PORTFOLIO.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine | Volume 2 | Issue 4 | 2024

PORTFOLIO.YVR
BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURS
VOLUM E 2 | ISSUE 4
SHELINA M A WA NI
DA VID WONG
K RIS K RUG
LUX X NOVA BRIDA L
RITCHIE PO
BRITTA NY M ICHA LCHUK
JORDA N K A LLM A N
JULIE VU
RA QUEL GREBLER QUESNE
REECE SIM S

PORTFOLIO.YVR
BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURS
VOLUM E 2 | ISSUE 4
0 0 1 PUBLISHER' S M ESSAGE:
HELEN SIWAK
0 0 3 SHELIN A M AWAN I:
N AN A' S KITCHEN
0 15 DAVID WON G:
ORATION GLOBAL
0 25 KRIS KRUG:
FUTURE PROOF CREATIVES
0 31 LUXX N OVA BRIDAL:
TATIAN A BERDYUGIN & N ATALIA KHLYSTOV
0 41 RITCHIE PO:
CYBERSECURITY & DATA PRIVACY LAWYER
0 53 BRITTAN Y M ICHALCHUK:
YVR EN TREPREN EURS CLUB
0 63 JORDAN KALLM AN :
EXPERIEN TIAL EN TREPREN EUR
0 73 JULIE VU:
CON TEN T CREATOR & ACTIVIST
0 81 RAQUEL GREBLER QUESN E:
AHBLO LUXURY KN ITWEAR
0 87 REECE SIM S:
SIP SPIRITS CON SULTIN G
0 95 M ASTHEAD & CREDITS

PUBLISHER'S
M ESSA GE:
001
With every issue of Portfolio.YVR Business &
Entrepreneurs M agazine published, I take
great pride in championing the visionaries
and innovators who are the bedrock of our
business community. Each story connects their
'asks' with the right people. By placing their
journeys in front of an extensive audience of
peers and professionals, the power of
word-of-mouth takes over and undoubtedly,
success ensues.
In this issue, I invite you to meet Shelina
M aw ani (aka ' Samosa Queen' ), who has
built the N ana' s Kitchen 'grab and go'
empire based on a unique style of samosas
that are being hand-crafted in Surrey to the
tune of 30 ,0 0 0 daily!
Brittany M ichalchuk of YVR Entrepreneurs
Club is an empowerment dynamo who has
made it her life's mission to create success
through high-level achievement. From
exclusive intimate gatherings to large-scale
events, she connects people through
networking, learning, and collaboration.
David Wong, Co-Founder & Managing
Partner of Oration Global, has made
significant contributions to the business
world. His passion lies in helping business
owners secure financing, expand their
businesses, and cut costs for success.
Those who know Jordan Kallman of The
Social Concierge, understand his passion for
Vancouver, and those who have never met
him undoubtedly have attended (and
enjoyed) many of the renowned events that
he conjured into existence out of his desire to
transform Vancouver into a PRO-fun city.
Behind the scenes, Cybersecurity & Data
Privacy Law yer Ritchie Po is contributing to
developing AI and data privacy as a
national legal expert and building a
consultancy in a growing field.
Kris Krug has launched Future Proof
Creatives to tackle the enormous task of
striving to protect creatives from the
potential threat of AI annihilation and
encourage and guide them to co-exist.
Sustainable fashion designer Raquel Grebler
Quesne recently had her alpaca-based
garments featured in Vogue Ukraine. From
inception to realization, Ahblo Luxury
Knitwear hits all the right notes with luxury
lovers.
Tatiana Berdyugin and N atalia Khlystov of
Luxx N ova Bridal have achieved a
significant milestone in their business journey
with the launch of their stunning Yaletown
flagship. They are now setting their sights on
a cross-Canada expansion, a testament to
their ambition and drive.
Julie Vu may have started on YouTube as
Princess Joules, but as her star rises and
personal brand matures, major retailers are
now involved, and opportunities abound
internationally for this Content Creator.
Reece Sims of Sips Spirits Consulting
is shaking up how hospitality and
consumers approach spirits. Her interactive
Flavor Camp? is projected to have over
one million members within five years!
From AI to influencers, spirits to speakers,
sustainability to samosas, I am pleased to
share the journeys of 11 entrepreneurs
shaping the future of our communities, our
laws and lifestyles, and those we choose to
spend time with online.
As Portfolio.YVR is a quarterly publication;
Issue # 5 will launch in September.
Submissions for inclusion in our curated
sponsored content publication are now
open! Please flip to the masthead and email
me directly for details.
Helen Siwak

