MEET LAURA TEDESCO
Influence Magazine boldly celebrates brilliant local businesses and entrepreneurs. Inside this issue we feature Canadian Award-Winning Jewellery designer Laura Tedesco. In addition, columns by Adam Oldfield, Shelley McQuade, David Hughes, Jamie Shanks and Sharon Ricci appear. For the first time a Mohawk College (Hamilton) writer/art director duo appears with a column titled The Food Virgin.
Influence Magazine boldly celebrates brilliant local businesses and entrepreneurs. Inside this issue we feature Canadian Award-Winning Jewellery designer Laura Tedesco. In addition, columns by Adam Oldfield, Shelley McQuade, David Hughes, Jamie Shanks and Sharon Ricci appear. For the first time a Mohawk College (Hamilton) writer/art director duo appears with a column titled The Food Virgin.
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THE HAMILTON ISSUE<br />
INFLUENCE<br />
BUSINESS. BALANCE. BOTTOM LINE. BRILLIANCE<br />
INTRODUCING | <strong>LAURA</strong> <strong>TEDESCO</strong>
Contents<br />
Business. Balance. Bottom Line and Brilliance.
EDITOR’S NOTE<br />
BY THE NUMBERS<br />
90 SECOND<br />
SCHOOL<br />
<strong>MEET</strong> <strong>LAURA</strong><br />
PEAK PROSPERITY<br />
THE FOOD VIRGIN<br />
WHAT ALI WORE<br />
STRAIGHT SPEAK
the influence factor | editors note<br />
The motto of Influence Magazine is Business. Balance. Bottom<br />
Line and Brilliance. And have we got a lot of sparkly brilliance<br />
to share with you in this special Issue!
Issue | hamilton, ontario<br />
Laura Tedesco, a celebrated young<br />
Canadian jewellery designer embodies<br />
the word brilliance. Her imaginative<br />
jewellery designs turn heads with their<br />
bold originality, steal hearts as intimate<br />
storytellers and will stand as timeless<br />
pieces of art. A Laura Tedesco design is<br />
crafted from precious metals, exquisite<br />
stones and from the delicate history<br />
of the women lucky enough to have<br />
commissioned it.<br />
This Issue’s Brilliance goes beyond<br />
jewels and gems. Our always engaging<br />
Contributing Columnists are at their<br />
very best bringing you great business<br />
and lifestyle reading whether you’re at<br />
the office, the beach or somewhere in<br />
between.<br />
Sharon Ricci<br />
Editor/Publisher
So you’re feeling like a real<br />
smarty pants today?<br />
Not so fast there brainy.<br />
1<br />
Where parents rank in terms<br />
of a prodigy’s development<br />
3<br />
The age Amadeus Mozart<br />
began playing piano<br />
4<br />
The age Amadeus Mozart<br />
began playing the violin
8<br />
The age Amadeus Mozart<br />
wrote his first symphony<br />
11<br />
The age Amadeus Mozart<br />
wrote his first opera<br />
1956<br />
The year Bobby Fischer won the<br />
US Jr Chess Championship<br />
16<br />
The age of Bobby Fischer when<br />
he became the US Champion<br />
11<br />
The age of a Harvard frosh<br />
named William James Sidis<br />
2<br />
The age William James Sidis was when<br />
he was reading adult-level books
90 SECOND<br />
SCHOOL<br />
WITH JAMIE SHANKS<br />
Jamie is one of North America’s leading Social Selling experts. He has personally built<br />
Social Selling solutions in nearly every industry, ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500<br />
corporations. Sales for Life is now the world’s definitive Social Selling training and coaching<br />
company. Jamie is also the Toronto chapter President of the American Association of<br />
Inside Sales Professionals and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of<br />
Ottawa, and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of South Australia.
SHOULD I CONNECT WITH<br />
PEOPLE WHO CHECK ME<br />
OUT ON LINKEDIN?
