COVID-19

Jennifer Harper, Founder of Cheeckbone Beauty, Discusses How Her Company Changed the Launch of a Product to Cope with the COVID-19 Pandemic

Jenn Harper, founder of Cheekbone Beauty, was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario and relocated to the Niagara Region where she was raised and developed a passion for cosmetics. Over the past ten years, Jenn has had successful career in sales and marketing with two large international corporations. During her first week of training session with one of these companies a questionnaire asked: “What is your dream job?” Jenn wrote “To be the CEO of a major cosmetic brand.” At the time, there was no indication that Jenn would eventually set out to build Cheekbone Beauty. During the development of Cheekbone Beauty, Jenn researched the industry as well as charities that are helping close the educational funding gap that exists between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. Jenn found the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society (FNCFCS) and Cheekbone Beauty continues to support the FNCFCS today. During Cheekbone’s infancy, Jenn also suffered a heavy personal loss with the suicide of her brother B.J. This loss, though difficult, has remained a driving force behind Jenn’s desire to see Cheekbone Beauty succeed with its mission. In addition to Cheekbone’s mission, Jenn strives to educate as many Canadians as possible about the Residential School System and the effects it has had on her family and friends through decades of generational trauma. Jenn speaks regularly to university, college and high school students about social entrepreneurship, empathy and the history of her First Nations family. Jenn has also been invited to speak to various entrepreneur groups, women in business associations, Apple Canada and First Nations organizations.

Jenn had been featured in media outlets such as Flare.com, APTN News, CBC Radio Unreserved, The Kit and Global’s News Radio. In 2017 Jenn Harper was awarded the “Social Enterprise Award” at the 17th Annual Women in Business Awards by the Women in Niagara (WIN) Council and the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce (GNCC) for her work on Cheekbone Beauty.

Jenn Lofgren Offers Practical Advice & Resources for Leaders Navigating Through COVID-19

Jenn Lofgren is the founder of Incito, an executive leadership coaching firm in Calgary. For the last 15 years, Jenn has been coaching leaders and executives to be the bold, daring and magnetic leaders they know they can be. In this interview, she offers practical advice and resources for leaders who are looking to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ryan Petrimoulx Discusses E-Commerce & Working with Retailers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ryan Petrimoulx is the founder & principal at Bang the Drum, a boutique retail agency focusing on Retail, e-commerce and Growth Marketing.

After having worked his way up from the front lines of the Retail sector since 2004, Ryan’s path has brought him through every aspect of the Retail industry, eventually leading him to begin working in Retail e-commerce in 2008.

Founding his agency in 2013, Ryan has focused on working with both SMEs and Enterprise retailers who are looking to grow customers, build relationships, increase revenues & profitability.

Melanie Teichroeb Discusses How Women Feel When They Take a Traumatic Experience and Turn it Into a Fight for Their People & Community

Imagine a 10th century Viking TED Talk.

Warrior, leader, motivational speaker, Ingrid Larsdöttir, reveals the untold truth of Viking shield maidens and what it takes to go to battle. Her presentation is a clarion call that that spans the centuries. She empowers women to claim their inner warrior and invites men to be allies in the battle for equality.

Melanie Teichroeb wrote this solo show during the birth of the #MeToo movement. Shield Maiden addresses sexism, gender bias, sexual freedom, and trauma. It does so with irreverence, empathy and humour. The dance between strength and vulnerability is explored as the warrior character Ingrid works to recruit new warriors while inadvertently revealing her own dark and violent personal history.

Melanie lives and works on Gabriola Island, British Columbia. Her day job is Chalk It Up Signs. The business, co-owned with husband and artist in his own right, Dave Teichroeb, creates hand drawn chalkboard art that ships worldwide.

Shield Maiden is Melanie’s first solo show. In addition to performing to sold out crowds in Canada, she has been honoured to perform in Austin, Texas and off Broadway in New York City. Canadian tour coming soon (once the pandemic ends and theatre lives again).

Dr. Laura Hambley, Workplace Psychologist, Discusses Being an Entrepreneur and Coping with COVID-19

Dr. Laura Hambley is a Workplace Psychologist, Speaker and Author. She describes herself as a serial entrepreneur with businesses including Calgary Career Counselling, Canada Career Counselling, Synthesis Psychology and WorkEvOHlution. Hambley talks about being an entrepreneur and how to cope with the COVID-19 crisis.

