The Yukon Entrepreneur Podcast
Host Kari Johnston interviews Yukon Entrepreneurs and leaders in economic development about how they are transitioning their business models during the pandemic.
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Episodes
Friday Nov 10, 2023
Friday Nov 10, 2023
S4E6: Interview with Yukon Entrepreneur Lauren Manekin Beille, Consultant and Facilitator | November 2, 2023
It’s Yukon Innovation Week 20223 and the Yukon Entrepreneur Podcast is once again featuring a mini-series of insightful conversations with Yukon entrepreneurs on what innovation, inspiration, wellness, and community mean to them.
(0:21) Lauren introduces themselves and shares their recent journey into solo entrepreneurship, tackling projects that look at the really tough questions and complex problems we are facing as a society such as the opioid crisis and housing issues.
(2:53) What does innovation mean to Lauren? Anything new or existing that has to be imagined and how we go about that process of looking into the problem and creating solutions. Post-covid, everything is innovation. “We are having a hard time understanding what happened yesterday and we are having a terrible time predicting how to solve the problems of tomorrow.”
(4:13) When it comes to wellness, Lauren finds themselves going in and out of balance and recognizes their attitude of being all in is both a superpower and a great weakness. They have been working on how to prioritize their work in ways that can support better balance.
(5:33) What inspires Lauren in the work that they do? For Lauren, they are inspired by how and how critical the work is. People are desperate to be heard, seen, and made feel they are valuable. Once people are made to feel cared for, valued and seen, they are drawn to be part of the solutions.
(7:20) Lauren describes how debilitating fear is and how we let our fear, and our insecurities hold us back from doing the right thing which may be different for each and every one of us. They are bothered by how there are not more opportunities for restorative justice and for people to come together in conversation but are hopeful that we will be able to get there.
(9:21) How can we transform the systems not serving us well? Lauren has learned so much through meeting people where they are and how there are different solutions at an individual level. It is asking the question, given people’s truths, what will it take for them to step in and up to be a part of a finding shared solution to something much larger? “This type of work takes creativity, courage and deep vulnerability and a lot of people are ready to do it, they just need the avenue and conduits to do it.”
(11:04) What lesson does Yukon have to share with the world about innovation? Lauren speaks about how the First Nations people of this territory have been tremendous leaders in showing the world an example of self-determination and creating systems for themselves that work. They feel as a smaller community we have the power to create a tipping point to create change at a human-centered level, and we could have the influence to develop solutions in a grassroots sense partnering with government that reimagine a beneficial, new future.
(13:30) What’s next for Lauren? They are having conversations with many people around finding new ways to go about having hard conversations, and they want to continue to embrace the power of community by working with the systems in place and other trailblazers to come together to solve the big problems.
Thank you for listening!
For more information about Lauren please visit: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/laurenmanekinbeille
For more information about Yukon Innovation Week please visit: https://yukoninnovationweek.com/
Thursday Nov 09, 2023
Thursday Nov 09, 2023
S4E5: Interview with Yukon Entrepreneur Amber Berard-Althouse, Owner – Amber Heals | Recorded on October 30, 2023
It’s Yukon Innovation Week 20223 and the Yukon Entrepreneur Podcast is once again featuring a mini-series of insightful conversations with Yukon entrepreneurs on what innovation, inspiration, wellness, and community mean to them.
(0:24) Amber introduces themselves and shares a bit about their background which has lead them to their business today both in plant medicine, and walks and talks in Indigenous culture and history.
(2:36) For Amber, innovation means creating something new, changing things, and breaking out of the old paradigm, mold, structure, or breaking out of the box.
(2:57) Wellness is Amber’s whole business. They share how through their entrepreneurial journey they realized they care deeply about the health and wellness of everybody, but specifically Indigenous people, and recognize the importance of self-healing in building capacity to care for our families and community.
(4:04) What inspires Amber in the work that they do? When they give their walks and talks on Indigenous culture and history, they are able to provide education that would normally take much longer for people to learn and understand. And when they give their yoga classes, they love to see people connect to their bodies and let their mind rest.
(6:21) As a one woman show, Amber shares that letting go of their 9-5 is very difficult, and also navigating how to develop their business, get support and funding, such as creating a business plan has been incredibly overwhelming for someone who is creative and idea-driven, but maybe not so logistics-focused. They discuss the need for making more step by step supports in creating a business available to budding entrepreneurs.
(9:29) Amber speaks to how to transform the systems not working through helping each other more, networking, and sharing tips. She sees value in entrepreneurs coming together more so that they do not feel they are so alone.
(10:24) What lessons does Yukon have to share with the rest of Canada about innovation? Amber shares that the amount of support they have received is something special that the Yukon has to offer. The feel the more they have put themselves out there, the more they have received in return.
(11:06) Looking at opportunities, Amber discusses how Indigenous tourism is blowing up and what people want when they come to Canada. They are working on developing more content both in their walks and talks, as well as online programming that combines everything they do in their life (plant medicine, recipes, meditation, yoga classes, walks, etc.) focusing on healing.
(12:58) Amber shares their closing thoughts. “Don’t sell yourself short. Your passions, your projects, the things that light a fire in you, even if you can only do them an hour a week or one day a month, just keep going forward because you never know where you’re going to take yourself…Your voice matters and you are here for a reason.”
Thank you for listening!
For more information about Amber and their business please visit: https://www.instagram.com/amberbelove/?hl=en
For more information about Yukon Innovation Week please visit: https://yukoninnovationweek.com/
Wednesday Nov 08, 2023
Wednesday Nov 08, 2023
S4E4: Interview with Yukon Entrepreneur Vanessa Ægirsdóttir, Co-Owner and Founder - Vanessa Ægirsdóttir | Recorded on October 28, 2023
It’s Yukon Innovation Week 20223 and the Yukon Entrepreneur Podcast is once again featuring a mini-series of insightful conversations with Yukon entrepreneurs on what innovation, inspiration, wellness, and community mean to them.
(0:22) Vanessa introduces themselves and shares a bit about their business, celebrating six years of operation this month!
(2:13) What does innovation mean to Vanessa? Vanessa defines innovation as something new, an idea, a method, or a technology. Specifically looking at the products their business provides, their innovation was to create a unique product that due to the materials being used (Indigenous-trapped, wild Yukon fur) each piece is inherently one of a kind.
(3:28) When it comes to featuring wellness in the work they do, Vanessa discusses that being a small business owner, especially one that manufactures consumer goods and has peak busy seasons in retail, can mean having downtime is non-existent. They celebrate that they have now settled into a more sustainable rhythm, with a fantastic in-store retail team, which has allowed them to focus more on refining their production system which in turn has ensured their overall business processes are now smoother than ever.
(5:33) Vanessa speaks about the privilege and responsibility of using Yukon fur in their products, and how important it is to be able to answer hard questions around the sourcing, utilization, and wearing of a material that can be very polarizing and emotional.
(8:19) What inspires Vanessa in the work they do? The people. When they started their business, they did not realize how much education would play an important role, and how much learning, humility, and vulnerability they would have to do.
(9:28) On a deep and personal level, the notion of competition versus community bothers Vanessa, especially when operating in a tight-knit community that has limited resources and product overlap. To them, no one can do something the exact way as someone else, and they feel more collaboration should occur that could support and lift up businesses so that everyone can be successful.
(13:09) “If you want to make something out of nothing, look at a Yukoner.” When it comes to lessons that the Yukon has to share with the world about innovation, the key to success is having that formula of Yukon entrepreneurs seeing a need or a group to be served and people having the appetite to support that.
(14:41) Thinking about opportunity, Vanessa reminds everyone that your greatest weakness is also your greatest strength. This means that whatever you perceive as being a shortcoming, will allow you to get crystal clear and focus on what you want to specialize in and ask questions about what you’re doing in order to see those amazing opportunities for what they are.
Thank you for listening!
For more information about Vanessa and their business please visit: https://www.aegirsdottir.com/
For more information about Yukon Innovation Week please visit: https://yukoninnovationweek.com/
Tuesday Nov 07, 2023
Tuesday Nov 07, 2023
S4E3: Interview with Yukon Entrepreneurs Kyra Chambers, Equine Director & Nataschaa Chatterton, Clinical Director – Shäwthän Näzhì | October 31, 2023
It’s Yukon Innovation Week 20223 and the Yukon Entrepreneur Podcast is once again featuring a mini-series of insightful conversations with Yukon entrepreneurs on what innovation, inspiration, wellness, and community mean to them.
(0:24) Kyra and Nataschaa share a bit about themselves and how their business came to be.
(4:12) What does innovation mean to Kyra and Natasscha? For Natasscha, innovation is seeing and creating based on what is there as opposed to not there, and for Kyra, innovation is not following the status quo or having rules that dictate your life. They share how important it is to them to create innovative ways of bringing families out on the land, empower young people to be the best that they can be, and show ways of healing through horses.
(6:38) Kyra is inspired in their work by the strength of the families and their willingness to be vulnerable in order to empower themselves. Nataschaa shares how their amazing team inspires them and the relationships they get to build through connection and trust.
(9:26) As a non-for-profit business focused on breaking down barriers, they share the difficulties of being pulled towards bureaucracy, and recognize that the expectation of policy and rules or the colonial way of being, being viewed as a functioning system creates additional challenges such as the time it takes for actions to happen.
(12:12) In order to help transform the systems not working, Kyra discusses the need to check in with themselves, take a moment and think about why they do the work they do, and connect back to what it means as an Indigenous person to be Indigenous. For Nataschaa, getting back to the land and remembering the importance of that relationship has as much value as getting stuff done or making money.
(15:44) What lessons does the Yukon have to share about what it means to bring innovation at the community level? For Nataschaa, the Yukon is a place where there are some wild spirits, where we have less fear and inhibitions about trying things, and where we tend to see each other as support instead of competition. Kyra shares that most people in the Yukon either work or use their spare time doing something they love with a focus on community.
(17:42) What’s next for Kyra, Nataschaa and their organization? They share that hopefully they can stop growth for a little while and really build all the meat into the growth they have had. They share that growth isn’t always getting bigger, but rather strengthening the relationships and heart of the business. They are however looking to expand further onto the land, venturing into wilder places, and spending time connecting families back to their roots. They are also focusing on their training and capacity building, working hard to understand what their role is in the Yukon, and how they can continue to support more land-based healing.
Thank you for listening!
For more information about Kyra and Nataschaa and their business please visit: https://shawthannazhi.ca/
For more information about Yukon Innovation Week please visit: https://yukoninnovationweek.com/
Monday Nov 06, 2023
Monday Nov 06, 2023
S4E2: Interview with Yukon Entrepreneur Ammanda Patridge, Owner, Service Provider and Instructor – Elements Hair Studio and Day Spa and Elements Esthetics Academy | Recorded on October 25, 2023
It’s Yukon Innovation Week 20223 and the Yukon Entrepreneur Podcast is once again featuring a mini-series of insightful conversations with Yukon entrepreneurs on what innovation, inspiration, wellness, and community mean to them.
(0:22) Ammanda introduces themselves and celebrates their newest venture as starting Yukon’s first registered trades school for training in esthetics.
(1:31) Ammanda describes the business model for their new school, focusing on creating inter-generational space and accessibility, including hybrid program availability, single skill courses and remote training.
(3:11) What does innovation mean to Ammanda? When they think of innovation, they think about it being just figuring out how to make things happen. They also share that they think of Yukoners when it comes to innovation because of how people located here are doing it every day and having to come up with creative solutions daily.
(3:40) Ammanda shares how their entire business is built around wellness through not only providing wellness services, but also teaching their clients ways to incorporate wellness into their own lives.
(4:18) What inspires Ammanda in the work that they do? Building connections. They love that they get to be involved in both the happiest and most difficult moments in their client’s lives.
(5:06) Ammanda discusses how the esthetics industry deregulated about 20 years ago which has made things more challenging due to misconceptions around the necessary training and regulations that should be adhered to. They would like to raise awareness around the expectations of practicing esthetics and making sure people are properly trained to ensure quality and safety.
(6:51) Ammanda believes that the Yukon has to share that there is always a way to make it happen in regard to innovation, and that Yukoners have clearly demonstrated this.
(7:28) What’s next for Ammanda and their business? Leading their first cohort of students through the diploma program, watching them graduate, and hope that they will bring some services to the communities.
(8:54) If you are interested in esthetics make sure to check out Element Esthetics Academy as registration starts soon!
Thank you for listening!
For more information about Ammanda and their business please visit: https://www.elementshairandspa.ca/
https://www.yukonestheticsschool.com/
For more information about Yukon Innovation Week please visit: https://yukoninnovationweek.com/
Sunday Nov 05, 2023
Sunday Nov 05, 2023
S4E1: Interview with Yukon Entrepreneur Gina Nagano, President & Community Safety Specialist – House of Wolf & Associates | recorded on October 25, 2023
It’s Yukon Innovation Week 20223 and the Yukon Entrepreneur Podcast is once again featuring a mini-series of insightful conversations with Yukon entrepreneurs on what innovation, inspiration, wellness, and community mean to them.
(0:24) Gina discusses their background, current business endeavors and how they approach those endeavors in meaningful ways.
(5:14) Gina shares what innovation means to them. They describe innovation as thinking outside the box in a good way and taking the next step in your ideas by bringing them alive.
(6:41) For Gina, wellness involves a holistic approach when it comes to their businesses. They define holistic as being their spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical side as a human being, and they think it is important to look further at a community level through this lens. They share that wellness plays a significant role in everything they do.
(9:14) What inspires Gina in the work that they do? They are inspired by history itself and passionate about the challenges they see that they want to do more to solve. They discuss how in the Yukon there is a huge opportunity for innovation and creativity, and that there is a ton of support to try to take on these huge global challenges we are experiencing.
(11:21) Gina discusses how the colonial system does not work and how necessary it is for Indigenous communities to speak up and create their own systems and programs.
(14:25) How can Yukoners and Canadians support Gina in the work to transform the systems not working into something better? Gina says aligning government, businesses, and communities together and getting out there to educate people about the work being done here in the Yukon regarding building healthier communities.
(18:39) A lesson that Yukon has to share regarding innovation in wellness at the community level with the world is to allow entrepreneurs the opportunity to be entrepreneurs by providing the space for them to be able to think big and be supported in achieving their ideas. Gina strongly feels we need to do more to support innovation at a community level. Without innovators and creative minds, we would become stagnant.
(21:42) Gina shares what is next for them and their business. They have been selected through Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada to travel to Asian countries at the end of this year regarding their green hydrogen project to meet and pitch it to interested businesses in the green energy field in hopes to bring investment to Northwest Canada.
Thank you for listening!
For more information about Gina and their businesses please visit:
https://houseofwolf.ca/home
https://www.firstpeoplescoffee.ca/
For more information about Yukon Innovation Week please visit:
https://yukoninnovationweek.com/
Friday Nov 25, 2022
Friday Nov 25, 2022
It's Yukon Innovation Week 2022 and the Yukon Entrepreneur Podcast is featuring a mini-series of insightful conversations with Yukon entrepreneurs who are transforming our economy and affecting positive change by connecting, creating and collaborating to build a better Yukon.
Watch the full podcast on YouTube
For more information about Na-Cho Nyäk Dun Development Corporation:
nnddc.ca
@facebook.com/NNDDC
For more information about Yukon Innovation Week:
yukoninnovationweek.com
Register here: bit.ly/3EIsqcB
#YukonInnovationWeek #inspiretransformation
Thursday Nov 24, 2022
Thursday Nov 24, 2022
It's Yukon Innovation Week 2022 and the Yukon Entrepreneur Podcast is featuring a mini-series of insightful conversations with Yukon entrepreneurs who are transforming our economy and affecting positive change by connecting, creating and collaborating to build a better Yukon.