Issue | hamilton, ontario<br />
Before I met Laura Tedesco in person, I fell<br />
in love with her ring. Now, before you jump<br />
to the conclusion that I must be a jewellery<br />
junkie, let me correct you – I’m the exact<br />
opposite. For me jewellery has always<br />
been take it or leave it. Mostly leave it.<br />
That all changed when I walked by the Laura Tedesco store on one<br />
of my favourite neighbourhood streets. In her window I saw a ring so<br />
unique, so unapologetically fresh and so beautifully designed, I fell in<br />
love instantly. I kept missing her at the store each time I walked by,<br />
but life graciously put us together at a business lunch. I was a guest<br />
panelist and the woman in the front row introduced herself as Laura<br />
Tedesco. The rest, as they say, is history.<br />
When I got to know Laura I knew why I was so powerfully drawn<br />
to her designs. It’s because each of them is a love story filled with<br />
meaning. Whether she’s starting from scratch or reimagining a piece<br />
that’s been in a family for generations, the end creation will turn<br />
heads and warm hearts.<br />
In our signature Influence Spotlight style, I sat down with Laura to<br />
ask her about her business, her roots, what motivates her, what she<br />
draws on for creativity. I know you’ll find her story as inspiring as I<br />
did. Enjoy…<br />
Sharon Ricci<br />
Editor/Publisher
the influence factor | spotlight<br />
hamilton, ontario<br />
<strong>MEET</strong><br />
<strong>LAURA</strong> <strong>TEDESCO</strong><br />
We commission one-of-a-kind jewellery. I<br />
sketch and hand-draft each design based<br />
on my clients’ lives and stories. The end<br />
result is a well crafted, unique piece of<br />
jewellery created with precious metals and<br />
the forces of my imagination.<br />
”
<strong>LAURA</strong> <strong>TEDESCO</strong> JEWELLERY DESIGN<br />
I’ve heard you say fine<br />
jewellery is like a fingerprint.<br />
Our company mantra is Jewellery<br />
with Meaning. No two designs are alike<br />
because I believe jewellery is an extension of the<br />
person wearing it and should be as unique<br />
as their fingerprint.<br />
Where does your love of the jewellery<br />
business come from?<br />
Those are deep roots.<br />
I’ve always loved jewellery. My<br />
parents owned Venetian Jewellers in<br />
Hamilton and I have fond memories of<br />
being a little girl watching my Dad behind the<br />
bench grading diamonds or adjusting watches. I<br />
loved watching my Mom buy and order exquisite<br />
pieces and how she made them all glitter through<br />
the showcase. Alot of my style comes from her.<br />
I’m a third generation jeweller. My Nonno,<br />
Alessandro Tedesco, founded Venetian Jewellers<br />
first in Italy and then in Hamilton in 1954..
the influence factor | spotlight<br />
Your strong family ties are a constant the bond between Mother and Daughter,<br />
theme in your story.<br />
but also my infinite love for my mother,<br />
I loved my childhood. I was surrounded Linda, a source of inspiration and beauty.<br />
by love. My family dynamic was the best<br />
imaginable. I could honestly say that it<br />
Transforming from a<br />
was perfect. I had a<br />
friend in my sister (when<br />
we didn’t fight like cats<br />
and dogs). My Mom<br />
was the definition of an<br />
amazing Mom. My Dad,<br />
a hard worker, bevy of<br />
knowledge and cheesy<br />
Dad jokes. My Mother<br />
died of brain cancer when<br />
I was 14 and we were all<br />
crushed. I cherish our<br />
family memories so much.<br />
Creativity and<br />
quality work takes<br />
time, you simply<br />
can’t rush it.<br />
young girl into an<br />
award-winning<br />
jewellery designer must<br />
have had some ups<br />
and downs.<br />
There was a time in my<br />
mid 20’s where I really<br />
wanted to give up. I felt<br />
that I wasn’t fully satisfied<br />
working at my Dad’s<br />
jewellery store – there was<br />
something missing.<br />
I understand this<br />
ring you wear is linked<br />
to your Mom. I don’t<br />
think I’ve seen a more<br />
memorable ring.<br />
This ring was one of my first jewellery<br />
designs and I designed it for myself. It’s<br />
built around a beautiful marquise diamond<br />
that belonged to my mother. The key<br />
I didn’t know what to do.<br />
A few books I was reading<br />
gave me the spark to<br />
leave Hamilton and go<br />
on a bit of a spiritual journey. I pursued<br />
jewellery design in Florence, Italy. My trip<br />
to Florence was life altering. It was where I<br />
fully realized my love of design and started<br />
envisioning myself as a jewellery designer.<br />
design element is two looped, stylized “L’s”<br />
locked together in infinity. They represent
Issue | hamilton, ontario<br />
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND TRUST WITH YOUR CUSTOMER IS KEY<br />
and to be grateful for all business that comes your way (big or small).
