Canada’s Entrepreneur

Donald Haché, of Selltron Group, has years of professional experience managing startups and established companies. As a resilient, results driven strategic and decisive leader, Don utilizes his entrepreneurial skills and the Scaling Up framework towards the growth of the individual(s) for the mutual growth of the company and operations.

Don brings focus to companies in all business development stages – start-up, scale up, fast-growth challenges, steady state business, relocation, downsizing and shut-downs. He has extensive experience in needs assessment, design, strategic thinking and execution planning (there is a difference), leadership development, coaching, performance assessments, mergers and acquisitions (USA/CND) and succession management.

Don has a background in small, medium and large-scale development, implementation and system integration projects, with emphasis on taking small to medium privately held businesses to the next level for growth towards structured corporations, sustainable revenue, acquisition or sale, in domestic and international markets. Don has exposure to public sector, international trade service-based economies, industrial automation, commercial, transportation industries, professional services, IT, Telecom sectors and software development environments. He has a successful record of managing and motivating diverse teams, providing guidance, mentoring, committed to quality and client satisfaction.

Having started small to medium size companies, Don understands the challenges entrepreneurs are faced with, and has a track record of building these companies and turning them into successful operations. As a resilient, result driven, strategic and decisive leader Don utilizes his entrepreneurial skill set towards the growth of the individual(s) for the mutual beneficial growth of the operations, as a consummate learner he shares what he learns. Don is an Engineering graduate. Fluent in English and French, with basic conversational Spanish, Don enjoys world wide networking, traveling with family and friends.

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

Want to stay up-to-date on the latest #entrepreneur podcasts and news? Subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter

Ronald W. Thomson is a film and television industry veteran with Canadian, U.S., and international experience. Ron is the founder and president of global business development firm Cameron Thomson Group Ltd. with focus on media, entertainment, and tech ventures. Cameron Thomson is based in Toronto, London, Lake Como, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and Taipei. In addition, he is the founder and managing director of Nice Media Studios LLC, an independent media content company focused on the acquisition / origination, development, packaging, production & financing of premium television shows and movies for global audiences. Ron is considered a transformative thinker who has proven time and again his ability to lead companies to sustainable growth, with a legacy of experience in securing capital for companies in the global media / entertainment and technology communities. Ron also serves as CEO and Director of Canada’s Liquid Media Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: YVR). Liquid Media is a business solutions company empowering independent intellectual property (IP) creators. Liquid’s end-to-end solution will enable professional video (film/TV and video game) creation, packaging, financing, delivery, and monetization, empowering IP creators to take their professional content from inception through the entire process to monetization.

His experiences at Cameron Thomson led him to his appointment as Liquid’s CEO, where he was charged with the company’s business development. He spearheaded the successful recalibration of Liquid’s business model into a business solutions company for independent creators of professional video (film / television), carving out a distinct niche and offering in the marketplace.

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

Want to stay up-to-date on the latest #entrepreneur podcasts and news? Subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter

A driven and enthusiastic go-getter, Mike Anderson has been making waves in the entertainment industry for decades. After completing studies at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and Ryerson University’s Event Management Program, Mike joined the NAIT Students Association’s team as Entertainment Marketing Manager.

After gaining industry experience, in 2005 Mike was up for a new challenge and decided to launch Trixstar - a 360-degree live event management & consultation firm that activates both city and rural markets with fairs, festivals, concerts, brand activations as well as celebrity and speaker events. Working alongside organizations that want to create brand awareness, generate excitement and raise funds through impactful events and unique experiences, Trixstar now operates out of Nashville, Calgary, and Edmonton supporting clients and events all over North America.

The scope of Mike Anderson’s career as an event management expert has attracted the attention of peers, international celebrities and the media who have celebrated him as one of Edmonton’s "Top 40 Under 40′′ as well as one of the "Top 50 Alumni" of his college (NAIT) over the last 50 years. He was also nominated as "International Talent Buyer of the Year" at the International Entertainment Buyers Association Industry Awards in Nashville. His foresight and careful planning allowed Trixstar to not only survive the pandemic in the face of public health restrictions, but adapt to provide safe live events that also created jobs. This adaptability and progressive thinking is what keeps Mike Anderson leading the entertainment industry.

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

Want to stay up-to-date on the latest #entrepreneur podcasts and news? Subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter

As co-founder of Vancouver-based real estate software company, Spark, Simeon Garratt has been responsible for landing some of Spark's top real estate clients in North America. Years of living abroad in Asia and building his experience in the real estate industry fueled his ultimate vision — to transform and streamline how new developments are managed and sold. With an extensive background in selling and marketing property, Simeon has been involved in the sales of over 1,000 homes internationally which helped bring Spark into more than 80 cities worldwide. Recently, Garratt has been nominated to President of the BC Real Estate Tech Association, where he looks forward to sharing his expertise and institutional knowledge of the fast-changing industry.

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

Want to stay up-to-date on the latest #entrepreneur podcasts and news? Subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter

Lisa Drader-Murphy designs and produces seasonal collections of fashion and accessories that are of the moment yet enduring and classic in quality and expression of timeless design, all from her 250 year old sea captain’s estate in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley. Willow Vale Estate, co-managed by her husband, Carey Murphy, also operates as a 5 star boutique resort, boasting multiple spa amenities.