SHELINA
M A WA NI:
NA NA 'S
K ITCHEN
003
Shelina M aw ani is a resilient and
successful businesswoman. Affectionally
known as the " Samosa Queen," she is
the visionary behind N ana' s Kitchen,
a multi-million dollar company
producing gourmet handmade samosas
in Surrey, BC.
Success did not always come easy for
Shelina. Born in the small town of
M w anza, Tanzania, she grew up without
a formal education or long-term goals
for the future.
Shelina moved to Canada in 1983 and
faced several setbacks, including a
failed restaurant business. Undeterred,
she kept her entrepreneurial spirit alive
despite financial difficulties and
numerous hurdles.
Through a combination of embracing
struggles, celebrating successes, and
collaborating with others, Shelina had
the strength and enthusiasm to succeed.
Following in her parent's footsteps, she
dedicates her time to helping others and
is now able to employ and mentor more
than 50 new immigrants.
Shelina's success has not gone
unnoticed. Over the years, she has
earned numerous awards and
recognition. In 20 19, the Bank of
M ontreal celebrated her for her
community and charity giving.
She was listed as one of the Top 11
' Women- Ow ned Businesses in BC' by
Business in Vancouver. In 20 21, she won
the Business Resilience award for the
' 41 Plus' category by the Surrey Board
of Trade.
Shelina attributes her success to the
lessons she learned along her journey
and the unwavering support of her
family.

005

CORPORA TE BIO
Nana?s Kitchen produces convenient
comfort foods inspired by the culture,
caring and kitchen memories of
grandmothers all over the globe.
The company offers a wide range of
ready-to-eat savoury foods, inspired by the
food from ?your N ana?s Kitchen,?
including: handmade samosas, available in
flavours such as Vegetable, Butter Chicken,
Chicken Tandoori, Chicken, Beef, Cajun,
Pakoras, and Savory Sauces that include a
Tamarind Sauce. The Mexi food line
includes Chicken Chimichangas, and
Burritos. Coming soon are a Mac & Cheese
Toasty, South of the Border Toasty, and
traditional vegetable samosa.
Nana?s Kitchen was established in 20 0 0 in
Surrey by founders N asim and Shelina, to
keep up with the ever-growing takeout
orders for their pastry items.
Nasim retired in 20 18. Shelina took the helm
with full ownership of Nana's Kitchen,
leading the company with passion and
strength.
The company?s mission is to create
?Convenient Comfort Foods w ith a Global
Taste.?
Fueled by a strong vision to produce to the
highest standards, Nana?s Kitchen made a
passionate commitment to Hazard Analysis
and Critical Control Points (HACCP)
certification and opened their state-of the
art, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
(CFIA) inspected facility which received
British Retail Consortium?s (BRC) Global
Standard for Food Safety.
Nana's Kitchen also keeps sustainability in
mind by preferring to source from local
suppliers.
IN HER WORDS
"Looking at me today, you would think my
journey to success was a straight path, clear
of demanding challenges and obstructions.
However, to say that was the case would
not be genuine. My pilgrimage toward
prosperity and happiness in the business
world has been long, and it has been met
with several hardships along the way.
"I was born in Mwanza ? a city in northern
Tanzania, East Africa ? where I grew up
without computers, cell phones, TV, large
shopping malls, and many of the
conveniences we have today.
"I was a carefree small- tow n girl just living
day by day, unsure of my long-term goals or
vision, especially after failing my senior year
of high school.
"One fine evening, after I came home from
evening prayers, my brother asked me
about my plans for the future, and I replied
that I wanted to take a secretarial course.
I made this decision not because I was
interested in this course but because
all of my peers were going to the city of
Dar es Salam for their studies, and I did not
want to be left alone. With that, I went off
and completed my secretarial course, then
returned to Mwanza and worked for a few
years.
"Then, when I was twenty, I had my " AHA"
moment. My parents have always had a lot
of compassion for the less fortunate, and
that has had a huge impact on me. One
day, my mother forced me to drive the nuns
back to the church with their groceries."