Watch the full podcast on YouTube
For more information about Dawnix Water Services:
dawnixservices.com
@facebook.com/dawnixwaterservices
@instagram.com/dawnixwater
For more information about Yukon Innovation Week:
yukoninnovationweek.com
Register here: bit.ly/3EIsqcB
#YukonInnovationWeek #inspiretransformation
Wednesday Nov 23, 2022
Wednesday Nov 23, 2022
t's Yukon Innovation Week 2022 and the Yukon Entrepreneur Podcast is featuring a mini-series of insightful conversations with Yukon entrepreneurs who are transforming our economy and affecting positive change by connecting, creating and collaborating to build a better Yukon.
Watch the full episode on Youtube
For more information about Inspire Reconciliation Potential visit:
irpotential.com
@facebook.com/IRPotential
@linkedin.com/company/irp-inspire-reconciliation-potential
For more information about Yukon Innovation Week:
yukoninnovationweek.com
Register here: bit.ly/3EIsqcB
#YukonInnovationWeek #inspiretransformation
Tuesday Nov 22, 2022
Tuesday Nov 22, 2022
It's Yukon Innovation Week 2022 and the Yukon Entrepreneur Podcast is featuring a mini-series of insightful conversations with Yukon entrepreneurs who are transforming our economy and affecting positive change by connecting, creating and collaborating to build a better Yukon.
Watch the full podcast on YouTube
For more information about Shot in the Dark Productions visit:
shotinthedarkmedia.com
@facebook.com/shotinthedarkmediaproductions
@vimeo.com/shotinthedarkmedia
@instagram.com/shotinthedarkproductions/
For more information about Yukon Innovation Week:
yukoninnovationweek.com
Register here: bit.ly/3EIsqcB
#YukonInnovationWeek #inspiretransformation
Monday Nov 21, 2022
Monday Nov 21, 2022
It's Yukon Innovation Week 2022 and the Yukon Entrepreneur Podcast is featuring a mini-series of insightful conversations with Yukon entrepreneurs who are transforming our economy and affecting positive change by connecting, creating and collaborating to build a better Yukon.
Watch on YouTube
For more information about YukonStruct visit:
yukonstruct.com
For more information about Yukon Innovation Week:
facebook.com/yukonstruct
yukoninnovationweek.com
Register here:
bit.ly/3EIsqcB
#YukonInnovationWeek #inspiretransformation
Friday Oct 28, 2022
Friday Oct 28, 2022
S2E24
Join Yukon entrepreneur Larra Daley, owner and operator of Cultured Fine Cheese, a store in Whitehorse that sells cheese and many specialty food items, as we discuss their experience and the impacts the Covid-19 pandemic has had on them and their business.
(3:26) Larra shares how they have connected with their customers and community through cheese, and that establishing the relationships they have supported them throughout the pandemic. They discuss how people really supported shopping locally to help businesses survive.
(5:18) Larra shares their first memory of the pandemic. They had planned a trip to Vancouver Island during spring break 2020, and on the second day of their trip they started realizing how big it was going to be when they saw the grocery store was empty. They recognized things were changing dramatically and made the decision to head back to the Yukon immediately and start to figure out next steps.
(8:14) Navigating the public health measures, Larra shares they helped them feel safe, but reinforcing the measures in their store was a challenge due to the narrow space. With many of their customers being regulars, they found people were receptive and supported the measures in place. They are finding as the health measures have been lifted that people are still waiting at the sanitizing station and following previous protocols even when they don’t need to.
(10:16) Despite not being mandated to close, to keep everyone safe they quickly shifted to going online and providing curbside/gate pickup for customers. Larra shares they are proud of being able to put an ordering system and website together quickly that allowed their customers to continue to shop with them, and their pride in how strongly their customers wanted to engage once they were able to start welcoming them back into the store.
(13:24) Thinking about their business model, over the last couple of years, Larra has had what they created reaffirmed as working well and that customers have responded well to how they do business.
(14:18) Larra discusses some of the pandemic related supports they were able to utilize to help support their business.
(16:08) Looking at their business, Larra shares that they are taking a pause to dig into their business to see if there are any patterns emerging that they need to pay attention to along with taking some time to find balance after the chaos the pandemic brought.
(19:27) Larra considers what they’ve learned about leadership during the pandemic. They share how they try to like everything they do and lead with their heart. They focus on ensuring their team feels valued and empowered to make decisions, and make sure that they are open to learning from their team so that everyone works together.
(22:25) As the Yukon economy emerges from the pandemic, Larra is looking at staffing and sustainability of a high performing team as the key area for their business.
(26:17) Larra’s advice for emerging entrepreneurs? Be excited by what it is you want to do. If you are doing something you love, you will be able to pour so much more of your energy into and be prepared for long hours and to make mistakes. They share their hopes for most people to set boundaries and avoid burnout where possible.
(29:08) Larra shares how over the last couple years, we’ve seen how strongly opinions can divide people, and how practicing patience, empathy, and awareness that we all come from different places that form our different opinions is important.
(33:24) What wellness practice keeps Larra grounded? Running! Larra has an amazing group of friends that go out and sweat it out on the trails. Having time outdoors with their family is also important to keeping them emotionally stable and feeling more connected and resilient.
Thank you for watching!
To learn more about Larra and their business, visit their website at:
http://www.culturedfinecheese.com
Tuesday Jul 26, 2022
Tuesday Jul 26, 2022
S2E23
Join Yukon entrepreneur Mark Stenzig, owner of Up North Adventures, an outdoor adventure company that has operated year-round tours in the Yukon for the past 31 years, as we discuss the impacts they have experienced during the pandemic.
(4:00) During the pandemic, Mark shares that their customer base changed from an international and national market to a very localized market. This meant they needed to change their product offering to selling gear instead of renting canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddle boards to support the demand from Yukoners who were unable to leave the territory during the border closures.
(5:38) Mark shares their first memory of the pandemic. Mid-March is when travel stopped and and the territory locked down. This unfortunately meant that they had to lay off the guides they had conducting their winter tours and everything they did had to come to a screeching halt.
(6:24) Mark explains how the no travel public health measures provided the biggest challenge to their business. They describe trying to find the balance as a small business owner in keeping money flowing in and trying to find new revenue streams to support their family and their employees while also ensuring everyone is being kept safe and healthy.
(8:02) Mark discusses the adaptation they are most proud of as being their ability to keep their doors open and keep employees throughout the whole process. They had to adapt in many ways to support not only changes in their customer-base, but also incorporate all necessary health and safety measures to keep operational.
(9:21) Looking at their business model, Mark has learned the importance of being quick on their feet and continuing to do their best to service their customer no matter where they’re coming from.
(10:06) Mark discusses how the pandemic-related supports provided relief funding to their business and allowed them to continue to pay their staff, while also sharing some of the challenges that existed in the relief programs available.
(11:36) Thinking about their business differently, Mark sees opportunity in what the Yukon has to offer to travelers from all over. They feel the Yukon will be a hot spot for visitors, however express their concerns with attracting staff being a huge hurdle to get through now and in the future.
(14:59) To better position themselves during the pandemic, Mark has experienced a change in their role and responsibilities, including an increase in behind-the-scenes office paperwork and providing training to new managers to take on those responsibilities in the future.
(16:03) Mark shares the importance of being a leader who stays positive and to focus on what you can do instead of what you can’t. They share that keeping that positivity can help you to keep moving forward.
(17:43) As the Yukon economy emerges, Mark is paying attention to current issues they are facing in the tourism industry being air access and ensuring there is enough accommodation for groups coming in.
(18:39) Mark’s advice for emerging entrepreneurs? Same advice for leadership, which is to stay positive. As an entrepreneur, be prepared to work long days and make sacrifices, with the knowledge that it can be hugely rewarding.
(19:37) Mark describes the shift in worldview they had during the pandemic being the realization that the world is a lot smaller than most of us had realized. It was a big wakeup call for them about how we are all truly connected and what you do does matter at a bigger scale.
(20:21) What wellness practices keep Mark grounded? For Mark, their family kept them grounded throughout the pandemic, along with their approach of being here to help other people.
(21:17) Mark shares how they still love what they do and are passionate about being a part of the tourism industry. They encourage young people to try it, stating that although it can be hard, it can also be very rewarding.
Thank you for watching!
To learn more about Mark and their business, visit their website at:
https://upnorthadventures.com
Friday Jun 24, 2022
Friday Jun 24, 2022
S2E22
Join Yukon entrepreneur Les Walker, owner of Walker Home Construction which has operated in the Yukon for over 13 years, as we discuss their experience during the pandemic and how it has impacted their business.
(2:38) Les describes the challenges the construction industry has faced during the pandemic, especially with sourcing materials and the rising interest rates for mortgages. They also share that there are two to three times more contract jobs than there are available companies and carpenters to fulfil them which can cause potential customers to become frustrated.
(6:07) Les shares their first memory of the pandemic being when the Yukon shut down and people could not come in or come out of the territory. This was a wakeup call for them to take it seriously, especially when they started experiencing people within their circle being directly impacted by Covid.
(8:03) Les reflects on the public health measures they found most challenging. For them personally, not being able to shake people’s hands, give hugs, and have that kind of connection was big for them. Having grown up in group homes and foster homes, they have found it quite easy to adapt to different rules, and because their business was supplying materials to essential services, they were able to travel outside the territory to source those materials which means they weren’t as affected as much as some others.
(13:45) Having built a solid foundation that ensured their business was in a good place to adapt to the pandemic, Les shares their focus on understanding that every single person has a different opinion and the importance on bringing people together instead of separating them when they disagree.
(16:42) Thinking about their business model, Les reflects on the reason they started the company and how despite the quick expansion they have experienced over the past couple years, they are still working on achieving their goals in a way that stays true to their core values.
(19:29) Les discusses the pandemic related supports that were the most helpful for them as an employer being the government wage-relief program for employees who had to stay home due to being sick. This ensured families who were struggling to pay their bills, but also needing to follow mandates still received financial support.
(21:57) Looking at their business differently, through their experience in work, life and politics, Les sees opportunity in working as a community, more specifically partnering with First Nations to build more infrastructure to settlement land. Their focus is on creating strong relationships through going back to the traditional way of looking at how every person has value. Their business mentality concentrates on the opportunities that exist over the obstacles put in their path.
(33:16) To better position themselves in the emerging economy, Les has realized the need for them to define their role with the company in a way that adds the most value through their leadership and provides the strategic priorities and vision to their employees.
(39:16) As the Yukon economy rebuilds, Les is paying attention to how everything is more expensive, especially the housing market, and how some government programs inadvertently support the rising of costs instead of reducing them. They express their interest in looking at ways to lower the cost of materials and land to help get families into homes along with supporting social programs such as women shelters, youth centres, elder complexes and community halls which build infrastructure that helps society.
(48:17) Les’ advice for emerging entrepreneurs? Find something you are passionate about and continue to go after it. If you’re moving towards your goals, there are no steps back. Even when you fall, you fall forward.
(50:37) Les shares how their worldview has shifted over the last couple years due to the pandemic. They describe their past self as a hardcore liberal, however now they find themselves being in the center and listening to both sides. They believe that we can come with a more evolved way of looking at things that hears one another out and brings us together. They contemplate the need to get together, have forums for respectful, open discussion and learning that takes our egos out of it.
(58:38) What wellness practices keep Les grounded? In their younger years, Les struggled with alcohol addiction and realized they needed to be the person in their life that made healthy choices. They chose to replace their addiction with working out. They created a consistent system and routine that helps support their day and the things they need to do and be present. They love growth and learning, along with being a part of something greater than themselves which gives them the energy to move through things others may get frustrated with.
Thank you for watching!
To learn more about Les and their business, visit their Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/WalkerHomeConstruction/
Tuesday Jun 21, 2022
Tuesday Jun 21, 2022
S2E21
Join Yukon entrepreneur Alison Zeidler, owner and founder of Elemental Holistic Therapies, a business that offers wholistic wellness services to both people and their companion animals as we discuss how the pandemic has impacted them and their business.
(2:50) During the first year of the pandemic, Alison found that their client base had shifted quite a bit. They ended up seeing a lot of new clients with a majority seeking energy balancing, energy healing, and reflexology.
(3:37) Alison shares their first memory of the pandemic. In March 2020, they had just moved offices in their day job. That move, combined with the start of everything shutting down due to the pandemic made for a very chaotic month.
(4:23) Being shut down for about three months was the most challenging public health measure Alison experienced initially, however, wearing a mask while trying to connect with people has been the biggest challenge since they were able to reopen.
(5:00) Alison describes the adaption they are most proud of as being the shift to online through creating online workshops and evergreen programs. As they live out of town, being able to complete some of the work through online has made them happy.
(5:56) Over the last two years, Alison focused on learning more about marketing their business which opened them up to new ideas and ways of working with people in their industry.
(8:15) Thinking about their business differently, Alison has seen more opportunities from a global perspective through having an online presence. Being able to network outside of the Yukon has shifted their whole perspective and opened a whole new world up for them.
(9:31) As a lifelong learner, Alison shares that they have continued to take up new skills to better position themselves including courses in modalities HeartMath, along with working on developing programs and courses that are geared for online.
(10:48) As the Yukon economy recovers, Alison is paying attention to what opportunities the community and the government have planned over the next few years. They hope that there will be a shift in the housing shortage in the Yukon which will allow the city and territory to expand and grow as more people are able to move here.
(11:46) Alison’s advice for emerging entrepreneurs? Get lots of help. For Alison, finding out about all the tools one might need such as an online calendar system that make things easier has saved them a lot of time.
(13:11) The pandemic has solidified Alison’s worldview that every part of the world is intertwined and that we as a global community need to pull together a little bit more.
(14:12) What wellness practices keep Alison grounded? Having a to-do-list they can focus on and taking time to themselves when they realize how tired they are. Despite a fear of water, they have taken up kayaking on calm lakes and slow-moving rivers. They also use many quick, simple tools that they teach to their clients such as breathing, practicing gratitude, and other ways to keep us connected to ourselves and our communities.
To learn more about Alison and their business, visit their website at:
https://www.alisonzeidler.com
Saturday Jun 04, 2022
Saturday Jun 04, 2022
S2E20
Join Yukon entrepreneur Lasänmą (Katie Johnson), member of Kluane First Nation, Wolf Clan, owner of the planning company Bella Elite and Director of Programs and Partnerships as well as a producer for the Yukon First Nations Culture and Tourism Association (YFNCT) as we catch up since our last discussion that occurred over two years ago.
(1:14) Katie discusses co-founding the Adäka Cultural Festival in 2011, which celebrates Yukon First Nation performing artists, visual artists, knowledge keepers, elders, and youth. It was cancelled the last two years due to the covid pandemic and will be relaunching this year.r
(3:58) In their role with YFNCT, Katie shared the uncertainty everyone was feeling and how the team rallied together in crisis mode to come up with ways to help visual arts artists as they knew they would not be able to host any events. During this time, YFNCTA launched the Yukon Arts Brand which highlights Indigenous Yukon First Nations artists and recognizes a product as being authentically made by Yukon First Nations so buyers can be assured of who created it.
(6:39) Katie shares their first memory of the pandemic. They express that they are super optimistic when it comes to life but having to cancel the Adäka Cultural Festival was incredibly hard due to how everyone had put their heart and soul into planning it. As an Indigenous person, not being able to gather was a heartbreaking moment for them.
(9:18) Katie discusses the most challenging public health measure being the capacity constraints. As an event planner, only being able to have 10 people in a room is incredibly limiting. They also share when the borders shut down, when no one could leave the territory or come up here to visit, led to them making the choice to pause their events company work.
(11:51) Katie reflects on the business adaptation they are most proud of. They have always wanted to create another performing arts show similar to what they produced for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Visual arts have been exploding in terms of First Nation fashion and jewellery, which has continued in popularity, however they wanted to create a space for performing artists (storytellers, singers, drummers, etc.) to create their work. The process was focused on supporting the artists and providing the resources they need instead of focusing on the show itself.
(19:52) Considering business models, Katie expresses their business does not necessarily follow a specific business model, however they are a connector and facilitator when it comes to people. What they have discovered through the whole process in planning events is to be patient and take the time to reflect on what they are doing. They have found themselves to be more grateful for connection and that people are reconnecting again.
(26:48) As a cultural leader, Katie sees opportunity in investing in their own teachings, focusing on learning their Southern Tutchone language so they can create that legacy for their daughter and the next generation.
(29:19) To better position themselves in the new economy, Katie has plans to develop a framework around building a team and launching an international Indigenous festival that explores themes of connection around the world as Indigenous people. Their intention is to be a part of the generation that plants the seeds for the next ten years.
(32:37) Thinking about leadership, Katie believes that leadership is always within you, and you just need to be sparked or inspired to nurture that peace. They feel that it is their responsibility to bring other upcoming leaders to the forefront.
(34:58) As the Yukon economy works to rebuild, Katie has observed organizations banding together and starting to communicate and they would love to see that continue. The economy is small, and everyone is interconnected so it is important that we all work together.
(37:13) Katie’s advice for emerging entrepreneurs? Just keep on going. Trust your own self, your gut, your heart. If you are authentic and true to who you are, then you are always going to succeed.
(38:50) What wellness practice keep Katie grounded? Being with like-minded people who are optimistic and find the good in everything. Life gets hard and it is important we support one another and be kind.
(40:44) Closing out the conversation, Katie expresses their gratefulness in coming back for another interview and recognizes that there is a lot of grief within our communities due to the loss of many elders. Their thoughts and prayers go out to everyone that is struggling right now and want to remind people that they are not alone.
Thank you for watching!
To learn more about Katie and their business, visit their websites at:
Bella Elite Events & Consulting: https://www.facebook.com/BellaEliteEventsConsulting/?locale2=en_GB&_rdr
Yukon First Nations Culture & Tourism Association:
http://www.yfnct.ca
Wednesday Jun 01, 2022
Wednesday Jun 01, 2022
S2E19
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Jayden Soroka, CEO of Outpost31, a media production company based in Whitehorse as we discuss what has been happening since we last spoke in November of 2020.
(00:53) Jayden shares how the work they do has evolved over the last few years, specifically due to the pandemic. They are a classically trained animator; however, they have moved to focus on developing XR content which is a different and more immersive way to tell a story.
(4:35) With the pandemic forcing everyone to physically distance and isolate, the digital sector saw a moment of flourish due to everyone needing to shift to working virtually. Their business saw an increase in demand, both old clients requiring new products, and new customers finding them.
(10:42) Jayden shares their first memory of the pandemic. They had just taken some risks in their business, playing with acquiring some very expensive things when everything started shutting down. Everything was quiet in their home, and they had a moment of questioning whether it was the right time to be making these risky financial and business decisions. They reveal feeling quite scared of what the future would bring which was not something they had faced before.
(13:16) Jayden discusses the public health measures that have been the most challenging for them. Functioning as a small team, they were able to be safe, adapt and work together during the pandemic, even when they had to shut down their office, employees were able to move to remote work easily. Jayden shares the internal struggle of not being able to experience the world as much which is a big part of being a storyteller, and this led to missing a strong sense of a community. On a global scale, the disruptions to supply chain caused issues sourcing the equipment they needed so there were times they had to play a waiting game to be able to move forward with projects.
(18:45) Jayden contemplates the adaptations they are most proud of. Internally, Jayden has found that focusing on the user experience of the partnerships they’ve been building; approaching their partners with meaningful projects that engage and support their product, story, vision and needs versus thinking about the money has made their work way more fun.
(24:26) Looking at their business model, Jayden has learned that to go far in their industry they need to be willing to take some risks, and that failure is often education.
(27:00) Jayden discusses the Pivot program and how this pandemic-related support helped them realize that they needed to either grow or shrink their business. It was also catalyst for them to realize they needed a singular leader at the helm to help guide the vision and direction of the company.
(30:18) Thinking about their business differently, Jayden sees opportunity in everywhere -- specifically in XR as it is such an adaptable technology for storytelling, and you can convert any space into an opportunity. They are now going to museums to build virtual infrastructure, bringing their assets to life instead of having to create more physical spaces.
(36:23) Reflecting on what leadership is, Jayden has learned a lot about empathy as a leader. As a leader, Jayden recognizes that they are not doing the critical work, instead they oversee supporting the team and being adaptable to their needs. They acknowledge the youth today are experiencing things that Jayden has never experienced when they were younger.
(40:40) As the Yukon economy works to rebuild, Kari highlights many of the different opportunities and challenges she's observed as we move forward. Jayden shares they have always had an abundance of support from their family growing up, which has always made them more of a risk taker. They recognize that despite the Yukon wanting to get back quickly to normal (pre-covid) times, we currently do not have the capacity to do so. Jayden sees the need to be a focus on building real capacity in a sustainable way moving forward, especially in communities where there are a lot of barriers.
(48:40) What wellness practices keep Jayden grounded? Jayden shares their partner and communities around them that help them know when to slow down or take a break. They recently had a back injury which they had originally thought was purely physical but discovered through lessening their workload that much of the pain they were carrying was stress-related. They now have a morning ritual that prepares them for the rest of the day, which they notice a negative difference when they are unable to complete it.
(51:39) Jayden shares their final thoughts. The next gold rush is the youth in the Yukon territory. They have learned that we need to give youth opportunity, mentorship, access to the infrastructure, technology, and assets that they need to develop their own careers so that they can be leaders and stewards in the world.
Thank you for watching!
To learn more about Jayden and their business, visit their website at: http://outpost31.ca
Friday Apr 15, 2022
Friday Apr 15, 2022
S2E18
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Mike Pemberton, general manager of Erikco Holdings Ltd. as we connect with them about what impacts the pandemic has had on their businesses and how they have adapted over the last couple years.
(2:55) Mike shares their first memory of the pandemic. Initially, they heard rumblings while in Las Vegas for an annual furniture market at the end of January 2020, but it wasn’t right in their face. Later in March, when they were back in the Yukon is when it became real; they were called together to be informed of the cancellation of the Arctic Winter Games which was a huge deal for the community.
(4:15) Reflecting on the most challenging public health measures for Mike’s businesses, they share that overall, they feel very fortunate that they were able to put health protocols in place quickly and they didn’t have a lot of pushback from customers for requiring masks to be worn compared to other local businesses.
(6:12) Mike shares that they are proud that up until a couple weeks ago; over two years since the start of the pandemic, they hadn’t had any one on their team infected with COVID which they attribute to the protocols they had in place to make sure everyone stayed safe.
(7:04) Thinking about their business model over the last couple of years, Mike has recognized the importance of the digital retail world. They share that prior to the pandemic they had a website that was incomplete, and when the pandemic hit, they decided to get it out there regardless. They discuss that having an up-to-date website is difficult, especially dealing with different suppliers and freight issues.
(9:57) Mike describes the supply chain challenges their businesses have faced during the pandemic as being the worst two years of their life in the retail sector. It has been incredibly difficult to commit to arrival times, and Mike shares that they have had to be transparent with customers about the uncertainty of when their products will arrive.
(14:53) Mike shares that their businesses accessed pandemic related supports to ensure they didn’t have to lay off any of their team members and were able to keep their employees being paid and properly supported despite their gross sales being down.
(19:43) Looking at their business differently, Mike sees opportunity in the digital world. They also highlight that the supply chain issues are not going to get back to normal for a while, especially with many costs increasing across most industries including fuel surcharges which have major impacts on their supply.
(21:52) Mike has always been a bit of an out of the box thinker. They share that they have had to lean into this skill more over the past couple years and they see an opportunity right now to work on issues that they’ve sort of ignored. They’ve realized the amount of emphasis they put on their staff is ultra-important and they feel inspired by helping people build lives in our community.
(24:55) Thinking about leadership, Mike shares they have had to learn more patience. Don’t let things get you down, don’t walk away when you have an opportunity to talk, and keep teaching. Stay strong, stay the course, and we will all get through this.
(26:14) As the Yukon economy emerges from the pandemic, Mike discusses the spin-off of private industries, such as mining having a strong impact on the economy moving forward. The housing market has gone through the roof, so their businesses have seen a positive impact supplying appliances and furniture, but they share the need to now get the housing supply to a place where young people can afford to purchase a home and establish a life here in the Yukon.
(28:40) Mike’s advice for emerging entrepreneurs? Whitehorse is the fastest growing community in Canada right now and Mike believes it will be the number one place to start a business in Canada in the very near future. They share how the growth they’ve seen since moving to Whitehorse in 1987 has blown their mind.
(32:09) Mike never thought they would see anything like this pandemic in their life. They now realize things like this could happen any day and believe it is important to move forward in a way that better prepares everyone for if there is a next time.
(33:53) What wellness practice keeps Mike grounded? Mike attributes staying grounded to their wife who has made sure they are doing the things they need to be doing to keep themselves, their teams, and their family safe.
(34:28) Mike reflects on how we’ve come to a place in this pandemic now where we can come together as a community. They are looking forward to the Fireweed Market in Shipyards Park, barbecues at Rotary Park, and spending time camping out in Atlin, B.C. They want to make sure they are spending every waking moment with some enjoyment.
Thank you for watching!
To learn more about Mike and their businesses, visit their website at:
https://ashleyyukon.com/
https://eriksavu.ca/
Tuesday Apr 12, 2022
Tuesday Apr 12, 2022
S2E17
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Kate Fitzgerald, co-owner and creative director of Velvet Antler Productions as we discuss what has been happening with them since our last interview in April 2020 near the very start of the pandemic.
(1:42) Kate shares their first memory of the pandemic. They specifically remember Friday, March 13th, 2020, and the rumblings of uncertainty at their work on whether a staff function planned that night was going to happen or get canceled. They remember thinking something is about to happen and feeling like everyone was not looking far enough ahead.
(2:42) Looking at their business model, Kate has learned that applying the adaptability they have as an artist performing on stage to their real life and business helped to keep them going, along with their loyal client base that has stuck beside them.
(4:14) Thinking about leadership, as a business owner, Kate has learned the importance of listening when you’re leading. They share the significance of taking time before heading in a direction and although they have had to pivot quickly and make quick decisions, they make sure to remember there is always time to take a breath and trust the people around you.
(5:09) Kate discusses some of the adaptations they are most proud of in their business. When we last spoke with them, they had to cancel their classes and stop planning a show. Being a performance and event-based business left them in a tough place when everything had to shut down. They were able to keep teaching their classes by keeping their numbers small and have now since signed a lease for their own studio space that they have happily been in since November 2021. When businesses were all going virtual, they went against the stream to open a brick-and-mortar location of their very own.
(8:58) Kate shares the most challenging public health measure being the more recent mandates in January of 2022 when the government essentially shut everything down. Because they function as a recreational class, not as a gym, there were different rules which did not allow them to be open at that time. Prior to that, they kept it simple with small classes, wearing masks, and implementing a vaccine mandate when the cases spiked in summer of 2021 before it was mandated territorially which worked out well to keep them functional.
(13:40) Kate shares that they opted to not use any of the government related supports as in the beginning none of them fit what their business did, and then they had a fear of what would happen after they collected the money and then needed to pay it back. Being a small business owner, they felt it would be easier to recover than worry about when the government is going to want their money back.
(15:20) Thinking about their business differently, Kate sees opportunity in growing the number of people and variety of ways to use their space. They have been doing their registered classes, but they are looking into the possibility of memberships to the space, along with bringing their performances back.
(16:57) Kate shares that over the last couple years, they feel they have developed and strengthened skills without even noticing it, especially problem solving, adaptability and decision-making due to having to take ownership of many things.
(18:30) As the Yukon economy rebuilds, Kate hopes that we can all find safe and healthy ways to reconnect with one another in a real brick and mortar sense. That people can connect collectively in spaces with other like-minded community members.
(19:20) Kate’s advice for emerging entrepreneurs? Try. Just do it. It will be hard, and you are going to work all the time, especially in the beginning. Trust yourself and take a chance. If it is something that makes you happy and brings you that joy in life, do it.
(20:21) Kate reflects on a shift in their worldview during the pandemic. They share that they are a cynical person at best and the pandemic has not helped that in any way. They do see a lot of wonderful people doing good things to connect and support each other on an individual level, however they share their disappointment in the collective. We’re on the edge of a potential international war, climate disaster, economic downfall, failing justice systems, etc. They share that they hope we learn something from it all.
(23:12) What wellness practice keeps Kate grounded? Finding moments for themselves, even if just an extra thirty seconds before they get out of their vehicle to take a deep breath and say a kind word to themselves.
(24:16) Kate considers the wild ride the past two years have been and how it’s nice to reconnect and reflect on where we started and where we are at now. They express their gratitude for their great team and community that has helped them to get to where they are now.
Thank you for watching!
To learn more about Kate and Velvet Antler Productions, visit their website at:
https://velvetantlerproductions.com/
Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
S2E16
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Teena Dickson, hunting outfitter/tour operator of Dickson Outfitters and Who What Where Tours as we catch up on what has been going on since we last connected in June of 2020 closer to the start of the pandemic.
(1:51) Tina shares their first memory of the pandemic. Whitehorse was just getting ready to host the Arctic Winter Games, and when the games were cancelled it had a huge, negative impact on the tourism and hospitality sectors. Second memory was when cancellations started happening and they were having to refund everyone, then the phone stopped ringing which was the true reality moment for them as they typically spent a lot of time on the phone previously.
(3:37) Teena shares what they have learned about their business model over the past two years. They found themselves really testing their values and revisiting who they were, which was a 100% local, community-based, Yukon business and they feel that this is why they survived.
(6:04) Looking at leadership, Teena shares that although leaders are pretty chatty, taking a step back, looking through a new lens and truly listening, allowed them to find opportunity in what’s going on and be able to plan for the future.
(8:21) Teena discusses the adaptation in their business they are most proud of being that they survived. They reinvested in the community, built some new partnerships and were able to still say yes and meet supply and demand.
(9:57) The most challenging public health measure for Teena and their business was the amount of extra cleaning time that needed to be incorporated into their travel times with the vans coming in and out with different clients. That and having to continue to remind people to space out and wear masks, knowing that they had most likely been on a plane wearing a mask all day got a little bit old for them.
(11:09) Teena shares the grant fatigue that occurs when having to fill out lots of applications for pandemic related supports. Being exhausted already, the paper trail added another level of exhaustion, although they do share, they are fortunate and grateful for it at the same time.
(13:02) At one time, Teena wanted to be the biggest, largest tour company, however they have found a very niche market and they realized they’ve found a really great place as a boutique tour company. They predict that travel is going to ramp up as people have been cooped up for too long and they share their worries around the tourism industry’s capacity when so much of it is understaffed right now.
(15:42) Teena hasn’t necessarily taken up new skills to better position themselves for the new economy, however they have found themselves using and further developing some skills they already had in their tool belt. They have found themselves better at relationships, being more understanding, nice, patient and having a bit more compassion for people.
(18:14) As the Yukon economy rebuilds, Teena hopes that Yukon becomes a frontrunner as a tourist destination and that it continues to build on the year-round tourism. They see partnerships being exceedingly key in being successful moving forward.
(20:18) Teena’s advice for emerging entrepreneurs? Have a diverse business model. Really understand yourself and don’t rely on funding. With this recovering industry, now more than ever, work even harder.
(21:10) One of Teena’s ‘aha moments’ during the pandemic was realizing that people really don’t understand the tourism industry and the impacts businesses like theirs have faced. They also predict that travel is going to become more of a necessity in the future which will result in way more people traveling.
(23:08) What wellness practices keep Teena grounded? Rediscovering the Yukon in their backyard and what an amazing place we live in. One of the many projects they took on during the pandemic was to start writing a book about visitor experiences to the Yukon and the unexpected things that happen on tours, and they’ve even started a second book that is more specific to the outfitting industry and their client experiences there.
(27:29) Wrapping up, Teena reflects on this process and shares that there is always opportunity. Things like this happen, great things always come when you’re living outside of your comfort zone, and a lot of people were challenged with their comfort zones over these last two years, so there are amazing things that could happen.
Thank you for watching!
To learn more about Teena and their businesses, visit their websites at:
https://www.dicksonoutfitters.com/
https://www.whitehorsetours.com/
Friday Mar 18, 2022
Friday Mar 18, 2022
S2E15
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Inga Petri, creator of Strategic Moves, as we reconnect since we last chatted over a year and a half ago and find out what changes have occurred for them and their business.