Her label has received extensive international coverage including CNN, New York Times, Entertainment Tonight, BFM Europe, NRJ France, European Vogue, Cosmo, Flare, ELLE, CTV, CBC, SLICE, Canadian Learning Television, Global TV, and has been seen on runways across Canada. Jennifer Love Hewitt, Missi Pyle, Linda Cardellini, and Michelle Rodriguez are among the many celebrities who have selected Turbine for their wardrobes. Turbine has been invited to present at celebrity gifting suites during the Toronto International Film Festival, Golden Globes, Oscars, and the Cannes Film Festival and their signature leather handbags have been spotted on the red carpet.

Established in 1997, Drader-Murphy’s design house is unique in that it is one of few vertical fashion companies remaining in Canada. Her collections are sold exclusively at her 5 privately held retail locations and online.

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

Want to stay up-to-date on the latest #entrepreneur podcasts and news? Subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter

Robin Kovitz is the President & CEO of Baskits Inc., one of Canada’s fastest growing companies. Baskits designs, manufactures and delivers unique and luxurious gifts across Canada and the US. With over 50,000 customers from around the world, Baskits makes the art of gifting quick and easy through its online stores, catalog/call center, warehouse, and retail locations. In 2020, and again in 2021, Baskits was recognized as one of the Top Growing Companies in Canada by the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Magazine.

Prior to acquiring Baskits in 2014, Robin worked in private equity on the buyouts of mid-sized companies and as a Summer Consultant at the Boston Consulting Group where she led a part of a large-scale cost reduction project at a Canadian bank. She also played an active role in the sale of her family’s western Canadian food manufacturing and distribution businesses. She began her career in Mergers and Acquisitions investment banking at CIBC World Markets and was recognized with the Chairman’s Award in 2005.

As a sought-after speaker and commentator on "Entrepreneurship through Acquisition", digital retail and the topic of "Mompreneurship" Robin frequently serves as a guest lecturer at both the Yale School of Management and the Harvard Business School. She and/or Baskits have been featured in a number of leading publications, including: Forbes, House & Home, Elle Canada, Canadian Business, Huffington Post, Style at Home and on Global News, Your Morning Show.

Robin currently serves as a consultant to the Admissions Marketing team at the Harvard Business School and as a member of Young Presidents’ Organization. She holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen's University where she was a Rutherford Scholar. In 2017, and again in 2021, she was recognized as a Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 award winner. In 2021, Robin received the Women of Inspiration Award from the Universal Womens Network. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two children.

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

Want to stay up-to-date on the latest #entrepreneur podcasts and news? Subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter

Krysta Francoeur has worked as a designer and brand-builder for 14 years. In 2014 she moved to Malaysia to work for the famous transformational education company Mindvalley, and has since supported some of the biggest names in personal development such as T. Harv Eker, Deepak Chopra, The Shift Network, the authors of Stealing Fire, and more – all well building her own health food company, Wild Remedies.

Known for her ability to create beauty in everything she sees, the founder of Wild Remedies, Krysta Francoeur, is a Modern Magick Maven who has used the physical and emotional she has experienced, to facilitate healing, awareness, and balance with herbs and nutraceuticals to the marketplace in a unique way.

Seeing an opportunity in the market for better-for-you functional beverages, Krysta was inspired to use her years of creative expertise to create a product line that uses the medicine of botanicals (natural healing), the beauty of art and design (packaging), and the creativity of cooking (flavour), to create a product line that’s forging a new path in the wellness space by merging supplement with beverage.

By utilizing therapeutic-grade botanicals, super-shrooms, and nutraceuticals, as well as planting a tree for every product purchased, Krysta hopes to encourage everyone to consider the use of healing plants to correct imbalances, reconnect with nature, reignite the beauty within themselves, and help to heal our home on planet earth.

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

Want to stay up-to-date on the latest #entrepreneur podcasts and news? Subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter

Laura Stewart is the Co-Founder of FTGU Media, a full-service media squad helping real estate agents showcase, through content, their personal brand. Laura is able to reverse engineer what agents are looking for, because she herself is an agent. In just 6 years, Laura has been promoted to Vice President of the #2 Real Estate sales team in Canada for Royal LePage and has subsequently helped over 700 buyers, sellers and investors every single year.

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

Want to stay up-to-date on the latest #entrepreneur podcasts and news? Subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter

Emma May is the Founder of the digitally native fashion brand SophieGrace and the boutique real estate brokerage Charles Real Estate. A former corporate lawyer, Emma has worked in film and television and was a senior staffer to former Alberta Premier Jim Prentice.

Emma has consistently demonstrated commitment to her community. Following the floods of 2013 she Co-Founded the Calgary River Communities Action Group and advocated on behalf of her fellow Calgarians for policy and mitigation that would protect the City of Calgary in years to come.

In 2014, because of her activism, Premier Jim Prentice appointed Emma Executive Director, Office of the Premier, Southern Alberta. Her responsibilities included stakeholder relations, strategic policy development, issues management, and public affairs. She was responsible for the management and public programming of McDougall Centre and directed and collaborated with Provincial Administration on Flood Recovery Policy and Process. Emma also assisted in the consultation and re-write of Bill 10 (Gay Straight Alliances In Schools) in order for it to achieve unanimous all-party support.

Emma was called to the British Columbia Bar in 2000 and to the Alberta Bar in 2002.

As a lawyer, Emma explored best practices regarding corporate structure, intellectual property matters, strategic planning, and contractual concerns. She was also responsible for the negotiation and drafting contracts relating to financing, insurance, cast, union and guild related matters.

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

Want to stay up-to-date on the latest #entrepreneur podcasts and news? Subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter