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Get great on the areas of life you’re most passionate about

Growing up John Krik‘s dad was a pitchman. You could see him slicing and dicing at the country fairs, PNE or home shows throughout Canada. That business grew from shows to television or products being sold on television and then mass distribution in major retail stores like Walmart. John has followed in his father’s footsteps. He’s developed several products that have gone from concept to millions in sales all based out of his home office in Surrey, BC. This is where he conceives the products, brings them to consumer shows, proves the salability, develops a pitch and from there brings it to mass distribution via direct response television.


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Creating transformative change in 66 days

Olia Stasiuk is a book author who is a certified Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR®️), and the Founder of four different businesses including 360 Transformers & Transformers Academy.

Olia found her passion in education and development and her mission in making people happier by elevating their lives and careers. She has dedicated many years of her professional career to exploring the inevitable impact of learning and development within personal and professional life, helping reputable global companies boost their operational efficiency by establishing forward-thinking employee experience and development strategies learned around the globe.

Olia is always exploring possibilities with technologies and innovation and is currently conducting research with her team on the impact of Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence practices on the soft skills of adults in the workplace to accelerate their careers.


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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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Brand Strategist & Business Performance Catalyst

Isabelle Mercier and Margarita Romano are ‘no-nonsense’ dynamos, born to catapult heart-centred entrepreneurs and business leaders to build impactful brands, businesses and lives.

Together, Isabelle and Margarita co-founded their first business venture a few years out of their teens, which quickly escalated to become one of Canada’s most awarded branding and creative firms; from prestigious international design awards to national entrepreneurs of the year. They are true pioneers in brand positioning, and to this day still continuously re-establish the way people do business. Throughout their careers, they’ve had the opportunity to work with more than 500 companies, including some influential and iconic brands like A&W, Robeez Footwear, Earls Restaurants, IMAX Corporation, and HSBC Investments just to name a few. With over two decades of hands-on experience in branding, marketing and business growth, as well as extensive learnings from traveling the globe, Isabelle and Margarita are more determined than ever to help entrepreneurs and thought leaders all over the world become The First, The Best or The Only.


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Creating a Culture for Success

Marcus New is a pioneer in the pre-IPO asset class, with a career that spans over three decades in the private and public financial markets. He is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of InvestX, a firm headquartered in Vancouver, that delivers access and liquidity to the growth equity asset class and empowers the sell-side to invest and trade in institutional quality private equity. Marcus is also the Founder and Chair (and previously CEO) of Stockhouse Publishing – one of North America’s leading online financial communities and a global hub for accredited investors. Prior to launching Stockhouse, Marcus built Stockgroup Media, an online information company whose client base consisted of the top Canadian brokerage firms, global institutional sales desks, and hedge funds.

Marcus is passionate about entrepreneurship and has made it his life’s mission to be at the forefront of innovation and leadership in the financial markets. He has served as the past President of the Vancouver Chapter and Canadian Conference Chair for the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) and was a finalist for Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” Pacific Region. Marcus is an alumni of MIT’s “Birthing of Giants” program and holds a B.A. with a Business Major from Trinity Western University.


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Believe in Your Vision

Having been raised from a bloodline of great artists and musicians from Germany, Andreas Kunert’s unique artistic talents and ability to perceive the Fibonacci Sequence, informed his perception of the world. Observing this pattern in nature, people and stone has greatly influenced his life and work.

When Andreas started K2 Stone Quarries on Vancouver Island in 1992, he was the youngest-ever Canadian commercial quarry owner. When the simplicity of quarrying became unfulfilling, he embraced his deep desire to create beauty with stone, shifting to a career creating stone artworks.

In 2009, Andreas and his wife Naomi founded Ancient Art of Stone. Together, they help people find balance, wholeness and connection through creating soulful stonework in their Vancouver Island studio.


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Supporting Staff for Success

Tammie Hunter was raised on Vancouver Island and as an adult lived in several communities around BC before settling in Nanaimo near her family. After exploring a few careers, she discovered later in life that being an entrepreneur is the most rewarding and engaging. She often says she wishes she had known what being a business owner was like earlier on in life.

As an artist she has had a very successful career selling her art in several galleries and art shows over the past 20 years. Since she started LegArt Apparel her art has taken a backseat. But she’s itching to get back into her studio to continue her lifelong dream of being a serious artist.

