more money and gain financial clarity in their businesses

As a financial expert and author, Robert shares his insight and wisdom as a public speaker, is often cited in major business journals related to money, finances, and entrepreneurship, and works directly with more than 500 businesses across North America, helping them build a better business and generate greater financial performance

Hey Entrepreneurs! It’s a fresh start to a new year, which makes it the exact right time to start building out your roadmap to achieve your 2023 goals

But as Lewis Carroll said, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.” This is why it’s critical for all of us to reset and build out what that roadmap looks like for 2023. Anything that’s happened is in the past, and it’s time to start fresh and plan for how you will achieve financial greatness this year

A few things to keep in mind as you start to build out your roadmap is that you must have upto date financial information in order to make sound business decisions It has to be up todate, it has to be accurate, and it has to be reliable so that you have the insights needed to plan for future success

Now is the time Enjoy the journey Go out and achieve your greatness

Founder and CEO of Gauvreau

Accounting Tax Law Advisory,

Robert Gauvreau

The pandemic forever altered the way we work Remote work has created new job opportunities for some, but there are challenges Teams are more siloed, and burnout is a real and unsustainable threat What we know is that hybrid work is here to stay Leaders who fail to embrace this will not attract the best talent and will struggle to compete in the post-pandemic economy

According to IDC, at least 70 percent of digitally enabled SMBs will be hybrid With this shift, leaders are not only concerned with enabling productivity but increasingly with employee engagement and wellbeing. There’s a connection between how we engage, the tools we use and the culture that surrounds it Especially for SMBs, where employees often wear many hats, we need to be mindful of the ways in which we may be overworking our teams and how people are connecting and collaborating

Successful organizations that are investing in employee well-being are embracing extreme flexibility and an experimental, agile approach At Microsoft, we want all employees to be grounded in what drives productivity and creativity, and that is wellness We want everyone to come to work as their best selves We want our employees to feel happy and healthy

Embracing wellness to drive productivity in the Hybrid Era

Robert M. Shewchuk

SMB Segment Lead, Microsoft Canada

Rob Shewchuk is the SMB Segment Lead at Microsoft Canada He leads the fastest growing segment that serves the 1 2M+ small and medium sized companies in Canada as they innovate and grow After joining Microsoft in September 2017, he has held key leadership roles as the Sales Excellence Director and Solution Assessment Area Lead With over 20 years of experience in technology including senior management positions at IBM Canada, Amdocs and UXP Systems Inc , Rob is known to be an authentic leader with deep passion for people, partnerships and customer growth He resides in the Greater Toronto Area with his wife and their two boys

Its incumbent upon leaders to assess workload across teams and ensure that we ’ re not only freeing up time for employees to have balance but also to build their social capital and develop relationships with peers Employee experience platforms like VIVA can help managers in a way that’s data-driven and measures outcomes instead of simply relying on personal impressions or hoping employees will self-report Too often, resignation is when managers learn that their staff is burnt out

There’s no single solution for how organizations prioritize their people, but our workforce is our greatest asset As leaders, we have an opportunity to build on what we ’ ve learned since 2020 and create a workplace where everyone can thrive by implementing strategies and processes that both foster a productive workforce as well as a flourishing inclusive hybrid culture

Creating success for others is the real success for me

This is the very essence of what I do and what I firmly believe in – I am passionate about meeting new people who have a dream and want to work hard and need a mentor or guiding light to move ahead I strongly suggest that all people who have entrepreneurial dreams should have a coach and an inspirational guide

Having a mentor or coach who can provide guidance and support can be incredibly beneficial for aspiring entrepreneurs A good mentor will have experience and knowledge to share and offer advice and encouragement based on their successes and challenges

When I inspire and encourage the youth of today, I have an inner satisfaction of having taken someone along with me on the long journey to success. We can face the challenges together and enjoy the fruits of our success together; this builds a stronger you and a stronger team, a family, which is very important to me

Raman Dua

Raman Dua is the CEO and founder of one of the most iconic brands in the Canadian real estate industry Save Max Group The company has sold more than $13 billion worth of real estate since 2010. Save Max real estate company started in a modest basement office with a husband-and-wife team and a few neighbours. Today, Save Max has grown from strength to strength and comprises of a team of 1,000 agents with state-of-the-art corporate offices in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Orangeville, and Calgary. The group has also successfully established a network of 75 franchisees across Canada as well as progressing into expansion globally to India

Building a strong team of dedicated and motivated individuals is essential to the success of any business When you invest in your employees, providing them with opportunities for growth and development, they will be more likely to go the extra mile to help your business succeed By fostering a positive and supportive work environment, you can create a sense of teamwork and camaraderie that will help your business thrive

Inspiring and encouraging young people to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams can have a positive impact on their lives, as well as on the broader business community By sharing your experiences and insights, you can help others overcome obstacles and achieve success This fosters a sense of entrepreneurship and innovation in your community and creates opportunities for growth and development.

Participating in community ventures and working together to build a stronger community can benefit everyone involved

SME magazine and its team are doing valuable work in supporting and promoting small and medium-sized businesses By providing information, resources, and opportunities for networking and collaboration, they are helping to build a strong and vibrant business community Their efforts are worthy of recognition and support and at Save Max, we acknowledge and applaud their ongoing efforts

CEO and Founder, Save Max Group

Small Business Success: Team Work, Diversity And Leadership Within The Group

Local businesses are the heartbeat of the communities we live in, and although we may not always realize it, we rely on them daily. The pandemic put many small businesses in uncharted territory.

What stood out was their resilience Despite roadblocks and challenges, they have shown incredible courage, ingenuity and leadership And to me, that leadership has been the stand-out differentiator for businesses that thrived during the pandemic and for the ones that continue to do so

As a leader myself, I’ve learned a lot of lessons over the past 23 years, and Ive also learned so much from speaking with business leaders and owners So for my part, these are the top leadership lessons I consider really valuable and that I will be taking with me into 2023

Fail fast, learn and move forward - When things are changing constantly, the teams I see thriving feel empowered to make decisions, freely experiment and, as I like to say, “fail fast, learn and move forward.” Failure is often a necessary step to innovation. The worst thing we can do is stagnate, resist change and not make decisions.

Navin Arora

Executive Vice-president TELUS and President, TELUS Business Solutions

Navin leads nearly 6,000 purpose-driven team members who are redefining what it means to be a technology company Together, he and his team help businesses owners, leaders and teams use TELUS technology to thrive in a digital world

As part of his national portfolio, Navin oversees all customer segments, right from the small business in your neighbourhood to the largest government and private enterprises across Canada Since joining TELUS in 1999, he has spent time in almost every corner of TELUS, leading several business units and transformational programs that have driven strong growth, customer loyalty and operational excellence.

Know your team and know yourself - Strong leaders know their team I firmly believe that true success is collective, and it’s key to take the time to get to know your people so you know how to motivate them to go after your shared goals together Similarly, take the time to get very clear about the kind of leader you want to be If you aren’t being authentic, your team won’t be happy or motivated, and neither will you

Diversity is vital - When you bring people together with different backgrounds, cultures, education, gender, experience, knowledge and ideas, it drives incredible creativity and innovation, which makes for better, more resilient business

The journey to being a great leader isn’t always easy, but it will be worth it as you drive strong outcomes for your business, high engagement for your teams and amazing experiences for your customers.

On behalf of everyone at TELUS Business, here’s to a happy and healthy 2023 for you and yours

Small Business Success in Three Steps for 2023

Hank is an author, speaker, cast host and Sr Manager ient Solutions at tact, a Ziff Davis pany With a passion for hings digital and social, bined with more than 20 s of experience in sales marketing, he has been bed the Digital Marketing Infotainer because he makes marketing fun and successful.

Hank Hoffmeier

Author, Speaker, Podcast Host and Strategic Insights Manager at iContact

The last few years have been a challenge for small business owners From a pandemic to inflation, the struggle is real Now we are facing a potential economic recession in 2023 It is time to stay strong and power on By making sure to focus on what matters, you can prosper in the new year!

Here are three areas to focus on in 2023 for prosperity: Look for opportunities to save money and cut expenses

2 Respond quickly: Customers appreciate quick responses to their inquiries and complaints

3 Use customer feedback: Gathering customer feedback can help identify areas for improvement and make changes to better meet the needs of their customers

4 Offer multiple channels for support: Providing multiple channels for customer support, such as phone, social media, email, and live chat, can make it easier for customers to communicate with you

5 Make sure to listen to and address customer concerns: Listening to customer concerns and working to address them can help improve customer satisfaction and loyalty

Use marketing to grow your business

Carefully tracking and managing expenses

Negotiating better deals with suppliers and vendors

Increasing efficiency and productivity

Small businesses can save money and reduce expenses by: 1 2 3 4

Taking advantage of tax deductions and credits

Double down on customer service and support

There are several ways you can improve customer service and support: 1

Train employees to provide excellent service: Invest in customer service training to help employees understand how to effectively communicate with customers, resolve issues, and provide a positive experience

Develop a marketing plan: Creating a marketing plan can help businesses set goals, identify strategies and tactics, and allocate resources effectively

Use a variety of channels: Utilizing a mix of marketing channels, such as social media, email marketing, and content marketing, can help businesses reach a wider audience and drive sales

There are several ways that small businesses can use marketing to grow their business: 1 2 3

Implement or improve search engine optimization (SEO) strategies: Implementing SEO strategies, such as keyword research and on-page optimization, can help businesses improve their visibility in search engine results and attract more organic traffic to their website Use customer data to help inform marketing efforts: Analyzing customer data, such as demographics and purchasing behaviour, can help tailor your marketing efforts and create more targeted campaigns

Consider working with influencers or partners: Partnering with influencers or other businesses can help businesses reach new audiences and establish credibility Test and analyze marketing efforts: It is important to regularly test and analyze marketing efforts to understand what is and is not working and make adjustments as needed

Focus on your expertise and your goals

From one business owner to another, congratulations on another year of operations 2022 marked our first true foray into “normalcy” - a return to in-person meetings and social events, retail and restaurants operating at full capacity and excitement from the public to experience life as it once was As a result, this year was fast-paced, intensive and full of learning And to me, that’s what makes being a business owner so excitingovercoming challenges, adapting to the market and evolving is why we do what we do

Natasha Koifman

President, NKPR Inc.

Natasha Koifman created NKPR in 2002 to combine her two passions: sharing stories of substance and championing important causes. Under Natasha’s guidance and leadership, NKPR has established itself as a highly-regarded fullservice public relations, advertising, talent, marketing and digital agency with offices in Toronto and New York, representing over 40 diverse national and international brands This year, Natasha and the agency celebrates its milestone 20th anniversary marked by a legacy of trusted strategic counsel, innovation, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy

Recognized as one of Canada's most powerful and innovative women in public relations, Natasha has been honoured with awards including 3x Women's Executive Network (WXN) Most Powerful Woman in Canada, Notable magazine, BizBash and others.

As business owners, each year brings us our own set of challenges and our own set of opportunities, and that’s the growth we need to lean into For 2023, I encourage us to think about how we can get ahead of solving the problems that our clients and customers rely on us for For me, I am always results-driven I think about what we need the end result to be and then devise a strategic plan to get there I find this helps my team and me not only avoid getting stuck in the weeds but allows us to stay proactive versus reactive. Book meetings with your top clients and customers right off the bat to address what they hope to achieve in the year ahead, and then work backwards from there

For 2023, I also encourage fellow business owners to tune out some of the noise Because of social media, there is immense pressure to mirror what our competitors are doing, be it commenting on current events, running similar promotions or campaigns, or even offering similar services Social media is an incredible tool for inspiration and connection - leave it at that You can’t be everything for everyone, so focus on YOUR expertise, what YOUR clients/customers are looking for and what YOUR end goals need to be and don’t get caught up in what everyone else appears to be doing

I am excited about the opportunities for us going into 2023 and wish you a happy holiday and a happy new year and look forward to all of us growing, evolving and learning together

Accelerate Your Business in 2023 Using Digital Ecosystems

Namit Garg

Chief Product & Technology Officer, MIR Digital Solutions

Namit is currently the Chief Product & Technology Officer at MIR, a progressive digital transformation partner that focuses on empowering powerful innovation to help businesses succeed In his role, Namit has successfully led many Digital Transformation and Automation projects to enable data monetization, enhance customer experience, and drive growth for our clients.

As 2022 draws to a close, whether you ’ ve reached a new business target or just started as an SME, I want to personally congratulate you on being able to overcome the obstacles and finish this year beautifully

As for 2023, things will change, and you should be ready for them Businesses will seek greater fiscal flexibility, in which reducing the time-to-market window becomes critical To achieve this, you should create a digital ecosystem that connects back-office operations to front-office customer-facing teams, as well as foster a self-driven, fully transparent corporate culture This will provide a competitive edge as you adapt to the current changing economic conditions

Other than that, some of the digitization trends to watch for:

Simplify and automate legacy processes with low-code automation platforms to minimize dependence on the IT department for assistance.

Building applications from the ground up is a demanding and time-consuming process Businesses can leverage low-code platforms to develop an application within days that requires simple workflow automation but still plays an important role in expanding business operations

Enhance user experience with simple-to-create Business Applications

A product-focused approach can help organizations get solutions into the hands of customers faster than traditional IT approaches As users and even fieldservice teams rely on mobile solutions to help them expedite their operations, businesses should, without a doubt, begin adapting applications that can help them deliver benefits to the bottom line as quickly as possible

Stop using spreadsheets and start making datadriven decisions using real-time analytics

Spreadsheets are handy and easy to start But it is hard to maintain as data grows Alternate solutions, which are both simpler and easy to maintain, are replacing spreadsheets They help you visualize data in real time, which greatly improves your reaction and strategy adaptation It not only improves accessibility but also helps organizations avoid missing out on potential business opportunities

Create an interconnected system that can improve system and operations visibility

Another trend that we can anticipate is the adoption of an interconnected system In an organization, disparate systems reduce efficiency and limit infrastructure scaling Businesses can minimize these issues and maximize customer/client value by leveraging coordinated resources and collaborative and automated solutions

A message to Canadian business

owners who are motivated to attract government grant funding in 2023

As this year comes to an end and business owners begin planning for the year ahead, it’s important to consider grants as a part of your growth strategy

Throughout the year, there are numerous grant programs offered at federal, provincial, and regional levels representing billions of dollars in funding Grants offer an incredible opportunity for businesses to expand and grow, but with unclear guidelines and unpredictable intake intervals, the funding landscape in Canada can be complex As a result, many businesses miss out on grant funding opportunities due to a lack of awareness, understanding, or confidence

One way to improve your chances of securing government funding is to create a grant strategy that aligns with the most prominent funding program themes for the year ahead

This way, you can plan investments that are most likely to receive grant funding support For 2023, there are four major priorities in government funding that may be relevant to your business goals:

Environmental and green investments

Infrastructure, equipment, and facilities upgrades

Hiring and training

Technological innovation

Before making investments in the areas listed above, business owners are encouraged to pause and consider which government grant programs might be available to help their investments go further This is an important practice to adopt, as many grant funding programs require approval before eligible costs can be incurred If you have control over the timing of your investments, in some cases, it may pay off to delay or accelerate your timelines to align with funding program intake schedules

To solve the problem that many business owners face in determining which grant programs they may be eligible for, the GrantMatch team developed the GrantMatch Hub, a brand new, all-in-one platform that makes it easy to identify and apply for grants that fit your business For as little as $25 per month (when you sign up for an annual subscription), you can access customized, continually updated program matches, clear program summaries, and more.