(2:02) Inga shares their first memory of the pandemic. Their very first memory was of the strange news reports coming out of Wuhan, China, but their first major memory of realizing it was a big deal was when the restaurant their wife was running was going to close after the weekend and there was mix of people coming to support and order food, but also a fear of touching anything and a level of trust that was just gone suddenly.
(3:30) Inga discusses what they have learned about their business model over the past two years. As an independent consultant, they already had a practice that was predominantly digital, which means they were already used to working remotely for the past 25 years. The biggest difference they found was the acceptance their clients had of doing work 100% digitally. They observe how stark of a division the business world has seen between people who have done much better or not at all during this pandemic.
(4:58) Thinking about their customer, Inga has learned the challenges that exist in the performing arts sector, as its model is predicated on people getting together and sharing experiences. They share the difficulties of re-imagining that model in a sustainable way and how many organizations who have been shuttered for two years are trying to figure out how to come back now.
(7:43) Learning about leadership, Inga talks a lot about resiliency and the difference in leadership that focuses on what the opportunity is moving ahead as opposed to an immediate crisis response. They highlight the importance of having the ability to do two things at the same time; get to the next day and create the lasting change that will build into something self-sustaining.
(10:01) Inga shares the challenge of creating digital experiences that are worthwhile, while also still being dedicated to life. If their clients start to embrace digital too much, they can start looking like a different company than they are which can be challenging to balance.
(12:59) Due to their business model as a consultant, Inga has not experienced many challenges with the public health measures that have occurred, however, thinking about their clients, and group gathering overall, they perceive that fear-based messaging over the last two years has had an impact and it will not be easy to reverse.
(15:48) Inga shares the opportunity they are seeing in the digital world and working on developing hybrid business models.
(17:38) Inga’s practice demands that they stay on top of things, so they are always learning to keep sharp which allows them to better teach and support their clients. They find themselves reading and exploring a bunch of randomness to make sure they don’t miss out on important things.
(19:48) As the Yukon economy emerges from the pandemic, Inga expresses that there are some decisions that need to be made as a society including: what work we value and the pay scales associated, scarcity in the housing market, the larger need for elevated connectivity, and more.
(24:28) Inga’s advice for emerging entrepreneurs? Passion is good in business, but it’s even better if you have a business plan. They discuss the advantage of tempering taking action and keeping moving, with a bit of knowledge and understanding about the competitive landscape.
(27:55) Inga’s worldview hasn’t shifted dramatically due to the pandemic, however they share that they spent 8 years prior trying to get a sector that is not particularly interested in digitization, in digitization, and with the pandemic hitting, this became no longer optional. They stress that it is important to keep in mind that there isn’t a one size fits all solution for everyone and to not have assumptions about what must be in the world is also helpful.
(30:32) What wellness practice keeps Inga grounded? Outdoors has always been the answer for them and they wish they had a bit more time to spend out there.
(33:48) Inga shares their final thoughts on how we need to find ways to live together in good ways that actually serve people and serve all of us much more equitably. Their hope is that we are not wasting this crisis and will learn from it.
Thank you for watching!
To learn more about Inga and their business, visit their website at:
https://strategicmoves.ca/
Tuesday Mar 15, 2022
Tuesday Mar 15, 2022
S2E14
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Myles Hougen, co-founder of Yukon Built, a community-focused, apparel company located in Whitehorse as we catch up and find out what has been happening since our last interview with them the summer of 2020.
(1:14) Myles shares their first memory of the pandemic. Their brother Tanner, co-founder of Yukon Built, was one of the first people in the Yukon to test positive for Covid-19 in March of 2020. Because of having been in contact, Myles had to isolate for 14 days, and as business owners, being out of their business that long put a massive strain on them, especially with so many unknowns at the start of the pandemic.
(2:55) Looking at their business model, having built their brand and business on having an online presence allowed them to continue to be in contact with their customers. Even when businesses had to shut down, they were able to sell product through their website and have curbside pickup. Over the course of the last two years, they were able to expand their online business and due to the amazing support of Yukoners, and even opened a bricks and mortar store in June of 2021.
(5:43) Myles discusses the interruptions they have had in their supply in the last two years and how there has been an interesting evolution of what they have been experiencing through the pandemic. A recent surprise has been receiving their 2021 Christmas inventory restock at the beginning of February 2022, so navigating the challenge of this has been difficult.
(8:17) Talking about their customer base, Myles shares that Yukoners are still their primary customer, however they have been seeing an expansion of their customer base comprising of people who have had a connection to the Yukon, whether having lived here at some point, or visited, and that they’ve identified an opportunity to tap into the storytelling of what the Yukon is through their customers. They have been reaching out to customers that they have shipped to internationally to find out how they came across their company and have been receiving a lot of great feedback they will be able to use in the future.
(10:31) Learning about leadership, Myles considers themselves fairly new as a leader and manager, and shares that a personal challenge of theirs has been pushing themselves outside of their comfort zone of what it means to be a leader, especially during a time when there are so many unknowns and stress levels are high. Focusing on keeping positivity and energy to lead their team has been an incredibly important piece of this journey for them.
(12:12) Myles shares the adaptations in their business they are most proud of. They are really proud of how they’ve navigated the pandemic and continued to be confident about what they’re doing, pushing forward and growing the business into this brand which is something special. On a personal level, they’ve learned the importance of balance, and not being able to travel has helped them to connect further with their Yukon community.
(13:59) Navigating the public health measures, Myles shares that as a retailer, they have felt them to be reasonable to navigate versus the restrictions that restaurants and bars have had to navigate. They feel they have been very fortunate that the public health measures have not affected their ability to run their business too drastically.
(17:07) Regarding new skill development to help position themselves better, Myles considers that their willingness to connect with other people who have the skills they don’t and trying to learn new things through reading books and listening to podcasts has helped to expand their minds and approach to business. Myles attributes some of their success their willingness and openness to work with and connect with people who can help them grow their business based off their skill sets working in conjunction with theirs.
(19:16) As the Yukon economy works to rebuild, Myles discusses the new challenge arising; the cost of living and doing business in the north as well as the challenge of finding commercial space, at least in Whitehorse. They are looking at more cost-effective ways of sourcing product and how to possibly produce more of their products locally to help mitigate the high cost of shipping. Despite these challenges, as restrictions are lessening and lifting, Myles shares they are feeling optimistic of whatever the new normal will be and how they will continue to navigate everything they’ve established over the last two years.
(20:43) Myles advice for emerging entrepreneurs? Now is a good time to dive into things, especially with the amount of content and expertise available online that can be tapped into. There is so much opportunity right now and a lot of barriers of how to get into business have been reduced.
(23:05) Myles shares an ‘aha’ moment for themselves being the importance of work-life balance and how this is something they are still working on. The pandemic has provided constant reminders of this, and realizing there is more to life than just work has helped them focus on their mental health more.
(24:13) What wellness practices keep Myles grounded? Getting outside is the main one for Myles. Going out for a quick ski, walking the trails easily accessible living in the Yukon, and just getting some fresh air and sunlight have been important. Taking breaks has allowed them to reset and be more productive in their work as well.
(25:31) Myles shares some final thoughts about their appreciation for being in the position they are in as a business and that they are thankful they have been able to continue to grow year over year through the challenges the pandemic has brought. They share how excited they are for the next five years to see where they can take it and hope when we connect again, they will be able to update us on more growth that has happened.
Thank you for watching!
To learn more about Myles and their business, visit their website at: https://www.yukonbuilt.com
Friday Mar 11, 2022
Friday Mar 11, 2022
S2E13
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Mark Wykes, owner of Wykes Your Independent Grocer as we catch up on what has changed since our first interview near the start of the pandemic in May of 2020.
(1:09) Mark shares their first memory of the pandemic. They started seeing it happening in different parts of the world and Canada before it hit the Yukon. Seeing the grocery shelves going empty due to hoarding was the first indicator to them.
(2:13) During the pandemic Mark shares that they learned that their business model works. They were able to remain open throughout the pandemic, sustain all different kinds of challenges, and come out still being able to sell groceries.
(2:53) Learning about their customers, Mark’s business discovered their customers are very understanding and appreciative that they are doing their very best and thank them which is nice. They discuss that there have always been supply chain issues in the north, so customers are typically understanding.
(3:57) Thinking about leadership, Mark has learned that to survive you need to be able to stay calm during challenges out of your control. By being stable and methodical in your approach, dealing with what you can control instead of what you can’t control, then you are in a good spot. They discuss how their strong and resilient their team has been throughout the last two years.
(5:04) Mark shares how proud they are of the modifications their team has made to continue to serve the customer first and how they have collectively come together to ensure their customers are satisfied. There is nothing better than getting feedback from their customers that they’ve done a good job.
(8:03) The hardest health measure that Mark and their business needed to adapt to was back at the beginning of the pandemic when there were so many unknowns. First with social distancing, then mask requirements, combined with ensuring their staff felt safe so they would continue to come to work and serve the community were all difficult things to control.
(10:30) The biggest opportunity Mark sees is putting more groceries on the shelf. The movement for local groceries is something they love. The other opportunity they see is in their online service as it is something they are working to grow and develop into something they are satisfied in. Due to short-staffing caused by Covid-19, they had to make decisions to focus on supporting their in-store shoppers instead of the online orders which caused issues.
(13:11) To better position themselves, Mark has focused more on communicating and planning with their team, along with expanding their management team to provide more support which has allowed them to be more stable overall.
(14:59) As the Yukon emerges from the pandemic and looks to rebuild, Mark hopes this upcoming summer is stronger for the tourism sector which has been hit hard this whole pandemic. They hope that everyone who was doing well pre-pandemic can recover and run better than they had in 2019.
(15:53) Mark’s advice for emerging entrepreneurs? There is so much opportunity out there. There is stability now and we can kind of see where we are going in the future where people should be able to map out a clear path. They share that if they were a young person starting out and wanting to get after something, they feel now would be a good time.
(16:28) Mark shares their aha moment because of the pandemic being that life is short so we should try to figure out how to have fun, take care of ourselves and have time with our families.
(17:30) What wellness practices keep Mark grounded? Sunday road trips! Going for long drives that get them out of the house by themselves, seeing the country and wildlife is where they get their therapy.
(18:24) Mark says thank you to the community for being so supportive and how their staff love to hear the thank yous and kudos. It hasn’t been easy, so having people not beating them up, putting on masks, and following the rules is appreciated.
Thank you for watching!
To learn more about Mark and his business, visit their website at: https://www.yourindependentgrocer.ca/store-locator/details/1806
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
S2E12
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Vanessa Ægirsdóttir owner of V. Ægirsdóttir Artist and partner in Wild Yukon Furs as we reconnect since our first interview that happened near the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.
(1:30) Vanessa shares their first memory of the pandemic. The pandemic started a week after they came home from their honeymoon and several weeks before their birthday. Instead of a time of celebration, they spent their birthday rebuilding their website to adjust to the changes that needed to be made to adapt quickly.
(2:31) Vanessa shares the many things they learned about their business model during the pandemic, most importantly the ability to be agile due to their size and make big decisions quickly. They also express how important it is to have multiple channels for distribution (both bricks & mortar and online) and how storytelling is at the core of how they conduct business which drives all the decisions they make including staying a direct-to-consumer brand.
(5:30) Having done exercises early in the pandemic on discovering more about their core customers and what they are looking for in their business, Vanessa was able to confirm what they already knew. They share a new opportunity on the horizon that had been in the works before the pandemic that has been restarted in opening a retail store in Skagway, Alaska that would service the cruise ship population that docks there.
(7:58) From a leadership perspective, Vanessa shares the importance of consistency, honesty and being transparent. They also discuss leaders bringing a spirit of curiosity, humility, and a willingness to learn, understanding that you don’t know everything, especially during a pandemic when there is so much uncertainty.
(9:29) Vanessa celebrates that they are still here, and they have seen steady growth since they began, not only surviving but thriving during the pandemic as being the adaptation they are most proud of. Last year, they were published in Vogue Magazine which is a big deal for a small designer in the Yukon.
(11:43) The most difficult challenge Vanessa had with the public health measures was when the state of emergency was called in November. With the holiday season making up the bulk of their revenue, and customer traffic was down which resulted in a massive drop in revenue. They also share that the social fatigue that everyone is experiencing with sanitizing, wearing masks, and having to remind people to follow health protocols, and how the best way through is to have as much compassion as possible despite being tired.
(15:28) Thinking about their business differently, and what opportunities they have going forward, Vanessa shares their exploration of potentially opening a retail space in Skagway and that whether it works out or not they have faith that something better will come.
(16:39) To better prepare themselves for the opportunities ahead, Vanessa shares that they have had to learn how to develop a plan and execute on it at an accelerated pace due to space coming up now in Skagway versus their original plan of next summer. They have learned how to prioritize short-term and long-term and how to pace themselves during the process to ensure their plan comes together effectively and sustainably.
(18:30) As Yukon’s economy rebuilds, Vanessa hopes that the Yukon will have a healthy economy that entices people to continue to spend money in the community, keep it recirculating and expand the local wealth as the Yukon has such a vibrant business community.
(19:32) Vanessa’s advice for emerging entrepreneurs? Don’t wait until you’re ready, understand who your target market is, and don’t waste time thinking about what others are saying about your business as it is something you can’t control.
(21:31) Their worldview hasn’t shifted much during the pandemic, but Vanessa emphasizes how humility is critical to growth, and how having an open mind when presented with a challenge has helped them to learn some really incredible stuff as well as become a better person.
(22:57) What wellness practices keep Vanessa grounded? They admit their wellness practice is terrible, however they express the best thing they do is sleep. They protect their bedtime and getting good amounts of sleep help them be productive during the day. Also stay hydrated.
(23:52) Vanessa shares their final closing thoughts. We’re all going to be okay.
Thank you for watching!
To learn more about Vanessa, visit their website at:
https://www.aegirsdottir.com/
or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/v.aegirsdottir
Tuesday Feb 22, 2022
Tuesday Feb 22, 2022
S2E11
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Tarek Bos-Jabbar, Chief Operating Officer of ColdAcre Food Systems, as we catch up on what has changed since we last connected in the summer of 2020 near the start of the pandemic.
(1:40) Tarek shares their first memory of the pandemic. They ordered pizza and when it was dropped off the delivery worker dropped it off and backed away. Their next moment was feeling worried about what might happen in the economy, more specifically in housing. They had just purchased a house the week before so had reason to be concerned.
(3:09) Tarek discusses what they’ve learned about their business over the last couple years. Something that has stood out to them the most, even at the start of the pandemic is how supportive of local businesses Yukoners are. They also share how exciting it is to see how much locally produced food in on shelves in grocery stores now versus several years ago.
(5:44) Looking at their business model, Tarek elaborates on how at ColdAcre, they are focused on both growing and selling food at a regional level, supplying the Yukon, and then on their agricultural equipment sales side of things, they are working more at a national level.
(7:32) From a leadership perspective, Tarek has learned during the pandemic how powerful just asking people what they want has been. Whether it is from clients or learning how to keep staff, people are usually really willing to answer questions so having direct conversations is a big one for leadership.
(8:59) Tarek shares that transferring to a delivery service is an adaptation they are proud of ColdAcre managing to do. They used to have specific pick-up locations but quickly realized during the pandemic that they needed to figure out how to get their produce directly to customers. Since then, they have also expanded to being able to distribute other local businesses’ products which has helped support the local movement even further.
(12:51) Losing a lot of restaurants as clients due to the pandemic was one of the challenging parts of the public health measures we have seen in the Yukon. Tarek shares that they didn’t find the health measure requirements hard to implement due to the nature and layout of their business.
(14:28) Going forward, Tarek sees opportunity in how people are really seeing the value of being able to produce food locally. With the pandemic, things such as BC flooding and our erratic climate, people are seeing that adding an extra layer of diversity in where products can come from as something that should be supported.
(18:34) To better position themselves for the years ahead, Tarek has been working hard to develop the business side of their skill set as they have typically been more in a technical role.