Tammie started LegArt Apparel in 2014. Since then, it has grown to be one of the top apparel companies in Canada in its particular style of clothing, mainly leggings. The company has grown from the original box of 100 pairs of leggings in the basement to over 4,000 pieces of inventory in a large warehouse and storefront in Nanaimo.

After almost 10 years in the industry, Tammie has gained much experience, having learned mostly through trial and error what it takes to be successful in the apparel industry. Through many ups and downs, hard work both mentally and physically, and learning with a team of dedicated employees and mentors she feels it’s time to implement an exit plan that will set her successor up for further success. The next three years will bring new challenges but she is up for it!


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When vision and finance unite: great things can happen

Born and raised in Vancouver, B.C., Serge Biln entered the workforce with a job in the mail department at a banking institution. From here, he swiftly rose to the executive level, eventually culminating in the position of vice president at Canadian Western Bank.

After a rewarding career in finance, Serge ventured into the community pharmacy retail space. He built and opened his first Pharmasave in 2005, followed by six new locations, and two years on the board.

Serge’s serial entrepreneurial spirit kicked in once again when cannabis became legal in Canada. In 2019 he co-founded Inspired Cannabis with his cousin, Jesse, creating a family-run, independent cannabis retail business. Since launching its first location in Courtenay, Inspired Cannabis has grown to 16 stores nationwide, with its most recent flagship location on Robson Street in Vancouver.

Adopting a unique approach to traditional cannabis retailing, Inspired Cannabis recently introduced the House of Brands, an interactive gallery experience in its flagship store. Here, customers can experience Canada’s top brands like never before with pop-up greenhouses, product showcases and other interactive elements that promote much-needed education in this emerging industry.

With further growth expected in 2023, Inspired Cannabis launched an online store and delivery service, connecting customers across the Lower Mainland with a range of products that can be delivered to their doorstep between 9am-11pm daily. Inspired Cannabis’s 16 stores include seven locations in BC, two in Saskatchewan and seven in Ontario. Additional store openings will be announced in the coming months.


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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Treat yourself like a million dollar client

Cynthia Lockrey is a changemaker + communications expert. She shifts people, teams, organizations and cultures to go from overwhelmed to clear and activated. Having worked in public relations for 25+ years, Cynthia is skilled at breaking down communications fundamentals into bite size and easy to implement pieces. She does this in her writing, communications consulting, speaking, training and coaching. While based on Vancouver Island, Cynthia works with individuals, non-profits, businesses and organizations from across North America. She is passionate about helping people share their stories and be heard.


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 entrepreneurs can stay healthy

Nicolette Richer is a Regenerative Medicine Educator, entrepreneur, author, doctoral student and speaker living in Pemberton, British Columbia, Canada. She is a savvy wellness facilitator and a renowned environmental and sustainability expert, with an insatiable desire to learn and educate. Nicolette transforms people with chronic disease or cancer into conquerors of their condition through plant-based, whole foods nutrition. Nicolette regularly speaks to captivated audiences about healing cancer and chronic disease through nutrition and detoxification.


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 brands can build safe connections with their target consumers

Jason Williams is the CEO of Kidoz (TSXV:KIDZ), the largest COPPA and GDPR-compliant mobile advertising network that safely reaches hundreds of millions of kids, teens, and families every month.

Through his deep understanding of tech strategy, marketing, enterprise sales, and business development, Jason has grown the Kidoz team by 300 percent since 2018, expanded the business from 10 to over 60 different countries, and brought more than 3,000 apps into the Kidoz ad network. Since becoming CEO in 2019, Jason has built a unique global culture, managing staff in 11 different countries across 14 time zones.

Growing up in Vancouver, Jason’s passion for technology began in the early days of the Pacific Northwest startup scene. Through his many years of dedication, he’s built Kidoz into its successful business today, working with leading companies like Lego, Mattel, and Disney that insist on absolute data privacy when advertising to minors. Jason helped shape the Kidoz strategy ensuring the Company is a critical part of the global AdTech marketplace.

In addition to his role as CEO, Jason lends his expertise as a guest lecturer at Cass Business School and University College London. Jason has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Victoria and a Masters of Business Administration specializing in strategic marketing from the University of Warwick.


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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