Episodes
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Amplify Your Business Givens LLP
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
For Episode 175 of Amplify Your Business, we’re joined by Jessica Harquail, a partner at Givens LLP. Givens LLP is a future-focused accounting firm, based in Edmonton, Alberta, with three offices across the province. They strive to empower entrepreneurs to build profitable, scalable businesses with their innovative technology, business know-how, and solutions-driven thought leadership.
Jessica speaks about dreaming big, knowing your end game, and why partnerships make specific industries - such as law and accounting firms - successful, and how other industries can use partnerships to scale their own businesses. To learn more, visit the Givens LLP website.
00:00 - Intro
00:55 - What are three things that you think every entrepreneur needs to know?
04:48 - How long have you been a partner at Givens LLP?
05:07 - Can you tell me a little bit about Givens LLP and what you do?
08:12 - When you’re onboarding a new client, what are some of the commonalities you tend to discuss in terms of business growth?
10:09 - What are some of the common mistakes you see entrepreneurs make?
13:05 - When you entered into the accounting profession, was it always your intention to become a partner?
14:23 - If you think back to before you became a partner to now, how has your definition of success changed?
17:39 - Why do you think some industries - such as accounting firms and law firms - have business structures that include partners, while others don’t?
19:11 - What advice do you have for other businesses regarding leveraging partnerships within their company?
22:55 - How do you determine how many partners a firm should have and who should be elevated to partnership?
24:38 - To bring on a new partner, what needs to happen?
26:41 - Is bringing on new partners part of the Givens LLP growth strategy?
28:04 - If you were to write a letter to yourself the day that you became a partner, what is in that letter?
29:22 - If you had a million dollars right now, what do you do with it in terms of the business?
30:52 - Speaking of technology to automate workflows, how fearful are you of AI?
35:42 - What’s the best way for people to connect with you?
35:57 - Outro
Monday Oct 03, 2022
Amplify Your Business Signature Guest Zack Storms
Monday Oct 03, 2022
Monday Oct 03, 2022
For Episode 174 of Amplify Your Business, we’re joined by Zack Storms, the founder and Chief Organizer at Startup TNT. Startup TNT is an organization of like-minded entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, and community supporters who meet every week to network, have fun, share their stories, and help build companies.
Since 2019, Startup TNT’s weekly Thursday night happy hours have led to 50 startups raising $7 million from over 200 angel and venture capital investors.
Startup TNT - which stands for Thursday Night Tradition, an homage to Zack’s weekly gatherings - has between 25 to 35 startup applications each year, as well as 25 to 35 investors. The investors will screen the applicants and select a top 20. That top 20 will have an opportunity to pitch their businesses at the Top 20 Pitch Night, and afterwards, they each go through due diligence where every week some will get eliminated while others will move on. At the end, they have a finale where the top 5 companies pitch again, and the investors make their decisions live at the finale. Each year, at least one applicant receives an investment on Finale night, but typically, they’ll see two or three investments.
This year, the Top 20 Pitch Night is being held on October 6th, and the finale will be held on November 17th. To learn more, visit startuptnt.com.
00:00 - Intro
00:59 - What do you think every entrepreneur needs to know?
03:52 - What was the reason behind starting Startup TNT?
08:00 - How many startups have you seen receive investments since TNT’s inception?
09:14 - What’s the business model for Startup TNT?
12:17 - The shift from academia to entrepreneurship, was that something that you always aspired to?
14:30 - In working with all the startups that have come through the program, what could you have done differently that would have made your first company a success?
16:15 - After having companies fail when you first started, is there anything that you know now that you would have done differently back then?
18:26 - Did you have a vision for what Startup TNT was going to be back when you first started the happy hours?
21:31 - How did you carve out the space that you found yourself in, in this larger ecosystem?
24:45 - What made you choose to make Startup TNT a not-for-profit organization?
27:29 - What does the future hold for Startup TNT?
29:32 - What do you think are some of the biggest challenges to the entrepreneurial lifestyle that entrepreneurs run into?
31:41 - As an entrepreneur, how do you manage a good work-life balance?
35:21 - Do you have anything you want to say to our listeners?
36:21 - Outro
Friday Sep 30, 2022
Amplify Your Business Forward Slash Summit
Friday Sep 30, 2022
Friday Sep 30, 2022
For Episode 173 of Amplify Your Business, we ventured out to the Forward Slash Summit on September 28th to experience the future of Edmonton’s economy first-hand (and maybe a glass of champagne or two along the way.)