(19:18) Looking at the Yukon economy as it emerges from this pandemic, Tarek hopes to see the Yukon become more self-reliant and focused on having a lot more newer businesses in the private industry. They would love to see the Yukon get better at producing things locally which will ensure the creation of jobs and money staying in the community.
(20:06) Tarek’s advice for emerging entrepreneurs. Remember the ups when you’re down and remember the downs when you’re up. Keep building the momentum, keep pushing every day, and read lots of books as there are many incredible books about entrepreneurship out there.
(21:26) Working at ColdAcre and the many challenges that they’ve worked through over the past three and a half years since they created the company have been very formative for Tarek. They have developed a lot, but it is hard to say what is related to the pandemic or other factors, but they acknowledge their worldview has shifted over that time.
(22:13) What wellness practices keep Tarek grounded? Doing a long stretching session and meditating after they wake up every morning has helped them be a lot less stressed and a lot happier.
Thank you for watching!
To learn more about Tarek and ColdAcre Food Systems, visit their website at:
https://www.coldacre.ca
Friday Feb 18, 2022
Friday Feb 18, 2022
S2E10
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Lauren Manekin Beille, Manager of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) at Yukon University as we discuss what changes have occurred since we last connected over a year and a half ago.
(2:50) Lauren shares their first memory of the pandemic and how there are personal and professional memories. They share the difficulties of working from home and the toll is takes on families on a personal level, but on a professional level, the exciting memory of also launching the PIVOT project to support businesses with micro grants to sustain them.
(5:58) Over the last couple years, looking at I&E’s business model, Lauren has learned that what they do is really challenging in times like this, and it is a tough time for folks to jump out of their comfort zone and take risks. This makes their team have to work creatively to reinvent themselves to meet the idea of innovation and entrepreneurship.
(10:15) Learning about leadership during the pandemic, Lauren has discovered how hard leadership is, especially if you are an empathetic leader who holds space and is flexible with the realities that humans are experiencing. They are really excited about growth and development and find it hard to sit back and take the foot off the gas. Growing alongside their team and trying to figure out what the right balance is has been an amazing opportunity.
(12:22) Lauren shares the adaptations they are most proud of is the team’s ability to go outside of themselves to find answers that support the people that they serve every day. They share how proud they are of the team understanding how they can do a good job of meeting people where they are and connecting them to who they need to be connect with so that they can take the next step in business.
(15:17) The public health measures that Lauren has found the two most challenging are the distancing they’ve had to do, as a leader it is hard to share leadership when everyone is working from home. They share not being able to connect face to face, smile to smile, and heart to heart with the people they serve being difficult. The other piece is not being able to host in-person events celebrating work and progress businesses they’re partnering with have been making and share their expertise and growth has not been fun.
(17:04) Lauren discusses some of the supports I&E has been offering to entrepreneurs. The model they have is to fund a crazy good idea at a very early stage and how the funding is really flexible to help businesses grow. They provide a wraparound service that helps to build a community for entrepreneurs. Lauren encourages anyone with an innovative idea, some new, or re-imagining something old to come hang out with them.
(22:35) Looking at Yukon’s shifting economy Lauren sees an opportunity in how critical entrepreneurial skill sets are. The idea of design thinking, creativity networking, following your idea and building upon it is critical for around the future of work. Lauren shares how the I&E department dreams about incubation programs where not only students can come up with the answers via entrepreneurial thinking and solving their own problems, but also having industry come and collaborate to solve problems at a larger scale.
(25:35) In regard to the rebuilding of Yukon’s economy, Lauren feels strongly about identifying who is doing what around the territory and ensuring that they’re not doing it alone.
(27:53) Lauren’s advice for emerging entrepreneurs? Connect with I&E, and others, there is so much available. The next piece is to plan. Plan for those places where you’re not going to get support necessarily outside of peer to peer and build your networks.
(29:51) Lauren’s worldview hasn’t shifted per say, but they share that an aha moment they hope they knew before was recognizing how everyone is trying their best. They share they have seen over the last two years how complex humanity is and how patience, compassion, and love have been a big piece of that.
(31:10) What wellness practices keep Lauren grounded? Lauren loves to work. Recognizing this, their wellness practice has been to work less. This has allowed them to make connections that are arguably more important in some ways than most other ones versus when they were moving as fast as they did in the past.
(33:10) Lauren shares their final thoughts, encouraging folks to stay creative, stay aware of those ideas where you see a problem and come up with a crazy solution for it. Those ideas are so needed right now, challenging the status quo, and creating a community to pave new ways to envision a new future.
Thank you for watching!
To learn more about Lauren and Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Yukon University, visit the website at:
https://www.yukonu.ca/innovation
Saturday Feb 12, 2022
Saturday Feb 12, 2022
Join Yukon Entrepreneur, Patti Balsillie, owner of Patti Balsillie Management Consulting with 30+ years as a northern and national management consultant specializing in governance, tourism, and community economic development as we reconnect since we last chatted in 2020 near the start of the pandemic.
(1:31) Patti shares their first memory of the pandemic. They were traveling for work, and Vancouver was like a ghost town, the airport and convention center were empty, and they didn’t know what a pandemic was yet, but felt grief in that something was wrong.(4:24) Over the last couple years, looking at their business model, Patti has learned a lot about moving their business to online and how accessible it has made their business for people. Being an extrovert, they still prefer meeting in person, but they admit to there being a lot of cost savings to going online and it has meant their business can expand globally much easier than before when there was an expectation to physically travel for meetings.
(7:16) During the pandemic, Patti has learned that many of their clients have normalized the distractions that happen from working remotely such as children, dishwasher bells going off, etc. and that the increased flexibility has resulted in a feeling of enhanced productivity. That being said, they also share the effects of the ‘great resignation’ and how many people deciding to shift their careers or retire early has put strain on the teams left behind, with the tourism sector being the hardest hit and the longest to recover.
(9:57) Considering leadership, Patti has learned that leadership has shifted from a focus of profitability and growth to focusing on stability and reducing impact, especially in senior organizations. There is more flexibility, compassion, and pausing to reflect and look to the bottom for ideas and engagement. They observe that during this pandemic, leadership has had to make decisions without knowing what the future will bring.
(14:31) Patti shares the adaptation they’ve made that they are most proud of in their business is feeling very versed and comfortable in how to engage in this new online world with multiple platforms and how although these seem like solutions, there are people who are struggling with the technology that you need to factor into your planning. They share that the pandemic has us more attuned not only with safety, hygiene, and cleanliness, but also compassion and adaptation.
(19:03) Patti discusses the public health measures that have been the most challenging for them being in beginning the wastefulness of using gloves and masks and disposing of them, and then having to have multiple plans for events, especially considering audiences who do not have access to technology to be able to meaningfully engage and the negative effects of having to cancel or reschedule on everyone, especially hired businesses such as hoteliers and caterers.
(25:02) The knowledge sector allows mobility which means Patti can be anywhere in the world and do business and the opportunity this presents that may not be presented again in the future. They also discuss developing literacy in using zoom and discovering educational opportunities that can satiate their curiosity and add value to their clients and work. They share the importance of spending the time during these moments of limbo as a time to nurture ourselves both physically with adventure and our minds.
(28:56) Looking at the Yukon’s rebuilding efforts, Patti hopes that we can come together as a community even when having differing views.
(32:36) Patti’s advice for emerging entrepreneurs. There is amazing innovation happening, and they encourage people to look strongly at digitization and build you ecosystem of mentors and advisors to provide an extra level of support in an ever-changing time.
(34:47) Patti’s worldview hasn’t shifted during the pandemic, but it has come more to the forefront. They share their hopes that other Canadians, businesses, and leaders can see that we are not islands and that everybody has a story. They aspire for a kinder and caring Canada, emphasizing the need for us to continue to make our country better, not pull ourselves apart.
(37:26) What wellness practices keep Patti grounded? They have been fat biking year round (even in winter) as they found getting outside for fresh air and in nature to be one of their anchor points as well as focusing more on making shifts in their overall health, nutrition and wellness since the start of 2022.
(38:27) Patti shares their final thoughts that they are hopeful that Yukon can use it’s out of the box thinking to provide some leadership and insight to the rest of Canada as we look to recover from the pandemic.
Thank you for watching!
To learn more about Patti and their business, visit their website at:
http://pattibalsillie.com
Tuesday Feb 08, 2022
Tuesday Feb 08, 2022
S2E8
Join Yukon Entrepreneur, Martin Lehner, owner of Tangerine Technology, one of the Yukon’s largest IT service providers as we reconnect on what has changed for them and their business since we last chatted near the beginning of the pandemic
(2:00) Martin shares their first memory of the pandemic. They had decided to open an office in Nanaimo, B.C. in early 2020 and they were down there as it started to become more known. Many questions around whether they would be able to fly home, travel back and forth, and how travel was going to work in the future.
(3:06) Martin shares that the biggest challenge with the public health measures is not the measures themselves, but the communication and implementation of them. Travel was a hurdle in 2020, but they feel we’re past that point.
(4:59) The adaptations Martin is most proud of their business making is being able to accommodate the needs of any of their clients. They’ve faced a lot of logistical challenges such as shipping supplies and equipment and regardless they have made things work.
(7:17) The pandemic has confirmed that Tangerine Technology’s business model is very flexible and that they have been able to move to remote work relatively easily despite not having had to practice it at a larger scale in the past.
(10:11) Martin discusses that tech-wise not much has changed in their business, however, they observe that there is more understanding from clients on how reliant they are on technology and how it can support them. The industry is growing, and tech is being used more and more every single day.
(11:05) Martin comments on the challenges the current internet has had in the Yukon during the pandemic and the emergence of a new internet service provider in the Yukon and how they see service costs going down and service quality going up which they are looking forward to seeing happen.
(12:10) To better position themselves for the economy ahead, Martin has continued to build on existing skill sets which has included graduating from Harvard University’s cybersecurity program and focusing developing further in that area.
(13:31) Thinking about leadership, Martin shares that being quick to react to things, provide direction and being able to make those decisions quickly has been important.
(14:24) Looking at the Yukon economy, Martin doesn’t see a ton changing, however they do recognize that many business sectors have been hit hard such as tourism. They see rebuilding efforts being focused into those sectors.
(15:57) Martin’s advice for emerging entrepreneurs. Consider what you’re starting. Be careful about whether it is something that can be affected by restrictions.
(17:50) What wellness practices have been keeping Martin grounded? Focusing on the work they must do as it gets them pretty busy and focusing on family.
(18:27) Martin’s shares that they didn’t think we would still be here when we had our interview almost two years ago at the start of the pandemic. They share that there is a different set of challenges now and how there will be another set next year, and we just have to roll with it.
Thank you for watching!
To learn more about Martin and their business, visit their website at:
https://www.tangerinetechnology.ca/
Friday Feb 04, 2022
Friday Feb 04, 2022
S2E7
Join Yukon Entrepreneur, Erin Holm, founder, and artist of Den Designs, as we discuss what changes have occurred in Erin’s business and catch up on what has been going on since we last connected at the start of the pandemic in 2020.
(1:32) Erin shares the difficulties of trying to expand their business to a national level during a pandemic especially when many businesses that would normally support their art are closing their doors. They discuss moving to more custom-made art pieces to supplement not being able to travel and take photos.
(3:29) Erin shares their first memory of the pandemic being making the decision to attend their close friend’s wedding in Edmonton, the uncertainty around that, and how the day they arrived back in the Yukon they were immediately moved to working remotely from home.
(4:22) As a business owner, one of the most challenging parts of the public health measures has been that Erin’s business model has relied on retailers to sell their product and with retailers having to implement social distancing and travel being restricted it has had a huge impact on traffic into stores.
(6:35) Erin shares that something they’ve learned through this pandemic is humility. Reaching out to other entrepreneurs to get the motivation to keep going, stop overthinking things and support one another. The connection and camaraderie that the entrepreneurial community has helped motivate them to keep pushing forward.
(8:33) Looking at their business model, Erin has needed to shift from business-to-business to more of a business-to-consumer style which has them focusing on developing that client base and will be looking at doing a few craft and art shows. They share it has felt like going backwards a little bit, but it has also made them go back to basics and to where their passion was when they created Den Designs.
(11:50) What opportunities does Erin see on the horizon? They just bought property and are extremely excited to bring their shop to their home where they can try new things.
(13:39) Thinking about leadership, Erin has learned new things about themselves including how to be a better listener, genuinely take criticism, and how to not take things personally. Learning from other people and realizing where your strengths and weaknesses are has been helpful.
(15:48) In regard to the Yukon economy, Erin hopes the support local movement continues, and that they see more Yukoners exporting nationally and internally. They feel that there are many other incredible industries that have a real opportunity to shine right now.
(17:13) Erin’s advice for emerging entrepreneurs. Do your research, get a crew of people you trust and have good mentors. Have some humility because you don’t know everything and know when to ask for help.
(18:30) Erin reflects on their ‘aha’ moments during the pandemic. The pandemic has taught them a lot about themselves, what they want of life and their career, and how important personal work-life balance is to them. They find they are more intentional with how, where and who they spend their time with.
(21:27) What wellness practices keep Erin grounded? Lots of time outdoors! Shutting off and being out in nature with loved ones regardless of temperature has been really important to them.
(22:31) Erin shares their final thoughts about how there have been lots of ups and downs and challenges since we connected with them at the start of the pandemic and that they hope to find projects that get them excited and will be focusing on that this year.
Thank you for watching!
To learn more about Erin and their business, visit their website at:
https://www.dendesigns.ca/
Tuesday Feb 01, 2022
Tuesday Feb 01, 2022
S2E6
Join Yukon entrepreneur, business coach and tax accounting/bookkeeping expert Joanne Thomas in an interview catching up with what has changed since we connected with them at the start of the pandemic in 2020.
(1:43) Joanne shares their first memory of the pandemic. They received a phone call from a client who was feeling quite anxious and scared about the future of their business with having to close their doors when the Yukon went into lock down. They also share the resiliency and creativity people have had in changing their businesses to adapt along with the collaboration between businesses that have occurred since the start of the pandemic.
(4:23) Joanne discusses the most challenging part of the public health measures. They share that the travel restrictions have been hard on many businesses, and theirs is no exception. Not being able to be on the ground in some areas has made it hard for their team to get the details they need to make the best decisions possible for their clients, along with many clients not having the technologic capabilities to meet virtually, especially in remote areas.
(7:39) Joanne shares that becoming way more comfortable with technology and software is the adaptation they are most proud of. They have participated in courses to better their knowledge about social media, marketing, and posting information online to better support their clients.
(9:15) Joanne answers the question of what they have learned about their business model over the last two years. The biggest thing is sharing their knowledge of building business plans with their clients.
(14:06) What opportunities does Joanne see? Their network has grown during the pandemic, so they are finding they’re having to do more which means more employees. This has meant that Joanne has been able to expand from bookkeeping and tax into more strategic business planning for businesses. They are putting an emphasis on helping people become more financially literate.
(17:37) Joanne’s advice is the best thing you can do as a leader is to always be honest. There is always a good side and being honest can help in the long run.
(19:54) Joanne shares what they’re paying attention to regarding the economy in the Yukon. Housing is a big concern, as there is a shortage, even though there is a boom of things being built. The town cannot grow if there is no place for people to live.
(21:39) Joanne’s advice for emerging entrepreneurs. Do a business plan and ensure there is a market for your idea. It’s important to have people who want to buy your product.
(23:33) What wellness practices keep Joanne grounded? They meditate every morning and does their best to exercise outside every day. Getting away from your computer, desk, phone to go outside and unplug is important.
(24:40) Joanne shares their final thoughts on running a successful business by stressing the importance of offering great customer service and to be kind.
Thank you for watching!
To learn more about Joanne, visit their websites at:
https://taxlinkcanada.com/
https://www.itsmymoneynow.com/about
Friday Jan 28, 2022
Friday Jan 28, 2022
S2E5
Join entrepreneur Sonny Gray as we discuss the changes that have happened with them and their businesses since connecting with them at the start of the pandemic in 2020. Sonny is CEO of North Star Agriculture, co-owner of Flat Creek Farms and Yukon Born & Raised and owns a couple service-related businesses in Whitehorse including Gray Management Services, Yukon Clean and Sirius Security Services.
(1:16) Sonny shares their first memory of the pandemic. They remember keeping tabs on it as it started in China, and then as it proceeded to hit Italy next. They and their father were in Quebec when it started to hit Canada and chose to leave a day early, which was good as the provincial borders closed the next day. They share how originally as Covid-19 hit Canada, there was a naivety that it would blow over in a couple months, where it has now been two years living with it.
(3:45) Due to the nature of the businesses they operate, they needed to focus on protecting their staff through providing proper protective equipment as they were providing services in other people’s homes. Public health measures had them leaning into technology to adapt, which is something Sonny appreciates as they can take meetings in the comfort of their home instead of traveling in person like they had to before.
(7:06) Being a part of two different areas of business (service and agriculture), Sonny discusses how the agricultural industry has seen many changes due to fragile nature of the current system and how there is more focus on developing regional infrastructure, along with the service industry, how at the beginning of the pandemic there was a lot of fear. Their cleaning business saw a decline, however as regulations changed and needed to be implemented, their security business was incredibly busy.
(12:54) How is Sonny thinking about business differently? Despite having loved to travel, Sonny sees their focus really being on the local scene where despite there being a ceiling in the Yukon, they feel there is a lot of opportunity as well.
(14:11) In the past two years, due to their businesses always evolving Sonny has worked on acquire new skills including getting their permaculture design certification which they always wanted to do. They have also just started their organic master gardeners certification due to having more time to put towards education as they are able to save time moving to working virtually.
(16:03) Sonny comments on the importance of understanding that we are in a difficult, controversial time, and as a leader it’s your goal to unite and lead people forward together. They share having a bit more compassion and understanding with people in order to find common ground has been working out pretty well.
(17:59) Sonny’s advice for emerging entrepreneurs? There are lots of vacuums around now, needs and niches. There is massive development happening, a by-product of everyone being stuck at home and the pandemic has fast-tracked the advancement of technology such as AI robotics, virtual reality, etc.
(22:31) Sonny reflects on some of their ‘aha’ moments during the pandemic. As an entrepreneur and businessperson, they’ve recognized some of the opportunities that have occurred and recognized what companies are taking advantage of those opportunities.
(25:22) What wellness practices keep Sonny grounded? Sonny shares their struggle with depression this past year and how their family has been integral to keeping them going. With daylight starting to become more, they find themself planting gardens and planning projects which makes them excited about the future.
(26:52) Sonny discusses how winters in the Yukon are incredibly difficult, especially for farmers and shares that remembering you are not alone in these experiences, that there is a community of farmers who are there and struggling is important. They share that it’s better for everyone if you’re open and transparent about what you’re going through as it helps everyone to not feel as alone.
Thank you for watching!
To learn more about Sonny and their businesses, visit their websites at:
https://northstaragriculture.ca
https://ybarmeats.ca
https://graymanagementservices.com
https://www.siriussecurity.ca
Tuesday Jan 25, 2022
Tuesday Jan 25, 2022
S2E4
Join social innovation consultant, facilitator and part-time poet, Michael Pealow, in discussing how the pandemic has changed their approach to business and life.
(2:28) Michael shares their first memory of the pandemic. Having planned a big family reunion and starting to feel uncertain what was going to happen, they chose to go ahead with plans to meet in Nicaragua. Several days later marked when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged Canadians travelling outside of the county to come home as soon as possible.
(3:57) Looking at the pandemic related restrictions, Michael discusses the biggest challenge to their business being the on again, off again, nature of the restrictions. Hybrid facilitation, combining both in person and virtual means is incredibly difficult, where facilitating one way or the other is much easier. They elaborate further on the differences between the two formats and the successes they have had adapting to online facilitation offerings.
(7:07) Having been resistant to online facilitation, Michael explains that they realized that they needed to figure it out quickly to be sustainable in the face of the pandemic and is proud of their ability to learn new tools and tricks that allow for more organic conversations despite being virtual.
(8:42) Michael shares a key insight they had of their business model in the idea that they and their family can live anywhere that makes them happy and be able to do his work.
(11:25) Prior to the pandemic, Michael wanted to put more focus on land-based facilitation, and this focus hasn’t changed. Their goal is to spend less time staring at screens and more time on the land with people but is prepared to see how things go and stay open to opportunities that come their way.
(13:19) Leadership is ‘trusting in people to rise up to the challenge’ and Michael has seen this in their volunteer work as the chair of the Yukon Foundation. They share key insights into what helps people and organizations adapt to uncertainty.
(17:05) Michael shares their hopes that in the future that Yukon businesses can get access to business counselling service and believes this is a basic service that governments should be providing.
(18:08) Michael’s advice for emerging entrepreneurs? A pandemic is a good time to start a business. If you can make your business work in the middle of a pandemic or recession, your business is probably going to do really well outside of one.
(18:52) Michael reflects on several ‘aha’ moments that have shifted their worldview in the last couple years from becoming less extraverted, wanting to get a boat and spend time exploring, and realizing you can’t put life on hold.
(20:52) A surprise even to Michael was they wrote and published a book of poetry! They discuss how this came to be and their feelings regarding it. Link to their book at the end.
(22:05) What wellness practices keep Michael Grounded? Quality time with their partner Erin and home renovations which has given them the opportunity to pick up some new skills.
(25:22) Michael comments on how certainty is an illusion and encourages entrepreneurs to embrace the uncertainty and look for the opportunities in it. They caution that otherwise you may get stuck or become stagnant which results in a failure to adapt and therefore thrive.
To learn more about Michael and their business, visit their website at: https://michaelpealow.com
Check out their book of poetry, ‘Flowing Over the Land and Water: A Settler’s Reflections on the Decolonization of Self and Systems’ here:
https://books.friesenpress.com/store/title/119734000163586849/Michael-Pealow-Flowing-Over-the-Land-and-Water
Friday Jan 21, 2022
Friday Jan 21, 2022
S2E3
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Ddhälh kït Nelnah, Teresa Vander Meer-Chassé, member of White River First Nation as they talk about their business as an Upper Tanana Curator and Visual Artist and shares what has happened since we last connected over a year ago at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
(1:00) Teresa is a sole proprietor of consulting, curating, and creating art for over 8 years, taking after their entrepreneurial mother. Their consulting and curating client-base is focused mostly on the Yukon, with their art-base being broader, both on the national and international stages.
(6:40) Public Health measures affected galleries and museums in a big way as they had to close and were not prepared to shift to an online model. Teresa’s career was put on pause due to not having space to curate in, with public spaces being closed, many of their planned art exhibitions were cancelled and they express feeling very lost at the beginning.
(8:29) Teresa discusses weighing their options, with there being very little work available during the first year of the pandemic and how they made the choice to pause their business in 2020 and go back to school for their Master of Fine Arts at Concordia University.
(9:54) Taking a look at their business model and through the restructuring of their website, Teresa has learned to not undersell themself and their work and how they are worth much more than they had been charging in the past. By focusing on their priorities in curating and the tutorial field, they have now created a service guide which helps to streamline inquiries and keeps their business more organized.
(13:45) Teresa shares how they now are in the ‘dreaming stage’ of their life and business and can see so many opportunities where they are at in their 2nd year of school. They share how choosing to go back to school during this time has opened many doors for them and how being able to focus more on curating, they see their business evolving to be more dedicated to gallery presentation versus commercial/retail pursuits.
(16:32) As part of a grant they received, Teresa has picked up skills in the digital space which they consider valuable such as creating social media content and gaining new followers. They were able to also focus on artistic work they hadn’t had an opportunity to do before, due to being too busy with their business including working on a moosehide during the summer.
(20:17) Making international headlines, the story of Rod and Ekaterina Baker (see cbc’s coverage here https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/bakers-beaver-creek-vaccine-plea-1.6031121) came to Whitehorse, chartered a flight to Teresa’s remote community of Beaver Creek which was one of the first places to receive the covid vaccine due to its remoteness and vulnerability, pretended to work there in order to receive the vaccine, putting the community at risk. Teresa’s mother spoke up for the community, taking on an important leadership role in supporting Beaver Creek and educating others about the situation.
(23:15) Tourism everywhere has been impacted, especially hitting the Yukon hard, and this is something that worries Teresa, being that the tourism sector is where they got their start in their career. Tourism tends to always get hit first, with art and culture being so interconnected with it causes some huge problems. They think about the possibilities of bringing back and creating new public art attractions in Beaver Creek in the future, which used to be a huge spot for tourism in the north, but since the pandemic has had to close due to lack of visitors. Many Yukoners have not ventured to the remote communities, so there is an opportunity for the local economy to support one another.
(28:18) Teresa’s advice for emerging entrepreneurs? In the arts sector, it is very important right now to understand online. Things can be shut down at a moment’s notice and we can’t rely on exhibitions anymore, so think about different ways to get your content out there. Now is a good time to focus on honing your skills, creating new work, and trying things you’ve never tried before!
(32:34) Any world-shifting ‘Aha’ moments these days? Teresa’s was taking time for themself. Entrepreneurs tend to be very busy, with packed schedules, so this pandemic was a good opportunity to take a step back, but also forced many to have to be very creative to sustain themselves. For some entrepreneurs like Teresa, who do not have a bricks and mortar space, the way they worked didn’t necessarily change, being on a computer all day, but the kind and quantity of work and how they went about it absolutely did.
(34:21) What wellness practices keep Teresa grounded? They’re quick to point out that they’re still learning! Creating boundaries, such as turning their computer off at 10pm instead of working until midnight and unplugging for longer periods of time.
Thank you for watching!
To learn more about Teresa, visit their website at: www.teresavandermeerchasse.ca
Saturday Jan 01, 2022
Saturday Jan 01, 2022
S2E2
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Sophie Villeneuve of Beyond Birthing. Sophie is a physiotherapist who helps moms prepare for and recover from birth. During the pandemic, Sophie saw the opportunity to build her client base by building a YouTube channel and online courses which help moms prepare for birth.
(1:54) Sophie shares that more recently they have expanded to clients who are located outside of Whitehorse with their goal being to reach women all over the world. They explain how transitioning to an online format due to the pandemic has allowed them to start growing this part of their business in exciting ways.
(6:47) Sophie recalls their first memory of the pandemic. When they first heard about it, it didn’t seem like it would be the global pandemic it has turned out to be, but when they were travelling to Dawson City for the Thaw-Di-Graw festival, stopping to get gas in Carmacks, they received word the festival got canceled. This, along with the cancellation of the Arctic Winter Games made them realize it was a bigger issue, however it was not until they came back from a weeklong skiing trip in to find out that businesses were being told to shut down and not reopen that it truly became a reality.
(9:57) Sophie discusses the most impactful public health measures to their business being having to cancel in person classes, especially with postpartum groups with babies being an incredibly vulnerable sector, especially when they were lacking specific instruction from the government on how to proceed safely. As a solution, they started streaming their classes on Zoom to support those who could not come in person for whatever reason. When there was a spike in active cases, they were able to switch from in person to strictly virtual to finish out the classes. Navigating this required a lot of flexibility as there were many instances where Sophie had to change plans due to new information.
(15:22) Sophie describes the adaptation they are most proud of being the move to online programming. They had to quickly learn how to properly film their classes, how to build and grow their online presence, and how to market their business. Recognizing the value of the program, how to create profitable content and how to reach potential clients have all been an important part of their transformation.
(21:52) Looking at their business model differently, Sophie sees a huge opportunity in not being tied to a location and being able to work anywhere due to being online. They also found that their whole approach to business has changed by learning to let go of some things to focus on what brings them joy which includes how they connect with their potential customers and who they choose to work with.
(29:14) Thinking about leadership, Sophie has learned more about themselves and how they want to be a leader who would impact more than just their community in the Yukon. They discovered this through receiving feedback on YouTube from other countries which helped them realize their ambition to grow and be a worldwide leader in their field.
(31:11) As the Yukon economy rebuilds, Sophie is hopeful that the pandemic has taught business owners to upgrade their methodology to provide better service along with the development of programs that could suggest resources outside of the Yukon as currently they can be hard to find.
(33:57) Sophie’s advice for emerging entrepreneurs? Get a mentor. Having an experienced person who can provide a fresh perspective can help tremendously, along with someone who can celebrate your successes and cheer you on when you are feeling low can make a big difference.
(36:59) What wellness practices keep Sophie grounded? Working out regularly and getting outside with their dogs. Sophie goes skiing in the winter and mountain biking in the summer.
(37:30) Sophie shares their final thoughts about how they hope that more people will share their experience as entrepreneurs which could result in better programming and resource support for business owners in the future.
Thank you for watching!
To learn more about Sophie, visit their website at: https://beyond-birthing.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondbirthingpt/
Sunday Dec 19, 2021
Sunday Dec 19, 2021
S2E1
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Math'ieya Alatini, Chief Strategist at GSD Strategies, as they talks about their role as a bridge builder during the COVID-19 pandemic. An extrovert and world traveller, the pandemic has challenged Math'ieya to find new ways to network and build relationships. Using platforms like Zoom, they’ve transformed how they bring people together to solve problems and engage communities.
(3:33) Math'ieya shares their first memory of the pandemic. They first heard rumblings of the virus happening internationally when they were attending meetings in Vancouver in January and February. Then they were at a conference in Toronto in March 2020 that saw almost 20,000 less attendees than previous years, along with the intense scent of hand sanitizer that permeated the areas they were in. They recall at the beginning of the pandemic how everyone was sanitizing constantly, but full masking policies had not been implemented. After this, everything shut down and they had to adapt their entire consultation process.
(7:13) Math'ieya discusses the difficulties of being an extrovert during the pandemic. Shifting to Zoom was not a big issue as they had been teaching using Zoom previously, however during consultation for the mineral development strategy they found they were missing the side conversations and connection that comes from being face to face. Getting meaningful engagement on complex issues that requires dialogue has been a challenge.
(11:02) Looking at their business model, Math'ieya shares that their client base is majority Yukon, especially since than pandemic which made it difficult to support clients located in B.C. and NWT. Their knowledge foundation is First Nations rooted and the biggest piece of their business that they are missing out on due to the pandemic is participating in international business forums, speaking at conferences, and facilitating innovative discussions on how to move nations forward. The experience virtually is not the same, but they have been discovering new ways to engage at a global level that allows them to connect with individuals they might not have before.
(14:55) Math'ieya discusses that their main customer is Yukon First Nation governments and citizens, and how the level of services Yukon First Nations provide across the territory is unprecedented, especially due to the 11 of 14 Yukon First Nations having self-government agreements. They share that there is a need to continuously teach new territorial and federal government employees of the jurisdiction and responsibility of First Nations and how to work together more collaboratively.
(19:11) Thinking about leadership, Math'ieya has observed that during the pandemic there is the good desire to protect everybody, however there is the bad in that more complex challenges communities are facing are getting left behind due to this. They have found that they have been using their leadership to push for discussions around how to do things better and recognize the importance to bring leadership together to create a forum that can support and brainstorm creative solutions instead of working in silos.
(22:23) Math'ieya reflects on their biggest adaptation win being the ability to embrace change and being able to use their growth mindset to keep moving forward to help find long-term solutions to the issues communities are facing.
(27:18) Math'ieya shares the most challenging public health measure being the restrictions on travel and gathering sizes, especially with having larger immediate families. They had to break up their family Christmas dinners into two households due to the number of close family members they have and missed out on several planned trips for both work and visiting family which they express being the hardest personal challenge overall.
(36:33) Thinking about their business differently, Math'ieya sees their skill set being used as a liaison or bridge between between governments, seeing the potential for working together and creating systems that pull resources and infrastructure together to serve Yukoners more efficiently and effectively.
(38:26) As the Yukon economy rebuilds, Math'ieya is hopeful that the Yukon will leverage its knowledge economy to demonstrate the potential of self-governing First Nations and share Indigenous ways of being to the rest of Canada and globally.
