Karisa Marra is a business expert at Square. She works with businesses of all sizes and types across Canada: from coffee shops to landscapers to restaurants. In her role, Karisa partners with business owners to help them overcome their challenges in running and growing their business. What is Square and what does it do? Marra:…
John Evans shows that hardworking and risk-taking Albertans can innovate their way out of our economic doldrums
If bad news is junk food for the despairing soul, then Albertans are overstuffed. But a steady diet of bitter doom and gloom can give us a terminal case of economic indigestion. Once in a while, we need a serving of something sweeter. Lost in the noise are dozens of happier stories about ingenious young…
Makeup artist Karen Malcolm-Pye talks about the work she has done for famous people and why she never rests on her laurels
Karen Malcolm-Pye is a makeup artist in Calgary. What is your career and what do you do? Malcolm-Pye: I’m a freelance makeup artist – a dream job for me really! I do makeup for television, advertising, broadcasting, commercials, weddings, celebrities and anyone else who wants to look and feel a little extra beautiful – and…
Ivonne Gamboa of GOAT talks about how the food-sharing app can be a difference-maker for many people
Ivonne Gamboa is CEO of GOAT. What is GOAT and what does it stand for? Gamboa: Goat Generation is a mobile app that enables meal sharing among communities in a new and unique way. The term GOAT is used to define an exceptional person, experience or thing – GOAT is the greatest of all time.…
Tanya van Biesen of Catalyst talks about how gender diverse teams drive better business results and how we can bring about workplace equality
Tanya van Biesen is executive director, Canada, of Catalyst. What is Catalyst Canada and what does it do? Tanya: Catalyst is the leading non-profit focused on building workplaces that work for women through inclusion. Since 2000, Catalyst has worked in Canada to address the unique experiences of Canadian working women, through research, education and engagement.…
President Greg Moreau talks about how the largest distributor and retailer of professional hair care goods in Canada plans to keep building the brand
Greg Moreau is president and CEO of Chatters. Tell me a bit about Chatters. What do you specialize in? Moreau: Chatters is the largest distributor and retailer of professional hair care goods in Canada, and the third largest in North America with a 60/40 business of retail to service. From products to service, our specialty…
Robert McLister, managing editor of Rates.ca, talks about the pitfalls of the government program and why fewer Canadians are likely to take part than anticipated
Robert McLister is managing editor at Rates.ca. What is Rates.ca? McLister: Rates.ca compares insurance, mortgages and credit cards from dozens of companies across Canada. By juxtaposing numerous providers, it's easier for consumers to quickly compare terms and find the best prices. How does the new down payment assistance program for first-time homebuyers work? McLister: The…
Lana Midgley of Mountain Chickadee, Virtual Assistant Solutions, talks about finding a work niche that suits her and fulfils a need for customers
Lana Midgley is owner of Mountain Chickadee, Virtual Assistant Solutions. What is Mountain Chickadee and what does it do? Midgley: Mountain Chickadee is a virtual assistant company that provides remote administrative solutions to a wide variety of organizations that require support but not on a full-time basis; and organizations that need additional support for special…
Darcy Tuer talks about how ZayZoon is motivated by social impact to allow workers to access their earned wages any time
Darcy Tuer is CEO of ZayZoon. He started the company with co-founder Tate Hackert. What is ZayZoon and what does it do? Tuer: ZayZoon is a socially responsible, financial technology and employee wellness company. We partner and integrate with payroll companies to provide employees with the ability to access their earned wages any time rather…
David Yager, author of From Miracle to Menace: Alberta, A Carbon Story, talks about bringing the climate policy conversation back to reality
David Yager is an energy policy analyst, oil and gas writer and author of From Miracle to Menace: Alberta, A Carbon Story. Why did you write your book? Yager: As the climate change issue grew, it was accompanied by more advice that Alberta move from a sunset industry – fossil fuels – to renewables. B.C.…
Robert Vidra talks about how Simply Elegant strives to be an exceptional hospitality firm
Robert Vidra is CEO of Simply Elegant. What’s Simply Elegant and what does it do? Vidra: Simply Elegant is a hospitality firm. Our philosophy is “enlightened hospitality.” We work towards providing the best possible experience for our clients, guests, staff and vendors. We must be more than a service or product. It must encompass our…
Jason Masherah of Upper Deck talks about avoiding scams, particularly in the online marketplace
Jason Masherah is president of the trading card company Upper Deck. Can you explain the number of scams related to your industry that have been going on lately and why this is happening? Masherah: Trading cards and memorabilia have been a longtime target for these types of scams. Quite frankly, it was the reason Upper…
Robert Day talks about the technology that Integrity Advocate has developed to verify that online students complete the training required of them
Integrity Advocate co-founder Robert Day is a licensed investigator and paralegal. Can you tell me what you do? Day: I’m a co-founder of a company called Integrity Advocate, as well as a licensed paralegal and investigator. I co-developed the patented technology that Integrity Advocate is known for, which addresses legality and effectiveness concerns associated with…
Susan Kandalaft of Executive Solutions talks about building a placement business on relationships and quality
Susan Kandalaft is president of Executive Solutions Ltd. What is Executive Solutions and what do you do? Kandalaft: Executive Solutions is a Calgary-based, boutique staffing firm that specializes in all types and levels of positions, primarily in the office, including temporary, temp to hire, contract and permanent placements. Our searches can range from reception to…
Ryan Mracek of Keylo wants the online realtor referral service to be the place consumers go to get unbiased, data-based real estate advice
Ryan Mracek is owner of Keylo. What is Keylo and what does it do? Mracek: Keylo is Canada’s largest realtor referral service. We use an evidence-based approach to find the best realtor to buy or sell your home for free. We put the odds of success in your favour in an industry notorious for holding…