Coaching & Consulting

Invest in yourself to become an entrepreneur

Vanessa Iarocci CPA, CA, is an authentic and energetic leader known for her passion for education and innovation, which she brings to her role as CEO and co-owner at Brain Power! Vanessa earned her Bachelor of Commerce, CPA designation and was selected to complete a post-graduate certificate in innovation at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Following this, Vanessa spent over two decades in increasingly senior positions at PwC and TD Bank Financial Group. She then honed her entrepreneurial skills as the CEO of a national school apparel company, where she led an innovative turnaround and growth strategy. Drawing on her 20 years of experience at some of the world’s leading firms and as a CEO, Vanessa has already lead instruction in exciting new courses at Brain Power that expose students to cutting edge business and investing concepts, including preparing them for the prestigious Wharton Investment Competition.


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Un micro changement à la fois pour des changements durables!

ANiK Lalancette, co-fondatrice de micrΩmega, est infopreneure et master coach certifiée de l’Institut des Neurosciences Appliquées du Québec (INAQ). Elle accompagne les individus à retrouver leur vitalité et à générer une énergie plus productive. Experte de l’état d’esprit du changement, elle s’est spécialisée dans l’harmonisation du narratif intérieur pour qu’il s’aligne avec la transformation identitaire.

micrΩmega est un mouvement de transformation humaine qui repose sur un environnement social sécuritaire, éducatif et motivant, à l’intérieur duquel les individus sont encouragés à accumuler des micro-actions pour arriver à transformer leur vie positivement et de façon durable.


Les entrepreneurs sont l’épine dorsale de l’économie canadienne.

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Be the entrepreneur that you want to be

Nick Mombourquette is the founder and president of NewGround Financial Inc. NewGround specializes in employee benefits programs for SMB’s with 5-500 employees. NewGround also works with entrepreneurs to provide tax efficient wealth planning strategies. They pride themselves on providing national-level service and advice, with a local approach. Based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, NewGround serves clients in NS, PEI, NB, ONT and AB.

Nick also founded and co-hosts The Interesting People You Meet Podcast, where he interviews people from all walks of life, with interesting stories and perspectives.

Nick has a BBA from Mount Saint Vincent University and holds a Certified Employees Benefits Specialist designation from Dalhousie University. He lives just outside of Halifax with his wife and three young children.

Nick is a fitness enthusiast who enjoys almost every genre of music. In his spare time, when he doesn’t have a book in his hands, he enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf in the summer and hockey in the winter.


Entrepreneurs are the backbone of Canada’s economy. To support Canada’s businesses, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on FacebookInstagramLinkedIn and Twitter.

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A former high school teacher is on a mission to create a unique, inspiring, community-based learning experience for young people

Adam Robb was raised on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Chonnonton Nations on fertile farming lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum. After one year of university, it became clear that the learning he needed in life would be found with mountains, lakes, gardens, community centres and around campfires and not as much inside classrooms as he had once thought. He kept that realization in mind as he became a teacher himself. For the past 15 years as a high school teacher, Adam has since helped to create unique experiential education programs allowing for self-discovery for youth on Treaty 6, 7, 8 territories as well as the traditional lands of the Beaver, Cree, Ojibway, Secwépemc, Stoney, and Métis. The focus of these programs has always been about connecting youth to the land as a way of learning self-resiliency, problem-solving, risk-taking, relationship-building, history, technology, politics, science, economics and protocols from Traditional Keepers of knowledge. Adam has teamed up with other amazing educators to create learning programs that were recognized provincially (AB Education), nationally (EECOM, KF & CAGBC) and internationally (OECD & ILFI). The Howl Experience is the manifestation of all Adam’s beliefs about learning; it has to be experiential, community-based and focused on solving real problems and achieving real results. He is proud to be working alongside several past students on this project and of the many incredible past students out there making a real difference. Adam is most proud that he is able to do this work alongside his own amazingly insightful children and his inspiring partner.

Shawna Peddle is a partnership broker, collaborator, and convenor of like minds to address complex social issues. She has expertise in program design and implementation related to community resiliency, risk communication, environmental risk assessment, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction. In her current role, Shawna oversees community investment programs and partnerships at Co-operators, a financial services co-operative, including corporate giving and volunteerism, the Co-operative Development Program, the Advisor Community Fund, and the Co-operators Community Funds. Shawna holds a Master of Forestry from the University of Toronto, and a Graduate Diploma in Social Responsibility and Sustainability from St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto.

Learn more about Howl Founder Adam Robb, and how he helped to develop programming that allowed youth to grow and learn more than through traditional education at https://www.experiencehowl.com


Learn more about Co-operators holistic business solutions here.


Entrepreneurs are the backbone of Canada’s economy. To support Canada’s businesses, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on FacebookInstagramLinkedIn and Twitter.

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How to sell your company for $20 Million

Having started 11 companies to date, Scott Duke is a lifetime entrepreneur. Most recently, Scott founded OpnRoad, an M&A advisory firm based out of Revelstoke, British Columbia that assists business owners across North America sell or purchase companies within the $2M – $20M in revenue range.

You can find out more about OpnRoad and its services here.

In addition, Scott serves as the VP of sales for Capitaliz, a SaaS company servicing the exit planning industry, and as the managing broker of a chain of property management companies across British Columbia.


Entrepreneurs are the backbone of Canada’s economy. To support Canada’s businesses, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on FacebookInstagramLinkedIn and Twitter.

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Choisis-toi maintenant, le dicton de Mylène Massé

Entraîneuse, naturopathe et coach en relation d’aide, Mylène Massé est une passionnée de la santé. Sa mission : aider les femmes et les hommes à devenir la meilleure version d’eux-même par l’activité physique, une alimentation équilibrée et un grand amour de soi. Elle a débuté son parcours professionnel comme hôtelière pour enfin retrouver sa passion de toujours depuis 2013. Passant de prof de cours de Bootcamp, spinning et CrossFit, à femme d’affaire pour La Fille en forme, œuvrant surtout sur le web pour toucher toute la francophonie, Mylene se caractérise comme CELLE qui vous fera atteindre vos objectifs de poids dans le plaisir et la compréhension. Choisis-toi maintenant, et pour toujours est son dicton.


Les entrepreneurs sont l’épine dorsale de l’économie canadienne.

Pour soutenir les entreprises canadiennes, abonnez-vous à notre chaîne YouTube et suivez-nous sur Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn et Twitter.

Vous voulez rester au courant des derniers podcasts et actualités #entrepreneur? Abonnez-vous à notre newsletter bimensuelle.

RBC: The micro-entrepreneur economy survey

Don Ludlow, Vice-President of Small Business, Partnerships & Strategy, RBC, provides strategic oversight and leads a team that is responsible for delivering marketing-leading solutions, partnerships and client experiences that go beyond traditional banking to help Canadian entrepreneurs successfully start, manage and grow their business.

He also manages the development of RBC’s strategy for the broader Business Financial Services portfolio, including the group’s client experience, CRM, and data analytics strategies.

Don joined RBC in 2001 and has 20 years of experience within the financial services and banking sector. Prior to joining RBC, he served as an Infantry Officer in the Canadian Army where he led soldiers on a number of domestic and international operations and worked in both staff and training roles.

Overview of Key Data Points

Led by the younger millennial and Gen Z generations, a ‘micro-entrepreneur’ economy is emerging across the country, as Canadians look to adapt to a changing landscape dominated by rising inflation and digitization

  • 74 per cent of Canadian small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs are motivated to start a small business or side-hustle due to the increasing cost of living – With this number rising to 84 per cent among Gen Z respondents
  • A strong majority (77 per cent) of current and aspiring entrepreneurs report that their chief aim is to create a source of income to support themselves – Millennials (86 per cent) are even more likely to cite this as their main reason for starting a business

Key factors supporting the emergence of the micro-entrepreneurship economy.

  • Emerging technologies allow them to reach new markets and explore new ways of doing business (47 per cent)
  • Being able to conduct their business or “side-hustle” online remotely lowers the overhead costs associated with starting and running a business (47 per cent)
  • Digital solutions reduce the efforts for administration and back-office aspects of running a business (42 per cent)

A shift in customer preferences is also creating fertile ground for small and micro-businesses.

  • 89 per cent of those surveyed agree that small businesses are able to provide products and services tailored to local needs
  • Another 72 per cent stated that they believe small businesses have the ability to innovate at a more rapid rate than larger organizations
  • Moreover, 71 per cent were more likely to support businesses with an active presence in their local community
  • For current and aspiring business owners, the rising preference and increased willingness of Canadians to shop local has contributed to their overall desire to become an entrepreneur, with 39 per cent of those surveyed stating that this shift has motivated and made it easier for them to start a business.

Read more on Newswire


Entrepreneurs are the backbone of Canada’s economy. To support Canada’s businesses, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on FacebookInstagramLinkedIn and Twitter.

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Starting a Company to Influence Culture

Sherry Shannon-Vanstone is the founder and current president and CEO of Profound Impact™️️️️️️ Corporation. Profound Impact is a tech company based in the Toronto-Waterloo Corridor whose digital platform supports alumni relations and digital communities focused on careers, research and academic connections. Sherry is a leader for women pursuing STEM careers. A mathematician, entrepreneur, innovator and philanthropist, Sherry has always been an advocate for women in STEM, pushing for them to assume a greater role in Canada’s post-pandemic economic recovery. Sherry is a great spokesperson to address pandemic-related challenges facing women in STEM and can offer some valuable insights into how to overcome these challenges to position women as leaders in the nation’s economic recovery.


Entrepreneurs are the backbone of Canada’s economy. To support Canada’s businesses, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on FacebookInstagramLinkedIn and Twitter.

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Profound Impact’s whose digital platform supports alumni relations and digital communities focused on careers, research and connections.

The New Approach to Business – Clients Trusting You!

Natalie Doyle Oldfield is the author of The Power of Trust: How Top Companies Build, Manage and Protect It and President of Success Through Trust. Recognized as one of Canada’s Most Inspiring Women Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs in 2021, she’s on a mission to help business owners grow their companies.

She’s been named one of the world’s Top Thought Leaders in Trust for 5 consecutive years by Trust Across America and has been recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award. A former Chief Marketing Officer, she spent 25 years in business before founding Success Through Trust. She is a contributor to Forbes and is quoted in Economist Impact as ‘Business Trust Expert.’


Entrepreneurs are the backbone of Canada’s economy. To support Canada’s businesses, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on FacebookInstagramLinkedIn and Twitter.

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The power of aliveness with Renée Safrata

Over the past 30+ years Renée Safrata has worked with thousands of companies and executives throughout North America and Europe, helping them to connect, adopt new behaviors, and become confident members of highly functioning teams. As CEO and Founder, she oversees Vivo Team’s full spectrum learning experience, develops leaders and teams through live, online training, coaching, and people analytics. Leading a well connected, remote-first team, Renée has the confidence and trust to work from anywhere—taking full advantage of the WFH model.


Entrepreneurs are the backbone of Canada’s economy. To support Canada’s businesses, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on FacebookInstagramLinkedIn and Twitter.

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