(41:43) Math'ieya’s advice for emerging entrepreneurs? Always look to build relationships and be careful about burning bridges. Be aware of your special gifts and what you have to offer, and don’t be afraid to share that.
(45:00) Wellness practices that keep Math'ieya grounded? Meditating to calm their mind, integrating more physical activities such as walking their dogs or skiing, as well as cultivating a strong circle of friends who can support one another.
(46:52) Math'ieya shares their closing thoughts.
Thank you for watching!
To learn more about Math'ieya, visit their social media channels at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MZAGSD/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathieya-alatini-a4a32094/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mathieyagsd/
Monday Dec 21, 2020
Monday Dec 21, 2020
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Neil Fletcher, owner of Cassiar Consulting, as he talks about being a management consultant based in a remote and isolated part of the Yukon, about 70km downriver of Dawson City. Before moving to the Yukon, Neil's career was in organizational management working for multi-national companies in Canada, Europe, India and the US. He's recognizing that that his skills in change management, business development, marketing and communications are in good demand here in the territory as we Yukon businesses and organization adapt during the pandemic. Listen in as two rural Yukon entrepreneurs wax-poetic about the importance of internet connectivity in rural Yukon. https://cassiarconsulting.ca/
Wednesday Nov 25, 2020
Wednesday Nov 25, 2020
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Erin Holm, founder and artist of Den Designs as she talks about adapting her business model, heading to sunny Atlin over the summer to take stock, reflect, grow and be outside. Erin's business model was focused on wholesale but she's quickly adapting to sell directly to consumers. She's learning a lot, building a whole new website and optimistic that she'll have her art in hotels across the territory and the country.
dendesigns.ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_dendesigns_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dendesignscanada/
Saturday Nov 21, 2020
Saturday Nov 21, 2020
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Wesley George CTO of Proof, a Yukon based software development company as he talks about the work he's doing to help governments digitize approval processes. Proof is a company that is based in the Yukon but that is building software for governments across Canada. Recorded on November 11, 2020.
Friday Nov 20, 2020
Friday Nov 20, 2020
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Inga Petri from Strategic Moves as she talks about her work in arts & culture in the digital world. Inga's finding that she's busier than ever as she helps to transform an industry nationally in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her mission is to help artists and arts & culture organizations use digital technologies in profound and new ways and build successful digital business models. It's not about merely building a website, but about leveraging the latest web technologies and ways in which web 3.0 works to secure viable spaces for artistic and cultural expression and experiences. This interview was recorded on November 2, 2020 for Yukon Innovation Week.
Thursday Nov 19, 2020
Thursday Nov 19, 2020
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Martin Lehner of Tangerine Technology which is a full-service IT provider that deals with computers, networks and so much more primarily servicing the private sector here in the territory. Martin reflects on the challenges of being a critical service provider during the pandemic -- especially during the few weeks and months as the territory shutdown and as the businesses he supports quickly found themselves transition to a work-at-home model. This interview was recorded on October 27, 2020 for Yukon Innovation Week.
Wednesday Nov 18, 2020
Wednesday Nov 18, 2020
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Scott Keesey CEO of DISCOVELO as he talks about building a social enterprise focused software designed to accompany traditional fitness equipment like stationary bikes that helps promote emotional regulation, creativity, learning and healing in classrooms. Scott talks about how amazing it is to be technology company in the north and how the ingrained resilience of Yukoners is our strength and opportunity in building a diversified economy. Recorded on October 31, 2020.
Tuesday Nov 17, 2020
Tuesday Nov 17, 2020
Join Yukon Entrepreneurs Jayden Soroka and Neil Macdonald owners of Outpost31 a media production company based in Whitehorse. Jayden and Neil talk about how their adapting their business in the midst of a pandemic. Jayden is Yukon's resident expert in XR production and he talks about how they are integrating 360/Virtual Reality technology into their work and how it could be utilized for more than just making movies and tv shows by taking it to mine sites and beyond. Jayden and Neil are optimistic about the future of media production in north and the opportunities it provides when we invest in talent and and the industry. Recorded on November 12, 2020
Monday Nov 16, 2020
Monday Nov 16, 2020
Join Lauren Manekin Beille, Manager of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) and Yukon University as she talks about how her team of dreamers and drivers are helping Yukon entrepreneurs adapt, build and growth in the midst of a pandemic. I&E worked quickly with partners like CANNOR to build the PIVOT program within the first couple of weeks of the pandemic which helped Yukon businesses access coaching, professional support services and funds to help adapt (and grow) their businesses in the early months of the pandemic. Leading with a strengths-based approach, Lauren and her team are building a network across Canada and around the world that will enable Yukon entrepreneurs to build our economic future. Recorded on November 12, 2020.
Wednesday Sep 16, 2020
Wednesday Sep 16, 2020
What do you do when you operate a tourism business in the Yukon that specializes in the overseas market and long treks during a pandemic? You pivot. Smile along with Eva Glanzmann as she relates how's she changing her business model to adapt to the pandemic with optimism, insight and business coaching support. She's focusing closely on the Yukon market and building a retreat for Yukoners to escape the city.
http://glanzmanntours.com/
Sunday Aug 30, 2020
Sunday Aug 30, 2020
Join dancer, speaker, educator and consultant Marilyn Jensen of Legendseekers Research, Social Innovation Consulting and the Dakhká Khwáan Dancers as she talks about teaching, leading and performing during the pandemic. Marilyn, Yadultin and Dūsts’ā̀dle, is Inland Tlingit and Tagish Khwáan from the Carcross/Tagish First Nation; belonging to the Dakhl’aweidí Clan under the Tagish Keét Hít (Killerwhale House) Killerwhale crest in the Southern Yukon Territory. In this interview Marilyn talks about her empowering work of reclaiming lateral kindness and lifting each other up; the challenge and opportunity of changing her business model to be online; leading by example and with courage; and building a legacy of kindness.
https://www.socialinnovationconsulting.ca/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilyn-jensen-2a284369/?originalSubdomain=ca
https://www.facebook.com/DakhkaKhwaanDancers/about/
http://speakerscanada.com/marilyn-jensen/
Monday Aug 17, 2020
Monday Aug 17, 2020
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Tarek Bos-Jabbar, Chief Operating Officer of ColdAcre Food Systems. Tarek shares how operating a food production business during the pandemic has only intensified his resolve to increase the diversity of food production in the territory. He sees that with only 1% of our food raised locally there is so much opportunity for collaboration, innovation and growth.
Web: https://www.coldacre.ca/
Wednesday Aug 12, 2020
Wednesday Aug 12, 2020
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Rory Macdonald, owner of The Franchise Footwear and Apparel as he shares what it was like to operate a retail store during the pandemic, how he’s leveraged social media to maintain his market and the cautious approach he’s taking to reopening to protect his customers.
Web: www.franchisefootwear.ca - coming soon
Instagram: www.instragram.com/franchisefootwear
Facebook: www.facebook.com/franchisefootwear.ca
Wednesday Jul 29, 2020
Wednesday Jul 29, 2020
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Myles Hougen, co-owner of the apparel company Yukon Built. Myles shares how building a strong online presence has been an important factor in Yukon Built’s resilience through the pandemic -- that, and a strong buy-local movement and the incredible support of Yukoners. Myles shares his excitement in seeing their national and international market grow, the importance of building from a strong integrated back-end structure between the administrative processes and online sales and creating structure for himself so that he can get work done and stay balanced.
Thursday Jul 23, 2020
Thursday Jul 23, 2020
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Sophie Villeneuve of Physio Borealis. Sophie is a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist specializing in pre and postnatal care. Sophie shares what it was like to be an entrepreneur in health services and have her business forced to shut down as the Yukon responded to the pandemic. A testament to her resilience as an entrepreneur, Sophie quickly transitioned her business to telehealth and online courses.
Web: physioborealis.com
Instagram: @physioborealis
Facebook: facebook.com/physioborealis
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVlt1vMbNosK1FcPVFqkjsQ
Online classes: physioborealis.teachable.com
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Friday Jul 17, 2020
Friday Jul 17, 2020
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Vanessa Ægirsdóttir owner of V. Ægirsdóttir Artist and partner in Wild Yukon Furs. V. Ægirsdóttir Artist is a fashion brand retail store in Whitehorse. Vanessa talks about adapting her business through the pandemic and recognizing within herself the stages of grief as she managed her emotions. Vanessa’s pivot during the pandemic? Focusing on growth and promoting her work to international audiences.
Web: https://aegirsdottir.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessa.aegirsdottir
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/v.aegirsdottir
Thursday Jul 16, 2020
Thursday Jul 16, 2020
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Selene Vakharia of SMRT POP UPS. Selene is a Whitehorse-based entrepreneur who works with organizations and governments to engage their audiences and she also works with businesses and entrepreneurs to help them market and increase their profits and client-base.
On the podcast Selene shares hot tips on how to market online, the mindset of business success, her hopes for the Yukon economy and building habits.
http://instagram.com/smrtpopups/
Tuesday Jun 30, 2020
Tuesday Jun 30, 2020
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Patti Balsillie, owner of Patti Balsillie Management Consulting. Patti is a northern and national management consultant with 30+ years in the Yukon. She specializes in governance, tourism and community economic development and currently serves on the board of the Canadian Crown Corporation for tourism, Destination Canada.
(2:35) Patti is really inspired by the social innovation she’s seeing take root across the territory and how Yukoners are starting to transform the economy to embrace the principles of a more circular approach to development that focuses on building community as well as revenue generation and sustainability.
(3:25) Patti explains that the Arctic Inspiration Prize's vision and intention to inspire northern innovation and opportunity through the tenants of: innovation, collaboration and a novel approach to advance impact. It’s a prize that is “of the north, for the north and by the north.”
(5:55) Patti has pivoted her approach to her business because of the state of life of many of her clients. She’s had to move more of her work online but she’s also had to postpone or cancel many of her meetings, events and travel. Her consulting work has slowed down providing an opportunity to witness and contribute to how Canada is responding. She has to be patient and reduce spending but is hopeful for the remainder of 2020. While there is no We crystal ball for how the pandemic will shape what comes, she is seeing more than ever the importance of collaboration. Everything that we (the world) used to know about our key markets in tourism has been disrupted so there is ongoing work to get new datasets about key markets. As she looks forward, it’s not just about partnerships, it'll be about thinking, visioning and working together to build the territory and nation that we desire.
(7:55) For Patti, as an extrovert and a people person (a hugger!) she found the request to stay home for weeks on end really challenging. But she also saw a lot of strengthening of relationships and opportunity to celebrate and express gratitude for our essential workers.
(10:05) Patti’s grateful to see leaders across the country recognizing the solutions and path forward through this pandemic are unclear. She’s seeing leadership derive strength and direction from within their community and teams, expressing their vulnerability, thinking compassionately and focusing on teamwork.
(11:20) Patti is thinking about her business differently by having patience with herself and reaching out to colleagues and clients to check-in.
(12:35) When the pandemic first came to the territory she focused her wellness practice on being outside and developing a fitness routine and ritual in nature.
(13:40) Patti is looking for inspiration all around her. In tourism, she’s seeing that those businesses that have tourism assets, infrastructure and products have to figure out how to repurpose or pivot in new ways. She’s also seeing innovation in action in the territory right now in many businesses. As we continue on our path of reopening, she sees opportunity for us to all be more congenial and grateful to those who are essential workers.
(15:00) Patti recently re-read the “Idea of Canada” by former Governor General of Canada, the Honourable David Johnston. It’s a thought provoking book compiling a series of letters to a nation. She also recommends Goldy Hyder’s (CEO of the Canadian Business Council) podcast “Speaking of Business” (https://speakingofbiz.ca/). For inspiration and a lighter side to Canada, she recommends that we check out the audiobook (or book) by Rick Mercer called, “The Final Report” and new essays at the end about how Canada needs to embrace Canada more.
(17:17) Patti hopes that as Yukon reopens that we focus on working together in a very kind way. It’s not about creating shame or fear but respecting each other, the public health measures and working together. She hopes that the Yukon leads the way for all of Canada.
Monday Jun 29, 2020
Monday Jun 29, 2020
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Georgia Hammond owner of Axe & Crocus, a small batch food product company based in Dawson City, Yukon.
https://www.axeandcrocus.com/
(0:30) Georgia is a cook by day and has a side-hustle as a small batch producer of hand-crafted culinary delights using locally-foraged ingredients called Axe & Crocus.
(1:40) For the most part, Georgia hasn’t operated within a rigid business planning structure. Her company has evolved and adapted rather organically over time. She’s finding that the inherent adaptability of her model is proving very beneficial right now in the midst of a pandemic.
(2:50) Georgia’s realizing just how supportive her customer base is here in the Yukon. Typically March-April is her slowest time of the year but this year she saw a jump in sales. She really felt the love from our community as people purchased her products as an indicator to her that her market-base was still strong and to persevere.
(4:30) Georgia’s primary revenue source is through summer/holiday markets and online sales. She has hopes to expand into wholesale markets soon.
(5:40) Georgia is a small batch producer which means she will always be limited in what she produces each season by how much she forages. Once she makes a product and sells it all there won’t be more until that product is in season again. There is always (and intentionally) a limited supply.
(6:45) For leadership insights, Georgia finds herself looking to other Yukon businesses. For example, she loves the work Joella Hogan is doing with Yukon Soap Company. Through Joella’s leadership she sees that “It isn’t enough to just keep your business going you also need to find out how your business fits into what’s happening and find a role for it.”
(7:55) Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs? It’s so important to be flexible and to build flexibility into your business. And think small.
(9:25) Being on the land, in the garden and being part of a community is where Georgia draws her wellness practice as an entrepreneur.
(10:30) Georgia’s hope for the Yukon economy? That there is an opportunity for a community like Dawson to rethink how they market their tourism product. To think a bit smaller and more authentic to what Dawson is today. To focus on a diversity of experiences like outdoor adventures, culinary experiences, First Nations cultural activities and a little less on the Gold Rush. This would create a far more authentic experience for travellers as they discover all that Dawson City has to offer by the people who live there right now.
(13:05) As the early effects of the pandemic started to take shape, Georgia felt some panic about food security. She was pretty impressed with how much seed sharing and food-resilience Dawson City was able to demonstrate. Focusing on Yukon food security is a passion for Georgia and she hopes we continue to grow and show our resilience.
(15:00) Georgia listens to a lot of audiobooks while working in the kitchen and recommends the novel the Vanishing Half.
Saturday Jun 20, 2020
Saturday Jun 20, 2020
Join Yukon Entrepreneur Ddhälh kït Nelnah, Teresa Vander Meer-Chassé, member of White River First Nation as she talks about her business as an Upper Tanana Curator and Visual Artist.
www.teresavandermeerchasse.ca
(1:45) Teresa discovered her passion for art at a young age through music and learned beadwork from her grandmother. It was during her time in university studying Anthropology, as she struggled with a constant feeling of “othering,” that she took up beadwork to help with stress relief.
(3:55) As an entrepreneur, the pandemic is making Teresa feel vulnerable about her business. She’s been greatly affected by the pandemic with the cancellation of events. So for her this is a time to think about her next step and find new ways to present her work.
(5:15) Right as the pandemic hit, Teresa was about to reveal her latest curation at the Yukon Arts Center, Emerging North (https://yukonartscentre.com/events/emerging-north-exhibit). The team did a quick pivot and created an online video explanation and artist talk after having to cancel the grand opening of the exhibit.
(7:05) As a business leader, Teresa’s strength is as a natural teacher and she loves having engaging conversations with her audience and the artists she works with. Having conversations is what her business is all about and she uses her mediums of curation and visual art to find spaces of mutual respect and understanding. For herself, she’s focusing on growth and exploring new ways to express herself.
(9:25) In the face of all of the grief we’re collectively and individually experiencing Teresa has been changing her approach and lately she’s been focusing on making art for herself and her family.
(13:18) Teresa’s advice for emerging artists? Keep creating, keep creating, keep creating. You have an opportunity to engage with the arts community in a new way. Teresa’s goal as a curator is to include young Indigenous voices in gallery spaces because it’s a voice that is often missed.