The sign-up process is simple and takes less than 5 minutes:

Click here to create your account

Start by filling out some basic information about your business (sector, number of employees, revenue range, etc )

Choose between a monthly or annual subscription and complete checkout

Explore what the platform has to offer and begin reviewing curated grant program matches for your business

Receive new grant matches in your inbox as programs are introduced

The GrantMatch Hub gives you the tools you need to succeed in securing funding

Mike Janke

Managing Partner, GrantMatch

Mike, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of GrantMatch, founded Onager Solutions in 2010, one of the first grant management firms in Canada He grew the company for 5 years before joining forces with GrantMatch (formerly Fairtax), to form the largest grants and incentives practice in Canada

Important Ingredients For Entrepreneurs

Emerging from the Covid-19 Pandemic, 2022 found many small business owners grasping for help and employees of other firms discovering their entrepreneurial spirit as they were forced to plunge into survival mode This unprecedented catastrophe revealed the susceptibility of Canadian SME owners, especially those of the Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) underrepresented communities As it also illuminated the aspiring entrepreneurial strength revealing their resiliency, creativity, desire, and courage to take the risk to pivot and discover their untapped ideas and talents These are the fundamental components required to evoke sustainable and generational wealth and for small business owners to empower their businesses in 2023. An empowered business and business owner promote growth which leads to success stories beyond the infinite Entrepreneurs are leaders in the business community who impact the economy of this great Nation, Canada Thus, it is imperative to remain intentional and focus on the vision and mission of the company, set pragmatic goals, and motivate and empower employees, clients, and, most of all, themselves to succeed Knowledge is power Thus, the willingness to engage in lifelong learning in this everchanging business landscape of technology and trends keep the business and its owner relevant with an edge over the competition that foresees the demands of Clients ahead of 2023 and beyond It is important to note that whilst the vision and mission of the business may be steadfast, the logistics to achieve the desired profitable outcome could waiver Thus, an accurate evaluation of the business feasibility that identifies gaps, challenges and successes may prove fruitful to pivot through the revision of the existing business plan

Securing a mentor(s) is the perfect opportunity to learn and ask questions Mentors can be the second eye and voice of reason to help with the evaluation and feasibility of the business and its plan Mentors come in various capacities, such as business associates, avid seasoned business owners, friends, family, and mental health professionals with subject matter expertise equipped to examine, analyze and measure the effectiveness of the business strategy for the current marketing, customer service delivery, subject matter knowledge, and financials. According to the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), research shows that "while Canadian business owners expect to go through continuous financial hardship, many are still confident in their ability to weather the upcoming storms " Empowered Small Business Owners delivering Excellence from a Strong Foundation can weather the storm in 2023 as they recognize the economic, environmental, and social impact when business owners are diverse, inclusive, and socially responsible that effect positive change that addresses social injustice and equity in their daily business operation, administration and acquisition May 2023 be the year of Empowerment, Growth and Profitability as Small Business Owners continue to nurture the roots of prosperity

Michelle Meghie

A business opportunity idea which the universe revealed to her. She grew the business out of her passion for the love of weddings and people.

Michelle worked in the public sector full time for over 3 decades of which over ten of those years the business remained constant and profitable as a side hustle.

Michelle Meghie, is an entrepreneur, an Event Planner and Wedding and Baptism Officiant licenced by the Province of Ontario

President of the Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce

Luc Godard

Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Cubeler

Luc Godard, the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Cubeler has over 25 years of marketing experience in consumer goods, electronics, information technology, and services industries. He has worked in various senior executive positions, with world-renowned companies like Adidas, Harman, Boston Acoustics, and Brother Industries, in the United Kingdom, France, China, the USA, and Canada.

Luc earned his Master's in Business Administration and a Bachelor's in International Business and Regulations at EMBA Business School

AI Will Be The Future Of SMEs

SMEs across Canada must not be afraid to embrace technology and should welcome it into their business processes AI is where SMEs will find the needed edge to succeed and stay competitive Do not be afraid of embracing it You’ll find it can help with everything from dayto-day tasks to inventory management and with the overall optimization of your business As with Cubeler, where our Pillars are centred around Financing, Networking, Advertising, and Market intelligence, we ’ re planning on implementing and using AI in multiple ways to help all SMEs with those four focal points. As we move into 2023, businesses need to start taking advantage of everything they can get their hands on, and incorporating AI can help with optimization if implemented correctly It is the future, and if you don’t take its benefit, your competitors will

The most important thing SMEs need to remember is that integrating AI doesn’t have to be expensive by any means; implementing something as simple as a chatbot on your website can help customer interactions Use AI for inventory management to ensure you are never over or understocked on items You can even use it to get an idea of what sells best if youre in a retail environment to optimize your sales and increase your profits In short, there is a place for AI in almost every aspect of your business, and its up to you to decide how best to use it to your advantage

2023—A Year to Embrace Change and Seize Opportunities

A new year typically triggers strong sentiments of optimism for many Its the ideal time to embrace a fresh start or launch new ideas But this year marks a time of significant opportunity for business because to riff off an old adage the best time to change is when things are changing And change we have

The radical shifts organizations have experienced over the past few years have resulted in a drastic sea change in how we work and in our employees’, customers’ and clients’ expectations. But we can miss the mark in leveraging these opportunities if we ’ re not intentional, strategic and proactive

In the spirit of truly wishing everyone the best of success in “upping your game ” in 2023, I thought Id share the following five considerations that I am using to guide my reflection and 2023 planning for our Firms: 1

Clarity: Dedicating time to confirm that our vision, mission, goals and values are clearly defined and described; and ensuring that there is a clear WHY behind the changes that we have implemented and plan to roll out Commitment: Confirming leadership alignment and commitment to the vision, mission, goals and values and to the intended direction

Communication: Launching the year by articulating and reinforcing the vision, mission, goals and values, both directly through team meetings and in writing through our processes, policies and procedures. This will include communicating the clear WHY behind the changes we have made and will make

Laura has built two highly respected firms, Williams HR Law LLP and Williams HR Consulting Inc , which respectively provide proactive HR law and HR consulting advice designed to minimize workplace law challenges, maximize employee engagement and boost bottom line performance

Laura is also a seasoned workplace investigator, routinely engaged to conduct complex workplace investigations, and organizational reviews and is recognized for specific expertise in investigations related to equity, diversity and inclusion.

Consistency: Establishing measures to monitor progress towards our goals and to ensure we don’t bypass implementing tough decisions Hard things are hard

Care: Religiously devoting time to indulge in self-care There should be no goals that trump mental health and overall wellness Vigilantly engaging in a rest, reboot and recharge regime is the most crucial factor to successfully staying on track and achieving established goals in 2023

Laura Williams

Managing Partner and CEO, Williams HR Law LLP and Williams HR Consulting Inc.

Christelle Francois

Embrace The New Economic Reality: Making 2023 Your Best Year Yet

Greetings entrepreneurs,

Christelle Francois is a bilingual executive and entrepreneur who has the pulse on the leaders of business, innovation and advocacy. She possesses extensive experience as a Strategy Consultant where she specializes in growth acceleration, revenue model design and optimization solutions for various companies and organizations

Christelle is the Founder of a firm titled; Untold & Co Agency, where she and her team service an array of clients in securing corporate and government partnerships, curating digital strategies and executing 360 integrated PR campaigns Her passion for civic engagement led her to assist in leading the 2019 and 2020 Lobby Day initiative with our current Prime Minister.

Dont be afraid to seek help and pivot when necessary Embrace innovative digital tools that can help you optimize your processes and funding opportunities for your business Canada does a fantastic job at providing funding resources, and I encourage you to take advantage.

Believe in yourself and your vision. You are the driving force behind your business, and you need to have the confidence to see it through Believe in your idea and trust yourself to make it happen Keep learning and growing by remaining open The business world is constantly changing, and it's important to stay up-to-date and continue learning new things Don't be afraid to seek out new opportunities to accelerate your company

Surround yourself with a supportive network Building a successful business takes a team, so don't be afraid to reach out and build relationships with other like-minded individuals They can provide valuable support, resources, and advice

Stay focused and stay on track It's easy to get sidetracked or overwhelmed by all the tasks you need to complete, but it's important to stay focused on your goals Make a plan and stick to it

Being a business owner is not for the faint of heart It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and perseverance to turn your vision into a reality More importantly, it requires an unwavering desire and commitment to actualize your business and pivot when necessary Furthermore, our economic growth as a society depends and relies on courageous leaders like yourselves to build and grow companies to greater heights This new year is an opportunity to embrace the new changes that our new economic reality presents I have prepared five tips that I believe will be helpful for your entrepreneurial journey this year: 1 2. 3 4 5 I hope that this list helps you remember the inner power that you have and that you keep these things in mind as you work towards building and growing your business We are grateful for all of the hard work that you do and how you contribute to the economic progression of Canada.

Founder of Untold & Co Agency and EVP of Government Affairs & Strategic Partnerships at Skill For Change

Startup Canada: Eliminating Barriers For Canadian Small Businesses

There is no doubt about it - the past few years have been challenging for small business owners across Canada. From the ever-changing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to an economic downturn and significant shifts in the tech industry

Despite these challenges, we ’ ve continued to see entrepreneurs from coast to coast push towards a future where more tools and resources are made available to run and grow a small business in Canada!

At Startup Canada, we know the power and importance of small businesses and entrepreneurship to the Canadian economy That’s why we continue to develop programs and initiatives that eliminate barriers and champion the needs of Canadian small businesses to both private and public sector partners

Kayla Isabelle

CEO - Startup Canada

Kayla Isabelle is the Chief Executive Officer at Startup Canada, the gateway to Canada’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Startup Canada's mission is to connect Canada’s entrepreneurs with the tools, community, and support they need to start and build their businesses Kayla has dedicated her career to supporting entrepreneurs and is passionate about leveraging the power of storytelling in the business community, particularly for women entrepreneurs, as the host of the Startup Women Podcast

At the beginning of 2022, we restructured our flagship programs to provide this support to entrepreneurs all year long One stand-out outcome from this shift in our programming was the formation of the Startup Women Advocacy Network (SWAN) Our program lead, Isabel Nolan, curated a group of early-stage, womanidentifying entrepreneurs from each province and territory who advocate the importance of women ' s entrepreneurship Through roundtable discussions with the government, storytelling, and public speaking opportunities, SWAN has championed the importance of women and representation in Canada’s entrepreneurial ecosystem Pushing us closer to making Canada the best place to be a small business owner

The work doesn’t stop there We’re continuing to advocate for entrepreneurs in 2023 with the launch of our annual programs, including the continuation of SWAN, StartupGov, and our free Business Owner’s Toolbox As well as our soon-to-be-launched Startup Tour, which will bring us back on the road and connect entrepreneurs with support organizations from across the country!

Every day I have the privilege of meeting with ecosystem partners and know first-hand that Canadian entrepreneurs have the talent, passion, and drive to succeed in today’s economy. I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together

To learn more about Startup Canada and our annual programs and offerings for small businesses and entrepreneurs, visit startupcan ca

Gettingreadytoexport: 5thingstoremember

As international risk experts, EDC helps Canadian companies navigate, manage and take on risk to support their growth beyond Canada’s borders

You may not be thinking about exporting just yet, but you should consider tackling a new market one day, here are five things to remember:

Think globally from the start A good place to start is the name of your brand Is it used elsewhere? If so, you might want to change it or tweak it so that when you are ready to export, it won’t be a problem Also, think about incorporating your business early on in order to access grants that might help you expand slowly but surely

Julie Pottier

Senior Vice-President, Small Business, Commercial Markets and Partnerships, Export Development Canada

Appointed Senior Vice-President, Small Business, Partnerships and Head of Insurance, in March 2021, Julie Pottier’s mandate is at the core of how EDC serves Canadian companies as they grow their business internationally. From identifying opportunities to better meet the needs of customers for Micro/Small business portfolio of Canadian exporters, her responsibilities also include elevating awareness of EDC by engaging with customers, banks and partners to facilitate trade-related business opportunities. The Small Business, and Partnerships team has played a vital role in supporting our customers and partners throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and is committed to continuing to support while Canada is on the journey towards economic recovery

Have an export plan. Success doesnt happen overnight, but if a big opportunity comes knocking, you’ll want to be prepared. Financial support may be needed to ensure that your company has the capabilities to meet the demand They are many great programs out there to help businesses take full advantage of new opportunities, such as the trade accelerator program, with cohorts for diverse businesses, including women- and Indigenous-owned businesses

Pick a market With the United States so close, many Canadian companies make it their natural market What is surprising is that some of these companies don’t see it as “exporting” but only as “selling ” There are many different regional markets within the US that might be interesting for your company Growing one small market at a time is what we call a long-game export plan, allowing you to take full opportunities of many markets along the way

Ask the experts. Have an Advisory Board. Surround yourself with experts that can give you advice. Companies that are exporting can share their experience and show you how not to make the same mistakes they did

Take advantage of existing programs and networks EDC has documentation listing the various programs available to SMEs and a dedicated team ready to help, guide and support you

Small Businesses In Canada Need To Embrace Digital Marketing

Through both Jelly Marketing and Jelly Academy, we love any opportunity we get to lend support to small businesses across Canada In 2022, Jelly Marketing was able to become a digital advisor for the new Canadian Digital Adoption Program put on by the Government of Canada This program helps smallmedium-sized businesses across the country gain a better understanding of digital marketing and the tools that are available to them as business owners Through this program, Jelly has been able to work closely with so many amazing businesses and help show them all that’s available for their digital marketing success.

In Jelly Academys recently conducted study regarding the retention of digital marketing roles in Canada, it was found that workplace training and reskilling was one of the top desired resources that Canadian business owners felt would aid in the longer-term retention of new hires

With all that small businesses have endured in the past few years, we know the power that digital marketing has to offer businesses across Canada and feel strongly about encouraging business owners to take advantage of all that is available to them Jelly Academy offers private corporate digital marketing training for businesses looking to upskill their staff, as well as individualized courses for those wanting to focus on one area We love to empower small businesses and set them up with tools that have the potential to completely transform their business!

On behalf of the team at Jelly Marketing and Jelly Academy, a huge congratulations to every small business thats persevered through 2022, and we wish nothing but the best for you all in 2023!

Jelly is a team of high-energy go-getters, storytellers, and experts in all things digital Specializing in Social Media Marketing, SEO, Digital Advertising, Public Relations, and Content Marketing, Jelly services a wide range of clients in all industries from real estate to law firms

Jelly Academy is a digital marketing school based out of Vancouver, BC Jelly Academy focuses on helping students upskill, reskill, and gain the necessary micro credentials to thrive in the world of digital marketing

Canadian Small Businesses’

Greatest Asset Is Their Resilience

As many others do, I spend considerable time at the end of each year to reflect on the year that’s about to close and think about what will come in the year that’s about to open And as I sit here thinking about where we have been and where we must go, a deep sense of uncertainty still takes over But unlike the years since the pandemic hit us in 2020, a feeling of excitement arises at the same time; while 2023 won’t be easy, it will be chock full of opportunities And if any one thing small businesses across Canada have built up since March of 2020, that is resilience. And in turn, that resilience provided energy to fight through whatever roadblocks came their way. Surely, 2023 will have its fair share of challenges, and they will come in the form of inflationary pressures, continued customer behaviour changes and general economic and political uncertainty Here are a few ideas on how to tackle them:

Rising inflation will surely continue to put excess pressure on the costs of goods and services sold But don’t continue to dig into your margin in hopes of staying competitive – price increases will have to happen But remember, your customers aren't as sensitive to actual price as they are to value for their money A price increase, supported by an increase in value through other but related benefits, will land much better

Just as your businesses evolve through these challenging times, your customers’ needs will do the same Their behaviours will change accordingly, and it is imperative that you stay close to these changes So “get out of the building” and talk to your customers; ask them what keeps them up at night, what pains they have, and what gains they want to achieve. Their “jobs to be done” are going to evolve, and your offering must, as well I think everyone can agree that general levels of uncertainty require agility and the ability to pivot These shifts may be required across several elements of your business model, from value propositions and new customer segments to distribution channels and revenue streams Strategyzer’s Business Model Canvas is a perfect tool to help sketch out all elements in order to better understand how and when to adapt them to the changes that 2023 will bring

Miki Velemirovich

Chief Marketing Officer, Strategyzer.

Miki Velemirovich is a senior executive, consultant, strategic advisor and speaker in the exciting space of B2B Marketing As former President of Cargo, the awardwinning Business-to-Small-Business (B2SB) marketing agency and consultancy, he has helped brands like Lenovo, RBC and SkipTheDishes build stronger and more valuable engagement with their Small Business customers. As Canada’s expert in the world of B2SB, he has shared many valuable insights on physical and virtual stages, and through digital content channels.

Let Your Brand Do the Talking in 2023

For many, the holiday season is a time of rest and relaxation But as a small business owner, time is of the essence From managing inventory to connecting with customers, there’s no time to rest on your laurels, let alone rest at all

The start of a new year, however, is synonymous with a refresh, and carving out a moment for reflection is imperative And in 2023, I encourage all Canadian SBOs to feel empowered about the possibilities that a new year brings and to get comfortable with the uncomfortable.

Let’s face it. Even if the business is going well, there’s always competition You might be the best baker or plumber out there, but in increasingly uncertain times, the product or service you offer is just as important as the experience you strive to create and the identity you want to share with the world

Luckily, there are several affordable ways to elevate your brand – and Vista can help

Most important? Bridging the gap between online and offline Prioritizing your digital footprint, including your website and social media presence, can open the door to new business opportunities while giving you a chance to build community with compelling, customized content Affordable site-building tools and social media templates make it easier than ever to refresh your identity and publish content that reflects your brand’s unique presence.

Even if marketing and design are one element of your business that keeps you up at night, you should never be afraid to try something new Simply bringing your brand to life on items like business cards, stationery and banners can help you stand out by setting the tone for what customers can expect New, flexible DIY design tools mean you don’t have to sacrifice quality if you ’ re not able to hire a freelance designer

Regardless of where your business is at on its journey, let 2023 be the year your brand magnifies your impact as a small business If you take the time to reevaluate, I’m confident you’ll bring new customers to your brand and forge stronger relationships with those who have been by your side since day one.

Erin Shea

Senior Director and Head of North America Marketing for Vista

Erin Shea is Senior Director and Head of North America Marketing for Vista, the design and marketing partner to millions of small businesses around the world

Small businesses are the foundation of our economy, creating jobs and resiliency, adding vibrancy to our communities, and making our cities a place of opportunity to live and work This, in turn, attracts talent, investment and opportunity – to every city across the country

According to Statistics Canada, small businesses employ over 10 3 million individuals across the country – almost twothirds (63.8%) of Canada’s total labour force. Not only are they primary employers, but they are also entrepreneurs, innovators, service providers and supply chain users As such, small businesses play an important role in our economic growth, recovery and longterm resiliency

While the past few years have not been easy for the business community, small businesses have demonstrated strength and resilience, contributing approximately 40 percent to the national GDP Now, more than ever, governments at all levels must collaborate with businesses to develop solutions that support and empower them, including addressing the labour gap and decreasing barriers that contribute to transactional friction To promote small business resilience, an emphasis on skills development along with investments in infrastructure and affordability measures must be considered.

Despite setbacks of the pandemic years and the challenges presented by the currently inflationary environment, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Business Outlook Survey finds that 70 percent of businesses across Canada are optimistic about their outlook in 2023

Our communities are stronger because of small businesses I encourage you to remain adaptable, innovative, and creative because small businesses are integral to our economic resilience, will be the driver of future growth, and are truly the beating heart of our cities

Small Businesses Play A Vital Role In Canada's Economic Growth

Deborah Yedlin

President and CEO, Calgary Chamber of Commerce

Deborah Yedlin joined the Calgary Chamber of Commerce in July 2021 with a background that includes experience on Wall Street and Bay Street, and more than two decades as a business columnist for various media outlets, commenting on the nexus of business and politics since 1996

Since moving to Calgary in 1992, Yedlin has been very active in the Calgary community - as a board member on a number of not-for-profit organizations and served as the 14th Chancellor of the University of Calgary from 2018-2022. She is currently one of three co-chairs of the $250 million Calgary Cancer Centre fundraising campaign.

Inclusive Business Practices: The Best Way For Small Businesses To Grow

Darrell Schuurman

Co-Founder & CEO, CGLCC – Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce

Darrell is an advocate of effecting social change through the economic empowerment of LGBT+ entrepreneurs He is the cofounder and CEO of the CGLCC, Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce, a national not-for-profit organization with a mission to expand the opportunities and advancement of the LGBT+ business community in Canada.

Creating an inclusive Canadian economy is at the heart of what we do at Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce We are working to create access and opportunities for the more than 100,000 LGBT+owned businesses across the country

2022 demonstrated the need to continue to work and fight for LGBT+ inclusion Research showed that LGBT+ businesses continue to face significant challenges and barriers, including access to financing and mentorship and ongoing discrimination Rights for members of the LGBT+ community in some places around the world were stripped away And acts of violence against the LGBT+ community, both here in Canada and around the world, continued

So that’s why, for 2023, we ’ re committed to continuing to advocate for Canada’s LGBT+ business community, working to drive economic empowerment and ultimately driving social change We’ll be delivering programming and creating connections in an effort to support continued economic growth for the LGBT+ community and our communities at large

If you ’ re an LGBT+owned business, 2023 is the year for you to step out and become certified As a certified LGBT+ business, CGLCC is able to open doors and create opportunities for you with a growing number of corporations and governments actively looking to do business with LGBT+ companies The more companies that become certified, the more opportunities are made available, and the more economic impact we ’ re creating

For other SMEs and corporations across the country, I encourage you to explore ways that you can engage more LGBT+ suppliers into your procurement activities There is significant value in diversifying your supply chain, no matter what size of business you operate

And for all SMEs, 2023 will continue to see the importance of having inclusive workplaces With the ongoing war for top talent, companies need to outwardly demonstrate inclusive policies and practices. CGLCC’s Rainbow Registered program is there to support those companies that have made that commitment to ensuring an inclusive and welcoming space for LGBT+ employees and customers

CGLCC is looking forward to the year ahead We’re here to support all SMEs, corporations, and governments that are working to ensure that an inclusive economy includes the LGBT+ community

Canadians are building a new generation of startups

Danish Yusuf is the Founder and CEO of Zensurance. He is a former leader in McKinsey & Company's digital insurance practice supporting insurance clients globally on defining their digital strategies Before McKinsey, Danish was a software architect and developer at IBM Canada, covering everything from mainframe development to web development

Danish earned a bachelor's degree in Software Engineering from the University of Toronto and has an MBA from Harvard Business School

of Zensurance

No one disputes the value and inventiveness Canadian small businesses bring to the broader economy But with a possible recession on the horizon, some may wonder if small business owners are able to overcome what obstacles lay ahead

Available Statistics Canada data shows of the 1 2 million employer businesses in Canada, 97 9% are small businesses employing more than 16 million people Notably, microenterprises (companies with one to four employees) make up 55 3% By adding organizations with five to nine employees, the number increases to 74 1% That speaks to the strength of the entrepreneurial spirit that thrives in our country, not to mention the vital contributions these companies make to our economy

But the year ahead poses many significant challenges for small business owners Inflation remains stubbornly high, and the Bank of Canada raised its benchmark rate to 4 25% in November With the threat of consumer demand for goods and services dipping amidst these unpleasantries, understandable concerns abound

Connecting with as many small businesses as we do, we are close to the ever-changing complexities they face. Although more could be done to help the community prosper, we take the feedback we get and do what we can to alleviate some of the pain points facing today's entrepreneurs

Moreover, last July, we surveyed small business owners and found 60% were confident they would be successful in the second half of 2022 despite the pandemic's negative impact on their revenues Canada's record-high inflation was at an eye-watering 8 1% at the time

It was inspiring to see the majority of small business owners so confident when looking ahead, and it speaks to their resiliency It's precisely that same dogged determination Canadians have shown time, and again that will empower business owners to weather these challenges and inspire others to be bold, and fearless, and launch new startups

I’m reminded of an influential thinker on business management and leadership, Peter Drucker, who once said, “the best way to predict the future is to create it ” It’s a perspective many of us share, and as Canadian small business owners have demonstrated, it’s the way forward.

Danish Yusuf, Founder and CEO

Small Businesses are the Heart and Soul of Our Communities

Dear fellow small business owners,

As we enter the new year, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the challenges and triumphs of the past year and to offer words of encouragement and support

As the co-founder of a startup, I know firsthand the unique struggles and obstacles that small business owners face From financial uncertainty and limited resources to the constant hustle of balancing multiple responsibilities, it can be a difficult and overwhelming journey

But despite the challenges, I have also seen the incredible resilience, determination, and creativity of small businesses. You are the driving force behind the local economy, the heart of your communities, and the source of innovation and progress

As we move into the new year, I want to remind you of the power and potential that you hold You are capable of achieving great things, and your hard work and dedication are what make it possible

So, as you set your goals and plans for the year ahead, remember to believe in yourself and your abilities Don't be afraid to take risks and try new things, and always stay true to your values and vision

And know that you are not alone There are countless other small business owners out there who are facing the same challenges and opportunities as you We are all in this together, and by supporting and empowering each other, we can help each other succeed

The Riipen community is here to support you in accomplishing your goals for 2023 We know that small businesses face a never ending list of to-do’s

As you plan and prepare, take a look at our marketplace for all the ways that working with students can help you achieve your goals and give you some time back to focus on your mission and vision.

So, here's to a successful and fulfilling year ahead Let's continue to work hard, stay focused, and never give up on our dreams

With heartfelt thanks and appreciation, Dana Stephenson CEO, Riipen

Dana Stephenson

Co-Founder and CEO of Riipen

Dana Stephenson is the Co-Founder and CEO of Riipen – a future of work platform specialized in scaling experiential learning opportunities for learners of all backgrounds Recently awarded BC Business Top 30 Under 30, Dana's entrepreneurial journey started when he set out on a mission to end graduate underemployment by ensuring that every student has access to authentic experiential learning opportunities to better support their transition into the workforce upon graduation.

CFIB encourages resiliency and innovation among independent business owners across Canada

Dear small business owners,

As we wrap up the year, I want to thank all of you for everything you do to support your community and our country While 2022 marked the beginning of the long road to business recovery, there's no doubt that this year also came with its own set of challenges

CFIB is working hard to support businesses like yours now and into the new year as many small businesses are dealing with rising costs, hiring challenges and pandemic debt

We’re asking the federal government to pause or cancel planned tax hikes and not make fresh changes to the EI system that may disincentivize workers from returning to work and calling on provinces to avoid plans to introduce or expand mandatory paid sick leave And we are pushing for major changes to immigration policies and training supports to grow Canada’s labour force.

We’re also calling on the government to further extend the CEBA repayment deadline to the end of 2024, increase the forgivable portion to 50% and allow businesses that received the loan in good faith but were later deemed ineligible to keep the forgivable portion

CFIB’s years of advocacy helped win ground on credit card merchant fees I’m pleased to report that the Fall Economic Statement commits the federal government to lower credit card merchant fees for small businesses CFIB is actively involved in these discussions with the government, banks and credit card companies as we advocate for fairness in the payments industry

Beyond this year ’ s policy challenges, I’m proud of the work we ’ ve done to support businesses like yours We helped thousands of businesses recoup money from a credit card class action settlement with Visa and Mastercard If you haven’t applied, the deadline was extended to December 30, 2022 See if you ’ re eligible here

I know the past few years have not been easy, but I continue to be incredibly impressed by the resiliency and innovation among independent business owners like you across Canada

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season, a merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year.

Dan Kelly

President and CEO, CFIB

Dan Kelly serves as President, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board of Governors of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). In this capacity, Dan is the lead spokesperson and advocate for the views of the Federation’s 110,000 small and medium-sized member businesses

The Government Of Canada Is Committed To Supporting Small Businesses

Clinton Lawrence-Whyte joined Procurement Assistance Canada as its Director General in November 2020. Prior to this, he obtained an Honours BA in Political Science from the University of Winnipeg and an MA in Public Administration from both the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg Clinton has held several other executive level positions within Public Services and Procurement Services Canada, in which he was responsible for leading the provision of strategic and operational expertise and support to procurement operations.

Clinton has also occupied executive roles within Global Affairs Canada and the Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada In his current role, one of Clinton’s key priorities is to help make it easier for smaller and diverse businesses to bid on federal contracting opportunities and increase supplier diversity in federal procurement.

Procurement Assistance Canada and its network of regional offices can help Canadian Businesses to understand better and navigate the procurement process so they can get “ bid ready” by learning:

How the government buys goods and services; How to sell to the federal government; How to find opportunities; How to use online services

To find out more To benefit from Procurement Assistance Canada’s services, Canadian businesses can visit Canada.ca/PAC to learn about our services or locate a local PAC Regional Office.

Le gouvernement du Canada s'est engagé à soutenir les petites entreprises

Clinton Lawrence-Whyte s’est joint à l'équipe de Soutien en approvisionnement Canada à titre de directeur général en novembre 2020 Avant cette nomination, il a obtenu un baccalauréat spécialisé en science politique de l'Université de Winnipeg et une maîtrise en administration publique de l'Université du Manitoba et de l'Université de Winnipeg Clinton a occupé d'autres postes de direction au sein de Services publics et approvisionnement Canada, dans lesquels il était chargé de diriger les activités visant à fournir une expertise stratégique et opérationnelle et du soutien dans le cadre du processus d'approvisionnement.

Il a également occupé des postes de direction au sein d'Affaires mondiales Canada et du Secrétariat du Conseil du Trésor du Canada Dans son rôle actuel, l’une des principales priorités de Clinton est de faciliter la participation des entreprises plus petites aux occasions de marché du gouvernement fédéral et à accroître la diversité des fournisseurs dans les marchés publics fédéraux.

Soutien en approvisionnement Canada et son réseau de bureaux régionaux peuvent aider les entreprises canadiennes à mieux comprendre et naviguer le processus d’approvisionnement pour qu’ils soient prêt à présenter des soumissions en apprenant la :

• façon dont le gouvernement achète des biens et des services;

• façon de vendre des biens et des services au gouvernement fédéral;

• façon de trouver des occasions de marché;

• façon d’utiliser les services en ligne

How high-growth companies are getting legal superpowers in 2023

Brett Colvin

Co-founder & CEO, Goodlawyer

Brett Colvin is Goodlawyer’s Co-founder and CEO. Brett has overseen Goodlawyer’s growth from inception to a 25-person team Brett was a corporate lawyer for 4+ years, and he experienced firsthand that most business owners can't afford the legal help they need So, he quit the big firm, teamed up with a developer and a designer, and got to work on building something better Brett has a Juris Doctor (JD), Law, with Distinction from the University of Alberta (2015)

Are you a founder looking for a cost-effective way to get top-tier legal expertise for your business? Fractional legal counsel may be the answer Like fractional CFOs and CMOs, fractional legal counsel offers sophisticated, embedded expertise flexibly and cost-effectively This is perfect for start-ups, scale-ups, and mid-market companies looking for a more efficient way to get the legal support they need, as well as for short-term projects such as product launches or compliance reviews

There are several benefits to using fractional legal counsel Firstly, you'll build a trusted business relationship for the medium- to long-term. Unlike ad hoc support from a conventional firm, fractional legal counsel creates a recurring business relationship and becomes an expert in your business, providing actionable and nuanced legal advice that supports better business decisions They also help improve internal operations and strategy by proactively managing tasks and risks before issues arise In some cases, fractional legal counsel even replaces the senior law firm partner as the CEO’s primary counsellor, becoming a core member of management and participating in decisions and actions about both law and business

But the benefits don't stop there The Great Resignation has been keenly felt in the legal sector, leading to top-tier legal experts leaving traditional law firms and looking for alternative engagements and fractional roles This is great news for start-ups and scale-ups, especially those in regulated industries, as senior legal expertise and guidance are essential to long-term success

It is easier than ever to find the ideal fractional legal counsel candidate with strong technical legal training, experience working with successful organizations in your industry, and years of practice operating in a practical, business-minded way

But perhaps the biggest benefit of fractional legal counsel is cost efficiency and transparency It's easy for executive teams to lose track of external legal engagements and fees, but with fractional legal counsel, you'll have a clear understanding of the time and resources being spent on your legal matters Plus, you'll have the flexibility to scale your legal support up or down as your business needs change

So don't let the high cost of traditional law firms hold you back from getting the legal expertise your business needs

Consider hiring a fractional legal counsel to provide top-tier, cost-effective legal support for your business To learn more, google Goodlawyer Fractional Counsel or send me a note on LinkedIn Happy Holidays and best wishes for a productive and impactful 2023!

Anna Sinclair

Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Total Mom Inc.

Anna Sinclair is a Canadian award-winning entrepreneur, businesswoman and investor She’s the CEO of an Online Education & Media brand called Total Mom Inc that produces programs, event experiences, products and services that take moms from overwhelmed to supported personally and professionally Anna produced and launched Canada’s largest holistic festival for moms called The Total Mom Show in partnership with some of North America’s largest brands to support moms navigating life as a mother. The Total Mom Business Community has an annual reach of 24M + in Canada & US and supports ambitious working moms through a community of 20k+ moms across channels and lists, making it known as one of the fastest growing online business communities of mom entrepreneurs

A message to those juggling growing their business and family

A very special shout out to everyone out there who is growing both a business and a family and showing up daily to grind it out If it were easy, everyone would be doing it That statement has stuck with me since the day I first heard it

There is a reason why not everyone can be a small business owner It’s HARD work Now add raising a family on top of that, and you have a seemingly impossible task, but we do it to create a future for our family

As a business owner and mother of two young boys, I know how hard it is for both a present parent and strategic business owner that stays on top of the growth

Some days it may feel like your wheels are spinning in the mud with endless to-do lists and visions to roll out With the continuous pressure to be it all, do it all, and change the world, it’s okay to take a moment and pause

When you ’ re in work mode, allow yourself to squeeze in some fun work trips, celebrate with your team and reward yourself for your hard work It is also important to give yourself time to step back, fill your cup and do other “non-work” related things Give yourself permission to be fully present as a business owner and a parent Life is short, and tomorrow is never guaranteed

So cheers to all the caregivers and business owners who are making moves and doing their best. I wish you all endless personal and professional possibilities this year. May 2023 bring you growth and a sense of pride for how far you have come

Simplifying Your Business: The Peninsula Way

It has been a tough year for small business owners While it may not always seem that things will get easier next year, Im confident they will get better – and we can help Peninsula is trusted by over 5,100 Canadian small business owners to navigate HR and OHS challenges during and after the pandemic We will continue to be by your side in the New Year and guide you through every step of the way when it comes to employee management and building a strong HR and health & safety infrastructure in your workplace

We understand the challenges small business owners face We know how valuable your time is when you are doing everything on your own and how essential it is to save costs in a time of rising inflation. This is why our services are tailored to be affordable for small businesses We act as your own inhouse team of HR and health & safety experts, backed by our service promise – for only a fraction of the cost

We offer 24/7 HR and OHS support through our adviceline If you have a workplace issue – be it night or day – our experts are there to provide you with answers on the spot Whether you’d like to organize your HR professionally with employment contracts, policies, and documentation or want to build a safe workplace, we will help you put that into place

We are dedicated to helping your business grow and succeed Peninsula will continue to add more services and features to our offerings to make it easier for you to not only run your business but keep your business protected. Wishing you all a new year filled with health and happiness

All the best, Tony

Tony Rosati

Chief Executive Officer at Peninsula Canada

As the Chief Executive Officer at Peninsula Canada, Tony Rosati is responsible for the national operations of the company He brings more than 20 years of experience to the role and is a guiding force in providing outstanding client service, driving profitable results, and taking the company to new heights

Tony is a champion of small businesses across Canada He understands they are not only job creators and employers of many Canadians, but that small businesses are the backbone of the economy.

What Every SMO Must Do To Be Safe and Succeed Digitally

Sai Huda

Just about every small and medium organization (SMO) is operating digitally. Who doesn’t use email and have a website?

This means you have an attack surface and are a potential target of cyber attackers The bad guys have figured out that you, as an SMO, are digital, have an attack surface and can be attacked from thousands of miles away They know they can easily break into your work network, steal valuable data and install ransomware, lock you down and demand a ransom payment, and the impact on you will be very significant According to IBM, the average cost of a data breach for an SMO is $5 4 million This is why SMOs are increasingly being attacked So what can you do?

You must adopt Canada’s national cybersecurity standard, CAN/CIOSC 104, Baseline Cyber Security Controls for Small and Medium Organizations (SMOs) I had the honour and privilege to help author the national standard It was published by Canadas CIO Strategy Council with support from the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED). It prescribes 55 controls for an SMO in order to be secure

These controls are to prevent, detect and respond to a cyberattack and do deliver an adequate defence

For example, one of the prescribed controls is to regularly scan your website and Internet-facing assets to detect and remove any vulnerabilities that an attacker can exploit to break in CyberCatch scanned a random sample of 19,375 websites of SMOs and detected 82% with vulnerabilities By scanning regularly, one can detect vulnerabilities and eliminate and prevent an attacker from breaking in This is an example of prevention control

The national standard is the world’s first cybersecurity standard for SMOs, and we should be proud in Canada for creating it to keep SMOs safe

You are the growth engine of Canada, and we must keep you safe from cyber threats Please download the national standard and the 15Minute Guide and adopt them right away

The key to success is to first recognize that you are operating digitally, have an attack surface and are a target. Then take the necessary step to implement an adequate defence so you can navigate the digital waters and thrive as an SMO May you continue to thrive and be successful Your success is Canadas success

Founder, Chairman and CEO CyberCatch

Sai Huda is the founder, CEO, and chairman of CyberCatch He is a worldwide known risk and cybersecurity expert, the author of the bestselling book “Next Level Security”, and a regular keynote speaker at several industry conferences.

Small Businesses Should Stay Focused On Activities That Align With Their Goals

Up until recently, business owners have been operating in a period where there is very little visibility of what’s ahead of them, as though we are navigating through the fog and can only see a few feet ahead of us We are reacting to environmental fluctuations, such as meeting product demand, supply issues, inflation and labour and staffing issues All of us, at one point or another, have slightly digressed from our strategy and adjusted goals as a response

The start of 2023 is a great time to evaluate and take stock of your business today Here are considerations for planning your 2023 strategy

Identify your core competencies and the revenue-generating activities for your business, including an evaluation of your target customers, partners and products/services etc

Identify the gaps and bottlenecks in your business that hinder growth

Whether it is a dependency on one supplier or specific staffing needs, really take the time to understand your vulnerabilities from a business standpoint

Ritu Kohli-Sethi

Managing Partner at Greater Toronto Executive Centre

Ritu Kohli-Sethi’s career began during the second year of her university education, as a Commercial Broker in the Property and Casualty Industry in the late 1990’s After 17 years later she left her role as a Business Development Strategist at Unica Insurance to further pursue her education at the Ivey School of Business and join the family business

Use the information learned to create and build your strategy for the new year. Make the necessary changes to your operations and set some goals and targets that are aligned with your strengths

Budget planning is very important as our economic woes aren’t over just yet

Going through this process will help you stay focused on activities that align with your goals and navigate you through unforeseen times

I hope these tips help you shift to a more proactive approach with your business Best wishes for 2023!

Take All Your Wins: A Positive Approach To Life

Loyal Canadian SMEs,

I want to take a moment to encourage you on your entrepreneurial journey As an entrepreneur, you have such a unique opportunity Your ideas and passion shape our world If ever in doubt, just look around Someone brought a thought into form, and your surroundings are a constant reminder of just that Trust that your desire to be an entrepreneur and innovate is part of a need the world can’t live without Someone is counting on you to count on yourself- remember that

In the year to come, there will no doubt be challenges and obstacles that you will need to overcome It is my hope that the downturns don’t cause you to lose sight of your vision and passion for your business Keep your why at the top of your mind We don’t think we talk about the power of focus enough Find your focus, and when times get tough, double down

Nathalie Noisette

There will also be times of celebration and achievement. I hope you take some time to be present in those moments Lean into the win Whether it be an opportunity, a client, or even a compliment, remember that you deserve it We have a way of talking ourselves out of achievement to trade it in for a chance to cosplay as an imposter Take ALL your wins in, no matter how small they may seem Enjoy them They are yours

New York Native, Nathalie Noisette, has transformed the way we approach our business finances As a game-changing financial executive, Nathalie is widely respected for achieving strategic and service excellence in evolving markets and competitive industries Nathalie’s experience as a multi-industry expert has allowed her to drive unprecedented revenue and 2X profitability gains in numerous fastpaced startup environments

I know our world glorifies hustle culture, but please know its an illusion I don’t know everything, but I know one thing for sure; there isn’t a prize for being the person that’s most burned out, tired, stressed, and anxious Remember, rest is fuel Keep your tank full to bring your best foot forward Your body, mind, and bottom line with thank you

I have no doubt that 2023 will be a wonderful year full of power and potential. In the words of Paulo Coelho, “Every day brings with it an eternity.” What’s done today will leave a thread into the future See each day as an opportunity to plant a seed into infinity

Best of luck, Nathalie Noisette

Fractional CFO and Financial Strategist, COMICE CARE LLC

Small Businesses Can Adapt To The MultiGenerational Workforce in 2023

2022 was a transformative year – one marked by unprecedented turbulence and volatility but also one which saw the collective global efforts to re-open our world and businesses to facilitate a return to normalcy

For the past three years, the resilience of Canada’s small business community amidst extraordinary challenges has proven exceptional The unique ability of small businesses to meet the shifting priorities of the modern Canadian workforce – one which prioritizes a healthy work-life balance, closer workplace relationships and flexible schedules – has helped spur job creation coast-to-coast, empower local communities, drive innovation across industries and shape the future of work

As I’ve said before, if the pandemic has taught us one thing, its that strength is not reflected by the size of a business but rather by the resilience - and the heart - of the people behind it.

The agility, creativity, and unwavering dedication of Canadian entrepreneurs and SMB workers to forge ahead has been nothing short of inspiring, leading us to enter the fourth year of the COVID era from a place of hope, encouragement and excitement for what is to come next

On behalf of ADP Canada, I’d like to thank the entrepreneurs, the owners and the staff at Canadian small businesses for everything they do for the communities they serve and for all Canadians It is an honour to advocate for and support Canada’s small business community, and we all look forward to what innovations you will bring in 2023

With gratitude, Ed

Vice

Ed Yuen

President

of Strategy and Business Development, ADP Canada

If the past 22 months have taught us one thing, it’s that strength is not reflected by the size of a business, but rather by the resilience - and the heart - of the people behind it

Throughout the pandemic we’ve continued to keep our finger on the pulse of Canada’s small business - the keystone of our economy With recent ADP Workplace Insights survey findings showing that 79% of small businesses who reduced their workforce during the pandemic, have re-hired employees, it looks like 2022 is going to be the “Year of the Employee”.

We’ve also seen a shift in the priorities of Canadian workers, with the pandemic leading many to re-evaluate what is truly important to them and their families - a healthy worklife balance, closer workplace relationships and flexible schedules

Canadian Government's Support For SMEs:

Promises Of Greater Opportunities For Success

Small businesses are the heart of our communities and a major driver of our economy They employ more than 10 million hard-working Canadians and provide crucial goods and services to countless communities across our country Our government knows that supporting small businesses is the right thing to do for our communities and the smart thing to do for our economy

In my new role as Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, we have a lot of opportunities to work together

Recently, I had the chance to tour some small businesses in St Catharines and Port Colborne with colleagues MP Chris Bittle and MP Vance Badawey The business owners I met were passionate, dedicated and driven, with hard-working employees They were putting their heart and soul into it, not only for their own prosperity but also for the success of their communities

I have seen firsthand the perseverance and sacrifices you all make to keep your business successful and create jobs

During the pandemic, many Canadians found a new appreciation for their local small businesses and the important benefits they give their own communities Seeing communities come together and support their local small businesses was moving for me It demonstrated the impact of our government’s investments.

Local business owners I’ve met across southern Ontario have many things in common, including the commitment to developing people’s talent, which gives them the tools and the opportunity to reach their full potential These are values that we share Our government is working to support Canadians, so they have greater opportunities for success I know you will continue your hard work You can trust that our government will continue to be there to help you succeed

Filomena Tassi

Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

The Honourable Filomena Tassi was first elected as Member of Parliament for the riding of Hamilton West Ancaster Dundas in 2015. She has previously served as Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Minister of Labour, and Minister of Seniors.