Forward Slash is committed to “radically transforming and growing the economy of the Edmonton region.” With efforts to bring together local experts first undertaken during the early days of the pandemic, it was incredible to be rewarded for our patience with an industry-spanning event that could only be described as a big splash.
This episode was not only filmed on site, but it provides unique outlooks from a diverse group of entrepreneurs, business owners, and politicians. There’s a lot to unpack, but we hope you come out of it with even a fraction of the excitement we did!
To learn more about the summit and its mission, visit Forward Slash online.
00:00 - Intro
00:27 - Mustafa Sahin, VP of Investment and Trade at Edmonton Global
05:46 - Catherine Warren, Ceo of Edmonton Unlimited
09:37 - Lisa Baroldi, President and CEO of Boma Edmonton
16:01 - Mallory Yawnghwe, Founder and CEO of Indigenous Box Inc
21:26 - Keren Tang, City of Edmonton, Karhio Ward Councillor
23:46 - Ian Wahl, Managing Owner of Alternate Route Coffee Co
28:38 - Outro
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Amplify Your Business NACO Commercial Property Solutions
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
For Episode 172 of Amplify Your Business, we’re joined by Nadine and Franco Dookhoo, co-owners of Naco Commercial Property Solutions, a company that employs a team of knowledgeable experts to get down and dirty to keep commercial properties running smoothly and cleanly, so their owners don’t have to. Whether it’s snow removal, parking lot maintenance, landscaping, window washing, building clean outs, or anything in between, Naco has it covered.To learn more, visit Naco’s website at https://nacosolutions.com/.
00:00 - Intro
01:10 - What are three pieces of knowledge that you think every entrepreneur should know?
03:45 - Can you give us a little background as to what Naco does?
06:09 - What have you learned along the way in your 16 year entrepreneurial journey?
09:46 - If either or both of you were to write a letter to your younger selves, what would the letter say?
13:54 - Do you ever have any hesitancy with collecting payment from clients who may be late making them?
17:35 - As business partners who are married, how do you two make it work?
21:09 - Do you see a lot of staff turnover in your business?
23:54 - What is your strategy for working employee ownership into your business?
27:54 - So your strategy is communicate with employees to find out who is wanting to grow within the business and then train them into senior roles and profit sharing?
31:29 - What is going to be the key to your successful growth?
34:26 - What does success look like for you?
40:43 - Outro
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Amplify Your Business StrategyPeak
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Monday Sep 26, 2022
For Episode 171 of Amplify Your Business, we’re joined by Kurian Tharakan, the founder and Managing Director of StrategyPeak Sales & Marketing Advisors. Kurian has been in the business for decades, and when he’s not sitting across the table from companies providing them with sage marketing and sales advice, he’s investing in budding entrepreneurs, and writing books, like his 2020 work The 7 Essential Stories Charismatic Leaders Tell.To learn more, read Kurian’s book and visit the StrategyPeak website.
00:00 - Intro
01:08 - If you could give entrepreneurs three pieces of advice, what would they be?
03:41 - Tell us about StrategyPeak and what inspired you to found this company.
06:45 - What motivated you to start a strategy company?
13:51 - What are the key things you see in entrepreneurs that you wish to invest in?
18:16 - Where do you see the ship go off track most often with entrepreneurs?
25:14 - The best thing about digital marketing is the ability to personalize the message specifically to demographics or individuals.
30:11 - Can you explain more about this mathematical system you’ve built around marketing and strategy?
33:26 - Where can people find your book and how can they contact you?
34:32 - Outro
Friday Sep 23, 2022
Amplify Your Business Edmonton Global
Friday Sep 23, 2022
Friday Sep 23, 2022
For Episode 170 of Amplify Your Business, we’re joined by Chris McLeod, the Vice President of Global Marketing and Communications at Edmonton Global. An experienced leader and active community volunteer, Chris has a strong track record of bringing people and ideas together. He has an impressive portfolio and expertise in economic development, community-building, marketing, strategy, and business engagement.
One of the ways in which Chris strives to bring people and ideas together is by curating and developing events where the two can converge, such as Forward/Slash, happening on September 28 at the Edmonton Convention Centre. The event will bring together leaders from the political, business, academic, and Venture Capitalist communities to help them see the possible future of the Edmonton Region in the industries of hydrogen, food & agriculture, life sciences, artificial intelligence, and global supply chain.
To learn more, visit the Edmonton Global and Forward/Slash websites, or check out their respective social media platforms listed below.
Edmonton Global: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.
Forward/Slash: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn.
00:00 - Intro
00:59 - Can you tell us a little bit about the Forward/Slash event and what you’re trying to accomplish with it?