Meti Basiri, CMO of ApplyBoard, Discusses How He’s Grown His Company During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Coming to Canada from Iran for post secondary studies, Meti Basiri, Co-Founder and CMO of ApplyBoard, Massi, and their eldest brother Martin, experienced the challenges international students face trying to access education. ApplyBoard was founded—out of these shared experiences—to streamline the student application process. Meti and Massi were recently featured on three Forbes Top 30 Under 30 Lists. Since ApplyBoard’s founding in 2015, the staff has grown to nearly 400, raised CAD $172 Million and last year were named Canada’s fastest-growing technology company by Deloitte. They have helped over 100,000 students around the world with their academic journey, and have grown to become the world’s largest platform for international student recruitment to Canada, The United Kingdom, and The United States.

Andrew Skafel Discusses the Impact of COVID-19 on Edgewater Wireless in the Short & Long Term

Responsible for leading Edgewater WirelessAndrew Skafel’s broad strategic perspective comes from his work with both multinational equipment vendors and a number of start-up network operators. Andrew has significant multinational experience. He was based in Asia for seven years where he worked for Newbridge Networks/Alcatel; Silicon Valley-based, InterWAVE Communications and the Commercial Division of the Canadian High Commission (Malaysia). His roles included strategic marketing, international business development, and business planning. A proven telecom innovator and leader, Andrew founded an innovative GSM operator in Brasil, taking the project from concept to fundraising, license acquisition and launch phases. Mr. Skafel holds an MBA from INSEEC (Paris), a graduate diploma from the McRae Institute of International Management (Vancouver) and a BA in Economics & Politics from the University of Western Ontario.

Andrew is a Senior level international business development and strategic marketing executive with multi-faceted telecommunications experience. Demonstrated innovative and results-oriented approach to start-up and listed companies on both vendor and service provider aspects of the telecom industry.

Specialties: International business development; strategic marketing; telecommunications; data communications; contract negotiations; channel management; strategic planning; GSM; CDMA; IP; VoIP; hosted key systems

Brett Wilson, Owner of Multiple Businesses and Part Owner of the Nashville Predators Discusses the Short and Long Term Impact of COVID-19 on the Economy

Brett Wilson is a well-known Canadian entrepreneur and former dragon on Dragons’ Den on CBC TV. He is an investor, owner of several businesses and a part owner of the Nashville team in the National Hockey League. He talks about the impact COVID-19 has had and will have on the economy.

Dr. Mohamad Fakih, Owner of Paramount Restaurants, Discusses Supporting Immigrants, Charities and Front-Line Workers Before & During the COVID-19 Pandemic

A community leader, Dr. Mohamad Fakih regularly participates in fundraisers and community events, supporting multiple causes and organizations including the Canadian Cancer Society, Islamic Relief worldwide, Sick Kids Hospital, the Make a Wish Foundation in Toronto and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Canada. Both Paramount and Mohamad have donated generously to these charities and other non-profit organizations. Across his restaurants Mohamad offers discounts to all Emergency Service Workers in uniform to show appreciation for their service in our communities.

Mohamad opened the doors of Paramount restaurants to the skills and drive many refugees bring to Canada by providing up to 150 jobs for the newcomers in his restaurants in year 2017.

UNHCR recognized Dr. Fakih’s vision and commitment to building, a Canada that is strengthened by diversity and a global leader on refugee issues, based on his contribution in promoting the economic and social integration of refugees into our communities, he is the voice and the face of UNHCR Canada.

Dr. Fakih has received numerous awards for his business excellence and for his charitable works including a few mentioned below:

  • Toronto’s Life Most Influential – He is on Toronto Life’s list of the 50 Most Influential Torontonians.
  • Business Person of the Year Award, 2019 – He was nominated and won the prestigious Business Award of Excellence 2019, by the Mississauga Board of Trade.
  • Key to the City of Mississauga, 2019 – He was awarded the key to the city of Mississauga by Mayor Bonnie Crombie. It is bestowed upon esteemed community members, former residents and visitors whom the Mayor wishes to honour.
  • Canada’s Most Admired CEO 2019, Mid market category – He was recognized as a national winner for fostering high performance corporate cultures that help sustain a competitive advantage.

Former Olympian Jamie Salé on Dealing with COVID-19, and the Connection Between Sports & Business

Jamie Salé, former Olympic gold medalist and world champion in figure skating, is a motivational coach and speaker in Edmonton. She talks about being an entrepreneur, the connection between sports and business, and dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.