(15:57) Teresa was naturally drawn to curation -- she grew up watching her Grandfather curate his collection in Beaver Creek at the museum he maintains there. For her, curation is about how people view something and how we play and manipulate space/things to convey a point of view. Her goal as a curator is to help portray the full expression of the artist's vision.
(18:50) There is a saying “that if you are born Indigenous, you are born political.” With the pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement and Indgenous Rights, it is overwhelming at times. Teresa’s been using beadwork as her “bubble” to forget about all of the heaviness in the world right now. But she’s really thinking about this opportunity we have to move the conversation forward -- how and what are we going to change?
(21:35) Teresa’s aha moments these days? We’re dealing with a lot of big issues stacked on top of each other right now. She calls it “cultural exhaustion” -- where there is an expectation that because of who you are you are asked or compelled to respond to the moment. It’s an exhausting experience as an Indigenous woman. So for Teresa it’s about consciously taking time for herself to step away from it all and bead and ‘be in the moment.’ And when she takes that for herself she’s able to see the good in everything that is happening -- the celebration, the excitement and the change.
(24:00) Teresa’s hope for the Yukon’s economic renewal as we emerge from the pandemic? That we move away from Indigenous art being a checkbox or commodification and that we open ourselves to really hearing and respecting the voices of our artists. She sees that we are slowly moving in that direction as a territory. Right now is a great time for us to rebuild -- many of us are in the process of rebuilding our lives, our identities and our businesses.
(26:20) Ever the curator, Teresa shares three books for us to consider: Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese; The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline; and, Beyond Blood by Pamala Palmater. With each book, she speaks to how it impacted how she thinks about her worldview.
(29:20) Through her work with Indigenous and non-indigenous artists she sees that there is a fundamental difference in worldviews. For her, she can see it in how she was raised -- the words that were said and the lessons passed on by her grandparents. She acknowledges that it’s very difficult to explain those differences. For her, it’s about the integral connection between Indigenous people and the land.
Monday Jun 15, 2020
Monday Jun 15, 2020
Join Yukon Entrepreneur and Hunting Outfitter/Tour Operator Teena Dickson of Dickson Outfitters and Who What Where Tours as she talks about how her businesses are adapting to the pandemic. Teena has extensive experience in the tourism industry and is proud to be part of a multi-generational family-owned business that has been operating since 1903.
https://www.whitehorsetours.com/
https://www.dicksonoutfitters.com/
(1:30) As she transitions her business during the pandemic, she’s found tremendous support and ideas from within her community.
(2:34) Teena talks about how they haven’t had any clients for 14 weeks since the travel restrictions took effect and the impact that’s having on her life. She describes it like an “empty nest” syndrome not having tour clients calling, visiting and out on the land. The break has allowed her to take a moment to pause and reflect.
(4:55) Typically from May to October, everyone knows that the Dickson’s are BUSY working in tourism. They’ve taken the opportunity to work on their administrative processes and connect with people.
(7:30) As a Yukon tourism ambassador, Teena has been providing a lot of information and advice to her clients who are having to cancel trips. The multi-day expedition clients have been fairly relaxed through the pandemic but the day-trip clients have been much active in their communications as they try to understand how to manage through this crisis.
(10:10) Teena’s leadership strengths of creativity and adaptability have really helped her through this time. Leadership is about communication so she’s been focusing on reminding Yukoners about the importance of the tourism economy to the Yukon but to also get outside and explore all that the territory has to offer – acknowledging that it is Yukoners who help sell her products too to their friends and family who come to visit.
(13:50) Teena acknowledges that she’s had to refund a lot of money over the past few months but is confident that her clients will come back. She recognizes that she’s fiercely independent and so she’s focused less on government support grants and more on finding new revenue streams and “going down a road that I never get to tour.”
(16:55) Teena’s newest project is mushrooms. She has teamed up with Ponderosa Mushrooms out of British Columbia as their in-the-Yukon logistics partner and local buyer. She sees it as a great opportunity to get Yukoners out on the land harvesting morel mushrooms and making money. Training her staff to be mushroom buyers has been a great opportunity to work on leadership and sales skills for her team.
(22:50) Teena sees how pandemic is a great opportunity for so many of us to re-set and re-start and she hopes the mushroom harvest is a good re-start for many Yukoners who have lost their jobs rights now.
(24:20) Teena hopes that Yukoners really step up to support local businesses now and going forward and to remember the heart and soul of the territory.
(30:25) Teena’s worldview shift? She’s excited that people are seeing the tourism economy the way she’s always seen it! She admits that she’s a very forward-focused person and constantly working to adapt how she operates.
(32:40) To stay grounded during this challenging time, she’s been spending more time with family. It’s been interesting to see her kids change and grow as they’ve found employment outside of the family business. Teena’s been spending time out on the land – but with new found freedom as a visitor rather than as a guide.
(35:25) With her new found time, Teena’s been reading books.. Right now, she’s reading “Daring Greatly” by Brene Brown. It’s not a book that she would typically pick up to read but it was all she had in her bag at the cabin. It’s a book that talks about change and taking risks and she’s uncovering a few ‘aha’ moments in it.
(40:25) Teena’s final thoughts: dare to be different OR take your own plate, fill it up and throw some mushrooms on it!
Tuesday May 26, 2020
Tuesday May 26, 2020
Join entrepreneur Ammanda Partridge, owner of Elements Hair Studio and Day Spa, as she talks about what she has learned about her business model during the pandemic as orders came from the government that her personal service business was required close. http://elementshairandspa.ca/
(1:00) Ammanda reflects on her realization that her business wasn't as diversified as she thought when she was ordered to close her doors and how she found new opportunities to diversify her sales.
(2:15) Ammanda comments on finding new ways to connect and build her relationships with her clients by turning to social media.
(3:05) Putting her business on social media was way outside Ammanda's comfort zone but in the end she views it as a rewarding experience that helped her grow both personally and professionally.
(3:40) Ammanda's intention is too keep up her new online engagement strategies to maintain and develop lasting connections with her clients.
(4:35) Ammanda talks about all of the work she's done on the back-end of her business integrating a new APP (Paired) for booking appointments, a booking feature through Facebook, a cloud-based version of her POS and a new website. She realized that a strong back-end will make her business more resilient going forward.
(5:25) Ammanda reflects on how the pause in her business has meant that she's spent more time at home with her family and how important that is to her. Spending focused time with family has been a really grounding force for her.
(6:15) Ammanda's advice for entrepreneurs: don't give up and reach out for help. She acknowledges that she's been able to accomplish so much with her business during the pandemic because she reached out the YukonU PIVOT program and friends.
(7:00) Working through the pandemic has really clarified for Ammanda as a business owner that she needs to focus on "working on it, not in it."
(8:20) As a leader, Ammanda's focuses on clear and open communication with her team. She's been really impressed with how strong, resilient and supportive her team is through this challenging time.
(8:55) Ammanda's received overwhelming support from the Yukon community. She's really felt the love of "we're all in this together."
(10:00) Ammanda recommends "anything Brene Brown" to support entrepreneurs through the pandemic.
(11:00) Ammanda reflects on her work with the Yukon's Business Advisory Council and seeing the business community really come together to support each other.
Sunday May 24, 2020
Sunday May 24, 2020
Join Yukon entrepreneur and photographer Alistair Maitland as he talks about pivoting his business during the pandemic.
(1:00) Alistair talks about adapting his business model as he realized that every event he had planned to shoot for the foreseeable future had been wiped off his calendar.
(1:40) Alistair talks about his first pandemic pivot: "doortraits". He talks about how putting his energy into a new project was a 'saving-grace' and how the photo journalist in him saw it as an opportunity to document this moment in our history.
(3:20) Alistair comments on how the Door Traits became these little creative bursts that helped him gain perspective on how other people are managing their way through the pandemic.
(4:30) The Doortraits showed Alistair how resilient Yukoners are because we're always looking for silver-lining. He's enjoyed connecting with people and learning about what they are dealing with -- the stress and joys of life these days.
(6:20) The pandemic really slowed things down for him -- a moment to breathe and reflect. He got to see the areas of his business that really needed work. First, he focused on the back-end of his business by reaching out for help to experts. He realized by reaching out for help, he was also helping to support other local businesses and seeing his work as both an art and a service.
(8:40) His next pivot has been expanding his digital video skills and moving to being a one-stop-shop for content production.
(9:30) One thing he's realized is that having more time has enabled him to be more creative. He's really seeing the link between creativity, productivity and personal wellness as foundations of being a business owner. He's been seeing how big a barrier anxiety has been to growth in his life and by working on ways to get through his anxiety he's able to see new opportunities.
(11:35) Alistair's wellness practice? Developing a routine (for the first time ever!) He's also consciously taking time off and setting boundaries on his work hours. When the pandemic first hit he realized the power anxiety had over him and feeling it physically in his body.
(14:50) Alistair observed through the doortraits that as the reality of the pandemic really started to root-in he saw anxiety kind of ripple through the community as people had time in their life to experience their feelings.
(16:08) Alistair's musical taste have shifted during the pandemic. At first it was all heavy metal and now he's transitioning to a more nostalgic 50s/60s tunes that his parent's introduced him to. He's also playing his guitar a lot more now and finding creative expression through it.
(17:05) Alistair is finding any avenue possible for creative expression and just going with it. He's observed that pre-Covid he typically reached for external supports (like retail therapy) as coping mechanisms but because of Covid he's realized he can do a lot more on his own than he thought.
(18:30) Alistair's aha moment? Money isn't everything. He's always coped by spending money and now he's finding that he actually has more money in his bank account when he focuses on self-care. Focusing on physical health, being creative and pursuing self care are huge shifts in the way he's living his life now rather than the focusing on the hustle and making money.
Sunday May 24, 2020
Sunday May 24, 2020
Join entrepreneur Mark Wykes, owner of Wykes Your Independent Grocer in Whitehorse, as he talks about how his business has transformed due to the pandemic. Mark has over three decades of experience in retail grocery.
(1:15) Mark talks about experiencing the most challenging couple of weeks of his career when the pandemic first hit.
(1:50) Mark talks about learning how to react in the midst of chaos as our world changed so quickly. He talks about all of the changes he's made in his store to keep his staff and customers safe.
(3:50) Mark talks about how one of the biggest changes he's made for safety is limiting the number of customers allowed in the store.
(4:20) Mark talks about how challenging it was as a leader in the first couple of weeks of the pandemic as the situation changed so quickly -- making critical decisions hour-by-hour for days on end. It confirmed for him that as a leader integrity is key and creating an environment where staff can adapt and learn new skills quickly.
(5:55) For new entrepreneurs, Mark emphasizes the need to be driven, energetic and find your niche opportunity. It's also critical to get your timing right and be mindful that this pandemic has changed the business landscape.
(7:05) Mark talks about getting outside as a key to wellness. He also enjoys getting in lots of quiet time, being with his family and puttering in the yard.
(8:30) Mark speaks to how good it feels to be part of something larger. When the items like toilet paper were hard to source, it was helpful to be connected to the Loblaws chain to help with accessing in-demand items.
(9:40) Mark's excited by emerging opportunities for even more locally-sourced food/products. He's got great local vendors in his store now and he's seeing increased sales for Yukon-based products.
(10:55) Mark recommends the song "Six Feet Apart" by Luke Combs and how well is speaks to the world we're living in today. He also loves Ben Charlie's album of fiddle music that's on repeat in his truck.
(11:45) Mark talks about all of the local food production he's seeing Yukoners and how interested Yukoners are in buying products made close to home.
(12:35) Mark loves conversations with emerging food product vendors. Bring your idea and he'll try to help support you in the marketplace.
Sunday May 24, 2020
Sunday May 24, 2020
Join Yukon entrepreneur Lasänmą (Katie Johnson), member of Kluane First Nation, Wolf Clan, as she talks about her career bringing people together and creating opportunities for indigenous artists. Katie owns the event planning company Bella Elite and is the Director of Arts and Producer for the Yukon First Nations Culture and Tourism Association (YFNCTA).
(2:28) Katie talks about accepting that because of Covid-19 events have all been postponed, including the signature event of YFNCTA the Adäka Festival (https://adakafestival.ca/). The plan for Adäka this year was to have a celebration of nations and invite all of Canada to come to the Yukon... but with the pandemic those plans are on hold. She talks about the importance of reflection, really planning things out and looking for opportunities to do things better.
(5:50) Katie talks about co-creating and how she sees work not as a career but as a calling. Taking time to reflect and ensure that any of the work she does is aligned to who she is as an indigenous woman and her values -- strength, resiliency and connection. She sees a lot of inspiration in the co-creation that she's seeing happening in the world right now.
(6:50) Katie talks about being flexible and open to what's happening... and checking in with yourself and the people in your life.
(7:35) Katie reflects on how the Yukon is a close-knit community and how respectfully we're all dealing with these restrictions and this new normal. She acknowledges that this is all just so new for us -- we're being asked to learn new things everyday and doing our best -- as we all learn together.
(9:05) The YFNCTA team is currently developing a 3-6 month plan for how they can fulfill their mission and vision of helping indigenous artists, helping businesses, helping community and creating a safe and supportive place.
(11:10) Katie talks about the importance of relationships and finding opportunities for collaboration. She talks about how our approach to how we do our work is everything and staying centered in kindness and respect.
(12:55) Katie talks about how she's working to stay grounded through all of this transition and balancing all of her commitments (daughter, mother, sister, worker). She talks about connecting with the land as feeding her soul. She is really mindful of mind, body and spirit and slowing things down to accept what is. She also finds strength in connecting with family -- even though it's virtually or through the phone.
(14:55) Katie talks about acknowledging the people in our life and letting go and embracing the unknown. She talks about focusing on doing our best every day and not being too hard on ourselves.
(16:00) Katie's advice to artists right now? Ask for help. Yukon First Nations Culture and Tourism Association exists to help support indigenous artists and businesses.
(19:30) Katie loves how much sharing that his happening through social media. She's been learning a lot each day by looking for learning circles and hearing messages from respected Elders through virtual spaces.
(20:35) Katie acknowledges how lucky we are to live in the Yukon -- especially seeing how hard everyone is working here in our communities to ensure we're all safe. She's seeing resilience and strength in action right now in Yukoners.
(21:45) Katie talks about loving all of the guided meditations she's finding online. She's also reading daily from Richard Wagamese's book "Embers" (https://www.macsbooks.ca/?searchtype=...) and having fun going biking and hiking with her daughter.
Sunday May 24, 2020
Sunday May 24, 2020
Join entrepreneur Tyler Doll of G-P Distributing as he talks about working in food distribution in the territory during the pandemic and how he and G-P Distribution are growing and adapting to the change.
(2:00) Tyler talks about being raised in an entrepreneurial family in the Yukon.
(3:50) Tyler comments about working hard and having a nimble organization that can react to changes in the marketplace. He finds strength in building collaborative systems and establishing best practices to protect employees and customers.
(5:55) Tyler talks about looking for opportunities in the marketplace in the midst of change.
(6:35) Tyler talks about working with Yukon restaurants during the pandemic and how stressful a time it is for those small businesses. He's also really impressed to see how so many different facets of the Yukon food industry are all working together.
(8:25) Tyler talks about launching a new product line in the midst of a pandemic -- locally raised meats.
(11:25) Tyler comments on what he's learned about being a leader over the past couple of weeks and working on a new 'superpower': staying calm. He emphasizes the need to have good safe-work practices in place and paying attention to what his employees are saying at all levels of the organization.
(13:40) Tyler comments on his wellness practice and his personal transformation from finding stress relief in "a smoke and a beer" to finding relief through fitness and being outside.
(16:45) Tyler offers advice for entrepreneurs who are thinking about starting a new business: provide a solution for what people need. Know that starting any business is about putting in the time and learning to take constructive well.
(18:40) Tyler's "aha" moment is focusing on staying calm and listening to his team. Listening and "letting your people do their thing" is what allowed him to react so quickly to the changing marketplace.
(22:30) Tyler recommends the music of Big Smo and the track "Workin'" as a song that's getting him moving and motivated these days.