Calgary

A lifelong passion for music

Carmen Morin (http://carmenmorin.com/)is an award-winning concert pianist, teacher, and entrepreneur. Her orchestral debut at the age of 10 sparked several guest solo performances with orchestras throughout Canada, including a performance tour for the Canadian Embassy.

Following her faculty position at her city’s University Conservatory, she launched her commercial music school in 2013. Under her leadership, Morin Music has grown to a multiple 7-figure small business with a team of over 45 staff and faculty.

Programs at Morin Music currently provide education to over 1000 students locally in Calgary, and to thousands more around the world through distance education online.

As a performer, she was awarded first prize in an international piano competition in Coimbra, Portugal (2018), and her success as an educator has earned her international recognition as the first teacher in Western Canada to be inducted into the Steinway and Sons International Teacher Hall of Fame in New York (2019).

She was selected as one of Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 under 40 (2021) and currently serves on the board of directors of Honens, one of the world’s most prestigious international piano competitions.

In her business consulting, she focuses on performance-based education and curriculum design, helping founders and industry leaders to codify their expertise and turn it into a profitable and unparalleled educational program.

Carmen has recently re-engaged with her academic pursuits and is on the cusp of completing her degree in Psychology. With a keen interest in Performance Psychology, Carmen plans to delve into this specialized field post-graduation in order to explore and enhance cognitive and emotional aspects of performance in various high-pressure domains such as business, sports, and the performing arts.


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Turning a passion for cooking into fine dining in Calgary

Celebrated for her butchery skills and simple approach to food you will recognize Connie DeSousa from her appearances on Top Chef Canada, Top Chef All Stars and most recently a judge for Food Networks Fire Masters. She is one of Canada’s most celebrated female chefs with both an empathetic, yet fierce, approach to her work, life and fitness. Connie is driven to succeed. Once she sets her sights on a goal, she accomplishes it. An avid runner, Connie recently completed the NYC marathon and achieved her personal best as she sprinted across the finish line. Connie’s ambition stemmed from her humble roots, growing up in Erin Woods community in SE Calgary with her Irish mother and Portuguese father who worked hard to achieve success.

Cooking was infused into a young Connie as was her love for sausage making and large family get-togethers where food was what brought them around the table. Graduating from the top of her culinary class, she met her mentor, John Jackson, and instantly she knew they had a partnership for life. Connie has challenged herself to compete in many culinary competitions around the world, including the prestigious Chaîne De Rotîsseurs in South Africa, placing 4th in the world, and participated in the World Culinary Olympics in Germany.

Working internationally, staging at well-known restaurants around the world, mastering nose-to-tail butchery, cultivating relationships with farmers and artisan producers, and challenging the social norms of women in the professional kitchen Connie has dedicated countless hours to her craft. Now, a mother, co-owner of several successful restaurants and businesses, mentor to young chefs and women in the industry, as well as a fitness advocate, and community ambassador, Connie’s success relies on finding absolute balance. In every challenge Connie approaches she desires to fit more minutes in every day, but still manages to defy time and space.

An accomplished chef and co-owner of several award-winning restaurants and businesses, John Jackson has been a leader and a mentor to so many young chefs and entrepreneurs dedicating his time to changing lives and nourishing those around him. Growing up in Saskatchewan, he started cooking at the young age of 15, out of necessity, where he realized that, in a kitchen, social status did not matter and the way to get ahead was to focus, and work hard. He set out on a steady, ambitious career path, travelling and working in some of the world’s most well-known restaurants, attaining success with his many awards, nominations and notable achievements. John studied sausage-making in Italy’s Marche and later landed at the St. Regis in New York. At 29 years of age John was given the opportunity to open the prestigious Mobil 5-star St. Regis Hotel in San Fransisco, California. After the successful opening of the St. Regis, John continued to open multiple restaurants under the Starwood name including the Lagoon by Jean George in Bora Bora.

In 2009, it became clear that it was time to return to home to Calgary. Along with his wife, Carrie, and co-chef, co-owner Connie Desousa, they opened CHARCUT Roast House where they pride themselves in bringing an evolved, but simple approach to dining in the truest Canadian farm-to-table fashion. The restaurant was quickly named Canada’s Best Restaurant and continues to top the list. After CHARCUT, came the opening of charbar in 2015, an Argentine-inspired restaurant with Italian and Spanish influences where the parilla wood-fired grill warms in the heart of the restaurant. Located in the Historical building along the Bow River in the re-established East Village of Calgary, the Simmons quickly became the focal point for cyclists, runners and families exploring the Riverwalk community, and was named Calgary’s best new restaurant for 2015. The most resent adventure is just hatched CHIX Eggshop a “Fast-Fine Diner” which is a quirky, nostalgic, counter service–only breakfast and lunch spot with skillfully crafted and quickly served dishes alongside super hip craft beverages and cocktails.

John’s passion for food and business is strong, but his love for cycling is what drives him in the search for balance, with over 14,000km each year (never had a driver’s licence) John finds a way to ride everyday even in the -40c temperatures throughout the winter months. John is active not only cycling races and commuting but also riding for a cause. He formed a team of riders “The Canadians” that participate each year in the No Kid Hungry “Chefs Cycle” a 480km ride over three days crushing childhood hunger. His magnetic energy is contagious, sharing encouraging and passionate stories to fuel those around him shifting our culinary landscape into a positive and empowering one of balance.


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Conquering fears to achieve online success

Calgary entrepreneur Tammy Phan is the Founder and owner of luxury consignment platform Luxe Du Jour. Since 2016, Luxe Du Jour has cultivated a vibrant community of over 40,000 ‘bag addicts’ engaging in the buying, selling, renting and restoration of luxury bags and accessories. Luxe Du Jour has two corporate offices in Calgary, Alberta and Irving, California, along with additional subsidiary international locations in Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Thailand. Luxe Du Jour started in 2016 with the intent to bring sustainability to the luxury market. Luxe Du Jour promotes a shop, rent, revive approach to circular fashion, extending the life of luxury items while striving to offer the lowest consignment rates in North America. Luxe Du Jour has expanded its services through Luxe Bag Spa, Luxe Bag Rental and the new app, providing a one-stop shop for clients.


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A vision of helping women feel great about themselves

Nancy Nasr is the Founder of Think Stunning, a boutique located in Southcentre Mall that offers Women, Baby, and home accessories made and designed by women. In 2017 with a vision of helping women feel great about themselves with fun and stylish accessories, Think Stunning became a brick-and-mortar store. Each accessory is carefully curated and crafted, and it tells a story written by the incredible women she has had the privilege to collaborate with, each bringing a unique touch to its collections. Think Stunning has overcome many challenges, and has moved with resilience to adapt to different markets. In essence, Nasr is creating a movement by giving women a platform to shine and offering exceptional products.


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An obsession with being the best lawn care company in Canada

James Szojka started Yard Dawgs Lawn Care in 2014 as a tuition pay-off plan. Being allergic to grass, it was supposed to be a couple of years and summer only job.

But after graduating from university, he decided to give the business a full year of his attention to see what would happen as he did love the industry and building a team. He went all in on the company’s niche: making lawns green, weed free and healthy. Fast forward to 2024, the company is operating with 17 trucks, and it is planning to take care of over 6,000 clients this upcoming season. He’s become obsessed with being the best lawn care company in the city, and now has the goal of being Canada’s largest lawn care company. During the winter months and now throughout the year he also runs “The Dirt Life” channel on YouTube, which focuses on coaching others to in starting their own lawn care companies.


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A trailblazer as a financial professional

Filomena May, a native Calgarian, Senior Wealth Advisor and Chartered Investment Manager, international speaker, entrepreneur, mother, and founder of Filo Financial Solutions of Raymond James Ltd. Filomena operates across Canada, helping clients turn investments into successful portfolios. Her secret? Filomena is not only passionate about building wealth, but also educates on how to strategically protect it. Using a customized approach with attention to detail, she creates a unique financial roadmap for her clients based on their values and goals, while providing ease of mind and balance along the way.

Filomena began her career in 2002 at age 24 and beat the odds in an industry where only 5% of women were advisors at the time. Filomena is a trailblazer and sought out financial professional in her industry. She’s a contributing author of two amazon best sellers, podcast speaker, has appeared on BNN, CTV and “The Wealthy Life” show, and is in The KNOW Calgary volume three and Best of The KNOW Global. She is also President of her Italian Cultural Society “Calgary Calabrese Cultural Society” and enjoys the community work that she does in the city.

Watch our first interview with Filomena here.


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From oilpatch layoff to successful entrepreneurial journey

In 2017, Sean Alexander and his family built a home in the new community of Harmony, a lake community just west of Calgary. For a side business, outside of his oil & gas career, Sean began importing Standup Paddleboards (SUPs) to sell to his neighbours out of his garage in late 2019, branding them KAILANI. Shortly after that, he realized not everyone wanted to paddleboard, so he expanded his product range and began manufacturing and importing brightly coloured coolers and started initially selling them to his Friday night shinny hockey team. In early 2020, he found himself laid off from his job in the oil and gas sector, and that’s when he decided to go all in on his idea of starting an outdoor lifestyle company.

Eight months later, following a 7-day road trip through the interior of BC, he had secured $130,000 in purchase orders for his colourful collection of coolers, landing him a $1M investment with an Alberta-based private equity group. On November 2, Sean appeared in episode 7 of Season 18 on Dragons’ Den and secured a $1,000,000 deal with Wes Hall, $500,000 for 15% of his company and an additional $500,000 as an Operating Line of Credit. You can view the segment at https://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/pitches/kailani.

Today, he is selling coast-to-coast in over 200 retailers, 120 Pro Shops, 50 Promotional Marketing Companies and successfully selling in his Amazon Canada Storefront. He is an Official Partner with PGA Alberta and as of Nov 28th, 2023, and just signed a 3 year Agreement as a National Partner with the CPRA, Canadian Professional Rodeo Association, which is the sanctioning body for Pro Rodeo Events in Canada with 1100+ Athlete Members.


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From engineer to some Monki business

Aditya Dutta, Co-Owner of Monki Breakfast Club & Bistro in Calgary, is a seasoned entrepreneur who has led and helped startups in the hospitality, fashion and real estate industries. An engineering graduate of McGill University, Aditya loves innovation and is now following his childhood passion of revolutionizing the hospitality industry in Calgary, Alberta. A Management Consultant by trade, he worked for more than three years in the Business Strategy and Transformation teams encompassing many industries.


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Mickey Mouse can never have a bad day

Brad Warren is the CEO and Founder of Our Invisible Empire, a company dedicated to assisting entrepreneurs and small businesses. His passion revolves around helping entrepreneurs surmount challenges, with a strong belief that solutions can be found for almost any business problem. Brad’s leadership principles emphasize self-awareness, working diligently, remaining adaptable, and executing consistently!

In Brad’s own words, Our Invisible Empire is on a mission to “keep as many small businesses alive as possible, so that all of our kids aren’t working for Amazon in 20 years from now!” Brad and his team embarked on this journey starting out in a pandemic and a recession, with a clear objective of simplifying the path for struggling business owners and emerging entrepreneurs.

Brad’s own personal journey highlights his dedication to entrepreneurship and business support. He began his career with an opportunity to transition from hands-on work to a management role at a young age, working closely with his mentor, the founder of a retail service business, for nearly a decade. This experience exposed him to various aspects of business, from sales and operational management to financial data tracking, forecasting, marketing, and scaling. As the company expanded across different cities and provinces, Brad’s role grew, eventually leading to his position as a shareholder and General Manager, with scaling and expansion becoming his passion.

Brad’s path took a significant turn when he partnered with his wife, who is a CPA accountant and Founder of White Raven Accounting. Recognizing the combined breadth of their expertise in small business needs, they established Our Invisible Empire. Their motivation is evident — to create opportunities and support small businesses in Alberta’s competitive market.


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