3:33 - How do you manage to gather all of these people together for an event like Forward/Slash and keep them focused?
4:28 - How long has Edmonton Global, as the regional economic development organization been around?
7:59 - Do you get a sense of urgency for the Edmonton Region to stay relevant on a global scale in some industries?
10:46 - Can you walk us through what Forward/Slash is and what it’s about, who should be there, and where they can get their tickets?
16:00 - Can you give us an example of de-risking to encourage investment?
18:16 - How can people get tickets to the Forward/Slash event?
19:08 - Outro
Wednesday Sep 21, 2022
Amplify Your Business Willful
Wednesday Sep 21, 2022
Wednesday Sep 21, 2022
For Episode 169 of Amplify Your Business, we’re joined by Erin Bury, co-founder and CEO of Willful, a death tech business. Death tech is an industry that strives to push the way Canadians deal with death into the digital age. It’s moving from paper-based processes like drafting wills, estate planning, estate executing, etc., into the online world. Willful, as a business, sits firmly in the pre-planning stages of death: drafting wills, getting power of attorney documents, and building out other plans that will help families when their loved one passes away, and ensures that their voice is heard after they’re gone.
Last year, Erin and her co-founder Kevin went in front of the Dragons on Dragon’s Den Canada, seeking a $500,000 investment, which they successfully secured.To learn more, visit the Willful website.
00:00 - Intro
00:54 - What is death tech?
01:27 - Where does Willful fit into the death tech industry?
01:49 - How are you revolutionizing this aspect of end-of-life planning?
03:50 - Do you see the older demographic adopting these online practices easily?
06:03 - Does Willful have an area where it can hold passwords for the family of loved ones to access their online footprint once they pass?
07:20 - Is Willful a useful tool for entrepreneurs?
09:02 - How old is Willful?
10:35 - I understand that you were on Dragon’s Den?
11:45 - Did you secure a deal with the Dragons?
12:22 - Can you tell us about the experience of being on Dragon’s Den?
14:40 - How much of an advantage have you received by having the Dragon Michelle Romano on board?
15:37 - How much consulting do you get from Michelle Romano?
17:21 - In your opinion, what are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned in your entrepreneurial journey?
20:13 - Can you talk to me about cap tables and term sheets?
25:52 - What do you think are the keys to your growth over the next three to five years?
27:42 - How did you secure a partnership deal with CIBC?
29:19 - What was the intention behind approaching CIBC for a partnership, rather than a fintech company?
31:22 - Do you currently have any plans to expand beyond the Canadian marketplace, and what are your challenges going to be there?
32:34 - How can people connect with you?
33:19 - Outro
Monday Sep 19, 2022
Amplify Your Business Fit + Fierce
Monday Sep 19, 2022
Monday Sep 19, 2022
For Episode 168 of Amplify Your Business, we’re joined by Kelsey Vickers, the co-founder of Fit + Fierce. Fit + Fierce is a program run by two friends, Kelsey and Danielle, for young girls in grades 4 to 12 (this year, Fun + Fierce was developed for younger girls in grade 3). The program aims to provide school-aged girls with the support system, information, and wellness that many young girls find themselves needing at such a difficult age.
Fit + Fierce is an award-winning company, having secured the Mentorship Award from the Alberta Business Awards of Distinction presented by the Alberta Chamber of Commerce earlier this year for their work in mentoring young girls and teaching others to mentor.To learn more about how to get involved with Fit + Fierce or even license their program to start your own, visit the Fit + Fierce website.
00:00 - Intro
01:00 - What are three things you think every entrepreneur should know?
01:58 - What inspired you to get into this business with your partner?
03:14 - When you started this business 11 years ago, what was your initial plan?
03:54 - What is the age group of those enrolled in your classes?
05:00 - Tell us a little bit about winning the Alberta Business Awards of Distinction Mentorship Award.
06:39 - What inspires these girls to come back month after month?
08:03 - Why was it important to have a very well-rounded program for these girls?
10:03 - If you could write pre-entrepreneur you a letter, what would you say?
10:54 - Are you planning to franchise Fit + Fierce?
12:06 - Has the need for this type of program for young girls changed since COVID?
12:36 - Has your program changed from pre-COVID to today?
13:19 - What would you define success as?
14:34 - From a business model standpoint, is this the same type of business model as a regular gym, where it’s so much a month or year for membership?
15:20 - Where do you want your business to be in three years?
16:31 - What does your planning process look like?
17:31 - What are the biggest barriers to achieving your goals?
19:00 - How can people who may want to license your program or have their daughters join it, how can they connect with you?
19:42 - Outro
What we mean by "Amplify Your Business"