the influence factor | spotlight<br />
Do exactly what you are<br />
doing because all of your<br />
experiences, all of your<br />
mistakes led you to where<br />
you are today, so relax and<br />
stop worrying.<br />
What is your role within the<br />
company? What kinds of things do<br />
you do?<br />
I wear many hats. I’m CEO, certified GIA<br />
diamond grader and my favourite part<br />
of my job, designer. And when my son<br />
Alexander comes in for visits I also wear<br />
the Mommy hat. That’s actually the best<br />
part of my company, having the flexibility<br />
to see Alexander whenever I want.<br />
A favourite business quote:<br />
Making money is art and working is art and<br />
good business is the best art.<br />
— Andy Warhol<br />
Your most proud professional<br />
accomplishments?<br />
Winning first place for Best Diamond<br />
design in Canada for the 2010 Excellence<br />
in Jewellery Design Competition with the<br />
piece featuring my Mother’s diamond.<br />
If you’ve learned one thing in the<br />
world of business it would be....<br />
Building relationships and trust with<br />
your customer is key and to be grateful<br />
for all business that comes your way<br />
(big or small).<br />
Any advice you received that really<br />
made sense to you?<br />
My dad reminds me all the time that Rome<br />
wasn’t built in a day. Creativity and quality<br />
work takes time, you simply can’t rush it.
Issue | hamilton, ontario<br />
If you could talk to your 20 year old<br />
self, what advice would you give?<br />
Do exactly what you are doing because all<br />
of your experiences, all of your mistakes<br />
led you to where you are today, so relax<br />
and stop worrying.<br />
I give you a million dollars to spend<br />
on business and you...<br />
Design the collection I’ve been dreaming of.<br />
Night Owl or Early Bird?<br />
Night owl all the way.<br />
What do you wish you were better at?<br />
Finding lost car keys.<br />
Your one superpower?<br />
Making my son laugh hysterically.<br />
What motivates you to get out of bed<br />
every day?<br />
My Family... to prove to my son that<br />
Accolades for Laura Tedesco Designs:<br />
2010 Excellence in Design<br />
1st place Best Diamond Design<br />
2013 Excellence in Design<br />
3rd place Platinum Design<br />
dreams do come true and to continue to<br />
make my Dad proud by continuing a<br />
family tradition.
SPOTLIGHT<br />
STARTING A<br />
BUSINESS?<br />
ST P<br />
FIND A MENTOR
As founder of Cypress Strategies, an organizational growth<br />
coaching and consulting firm, Shelley is the Peak Prosperity<br />
by SHELLEY MCQUADE<br />
coach that gets cities, associations and companies clear,<br />
confident and ready to prosper.
THE WORLD IS FLAT<br />
Well not really but figuratively. In a knowledge-based economy<br />
industrial age hierarchies are less than optimal to develop a creative<br />
and innovative workforce. Many companies are jumping on the flat<br />
organization band wagon to grow their people and their company.<br />
Creativity and innovation means multiple people from diverse<br />
backgrounds and disciplines need to learn to play nice in the shared<br />
sand box so to speak. This requires engaging in ways many of us<br />
traditionally haven’t done or thought of. To help with this challenge, try<br />
working the New Economy model. These 4 pillars provide the right<br />
structure for a flat world:<br />
CONTEXT – Thanks to the internet the amount of codified knowledge<br />
is doubling every 5 minutes. In an era of information overload we need<br />
context – models or frameworks – to make sense of content. With<br />
shorter product and business lifecycles change is the norm and context<br />
will help you build your success formula to stay relevant and profitable.<br />
ALIGNMENT – With complex value chains and multiple stakeholders<br />
-<br />
alignment is critical. Right fit matters. For your team this means having<br />
the right people with both the skill – ability and will – attitude required<br />
for peak performance.<br />
COLLABORATION – Gone are the days of “knowing it all”.<br />
Organizational success requires a highly engaged team that can park<br />
their ego at the door and work together for the greater good.<br />
Sometimes you’ll lead, sometimes I’ll lead and we both need to know<br />
when to back off and step up.<br />
ACCOUNTABILITY – With less rigid rules and more grey than black<br />
and white; freedom is required to get the job done. That being said we<br />
need to get results. Providing your team with clear goals or outcomes<br />
and holding them accountable, creates a deep level of personal<br />
satisfaction and drives performance.<br />
Less jobs today fall into the “just tell me what to do and I’ll do it”<br />
category. Critical thinking is the new world order and individuals with<br />
high social and analytical skills are the cream that rises to the top. So<br />
loosen up your button down approach and at the same time create a<br />
structure with accountability to solve your customer’s biggest problems<br />
and to win big in the new economy.
straight speak | spotlight<br />
DAVID &<br />
GOLIATH...<br />
actually it’s<br />
Leonard & Goliath<br />
When it comes to influence, size<br />
matters ... and it comes in all<br />
shapes and sizes.<br />
There’s a reason David kicked<br />
Goliath’s butt.
Issue | hamilton, ontario<br />
Leonard H. Goodman knows a thing or<br />
two about life insurance and influence.<br />
After all, he’s been a stalwart in the<br />
industry for more than half a century.<br />
Today, Leonard is persona non grata with<br />
the life insurance companies because he’s<br />
fighting for change. Big change that they<br />
don’t want. He’s up against a Goliath who’s<br />
fighting for the status quo.<br />
The Canadian life insurance industry wields<br />
considerable power and influence and, like<br />
Goliath, it is seldom challenged, unless your<br />
name is David ... or Leonard.<br />
Goodman, on behalf of Canadian seniors,<br />
is fighting for their right to access the fair<br />
market value in their life insurance policy,<br />
an asset they own. He says, “Canadian<br />
insurers are ignoring the needs of seniors<br />
and the advancements experienced in the<br />
United States and around the world.” He<br />
adds. “In the US alone, seniors are receiving<br />
more than $7 million a day by accessing<br />
the fair market value in their life insurance<br />
policies through life settlements. But in<br />
Canada, nothing. Because of the power<br />
of insurance companies – big money,<br />
big influence.”
straight speak | spotlight<br />
A well-regulated life settlement industry<br />
provides seniors with a secondary market<br />
where, on average, they receive four<br />
times the cash surrender value of their<br />
policy, and in the case of term insurance,<br />
much more.<br />
Votes influence<br />
Goodman is advocating on behalf of 5.6<br />
million Canadian seniors. “That’s a lot of<br />
votes and a lot of influence,” he says. “And<br />
that’s why I wrote my book, Why Are<br />
Canadian Seniors Worth More Dead Than<br />
Alive? and why seniors need to know what<br />
their insurers won’t tell them.”<br />
Leonard H. Goodman (photo<br />
courtesy: Northumberland Today)<br />
In Ontario, more than 15 years ago, the<br />
government supported establishing a life<br />
settlement industry and recommended to<br />
change Section 115 in the Ontario Insurance<br />
Fifty-two years in life<br />
insurance and he’s<br />
reloading his slingshot.<br />
Act, an egregious law that prevents seniors<br />
from accessing the maximum value in<br />
their life insurance. But nothing happened.<br />
Seniors are still waiting because the<br />
influence of the insurance lobby and the<br />
inertia of bureaucracy trumped political<br />
will – so far. Now Goodman has reloaded<br />
his slingshot.
Issue | hamilton, ontario<br />
Doing what’s right<br />
Malcolm Gladwell in his book David and<br />
Goliath, said, “Davids defeat Goliaths<br />
all the time.” And when the Davids are<br />
advocating for fundamental rights, the<br />
Goliaths eventually fall. Goodman, who<br />
has burnished his influence over the years,<br />
knows he is on the side of right, for seniors,<br />
the economy and the future of Canada.<br />
Leonard H. Goodman’s book,<br />
Why Are Canadian Seniors Worth<br />
More Dead Than Alive.<br />
A life settlement<br />
pertains to the sale of<br />
an unneeded in force<br />
life insurance policy for<br />
an amount that’s more<br />
than the policy’s cash<br />
surrender value but less<br />
than its death benefit.
What<br />
Wore<br />
This is Ali. He walks past Zoe Spawton’s office in Berlin, Germany every morning wearing<br />
great clothes. She snaps pictures of him and shares them with the world.<br />
We in turn are sharing them with you. Why? To kick your ass so you’ll give up that beige<br />
suit and those worn shoes … it’s time to up your fashion game gentleman and Ali is just the<br />
man to be your guide!
INFLUENCE<br />
BUSINESS. BALANCE. BOTTOM LINE. BRILLIANCE<br />
NO PRESSURE... NO DIAMOND...