The Finance Cafe

In this week's episode, The Finance Cafe's, Shauna Frederick is joined by Road Coffee Co. founder and CEO, Alisha Esmail. 

This episode is jam packed with feel good inspiration and practical insights for every women entrepreneur.

Shauna and Alisha talk about the connection between financial literacy and confidence.  Alisha shares how that confidence empowered her to pitch her business successfully and the impact and lift that has provided not only to her company but the women and communities they work with. 

Another topic these brilliant women entrepreneurs explore is the growing subscription based business model, did you know it's grown over 400% in the last decade!

This is one episode we highly suggest you enjoy with a fresh cup of coffee.  

Thanks again for tuning in and to our incredible sponsor the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub.

Follow us on social media and visit our website to learn more about our financial literacy program designed specifically for you.

Remember, use the code PODCAST10 to save 10% off at www.thefinancecafe.ca

Instagram: @thefinancecafeofficial

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In this episode co-founder of The Finance Cafe, Shauna Frederick, talks with fellow CFO, Winnie Leung of Moneris Solutions, about the importance of simplifying the numbers, including tips and advice for things to consider when looking for a payment/merchant provider and how it can benefit your business.   

For the majority of women entrepreneurs ,the impetus to go into business is born because we have a solution to a problem that we have experienced and are passionate about. Because the purpose of our business isn't solely motivated by money this can translate into not "knowing" the numbers and understanding how they impact our businesses.

As Chief Financial Officer for Moneris, Winnie Leung is responsible for its overall financial strategy, reporting and Treasury operations, including making investment and borrowing decisions to support business goals and assessing acquisition targets. She is a strategic, results-oriented leader with over 20 years of experience and founder of the Inclusive Workplace Council and is the Executive Sponsor of Wellness@Moneris.

Thanks again to Winnie for being our guest this week and to our podcast sponsor the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub. 

Join our community and connect with us on social media and visit our website to learn more about our financial literacy program designed specifically for women entrepreneurs like you.

Remember, use the code PODCAST10 to save 10% off at www.thefinancecafe.ca

Instagram: @thefinancecafeofficial

LinkedIn: The Finance Cafe

In this delicious episode, Co-founder of The Finance Cafe, Shannon Pestun sits down with Lori Joyce to talk about her company Betterwith. What it’s like to work with co-packers, the challenges of raising capital and why she chose to pursue a crowdfunding campaign. 

We love Lori’s openness to share her story, her experience, her wins, losses and dreams for the future. 

Lori Joyce has over +20 years’ experience inventing, building, and managing brands in the food industry, starting with Cupcakes in 2002.

In 2002, Lori launched into her entrepreneurial career with Cupcakes. The world’s first cupcakes bakery she co-founded with her best friend Heather White. She developed the Cupcakes franchise and grew it into a national chain.

In 2010, Lori became Co-star and Co-Executive Producer of the Gemini-Award winning reality TV show ‘The Cupcake Girls’. The Cupcake Girls aired for 3 seasons and was broadcast in over 95 countries worldwide.

In 2016, Lori decided it was time to leverage her Cupcakes experience and build a purpose-driven food company that reflected her upbringing on the self-sustaining, organic family farm.

In 2017 Betterwith Ice Cream hit the frozen aisles of Whole Foods with speed-to-shelf demand. Within the first 12 months, Betterwith was listed in over 225+ grocers across Western Canada. Lori is leading her purpose-driven ice cream company with authenticity, transparency, and accountability. She believes that today is the perfect time to be a Female Founder in the food industry, and her promise is to prove it.

Check out Lori’s campaign on FrontFundR to see a live equity campaign in motion. Find tips, get inspired and hey, look at becoming an investor!

Resources

FrontFundR: https://www.frontfundr.com/

Details of Lori’s campaign:

https://www.frontfundr.com/betterwith

Thank you to our podcast sponsor the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub.

Follow us on social media and visit our website to learn more about our financial literacy program designed specifically for you.

Remember, use the code PODCAST10 to save 10% off at www.thefinancecafe.ca

Instagram: @thefinancecafeofficial

LinkedIn: The Finance Cafe

Women-owned businesses are behind some of the most innovative, game-changing products and services on the market, driving industry trends, reinventing product categories and changing the way the world embraces entrepreneurship. But despite their impact, barriers continue to persist. 

In this episode, Shannon, co-founder of The Finance Cafe, sits down with Dr. Wendy Cukier of the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub to talk about the new report, State of Women’s Entrepreneurship in Canada in 2022.

Dr. Wendy Cukier is the Diversity Institute Founder, Academic Director of the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub and Research Lead of the Future Skills Centre, and one of Canada’s leading experts in disruptive technologies, innovation processes, and diversity and inclusion. The Diversity Institute works with partners on projects aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion in leadership, entrepreneurship, and future skills. Wendy leads the  Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, funded by the Government of Canada which promotes inclusive supports for women and other diverse entrepreneurs. She has helped create and grow several successful startups and social ventures including Flybits, Think2Thing, the Madeleine Collective, and Growing North (now Green Iglu).