Born and raised in Hamilton, Minister Tassi has been the voice of change for families in the city through a lifetime of commitment to her community

Minister Tassi obtained a Bachelor of Laws from Western University, and also holds a Master of Religious Education from the University of St Michael’s College at the University of Toronto

Entrepreneur crafts intimate apparel

line that encourages inclusion and personal expression

Futurpreneur and RBC Future Launch are supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs through funding and mentorship

When Murielle Bien-Aimé goes shopping for undergarments, she goes straight to the men ’ s department The Montreal artist has never felt comfortable in women ’ s styles, so often flimsy, impractical or ill-fitting

“I have always worn masculine, androgynous underwear, so essentially men’s underwear,” says Bien- Aimé. “What’s interesting about men’s underwear is that, fundamentally, they’re based on comfort rather than aesthetics. I’ve heard from so many women who say they wear their boyfriend’s or their husband’s briefs just because they’re so comfortable.”

A creative thinker who knew she wasn’t the only one to find a day in women ’ s underwear unbearable, Bien-Aimé decided to do something about it She founded KOMANDŌ, a clothing company that makes stylish, eco-friendly men ’ sstyle underwear for anyone who identifies as a woman She proudly calls KOMANDŌ’s female boxers “Foxers ”

The apparel line is about far more than comfort. KOMANDŌ underwear are designed to empower people to express themselves fully, to freely be who they are Seeing the widespread lack of representation in fashion for diverse groups, including members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies, Bien- Aimé makes the underwear (as well as a line of genderneutral streetwear) in a spirit of inclusion

coaching from Futurpreneur’s Entrepreneurs-In-Residence, has equipped over 8,000 aspiring young business leaders with the skills, confidence and knowledge needed to develop a launch-ready business plan

While Bien-Aimé is confident in KOMANDŌ’s mission, as someone new to the business world, she felt intimidated by the tactical side of starting a new venture. For help, she turned to RBC Future Launch partner Futurpreneur, the only national, nonprofit organization that provides financing, mentoring and support to aspiring business owners aged 18 to 39 Futurpreneur’s financing and highly regarded mentoring program, has been fostering the entrepreneurial passions of young Canadians for more than two decades

Futurpreneur provides financing as well as one-on-one mentoring with established entrepreneurs Rock My Business takes a deep dive into components such as business plans, cash-flow statements and marketing, working with entrepreneurs in all different sectors, from tech to construction to restaurants and beyond RBC employees with expert knowledge in the area mentor young entrepreneurs in the Rock My Cash Flow workshops, part of the Rock My Business series.

Bien-Aimé recently won an RBC Rock My Business Start-up Award Provided by RBC and Futurpreneur, the award is given annually to diverse, young, aspiring entrepreneurs from across Canada, helping kickstart their businesses

Through

Futurpreneur’s three-part Rock My Business series started in 2017 and has been funded by the RBC Foundation in support of RBC Future Launch, the bank’s 10-year $500-million commitment to empower Canadian youth for the jobs of tomorrow Since July 2020, the series, which includes business

Each of the eight recipients receives an award of $10,000, and the funds can be used for anything from developing a website to ordering supplies, activating a marketing plan or purchasing inventory whatever they need to take their venture to the next level

Through the program, there are five Youth Entrepreneur Awards (for ages 18 to 29); one Emerging Black Entrepreneur Award (18 to 39); one Emerging Indigenous Entrepreneur Award (18 to 39); and one Emerging Entrepreneur Award (30 to 39)

“We speak to people’s identities,” Bien-Aimé says. “We speak to self-acceptance.”

Futurpreneur, Bien-Aimé participated in the free digital workshop series Rock My Business The series teaches people about testing the viability of their business, developing a solid business plan, understanding cash flow and more

As Futurpreneurs chief experience officer, Charles Finley helps ensure that budding entrepreneurs get the expertise and tools they need at a crucial stage of their business

“Our mission is to help young entrepreneurs across Canada set out and succeed with starting their own business, and our support comes in very early in their journey,” Finley says “Our entrepreneurs are typically just getting their idea together or their business off the ground.”

Some have simply hatched a concept that needs polishing or finetuning; Rock My Business helps them at these earliest of stages, too

“The workshops focus on core business skills: how to write a marketing plan, how to get your finances together and how to run your operation,” Finley says. “That’s what we know, and we equip our entrepreneurs with that knowledge. It’s like a bootcamp for learning all sides of being an entrepreneur.”

The awards, Finley notes, lead to the kind of stories that other young aspiring entrepreneurs may be inspired by to one day start their own businesses “It’s a chance to say: Here’s someone like you who started their entrepreneurial journey with just an idea,” Finley says

For KOMANDŌ’s Bien-Aimé, the support of Rock My Business and the award itself have proven invaluable She’s putting the funds toward marketing and production, the latter of particular importance to her as she’s not interested in mass producing

“Rock My Business allows you to immerse yourself in your business and helps build the structure for everything you’ll be doing in the next few years,” Bien-Aimé says. “You get information in a tangible way.”

“The award accelerates things,” she adds. “I’m focused, and I’m determined, but this has put a pep in my step.”

The workshop series takes place every other month, with the next starting on Nov 7, 2022 Aspiring entrepreneurs can mix and match workshop dates by choosing to attend three consecutive workshops as a bootcamp or spacing them out to better suit their schedule Participants who attend the Rock My Business Plan and Rock My Business Cash Flow workshops may be eligible for Futurpreneur’s next round of the RBC Rock My Business Start-up Awards in 2023 Learn more and register here:https://www futurpreneur ca/en/microsites/rock-my-business

This story was created by Content Works, Postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of RBC Future Launch.

Perfect Economic Storm Creates Holiday eCommerce Frenzy for SMBs

Mikel Lindsaar

CEO and Founder of StoreConnect

We recently had the opportunity to speak with Mikel Lindsaar, CEO and founder of StoreConnect, about StoreConnect's most recent integration with TwoCanConnect, the advantages that this integration will have on small businesses, the time that consumers will be able to save entering individual invoices into Xero using the TwoCanConnect + StoreConnect, effects of direct StoreConnect integration on the users of Salesforce, and the impact of eCommerce linkages on online shopping.

Mikel Lindsaar, CEO and founder of StoreConnect, is an experienced technology entrepreneur whose mission is to infuse small and medium-sized businesses with the power to be successful in eCommerce 3 0 and scale to meet growing demand

How will you describe your journey as an entrepreneur, which has included experience in network infrastructure design, VOIP and telephony, custom web application development, and operating profitable SaaS businesses?

Rocky! But a lot of fun!

I don’t think there is a self-made entrepreneur out there that has not had their fair share of ups and downs, it is tough creating and growing businesses, and you quickly learn that the people around you have their own problems and have little time for yours

So, I think my biggest takeaway though on the journey is that there is ALWAYS something you can do about any situation that you are presented with, and really, the only way to fail truly is to decide to fail and give up

What do you think of StoreConnect's most recent integration with TwoCanConnect? How will small and medium-sized firms benefit from this integration?

When I built StoreConnect, my vision was to make life easier for the “Davids” of small business owners and allow them to compete on an even footing with the Goliaths of industry. That meant making sure StoreConnect makes it possible for integrations to occur. So, I’m delighted that TwoCanConnect has taken the opportunity to integrate its system with StoreConnect; it just opens a lot more opportunities for our joint customers

This integration, though, really was made possible by our early decision to build StoreConnect on top of Salesforce and leverage the core features of Salesforce, allowing other Salesforce Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) like TwoCanConnect to easily build integrations with us. This provides incredible benefits to end customers, who do not have to spend valuable money and time building custom integrations to accounting systems

How would the direct StoreConnect integration affect the users of Salesforce? How will it be a unique, integrated solution for them?

Many small businesses have to give up control of their data to industry giants like Amazon to fulfil customer order requests. Big companies can afford data integration, but it doesn’t come cheap. With StoreConnect being built directly on the Salesforce platform, you have E-Commerce and CRM in one place There is no duplication or writing of data from one system to another - it IS one integrated system

How

much

time can the consumer save entering individual invoices into Xero using the TwoCanConnect + StoreConnect?

Obviously, every business is different, but if you were doing 10 or 20 invoices per day, all the manual time that it would have previously taken to key those invoices, as well as the time spent checking and correcting for errors, would be completely saved

So, for a good-sized small business, this could easily add up to half of a team member’s job every week, week after week These sorts of savings are significant to small businesses and allow for greater expansion and, more importantly, more jobs and employment.

On top of this, manual data entry can quickly eat away at margins, causing retail giants to gain an even larger lead over small businesses by discounting further

What impact, in your opinion, will these eCommerce linkages have on online retailers' ability to operate more affordably and with fewer resources being strained?

We refer to this integration as E-Commerce 3 0, which is shorthand for a fully integrated system where the user owns the data and has a realtime source of truth on their business and customers The benefits are obvious as the online retailer only must worry about one system with one version of data It makes taking and delivering orders much faster since you don’t have to jump between systems, double-enter data and then go on the merry-go-round of getting systems to talk to each other. And since you don’t have to pay humans to get the systems to talk to each other, it is far more efficient and cost-effective to service clients Ultimately this makes your online retailing business more profitable and more valuable to investors

BC Leaders Recognized with WXN Canada’s Most Powerful Women Award

Lisa Skakun

Chief Legal, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs Officer, Coast Capital

We recently had the opportunity to speak with Lisa Skakun, Chief Legal, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs Officer at Coast Capital, about her responsibilities there, how she was recognized with the WXN Canada's Most Powerful Women Award, and her passion for enacting substantive change in the workplace and in Canadians' lives. We also had a discussion with Roanne Weyermars, VP of Public Affairs, Communications, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Coast Capital, who shared her views on prominent female leadership in Canada, the strategies she uses to promote innovation and growth at Coast Capital, the difficulties she faced as a female business owner, and her insightful counsel for the aspirant women

Lisa Skakun is responsible for all legal, corporate development, public affairs, corporate governance, compliance and financial crimes risk management functions for Coast Capital Lisa is on the board of Nano One Materials

What responsibilities do you have as the Chief Legal, Regulatory, and Corporate Affairs Officer for Coast Capital? And how was your experience receiving multiple awards and serving on the boards of various organizations?

I know, it is a long title, isn’t it? As Coast Capital’s Chief Legal, Regulatory & Corporate Affairs Officer, I am responsible for all legal, corporate development, public affairs, compliance and financial crimes risk management as well as all corporate governancerelated functions supporting the Board of Directors

It is important to make space to give back to the communities who have given so much to me throughout my career

I have been fortunate to serve on the Boards that I have, including Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Cause We Care– a Vancouver-based foundation supporting local single mothers and their children–and the Editorial Board of Canadian Lawyer Magazine Most recently, I joined the Board of Nano One, a clean technology company doing some amazing work in the space of energy innovation From a professional growth perspective, there is tremendous value in working with diverse groups of people across different industries and professions. I always value the opportunity to learn about different perspectives, approaches, and ways of doing things.

How does it feel to be honoured with the WXN Canada's Most Powerful Women Award, which recognizes C-suite-level women who play significant roles in their organizations?

It feels a bit surreal, to be honest, and at first, I thought I was suffering from a mild case of imposter syndrome! It is a tremendous honour to be recognized by the WXN this year I consider it a milestone career highlight for sure

To be at the table alongside such an incredible and esteemed group of women who are changemakers and thought-leaders in their own right, paving the way across so many industries, I am in awe of the calibre of women selected and feel very grateful for this opportunity

How successful is your passion for bringing about real change in the workplace and in the lives of Canadians? What are the means by which you make these things a reality?

Great question I think it’s evident by the progress we ’ ve seen in the standards of today’s workplace that while real change is happening, collectively, we still have more to do

Personally, I feel strongly that when leaders use their voice and influence for good and are intentional about their actions, real change happens. Whether that is making time to mentor emerging leaders, sharing personal experience and perspectives on panels that focus on equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace, or even championing my team members for growth opportunities, making the time and the space to focus, not just on the work but the people is paramount

It isn’t always about driving hard outputs in my role but also ensuring that I’ve created a safe space for connection, coaching and empowerment that will drive tangible change forward More generally, as a financial institution, Coast Capital contributes to real change for our members – both personal and business – every day through our differentiated approach to real partnership and real advice Specifically, we know that our small business members are facing significant challenges, having just come through the pandemic only to face ongoing inflation, challenges in recruiting talent and increasing consumer demands It is imperative that we remain laser-focused on driving real change that contributes to better outcomes for our members That real change starts with being trusted partners and linking arms with business owners to navigate this unprecedented economic environment so they can continue to thrive as an imperative driver of our country’s economy.

Roanne Weyermars

VP, Public Affairs, Communications and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Coast Capital

Roanne Weyermars leads strategic communications and drives inclusion strategy at the B C -based federal financial cooperative to deliver on the organization's social purpose An empathetic, visionary leader dedicated to using business as an engine for good, Roanne creates business success by championing people She lives on Vancouver Island on the traditional territory of the Quw’ustun people and enjoys time spent with her family and on her mountain bike

What do you believe constitutes an influential female leader in Canada? How do you continue to drive innovation and growth at Coast Capital?

Leaders with influence lead with purpose, integrity and alignment with their values and show up unapologetically as their authentic selves To influence, you need to have empathy and the trust of your colleagues Leaders who create space for their team to learn, grow and deliver are leaders who, very authentically, hold influence

I have just recently in the last 18 months or so taken on the additional role of Vice President, Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), which has the power to contribute to Coast Capital’s ability to innovate and grow When we take the time to intentionally elevate diverse, often underrepresented voices, our shared outcomes are so much richer for it. Research continues to show that organizations with higher diversity see significant benefits, not only to their workplace culture but to their overall business results as well

I look forward to continuing to build our programs, processes and policies to drive real change within our workplace and, more widely, across corporate Canada

What obstacles have you encountered as a female leader? How did you manage to overcome them?

For me, finding the right work-life harmony has been one of the more challenging aspects of advancing to senior leadership Perhaps more specifically, realizing that the pressure I put on myself to achieve work-life balance for many years was setting me up for burnout

It isn’t ever going to be a perfectly balanced equation As mothers, partners, leaders, community members, and many other roles we hold, my experience is that we are constantly pulled in different directions I don’t think I ever feel that I am perfectly balancing those varying roles You then layer in COVID and the changes that brought to how we work and how we live Now more than ever, we need to be very intentional about how we stay inspired and how we spend our time and energy.

As Michelle Obama wisely said, “We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our to-do list ” It is a practice one that I am still very much working on that is vitally important to ensure I am bringing my best self to everything that I do

What piece of advice would you give aspiring women to assist them in pushing the boundaries of social impact?

Don’t be afraid of making mistakes Progress over perfection is really the best way forward in an environment where we are being asked to do more and do it faster The world needs us to keep moving and pushing the status quo because if we are too afraid to do that, there will be no meaningful change

I often say to my team that with discomfort comes growth And change-making can definitely be deeply uncomfortable at times When you get that feeling, consider if it actually means you are on the right path Take time to think about what your growth might lead to and go confidently in the direction of your mission

How to create your business’ marketing plan, CMO breaks it down

Julia Fitzgerald

We had the pleasure of speaking with Julia Fitzgerald, Chief Marketing Officer at the American Lung Association, who shared her leadership experience, discussed developing distinctive marketing plans and how important they are for businesses of all sizes, the most effective techniques for establishing precise, quantifiable marketing goals or objectives, aspects to take into account before building a team, and which employees are most crucial to a marketing department.

Julia Fitzgerald is a CMO and senior executive with over 20 years of leadership experience, specializing in CPG, retail, franchising, nonprofit, B2B business models and bringing pragmatic digital plans to midsize organizations She is the author of Midsize, the newly released book that shares success strategies for marketing in midsize firms

Chief Marketing Officer at American Lung Association, Author of Midsize - Marketing for Midsize Firms

How has your career been with more than 20 years of leadership experience, expertise in a number of fields, delivering practical digital plans to midsize firms, and writing?

I feel very lucky to work with interesting companies in a field that combines creativity, ideas, and people with analytics and problem-solving In my early career, I started with midsize organizations and had the opportunity to see how product, marketing and sales worked for hand in glove Within the course of my career, media delivery has changed dramatically from TV, print, OOH and PR to the highly targeted digital options we have today The dynamic way consumers and businesses consume information forces marketers to stay on their toes and always be learning how to use new channels, devices, approaches and analytics. However, some things don’t change, especially the importance of teamwork The benefit of working in multiple businesses is that I get to observe the teamwork and the dynamics that help a group be successful I learn from bosses, peers, agencies, and my teams, and I try to recreate the best practices as I go After leading marketing teams for years, the logical next step for me was to write about it In Midsize, I share what marketing strategies are key for success in midsize organizations to pass my experiences and knowledge on

How to create your own distinctive marketing plan, and why is marketing essential for businesses of all sizes?

Marketing is the game plan to tell your company ’ s story to the target customer to get the result you want With a marketing plan, you commit to the most important activations for success and how much revenue they should produce. It is part art and part science, but with a plan, you can build flexibility to pivot budgets and efforts with the market results Marketers often want to jump to digital advertising tactics of a marketing plan But it's important to build on a strategic foundation of your company ’ s value proposition, branding approach, and customer-centricity The next building block in a marketing plan is content development - what is the message that will connect with the customer? And then the media or channels to connect with the customer

What do you think are the most efficient methods for establishing specific, quantifiable marketing goals or objectives? Why should they be regarded as the first step in marketing?

Candid conversations with leadership are the best place to start What does the company need to do to be successful in the next year, three years, or five years? What element of that will marketing drive? Retail sales, ecommerce, new software customers, business leads, donations? Define the KPIs that will drive the organization’s success objectives Then agree on the marketing KPIs that will enable success For example, at the Lung Association, we have a fundraising goal that will enable us to fund a higher level of research In order to hit that number, one of marketing’s KPIs is to grow the donor database, and the other is to increase donations from online marketing campaigns. While the team may be monitoring scores of KPIs (impressions, engagement, SOV, etc), those are not the numbers that should get pushed up to leadership Agreeing on the most important metrics is very helpful in a midsize organization to help maintain focus

What should be taken into consideration before creating a team, and which employees are most essential to a marketing department?

This answer will vary with different business models. Broadly, I would say its important to have a key person on the brand / content side of the work, and one on the digital side Roughly, this becomes the storytellers, and the message deliverers As you build out the brand side, you would want to start specializing - Branding, PR or comms, content creation, video producer (once a luxury, but quickly becoming an necessity) With the digital sides, specialization is usually around key people for the website/digital eco system, email or automated marketing, digital advertising, and organic social media The interesting questions in a midsize is “where does analytics live?” Ive seen successful models where the digital analyst is in marketing, the data team (IT) and in finance. The other important call is when to use an agency for support, and when do you commit to hiring a full time person for inhouse capabilities I write about a couple of rules of thumb on this topic in Midsize

In all of these business models, the need for customer focus is consistent Investing time to know the customer and how you can serve them, solve a problem for them, and be valuable to them is key. Good data about customer behaviour and preferences (especially concrete data analytics) can help truncate speculation and subjective conversations I’m delighted to see when I have been quickly proven wrong on optimal digital ads by Meta’s dynamic ads There are more and more tools to get the pulse of customers in any business model

One of the other strategic lessons I learned is that the CMO and the CTO should be besties To have a successful marketing campaign, digital execution is a must And that takes collaboration to connect the front-end messaging to the back-end data flows that drive the analytics

The other strategic learning is to invest time in getting the branding right and then the central digital ecosystem (usually the website) right before spending money to drive traffic Get your brand story straight, be prepared to convert (whatever that means to your business) and then spend money to drive traffic Any other order results in wasted media dollars

What, in your opinion, are the most useful suggestions for creating a budget and sticking to it, considering that it is crucial for every business?

Most organizations have an annual budget planning process that accompanies strategic planning A suggestion I have found useful is - to start early What would you like to see happen next year that would build the business? Then work backwards and put the budget and tie it to the revenue or the cost savings that it would generate Sticking with the budget is a matter of organizational discipline and monthly reviews with leadership The interesting question is how does the company rally for an unplanned investment opportunity out of the planning cycle? With more media moving to digital channels, it has become easier to see what produces a positive ROI I try to have a reserve so that when a campaign is delivering a 3 0 ROI; we can continue investing even when it was not in the original budget It is still benefitting those big goals we discussed earlier

What are the most important strategic lessons you learned from your marketing career in retail, non-profit, business-to-business, and consumer goods?

Kaiser & Partners: Survey reveals generational divide in media consumption

We recently had the chance to speak with Janine Allen, president of Kaiser & Partners, who provided her insightful opinions on the third annual Canadian media sentiment survey released by Kaiser & Partners, the factors that contributed to the decline in media trust over the past two years and solutions for them, shared her views on the finding that younger Canadians are more likely to rely on information sources than older residents, and the growing popularity of podcasts among younger generation.

JANINE ALLEN, CM

President & Partner at Kaiser & Partners, Inc.

How would you define your professional career, which has involved working with clients to discover communications solutions to business problems across a range of industries?

With 20 years’ experience in public relations and marketing, Janine Allen, CM, is the president of Kaiser & Partners, a Canadian communications firm. Janine develops and oversees strategic communications programs that enhance visibility and transform relationships She helps clients manage through challenge and change, protecting and repairing corporate brand reputation

To solve problems, whether reputationally or otherwise, I believe you have to have an almost insatiable curiosity Only when you have openly explored your client’s industries, businesses and the issues that matter to their stakeholders, can you begin to repair, shape or strengthen its reputation My career has developed through this sense of curiosity; caring enough to uncover the stories that people will celebrate and rally behind, but also bold enough to ask the tough questions to assess risks to reputation and find solutions before they become issues

What do you have to say about the third annual Canadian media sentiment survey announced by Kaiser & Partners this year?

As partners of the media, PR professionals have a public responsibility to communicate the truth, and our survey revealed that of all listed news and information channels, media remain the most trusted source of information In 2021, established news media was identified as the most credible source of information by over half of Canadians (53%) and in 2022 this wavered marginally, losing seven percentage points from 2020 to 2022 However, trust is trending downwards dramatically in other areas For example, credibility is largely declining across public and government entities

Credibility in information released by governments is down to 29 percent (compared to 42% in 2021), and only onethird (34%) of Canadians considered public health agencies to be the most credible source of information This represents a 23-percentage point drop since 2020 This was undoubtedly a consequence of the pandemic when public entities became more public-facing At a time when the world was on pause, their messaging was put under the microscope, and their reputations suffered

What elements, in your opinion, have led to a decline in media trust during the past two years? What are the solutions to this problem?

Traditional forms of media have been under threat for years, in part due to the adoption of social media Social media and open-source content enable anyone and everyone to act as journalists –without being bound by the same rigour and ethics of professional journalists Further, anonymity online shields contributors from the repercussions of disseminating inaccurate, misleading or flagrant information However, social media shouldn’t shoulder all the blame There’s no medal for second place in news media, and unfortunately, some outlets may prioritize speed over accuracy, neglecting their due diligence to be the first to the story And as newsrooms shrink, factcheckers are either eliminated or under increased pressure, compounding the problem further

Shorter attention spans have increased preference for shorter-form content, leaving less space on the page and in people’s minds for the data and references that provide contextual value and credibility to a story And, of course, we can’t talk about the news without “fake news. ” Arguably one of the most enduring and ubiquitous political expressions in recent history, Trump’s “fake news ” permeated our culture, serving as a rallying cry for distrust of the establishment and continues to have ripple effects in how people, on both sides of the border, feel about media

Media is still trusted and is still trustworthy, but media and consumers alike have to work hard to maintain strong news consumption and dissemination habits As PR and marketing professionals, we have a duty to only share content that is data-based, fact-checked and delivered by a credible expert spokesperson And as individuals, we must take more care in not sharing information from questionable or anonymous sources

Our survey found that the younger generation (18-34) is less likely to believe that traditional news media is the most credible source of information (36%) compared to their older counterparts They also tend to be more open to trusting alternative sources of news, such as expert content on social media (22%), blogs or other online content from industry experts (16%), or content from interest groups and NonGovernmental Organizations (15%)

What do you think of the finding that younger Canadians are more likely to rely on information sources than older residents, according to the data?

This paints a picture of the future of news and information sharing. The vehicles by which people consume content continue to evolve, and as new platforms and preferences surface, understanding these nuances will help both companies and media deliver accurate information in a format that is appealing to all audiences

How are media like podcasts growing in popularity as news sources for younger Canadians? Are they finding them to be useful sources of information?

Podcasts are the news source that has seen the biggest shift in adoption among young Canadians In fact, 17 percent say that they are listening to podcasts more this year compared to last year Simultaneously, short-form content platforms like TikTok have taken off, tipping the scales to the extreme ends of the media spectrum This polarity in preferences speaks to the complexity of the media landscape: while the escapism of shortform content provides instant gratification to consumers of media, there is also a growing hunger for longer-form content like podcasts Podcasts are a great medium for deeper storytelling, investigative content as well as entertainment and are becoming an increasingly important tool in the marketing and PR toolbox

What are, in your opinion, the key elements that Canadians should consider when choosing news sources? Could you provide further details on the development of the Canadian media landscape?

According to an analysis conducted by The Local News Research Project, from 2008 to 2020, 307 Canadian news outlets closed, and the majority (215) of which were community newspapers With fewer papers to pick from and fewer perspectives to consider, your subscription choice is that much more powerful Studies also show that loss of access to local news is linked to increased political polarization, reduced public input into municipal decision-making, declines in voter turnout, better re-election prospects for incumbents and the emergence of hyper-partisan websites

We consume massive amounts of media every day, and as they say, you are what you eat. As the media landscape continues to evolve, don’t be blasé about how you are consuming content and what content you are consuming Be deliberate Does the outlet publish its journalistic standards? Do they include opinions and/or interviews with credible spokespeople? Is there a real person who can be contacted by email or phone? This shows that they stand behind their content and that you will be able to, too

We had the chance to speak with Chris Ford, President of Intelliware, who discussed his recent appointment as the company ' s leader, the leadership skills he plans to bring to the Intelliware team, the current trends he is noticing among Canadian organizations engaged in digital transformation, and the strategic ways that businesses can support the advancement of Canadian tech talent.

Chris Ford, President at Intelliware -- Chris is a senior business executive with over 20 years of market experience specializing in strategy and implementation of technology transformation services Chris has led a multitude of engagements, including architecture, business delivery, development, strategy and digital transformation He is a recognized thought leader in his field and has published articles on non-functional testing with an emphasis on performance and operability domains

How has your career been as a senior business executive with more than 20 years of industry expertise, focusing on strategy and execution of technology transformation services and managing a wide range of engagements?

Over my 20+ year tenure as a business leader, I have been fortunate to have had a wide range of experiences pushing me to constantly improve myself as a leader and a student And the fact is, I am still learning! Technology is always changing and evolving, and I continue to challenge myself to stay up to speed with the newest innovations

I find that in this practice of continuous learning, I am able to bring the best to the table for my team I enjoy being a direct part of not only developing strategies but also implementing them by diving in with our teams on projects Nothing is more satisfying than developing a strategy with a talented team and seeing it come to life for your client

What do you have to say regarding your recent hiring as president of Intelliware, a business with a reputable track record among significant Canadian corporations that has created some of the most popular programs in the nation for clients?

I have admired Intelliware since I first encountered them 15 years ago As the original Canadian agile software development firm, Intelliware has been a leader for over 30 years in this industry Not only are they a leader, but they have continued to elevate themselves as a company, having a longstanding track record of reliable, high-quality implementation Plus, their culture is not just a buzzword; it is something they take seriously (and have for years), emphasizing respect for their people, clients, and engineering excellence.

How will you apply your expertise and the lessons you ' ve learned to the Intelliware team, as your leadership represents a significant change in the Canadian business community?

In 2022, technology was critical to any meaningful change in the business world While I bring lots of experience working with various industries, Intelliware also has a phenomenal track record of delivering exceptional projects, and I am excited about the opportunity to synergize these two aspects With my experience in aligning strategy to implementation roadmaps, I look forward to connecting Intelliware to an upper stream in the strategy development phase, something that will amplify the business to the next level of growth

What trends are you currently observing among Canadian organizations engaged in digital transformation?

Overall, expectations of Senior Leadership are beginning to change Leaders are increasingly expected to have a much more fundamental understanding of technology, and because of this, we will start to see more technologists in leadership positions across the board even in traditional businesses like banking and insurance

This is positive for our business ecosystem here in Canada and beyond An everincreasing number of Canadians are eyeing technology and software development for their career, and this is so great to see. We have a great education system, and I would love to see this trend continue as digital transformation becomes increasingly pertinent It is so important for the future of Canada and our economic development, which relies on information, technology, and services

What are the strategic means by which businesses may support the development of Canadian tech talent?

This is where businesses come into play Canadian businesses can emphasize hiring from domestically owned and operated businesses, like Intelliware, who have been, and continue to be, committed to developing Canadian talent

Our businesses here in Canada can also start to frame technology organizations as strategic partners and enablers of their future success. Many organizations often see technology positioned as a secondary function and merely a cost centre We need to shift this thinking It is no longer strategically wise for organizations to think this way Nurturing tech talent as organizations embrace digital transformation is critical if companies want to continue to thrive in the future

The Microsoft 365 management solution you need

ShareGate: Benjamin Niaulin

Director of Product at ShareGate

We sat down with Benjamin Niaulin, ShareGate's Director of Product, to talk about the updated features of the recently released management software from GSoft, how well they perform in M365 environments when it comes to seamless file transfers, how the new enhancements can help businesses increase productivity and provide a more streamlined and uniform digital environment experience, and his innovative and cutting-edge research and development

What is your role as the Director of Product at GSoft and a Microsoft Certified Trainer?

As the Director of Product at ShareGate, my role is to help build a powerful platform for IT professionals in Microsoft 365, ultimately helping empower end users to do their best work ShareGate was developed on behalf of GSoft, a Canadian tech company behind a family of software products that improve the employee experience, and is today a best-in-class, go-to Microsoft 365 management solution for every day Teams and SharePoint operations

I work alongside a talented team to craft software experiences to help our customers solve complex problems with their productivity tools and leverage our access to millions of users worldwide to drive data-informed decisions

Benjamin Niaulin is Director of Product at ShareGate, a management solution that turns Microsoft 365 into the collaborative and secure environment it should be, from migration to everyday Teams and SharePoint operations He's been around the world keynoting some of the largest conferences, covering the Tech move to the Cloud and Digital Transformation within organizations, helping them in various industries, meet their goals and regulations while staying ahead of their competition.

I am learning every day, alongside my team of highperforming Product Managers, Product Designers, UX Writers and Researchers, what essential tools we need to build and how we can bring them to market Through my strong desire to help and evolve practices in our market, I’ve also written numerous blogs, have taken part in extensive training and have spoken at conferences worldwide to share our knowledge and expertise

What do you have to say about the enhanced features of ShareGate, a complete management software offering recently announced by GSoft?

ShareGate’s new features, including reporting, provisioning, and automation, will provide added usability to companies who have migrated using ShareGate, and those looking to manage their already-migrated environments with added ease and efficiency

The various ShareGate features include:

Migration and cloud copy: Enables seamless file transfers to M365 environments so talent can work seamlessly, all from one cloud-based location

Frictionless provisioning: Provides easy-to-use and adaptable templates for IT administrators and enterprise talent to bolster productivity and create a more seamless and consistent digital environment experience

Reporting engine: Grants access to built-in custom reporting to ensure a centralized, controlled view of the digital environment to assess risks so IT administrators can coursecorrect proactively or manage issues quickly, whether they’re pertaining to security, permissions data, inventory or usage

Automation: Automates everyday IT tasks to clean up, organize and govern digital environments, ultimately helping for faster investigations, resolutions and overall management capabilities

Flexible permissions management Ensures the right employees have access to the right things to protect sensitive data so members can manage their own environments effectively and efficiently while also providing increased cybersecurity protection through data and filesharing management and controls

Administration: Helps IT managers to stop firefighting and move with agility through dayto-day operations to enable productivity through simple, powerful copy actions for SharePoint, Teams and Planner.

How well do ShareGate’s enhancements work to make file transfers to M365 environments seamless? And how does it help the workers?

Through over a decade of investments into our proprietary migration tool, we ’ ve opted to take our powerful engine and unique position in the market to bring an easy “cloud copy ” value to our customers straight to their fingertips The everevolving landscape of a digital and hybrid workplace means our customers need to be agile and move things around to match the company ’ s information architecture and structure

With ShareGate’s evolved functionalities, companies will gain more control of their digital environments while proactively managing potential security and compliance risks before they become an issue

What are the ways in which the new improvements can help businesses boost productivity and offer a more streamlined and uniform digital environment experience?

Automation and Templating are two key improvements introduced to ShareGate that will help businesses boost productivity and offer a more streamlined digital experience enabling end-users to navigate their online environments more seamlessly, collaborate more effectively and ultimately manage their workflows more efficiently through the click of a button

How can customers increase employee experience and overall business performance by finding efficiencies in their daily operations with the use of the ShareGate offering?

Companies of all scales and sizes have reported ShareGate has saved them hundreds of hours for both migrations and day-to-day management, ultimately freeing up the time of their IT administrators to better manage their digital environments while also enabling their talent to work more collaboratively and efficiently.

As companies navigate new and existing complexities caused by diminishing bottom lines, retention issues, staffing cuts and changes, growing cybersecurity threats and more, ShareGate will continue to enable companies to drive efficiencies in their day-today operations

By helping employees work smarter, more efficiently and, more importantly, safely with the tools they use every day, we are seeing a direct impact on their experience and the company ’ s overall performance in the long run

The E-Commerce Guide For Small Businesses In Canada

Small businesses are increasingly exploring the possibilities of operating their businesses on online platforms The ease of conducting business, the relatively low capital and operational charges, and the possibility of leveraging technology for streamlined coordination make aspiring entrepreneurs choose eCommerce as their market for business

With the attraction and possibilities of ecommerce rising, here is an e-commerce guide for small businesses in Canada

Finding the Potential Product For E-Commerce

Small e-commerce businesses currently concentrate on niche industries like wellness products, fashion, and beauty care These companies provide a variety of USPs that spark the interest of their target customers

Entrepreneurs that work in the fashion and beauty industries experiment to create organic products that solve their current problems and take a cruelty-free approach to support sustainable and ethical business practices

Studying the E-commerce Market

The opportunities that an online market space offers for small businesses are enormous So, it's important to do market research that shows the pros and cons of doing business online, what kinds of products work well for an online business model, and how the challenges of an eCommerce market can be solved in creative ways

As a comparatively new market space still expanding and exploring possibilities, aspiring business owners must adopt distinctive business strategies that suit the online platform Furthermore, with customer behaviour and expectations being varied compared to an offline business, they must make use of the insights that the data-driven online platform provides to build a successful e-commerce brand and business

In addition, the technology industry is also becoming predominantly online while working remotely to provide online solutions in various streams of business management and other innovations For example, an increasing number of digital agencies are working online, offering CRM solutions, marketing strategies, and data analytics that help boost business growth and expansion Small businesses need not limit themselves to these products, but they must be able to modify their business models to appeal to the e-commerce market and be profitable

Strengthening the Digital Presence

Aspiring business owners must realize the significance of building a well-curated, contentrich website that provides information about your product or service comprehensively

Hence, creating an easy-to-use, functional website that is search engine optimized for buyers to locate the brand easily is necessary for an e-commerce business. In addition, it must be appealing, simple to use, capture the intended audience's interest, and facilitate a quick conversion

Optimizing the website to be mobile-friendly is also important, as most customers search for brands instantly on their mobile phones rather than laptops In addition to websites, small businesses are exploring the sales opportunities that social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram provide to increase their market presence and customer reach

Exploring the Possibilities of Digital Marketing

Having an e-commerce business means exploring all the possibilities of digital platforms Hence, investing in digital marketing is a significant part of marketing and branding. The greatest advantage of digital marketing is that it is data-driven and provides insights This allows entrepreneurs to understand their marketing strategy's effectiveness and outcomes and decide whether to proceed with it or change it

Digital marketing optimizes your chances of meeting the target audience on platforms they often visit, thereby facilitating quick conversion chances Optimizing your search to appear in Google shopping lists and searches increases your chance of reaching customers In addition, utilizing email marketing options lets small businesses keep current customers informed about the newest items, discounts, offers, and deals

Deciding on the Shipping Strategy

Packaging, fulfillment, and delivery are critical parts of eCommerce Though the last step of the purchase, it is the first physical experience of the customer of your business Hence, the first impression of the product must be impressive Aspiring entrepreneurs must carefully plan and carry out their shipping operations so that customers receive their orders on time without problems The advantage of eCommerce is that it offers your small business access to a global customer network as long as you ensure a secure and neat shipping and delivery process

This necessitates a clear understanding of the delivery rates, how much the company will contribute, and how much the customers will pay, as well as keeping track of the product's successful delivery to the customer Entrepreneurs also ensure their packaging is sustainable, thereby striving to limit their carbon footprint as much as possible

E-commerce offers a flexible and vast market space that allows aspiring business owners to launch their startups with a reasonable amount of initial capital Moreover, it is a feasible option that helps small businesses participate in the global market and create a broader customer base

Digital innovations have created many possibilities and opportunities for small businesses to explore, thereby aiding in building successful businesses To read more about these topics, subscribe to CanadianSME Small Business Magazine https://lnkd.in/dbqmSKN. For the latest updates, visit our Twitter page at @canadian sme

The 10BestTips ForRunningASuccessful SmallBusinessInCanada

Hard labour and perseverance are necessary for a successful business operation It necessitates creating an operational structure and business strategy that facilitates moving through daily operations systematically and smoothly The attitude of the business owner steering the ship also significantly impacts the enterprise's success

Here are the 10 best tips for building a successful small business in Canada, which are a well-balanced blend of corporate structure and entrepreneurial mindset

Organized Business Model

Maintaining a structured and organized business is beneficial for its smooth operation Proper documentation of the inventory, financial expenditures, and returns, knowledge of what innovative incorporation and strategy best suits your business operations, and making milestones and goals to achieve in regular time periods for growth and expansion help small businesses operate and grow consistently

Well-Coordinated Team

Business owners must invest time and resources to find talent and build a team Thought must go into the creative and healthy ways in which coordination among the team members can be imbibed so that they rise to contribute their full potential and upskill to provide creative strategies for teamwork and company success. The dedication and commitment of the workforce depend on the healthy and balanced workspace that the organization provides for them to contribute and grow

Digitally Strong Operations

Digital integration into business operations is inevitable A technologically advanced company can accomplish its routine and complex tasks smoothly and efficiently with zero error probability In all facets of business operations, from inventory management and accounting to customer service and marketing, digital innovations help gain multiplied results with databacked insights

Social Responsibility And Sustainability

Community is at the core of every Canadian business. The company ' s vision and mission statements must emphasize the importance of giving back to the community, social responsibility, and following sustainable practices This practice is still gaining momentum and is a brand feature that helps with branding and advertising The uniqueness happens in adopting innovative and eco-friendly steps toward a holistic contribution to the community and conservation of the environment

Money Management

Having clarity about the company ' s expenditures and returns, knowing what potential expansion plans the company can achieve in the coming years, being aware of organizations that fund the growth and development of small businesses,

and investing in creating industry networks will help small business owners have fresh and creative perspectives on money management is crucial for a successful business Money is a defining factor in business operations, so staying current on market trends is critical to investing wisely in business operations and technology

Resourcefulness Self- Confidence

A business owner needs to be creative They must possess the intelligence and brilliance to see opportunities in obstacles. To make the most of everything, they must be aware of the skills and assets that the organization has, know how to leverage them for growth, and have faith in both themselves and others around them Finally, they must constantly believe their brand to be valuable and deserving to inspire confidence in its ability to flourish

Entrepreneurs must be extremely self-assured and confident in their abilities to develop successful businesses They must also trust their instincts, thoughts, and judgment They must have the confidence to believe in their inner voice and to block out any external noises that can discourage them from advancing with their operations Their personalities, conduct, and attitudes must serve as role models for others A positive temperament and attitude will inevitably lead to success.

Facing Failure

Failure, hurdles, barriers, and challenges are part and parcel of business However, only failures will spur business owners to work harder and realize their objectives An entrepreneurial mindset will perceive any negative experience as a learning opportunity rather than an event that demotivates them Failures are usually opportunities for us to examine our strategies and plans, identify our weaknesses, and put ourselves back on the right path to success

Getting opinions from others that evaluate the various aspects of business operations, from quality to strategy, helps business owners gain fresh perspectives and creative insights that are starkly different from how they have viewed the scenario For example, your colleagues might have ideas for better managing the business; the workforce team will have better ideas for improving the workspace and the feasibility of the product or marketing strategy, and customer feedback will provide ways to make growth possible for the business.

Getting feedback Taking Breaks

As important as planning, thinking, and contributing to the business's expansion and success are, it's just as crucial to spend time away from it Business owners who take time off from work will be better able to think from a fresh perspective and come back with ideas and strategies that will help take the business to new realms and possibilities

Small enterprises must focus more on the qualitative than the quantitative definition of success The influence of the business is not solely based on the figures the brand has achieved in terms of sales and profits. It also pertains to the company ' s impact on society, customer perception, the environment it fosters for its employees, and the bigger institution it develops into Small business owners must redefine success beyond the numbers to build a brand synonymous with quality

Small businesses are revolutionizing the economy with their strategic contributions To read more on these topics, subscribe to CanadianSME Small Business Magazine https://lnkd in/dbqmSKN For the latest updates, visit our Twitter page at @canadian sme

Tips For The Small Businesses Cybersecurity

The proverb "Prevention is better than cure " perfectly describes the cybersecurity process

Data security becomes a major responsibility for business owners in an environment where operations are progressively becoming digital and technologically assisted For example, many small businesses operate wholly online, gathering their customers' financial and personal information at checkouts, conducting transactions through payment gateways, and relying on websites and social media profiles for sales As a result, a cybersecurity breach may cause customers to lose faith in the company ' s integrity and trustworthiness

Therefore, small business owners must invest in developing robust cybersecurity processes that keep the company proactively protected Here are a few cybersecurity tips for small businesses.

Incorporate Antivirus Software

Antivirus software is placed on computers to protect them from malware, Trojan horses, phishing scams, rootkits, spam, and other cyber threats It was designed and developed to guard against and handle malicious software on your computer.

Installing antivirus on your devices is a crucial step in maintaining the security of your data and computer system in today's increasingly digital and remote business operations In addition, it is vital to keep your antivirus updated to proactively maintain your devices and data secure and prevent any corruption or infection

A firewall is a security tool that guards your network against unwanted access to confidential information Establishing a barrier between secured internal and unsecured external networks safeguards computers from harmful software In addition, a firewall protects the hardware and software, especially for businesses that own physical servers

A firewall also prevents the entry of viruses into your network Controlling access to particular websites can prevent hackers from infiltrating your network. In addition, it can be configured to prevent sending private emails and sensitive data from the company network

Install Firewall Regularly Backup Files

There are numerous ways that information loss might occur For example, technical issues on IT platforms can cause the original to be lost, rewritten, or inaccessible; employee negligence can lead to the accidental deletion of data, and cyberattacks can corrupt data In these situations, businesses create copies of the original file to prevent permanent data loss

Backup describes making a physical or virtual copy of essential business files or information to a separate location for archival purposes and recovery procedures

Information is converted into unintelligible codes through the process of encryption, which conceals the true meaning of the information It was created for worst-case scenarios like data theft Since encrypted data is turned into unreadable codes and requires a key to decipher, it is one of the most effective defences against cybercrime

As small businesses frequently deal with data relating to online payments and personal customer details such as name and phone number, it's good practice to have an encryption program in place.

Ensure Data Encryption Train Employees

Employees are the most vulnerable to a cyber threat in an organizational network Therefore, they must be educated on identifying malware approaches while working online and know the basics of dealing with such a situation. In addition, companies must implement routine password updates and multi-factor authentication (MFA), which necessitates the provision of two or more verification factors by employees to control who can access which company resource

Data breaches have occurred on the company network due to the loss of a work device or the disclosure of login credentials Hence, employees must be trained to be responsible for their work-related confidential information

Maintain Strong Password

Creating strong passwords that are hard to crack is vital in the fight against cyber threats Creating a password that is 20 characters in length, including numbers, letters, and symbols, is often hard to crack The more challenging it is to crack a password, the less likely it is to initiate a successful cyberattack

Small businesses must ensure that each employee has a secure password on every device that stores critical data Companies may also establish a policy requiring regular password changes A further precaution against cyber dangers is adding multi-factor authentication (MFA) to their employees' devices and apps

Cybersecurity breaches are on the rise and are one of the major issues that businesses face today, which has the potential to lead to the shutdown of a business. Hence, small businesses must recognize the importance of investing in cybersecurity solutions to guarantee a secure organizational network In addition, every piece of technological equipment used in business operations must be protected, and every employee who contributes to operations must be trained to better respond to cyberattacks rationally and tactfully

Small businesses rely on a limited workforce and resources to accomplish their goals Therefore, a cybersecurity breach is not something they can afford to face Hence, a proactive approach to prevent it rather than deal with it is essential for their consistent growth and development

Cybersecurity is a threat that small businesses must be better equipped to face and handle To read more about these topics, subscribe to CanadianSME Small Business Magazine https://lnkd in/dbqmSKN For the latest updates, visit our Twitter page at @canadian sme

5 Ways Workplaces Can Actually Diversify Their Teams

The idea of the workforce is gradually changing From an understanding of work being done from an office setup to geographically scattered operations streamlined through technological devices, the way we perceive work, workforce and workspace are slowly redefining Employers are looking for talents who can execute the task with optimal efficiency and result As a result, the workforce is increasingly becoming diverse in people's cultural, social, and geographical backgrounds

This necessitates organizational strategies that foster an inclusive environment where team members feel they are a valuable part of the team and are motivated to give their utmost Here are five ways workplaces can actually diversify their teams

Look For Talents

While hiring employees to create your workforce team, employers must look for talents more than people Therefore, the determining factor for hiring people to your organization must be their talent than any external factor In addition, especially with remote working gaining momentum, it is easier and more flexible to hire candidates from around the world

Hiring based on merit alone, without bias, will help organizations gain a reputation as brands with integrity and transparency

It will improve the respect and value people attach to your company and help with branding from both a career and sales perspective In addition, straightforwardness in the hiring process allows organizations to recruit talents who will ensure the company ' s growth

Valuing Various Perspectives

The workplace must be a space where team members, irrespective of their designation or the hierarchy, can put forward their ideas and thoughts respectfully and creatively, without inhibitions based on any of their background identities. Furthermore, the ambience of the workspace must allow people to think and work for the company ' s expected growth without being hindered by ego clashes or other unhealthy competition

A diverse workforce from diverse backgrounds can look at the same problem or situation from diverse perspectives, which only helps in dealing with the situation creatively In addition, getting multiple thoughts on the same topics helps businesses choose from a pool of ideas that suits them best

In a diverse workplace, employees must be given sensitization training that makes them aware of various identities, the importance the company places on upholding its workforce diversity, and how much each employee matters to them This creates an awareness for the fresh recruits of the kind of behaviour and attitude the workspace expects from them

To create that sense of respect and inclusivity among the team, the workforce must be built to provide a healthy environment. For example, celebrating every cultural and religious festival of each employee with equal importance and fun helps create a sense of belonging to them These healthy practices and feelings only lead to the employee's committed and dedicated contributions to the company

Lead by Example

The best strategy to build a diverse team is to lead by example rather than using didactic methods to promote inclusion Instead of simply expecting employees to be open-minded by default, the employer must model the trait of welcoming everyone, irrespective of their cultural, social, financial, or physical abilities They should always be prepared to learn about the numerous evolving workplace management trends and the discussions about creating healthy environments for employees and incorporating them into their workspace.

The leaders' ability to recognize the talents and contributions of the team members is necessary for building a workplace culture that supports and promotes diversity Through these insights, they must include various creative ways to develop teamwork among them for the betterment of the individuals and the company

Companies must develop an employee code of conduct from the start that outlines the expected behaviors of their employees Companies must take strict disciplinary actions if employees fail to meet the expected behavior These employee-friendly steps create a company culture that prioritizes their employee's well-being above profit making This sense of being valued and considered will only boost employees productivity to contribute to their organization's growth

Providing employees with the option to work from home and at flexible hours, providing onsite daycare facilities, and ensuring the infrastructure is built to be accessible to all employees are some of the ways management can bring about inclusivity in the workspace

Small businesses are moving increasingly remote in their operations, looking for talents who can provide their service at an affordable amount Along with the profitability that businesses make from opting for such a workforce, business heads must also consider creating ways to bring these diverse workforces together on one platform where they can create teamwork and understanding, developing mutual respect and recognition These steps will help create synergy among the team members, aiding the company ' s growth and expansion

Small businesses must explore the possibilities a diverse workforce can offer for better operational results To read more about these topics, subscribe to CanadianSME Small Business Magazine https://lnkd in/dbqmSKN For the latest updates, visit our Twitter page at @canadian sme

Cloud And Tech Trends To Look Out For In 2023

Cloud computing has increasingly been incorporated into business operations in the past few years Especially since the pandemic opens the possibilities of remote operations where streamlining of workforce and team is required for an efficient result In the coming years, it will evolve into more innovative ways and as a cost-effective option that will help small businesses compete with major competitors in the market on par with their effectiveness and quality.

Here are five cloud and tech trends that will be huge in 2023:

Serverless Cloud

The term "serverless cloud" does not refer to the delivery of cloud services without the use of servers; rather, it refers to an approach to cloud computing execution in which the cloud provider allows machine resources as needed while managing the servers on behalf of their clients

In a serverless architecture, the capacity is scaled to the demand by the cloud provider rather than the developers and operators, who would otherwise have to spend time configuring and tuning autoscaling policies or systems.

Deploying code into production can be made simpler via serverless computing It is less expensive than buying or renting a certain number of servers, which typically requires long stretches of idle or underutilized time

Use of Multicloud

To increase the capabilities and affordability of cloud infrastructure, multicloud uses various cloud computing and storage services from several vendors in a single heterogeneous architecture It describes how cloud resources, such as software and applications, are spread across various cloud hosting environments

This multi-cloud approach offers several benefits, including increased flexibility and security It also aids in the creation of redundancy, which lowers the chance of system failures or downtime that results in a significant loss of corporate operations.

Adopting a multi-cloud infrastructure requires rejecting potentially harmful business practices like designing applications and procedures exclusively for a single cloud platform Smaller service providers get to collaborate in interconnected partnerships in these multi-cloud environments, thus providing a chance to compete with the big companies

Automated Cloud Orchestration

Cloud orchestration is the practice of automating the procedures required to manage connections and operations of workloads on private and public clouds To perform specific business functions, cloud orchestration technologies combine automated tasks and processes into a workflow

Cloud automation and orchestration technologies assist organizations in overcoming the difficulties they face while installing automation tools by eliminating isolated islands of automation and unifying a cloud-wide strategy that includes both public cloud and private cloud components

Automation in a hybrid cloud environment is made simpler by cloud orchestration and ensures that security standards and procedures are upheld in a dynamic, contemporary IT environment In addition, it lowers total costs by speeding up service delivery, automating the management and coordination of complex hybrid settings, removing provisioning errors, and allowing self-service provisioning without IT involvement

Low-code and nocode cloud services

Low-code/no-code development platforms let anyone and everyone create websites and applications by dragging and dropping files As a result, these platforms and the development techniques they provide are frequently used interchangeably

Professional developers can construct apps fast without writing lines of code using low-code and no-code modular techniques It also enables ordinary people who are not software developers, like small-business owners, to build and test applications. People can create applications with little to no knowledge of traditional programming languages or the complex configuration that goes into them

Low-code and no-code solutions provide tools for creating websites and online applications and designing any digital solutions businesses may require They also facilitate building AI-driven applications that reduce the challenges for companies wanting to leverage AI and ML

The AI and MLpowered cloud

Cloud-based artificial intelligence (AI) is a robust technology that automates routine tasks, enhances decision-making, and boosts productivity Machine learning is a branch of artificial intelligence that teaches computers to perform human-like functions that include speech recognition and image processing by applying algorithms to solve challenging issues

Not all organizations need to be equipped with resources that help them develop their own AI infrastructure Hence, cloud services are developing solutions that offer them artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)

The flexibility of AI on the cloud is a huge advantage when deploying it into your business operations. AI places no constraints on preparing for a scale-up or scale-down and provides flexibility without adding charges to new hardware

The innovations in business operations are fast evolving, offering small businesses the possibilities of broadening their prospectus and rising to become significant members of the industry However, with changes happening at a fast rate, small businesses must also know what suits their business model and functioning to achieve their goals set for 2023 in order to make informed and suitable choices

Cloud computing offers small businesses innovative and costeffective ways to run their businesses efficiently To read more about these topics, subscribe to CanadianSME Small Business Magazine https://lnkd in/dbqmSKN For the latest updates, visit our Twitter page at @canadian sme

Michael Aziz

Chief Distribution Officer at Canada Protection Plan, a Forester’s Financial Company

Currently Chief Distribution Officer/Co-President, Canada Protection Plan, a Foresters Financial™ Company, Michael first joined the organization in 2015 as Senior Vice President, Sales With more than 20 years’ experience in financial services, including investments, life insurance and living benefits, capital markets, client services and operations, he has held progressively responsible positions with CIBC, Cranson Capital and Desjardins Financial Security.

Michael began his career as a Senior Financial Advisor and currently leads and inspires a team of sales, marketing and advisor contracting/licensing professionals

‘necessities list’

amidst rising living costs

Inflation – a word that is engrained in every news story, dinner table conversation and on the minds of Canadians every day Many are beginning to feel the direct impact of it and experience budget strains as the prices of housing, groceries, gas, and energy continues to rise at rates that have not been seen for over a decade With this, most Canadians – particularly those who sit in the low to middle-income brackets – are having to make tough decisions when determining which elements in their lives are a necessity and which are solely desired

As Canadians plan their budgets for 2023, many will be focused on immediate expenses as opposed to thinking about their future, leading them to label auto and house or tenant insurance as ‘must-have necessities’ while life insurance gets pushed aside to the ‘maybe later’ list. However, what these individuals don’t realize is that their most valuable assets in life are themselves and their loved ones

Undoubtedly, life insurance and critical illness insurance are not easy topics to talk about, particularly with everything that is going on in the world today It can be difficult to even think about what life for your loved ones will be like after you ’ re gone But it is truly one of the most important conversations you can have – and it’s imperative that we work to shift this negative stigma around life insurance to a discussion around the living benefits and how life insurance supports financial security

Helping Build financial prosperity

With rising costs of living, many Canadians are finding themselves dipping into savings and concerned how they will continue to save money in the current economy While often overlooked, life insurance can be a key part of your financial plan, including during inflationary periods

’s time to move life insurance to the

One of the ways to potentially build financial prosperity through life insurance, especially in today’s market, is through a whole life policy, which, while not guaranteed, can offer taxdeferred growth on your money

Furthermore, a common misconception about life insurance is that its only useful after death In fact, there are some insurers, like Foresters Financial and Canada Protection Plan, that offer various member benefits that can enhance your everyday life, including potential rewards for staying active, competitive scholarships, community engagement grants and online resources to create customizable wills, powers of attorney and healthcare directives, and more

Benefits for business owners

For many entrepreneurs and small to medium business owners, investing through life insurance can provide access to institutionallevel investment management that is typically exclusive to the ultra-wealthy or high-end benefit jobs In the event of bankruptcy, this cash portion of the insurance policy is generally safeguarded from creditors to help ensure financial security for you, your employees and your business

Entrepreneurs can also access additional benefits for their business through life insurance, such as potential tax benefits, including funding transition plans, reducing tax on passive assets, and diversifying their portfolio

Higher inflation can also change the amount of an individual’s financial obligations, which could increase the amount of insurance needed In these changing economic times, it’s crucial for Canadians to reevaluate their existing policies to ensure the amount of insurance in place aligns with their realities and future financial aspirations

Creating an understanding

Life insurance can feel like it’s difficult to understand and to overwhelm to navigate at first Because of this, many Canadians put off conversations around life insurance or exploring policy options But it is so important that these individuals understand that preparing for the future really doesn’t have to cost a lot – and you don’t need to jump through hoops to apply for a life insurance or critical illness insurance policy You just need to start the conversation

Working with a financial advisor will be the best strategy for choosing a type of life insurance that suits the needs of you and your family

It’s time to move life insurance to the ‘necessities list’

Breathing New Life into the Ontario Life Sciences Ecosystem

If there’s one lesson from the many offered up by the pandemic, it’s that prioritizing better health is here to stay And while we ’ re still processing the pain, loss and ongoing effects of the past few years across the province, Ontario is in a unique position to develop innovative life sciences IP today that can become the worldchanging breakthroughs of tomorrow.

Already home to a remarkable cluster of topranked institutions, researchers, developers and manufacturers - not to mention approximately 100,000 workers in the medical technologies and life sciences ecosystem - there are many fields within the sector primed to expand and scale

Thats why the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) is excited and proud to announce the Life Sciences Innovation Fund (LSIF), which is an early-stage co-investment fund that supports companies in Life Sciences and Healthcare Technologies sectors related to human health

The fund is aimed at addressing the unique challenges faced by life sciences entrepreneurs moving innovative and capital-intensive investments from a conceptual stage through to commercialization The objective of LSIF is to de-risk investments and attract private-sector capital to help scale made-in-Ontario solutions for global markets.

Keep in mind Ontario is already a world leader in the space, with many medical innovations in the identification of genes for cystic fibrosis, cancer stem cells in leukemia, the external cardiac pacemaker, and of course, insulin itself

But there are many other homegrown companies that are at the forefront of change all across the province Toronto-based Synaptive Medical provides surgical planning and navigation, robotic digital microscopy and data platforms that are helping doctors see the brain and body in ways they never have before

Also in Toronto is Cyclica which integrates systems biology, medicinal chemistry, biophysics, and machine learning in the service of datadriven drug discovery Based in Ottawa, Abbott is a global point-of-care market leader and advancing innovation across a variety of fields, including diagnostics, medical devices, nutrition and branded generic pharmaceuticals. In Sudbury, Rna Diagnostics is dedicated to improving the management of cancer treatments with its realtime therapy tool And last but not least, Cloud DX is leading the charge with their medically accurate consumer/clinical vital sign platform out of Kitchener, Ontario

Interested in applying for the Life Sciences Innovation Fund? Here are the criteria:

Sectors The area of focus needs to be human health-related/life sciences with a minimum addressable market size of $100M Funding Investment up to $500K at the preseed and seed stages Geography Companies need to be headquartered and predominantly located within the province of Ontario, with a headcount of over 50% located in the province Stage Investing in an early-stage company with competitive IP from the conceptual stage through commercialization.

From a financial perspective, the team at OCI is looking for interested startups that have raised less than $3 million from third-party capital, are seeking to raise Pre-Seed and Seed investments (total round sizes range from $1 to $5 million) and have Ontario-based accredited investors as part of the investment round

Ontario needs growth in high-value services sectors that can create highpaying, good-quality jobs The life sciences can deliver that and so much more It’s one of the unique fields where the economic revenue potential is so high - as is the potential for improving millions of lives worldwide

To learn more about the Life Sciences Innovation Fund (LSIF), please visit the website.