W O R K L I F E | STA R T I N G O U T
2020 PHOTOS BY KRISTY REIMER
BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR IS A TOUGH, BUT IMPORTANT, JOB.
Small business is big in Canada, accounting for 99.8 per cent of all businesses. While it is the engine of our economy, the profession is both rewarding and challenging.
MENTORS AT LAR
STORY TARA Statistics BY Canada reportsLEVICK that of the 97,000 new businesses created every year, one third do not survive their first five years. The SMARTstart program channel the energy and enthusiasm of new entrepreneurs into eight months of small-business training. It’s proven that business ILLUSTRATIONS BYaims LIAto GOLEMBA
owners with education in entrepreneurship have an 80 to 90 per cent chance of success. This made-in-Airdrie entrepreneurial training program offers online learning, workshops with local experts, mentorship planning to people withAN a business WHATand IS business THE NO. 1 QUALITY ENTREPREN Airdrie’s award-winning SMARTstart program has Itbeen idea and owners who have been in operation for less than three years. is all about providing real-world business skills and access to the coaching entrepreneurs need to NEEDS TO HAVE IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFU pairing entrepreneurs with business mentors since 2014. help set their business up for success. Each entrepreneur walks away with a completed plan – either feasibility, business or strategic – and connections to the Airdrie business community. Bennett (The I.T. More than 100years, people have thecompleted program. In the past eight more than 125completed entrepreneurs have the program. The 2022 program is made Andrew up of 10 entrepreneurs representing nineCompany): businesses and Persisten 11 mentors. tenaciousness about achieving their objectives. Entrepreneurs have opened businesses, grown their Over the next two issues, we feature our participating entrepreneurs.
businesses and improved their business practices. Some participants also determine that their idea is not viable or that they don’t have what it takes to be an entrepreneur. SMARTstart also considers this a success. SMARTstart is all about helping entrepreneurs realize their potential. Meet six of the program’s current entrepreneurs and their mentors. SMARTstart also has three mentors at large. They are not paired with an entrepreneur this year; instead they work with any and all as needed!
WATCH VIDEO GREETINGS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ENTREPRENUERS AT AIRDRIELIFE.COM
Joan Traub (retired, former owner of Airdrie Y BONFIRE SHADES
NAME: COURTNEY Passion. TheySTERANKO need to believe in their product or Add some fun, flare and style to your sunny day. Bonfire and their to outshine their competition. Shades are full ability UV protective sunglasses with bamboo arms, a lightweight feel and polarized lenses. My husband and I reJo-Anne Yau (Masuch Law): An entrepreneur m cently took over a friend’s startup business and are excited read the products marketto –youknow consumer toable bring to these affordable via our where online store and person at local markets. is, inwhere it’s going, and how to fit into the marke Why entrepreneurship: Connecting with people and creating impact has been the fuel to my fire. I have a lot of enthusiasm for what I love and I have been so fortunate for my online network marketing business that has kickstarted this all in my pursuit of connecting with my passions and purpose. I want our girls to grow up knowing that any and all opportunities are worth exploring and that personal growth, taking risks, accepting challenges, giving back and helping others is essential. What I hope to learn: How to develop a business plan. I also want to establish roles and responsibilities in our partnership and learn how to do email marketing. NAME: JARET STERANKO Our sunglass company has great products, great energy and the potential to be a big success. There are seven different styles and they come in many different colours. You’ll find a colour and style for every occasion. Why entrepreneurship: I have been a firefighter for over 10 years. In 2019 I slipped off the truck at work and tore my Achilles tendon. Since being off work, I have been unable to do the things that I normally do, and this challenge was exactly what I was looking for. What I hope to learn: We would love to see our shades in local stores and across Canada. I feel like we are just “winging it” so far and think getting help with organization would be a big win for me. I don’t have any experience with running and owning a business, so want to feel more confident when making decisions. MENTOR: KARI LINES, BUDGET BLINDS OF AIRDRIE What do you wish you would have known when you started? I wish I would have acquired a mentor and a business coach earlier on in my career as the ones I have now are extremely valuable. I also wish I would have known to not take things personally when it comes to business.
S U M M E R 2022
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