We hope you found this episode insightful and empowering for your entrepreneurial journey. Follow us on social media and visit our website to learn more about our financial literacy program designed specifically for you.

Remember, use the code PODCAST10 to save 10% off at www.thefinancecafe.ca

Instagram: @thefinancecafeofficial

LinkedIn: The Finance Cafe

The full and equal participation of women in the economy is not just the right thing to do; it's the smart thing to do.

Studies show that by advancing gender equality and women's participation in the economy, Canada could add up to $150 billion in GDP. Only 16% of Canadian small and medium-sized businesses are owned by women, and the Government of Canada is working to change that.

The government is advancing women's economic empowerment with the first ever Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES), a more than $6-billion investment that aims to increase women-owned businesses' access to the financing, talent, networks and expertise they need to start up, scale up and access new markets.

In this episode, Shannon sits down with Minister Ng to talk about why Canada established a women’s entrepreneurship strategy, the need for gender focused policy versus gender mainstream policy, why Canada is seen as a leader in women’s entrepreneurship, and the important role that Canadian women play in our economy, communities, families and more.

The Honourable Mary Ng was first elected as Member of Parliament for Markham—Thornhill in 2017. She has previously served as Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade.

Minister Ng is a devoted community leader who has always believed in the power of public service. She has 20 years of experience in the areas of education, women’s leadership, job creation, and entrepreneurship.

Minister Ng immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong with her family, and grew up learning about the struggle and eventual success that many new immigrants experience in Canada.

Her years working for the Ontario Public Service, Ryerson University, and the Ontario Ministry of Education led to her being recognized as one of Canada’s top-performing public sector leaders. She later served as Director of Appointments for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Thanks again to our podcast sponsor the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub.

We hope you found this episode insightful and empowering for your entrepreneurial journey. Follow us on social media and visit our website to learn more about our financial literacy program designed specifically for you.

Remember, use the code PODCAST10 to save 10% off at www.thefinancecafe.ca

Instagram: @thefinancecafeofficial

LinkedIn: The Finance Cafe

Raising financial capital for a business is one of the biggest barriers we have to overcome as women entrepreneurs. While many of us are familiar with the idea of going to a bank for a loan, finding grants, or looking for private equity, pitch competitions are often overlooked for the important role they can play in finding the capital women need to start and grow a business.

If you’ve ever wondered what a pitch competition is about or whether or not it's something you should consider for your business, this conversation is for you. 

Host, Shannon Pestun, sits down with Paulina Cameron, CEO of The Forum and discuss the changing landscape of women’s entrepreneurship, the barriers women confront on their entrepreneurial journey, and about how pitch competitions are creating more opportunities for women. 

Paulina is a trailblazing leader, author, board member, advocate, mom, wife and CEO of The Forum. Paulina has been recognized as a Globe & Mail Changemaker 2022, recipient of the YWCA's Women of Distinction Award and has supported hundreds of entrepreneurs in launching their businesses. She gained her business expertise working at KPMG obtaining the CPA, CA.

The Forum is a Canadian-based charity that energizes, educates, mentors, and connects self-identified women entrepreneurs to be wildly successful, promoting strengthened economies and thriving communities.

Thanks again to our podcast sponsor the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub. 

Follow us on social media and visit our website to learn more about our financial literacy program designed specifically for you.

Remember, use the code PODCAST10 to save 10% off at www.thefinancecafe.ca

Instagram: @thefinancecafeofficial

LinkedIn: The Finance Cafe

Financial independence, what does that look like and how do you get there? While it can look different for everyone, it is something that most of us value and aspire to as entrepreneurs and as individuals. 

In this episode, Co-founder and CFO Shauna Frederick, discusses what that journey has looked like for entrepreneur, Ashani Missier. 

Ashani presently co-owns and operates three automotive shops out of the Kitchener and Waterloo area, TQ Auto Care. She and her partner have been able to successfully create a team that helps them manage over 20 employees between three locations. Having spent more than 12 years in the financial industry, Ashani was able to develop her skills in strategic thinking, customer service and has been able to utilize her extensive training in risk and financial analysis to help build these companies to where they are today.

In this conversation Ashani shares how she overcame some of the major barriers that impact so many women, and BIPOC women entrepreneurs. Things like raising capital, securing financing and she shares some of the challenges of being a leader in a male dominated industry. 

Ashani candidly speaks to her experiences, including some valuable mistakes, and shares wise insights that helped her achieve the success she's had. 

Ashani's story clearly shows how closely financial literacy intersects with the success of your business, and supports a path towards financial independence.

LinkedIn: Ashani Missier

Instagram: @TQAutoCare

Facebook: @TQAutoCare

Website: www.totalcanauto.com

Thanks again to our podcast sponsor the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub.

We hope you found this episode insightful and empowering for your entrepreneurial journey. Follow us on social media and visit our website to learn more about our financial literacy program designed specifically for you.

Remember, use the code PODCAST10 to save 10% off at www.thefinancecafe.ca

Instagram: @thefinancecafeofficial

LinkedIn: The Finance Cafe

This week's The Finance Cafe Podcast, hosted by co-founder, Shannon Pestun, talks about building a sustainable not-for-profit and how to weather financial, social and even COVID storms, with Chic Geek founder, Kylie Woods.

Chic Geek is a not-for-profit, committed to building gender diversity and one of Canada's most well-known and beloved organizations for advancing women in tech.

Kylie is a passionate social entrepreneur who believes in leading through listening and vulnerability. Named one of the top 40, under 40 by Avenue Magazine, one of Calgary's heroes by Metro News. She is a voice for women in stem on an international stage. Proud mom of identical twins, Kylie is a self professed Type A personality and prides herself on bringing 110% to everything she does whether it is playing badminton, making dinner or showing up at Chic Geek. The flip side she says, is also being a recovering perfectionist.  

"I started Chic Geek because I am compelled to solve this problem around not enough women in tech and through Chic Geek, we have a very unique way of approaching that problem by focusing on mid-career women retention."

In an era of ever increasing community needs, whether it's on social or gender impact, government and corporate budgets are shrinking leaving nonprofits left to do even more with less.

So how does a nonprofit becomes sustainable and how can it become an independent organization? These are the questions Shannon and Kylie explore in this insightful and inspiring conversation. 

Thanks again to our podcast sponsor the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub.

We hope you found this episode insightful and empowering for your entrepreneurial journey. Follow us on social media and visit our website to learn more about our financial literacy program designed specifically for you.

Remember, use the code PODCAST10 to save 10% off at www.thefinancecafe.ca

Instagram: @thefinancecafeofficial

LinkedIn: The Finance Cafe

With everything going on in our world we can all use an extra does of inspiration and this episode is jam packed with good stuff. Grab something warm and delicious to drink and count the next half hour as really good self-care for your entrepreneur heart. This is an incredible feel good, success story about a women entrepreneur who is on a mission and created some incredible ways to support marginalized people, like seniors and single moms and women entrepreneurs like you. 

In this episode of The Finance Cafe Podcast, co-founder Shauna Frederick, has a wonderful conversation with community activist and entrepreneur, Alice Lam.  

Alice was born in Calgary to Chinese-Vietnamese parents who were refugees from Vietnam. She has founded several non profits including Vollyapp.com, Calgary Community Fridge, Good Neighbour Community Market and sits on several non-profit boards in Calgary that have a mandate to empower and enrich the lives of seniors. She is also the founder of Tigerstedt Flea, a shop for small-scale market vendors, sustained through community support and pop-up retail opportunities, with the goal of working on the local economy to build strong communities.

She graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and completed a Master of Science degree in Management at the IESEG School of Management in France. She has worked in New York as a consultant in the higher education sector and comes with her a strong background of strategic planning and operations consulting. She currently works in commercial real estate.

Alice has been able to create sustainable social enterprise solutions to civic problems. In this episode she shares how important financial literacy is to creating sustainability in social enterprise. She shares some very impactful insights from the learnings and experiences she's gained in her entrepreneurial journey that has allowed her to continue to grow her organization and support and help so many vulnerable people along side other women entrepreneurs. 

To learn more about Alice and her organizations connect with her here:

Twitter: @alamyyc

LinkedIn: Alice Lam

Instagram: @vollyapp @tigerstedtflea @calgarycommunityfridge @goodneighbouryyc

Website: www.vollyapp.com

Thanks again to our podcast sponsor the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub.

We hope you found this episode insightful and empowering for your entrepreneurial journey. Follow us on social media and visit our website to learn more about our financial literacy program designed specifically for you.

Remember, use the code PODCAST10 to save 10% off at www.thefinancecafe.ca

Instagram: @thefinancecafeofficial

LinkedIn: The Finance Cafe

Scotiabank Women Initiative released a report in March of 2020, noting that understanding the financial worth (value) of businesses was at the top of the list for women business owners. 

Co-founder of The Finance Cafe and CFO on the Go, Shauna Frederick, hosts this weeks chat with CPA, Laura Churchill, Senior Manager at Grant Thornton to talk about some of the reasons why understanding how to value your company and what drives the value of your company, is so important. 

Laura is a Senior Manager at Grant Thornton in St. John’s, NL. She obtained her CPA designation in 2017 and completed the CBV designation in 2020. She focuses primarily in business valuations and transactions, and services clients in a broad range of industries.

In this episode, Shauna and Laura, unpack some big topics in a digest-able way, like how your company valuation affects financing, the importance of succession planning, and some of the rules of thumbs when it comes to company valuations. Laura also explains why price may not always equal the value that's on paper. 

You might want to have a notebook handy for this episode!

Thanks again to our podcast sponsor the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub.

We hope you found this episode insightful and empowering for your entrepreneurial journey. Follow us on social media and visit our website to learn more about our financial literacy program designed specifically for you.

Remember, use the code PODCAST10 to save 10% off at www.thefinancecafe.ca

Instagram: @thefinancecafeofficial

LinkedIn: The Finance Cafe

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://www.scotiabank.com/women-initiative/ca/en/posts.financials.articles.gender-research.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed-income.html

https://www.bdc.ca/en/articles-tools/change-ownership/sell-business/business-valuation-whats-your-company-worth