007
"A storm had rolled in, so it was raining
heavily as we arrived, thunder rumbling
and lightning flashing across the sky. I
saw children w ith leprosy walking
towards the gate to get the groceries
we had brought, and I froze in shock,
tears rolling down my cheeks. This was
when I first became aware of this deadly
disease, the poverty experienced by
those afflicted with it, and their living
conditions. At that moment, I became
passionate about being part of the
solution.
"I decided to become an ambassador
for leprosy. In my first project, I landed
myself the role of youngest chairperson
for the Lioness Club of M w anza, an
internationally affiliated organization
dedicated to helping communities
through charitable causes. For one of my
projects, I set up diagnostic camps for
locals to create much-needed
awareness about leprosy. The other
project I assisted in was sending eight
children to England to receive
treatment for their heart murmurs, which
was unavailable to them in East Africa.
"Due to the unrest in Africa, my brother
sponsored us to move to Canada in 1982
to enjoy a stable and safe life. Here, we
were embraced and accepted as
citizens. I married in 1985 and had two
sons, the firstborn in 1987 and the second
in 1992. Then, when they were very
young, I lost my job and embarked on a
journey into entrepreneurship. My sister
Nasim had recently moved to our area
and needed work, so together, we
opened a 70 0 - square- foot restaurant
in Burnaby.
"Without my children and husband's
support, I would never have been able to
start this business. It was a difficult time
in many ways.
"Nawaz worked fourteen-hour days to
support our family and also helped me
financially in my day-to-day business.
"My children grew up independently,
with the older brother looking after the
younger one. I drove a 1968 Pontiac
Parisienne, which I had paid $250 for,
with doors that did not lock and wipers
that did not work. My eldest had to
become an expert in guiding me to see
through the rain-streaked windshield.
"After nine months in operation, my sister
Nasim and I had to close the doors of
our restaurant as it was losing too much
money. Instead, we decided to transition
to the w holesale samosa market . There
was an increasing demand for ethnic
foods, and samosas were being sold in
mom- and- pop stores all over the area ?
this was a food that we had grown up
with and loved, so we thought we could
impact the market. With that, Nana's
Kitchen was born. Our first factory space
was only 1,70 0 - square- feet, allowing us
to produce between 40 0 -1,0 0 0 samosas
daily. We started selling them as
grab-and-go items to small coffee
shops, gas stations, universities, and
pizza shops.
"When we first looked at creating our
product, we considered what we could
do to stand out. Initially, I thought it
would be about taste. We looked outside
the box and created a unique gourmet
product that stood out from the
traditional Punjabi samosa that was
commonly available.
"We used a completely different pastry
and taste profile, and our samosas were
almost three times the size of our
competitors. However, we soon realized
our current market was not a good
target for our product."

009

"I had to face the fact that price was a
barrier in the ethnic community, so the
bigger picture of selling to the
mainstream community through grocery
retail was born. We established our
brand as a gourmet product, and in
20 0 1, we acquired our first major
grocery retailer. One would think that
this was the happy ending to my story
and the key to my success. However,
I am reminded of the expression,
" Be careful w hat you w ish for because
you just might get it."
"Getting the business of a large grocery
chain was a joy, but it came with its own
burden. This meant we had to move from
our small facility with seven staff to a
custom- built HACCP- approved plant
that required more than doubling our
team. This also meant getting federal
inspectors onsite daily to check that we
followed good manufacturing practices
and confirm all our export declarations.
We spent almost three years upgrading
our facility. Our staff had to be
FOODSAFE and WHM IS- certified and
undergo vigorous training before they
could even step into the production
area.
"Today, I am proud to say that we are
the only HACCP/ BRC- certified plant
producing handmade samosas in BC.
However, when I look back at the huge
investment it took to reach this goal and
the failures I experienced, I count myself
lucky to have made it. We had a much
higher chance of failing than
succeeding; I should have done my
research about the finances that were
required before we jumped into this new
direction.
"The costs of building this new facility
and training all the staff were high. We
almost instantly had a 1424% increase in
operational expenses and a 690 %
increase in rent just to maintain our
current sales volume.
"I maxed out my line of credit and was
forced to take out a second mortgage
on my family home and borrow from my
relatives. Then, in 20 0 8, the recession hit,
and the economic toll of my debt grew
heavy.
"One morning, my bank called and told
me, "You are a risk to our business. Your
line of credit is used too much, and we
consider your business an unworthy
partner." Then, the man made me an
offer ? or as I saw it, took us hostage:
"Pay us $25,0 0 0 , and then we will send
a risk assessment advisor to look at your
plant operations and administration. If
you do that, we can remain your bank." I
was shattered; it felt like this would end
my business. I could not afford to close
as I had too much at stake, but there
were too many hurdles to continue.
"Fortunately, I found another bank,
Envision Financial, willing to take on my
business and the outstanding loan
without the risk assessment. This allowed
us to keep operating, but nothing
changed about my everyday struggle to
come out of my financial stress. My
accounts w ere alw ays overdraw n, and
I would sit on the stairs every night and
cry as I tried to figure out what I would
tell the bank the following day. Needless
to say, times were tough.
"There were five long, hard years where
our sales did not meet our overhead.
During this time, I got good at juggling
our income and expenses. Sometimes,
this required a call to the bank, pleading
with them not to bounce our rent cheque.
" Just give us two more days" became
my slogan. Sometimes, I could not afford
to pay my employees and had to ask
them to push their paycheque back one
or two weeks. I couldn't pay the bills, and
our vendors were ready to put our
account on hold."

009 011
"For those who have never experienced
financial difficulty, it is hard to explain
the deterioration of your mind and
emotions. It's like your consciousness is
stuck in one place, and the negativity
surrounding you buries any instincts and
judgements you have left. You cannot
think about what will happen tomorrow
because you are too busy worrying about
how to get out of your current situation.
"I could not have gotten through this time
or seen the success I have today without
my employees ? it is because of them
that I am now a successful entrepreneur.
As an immigrant and a woman of
ethnicity, I understand firsthand the
struggles of immigrating to a new
country. This fuelled my passion to create
opportunities for people from different
ethnicities and backgrounds.
"I hired people with little to no English
and gave them an opportunity to thrive
and gain confidence. These same
employees are still with us and are now in
management positions. With teamwork,
we can achieve the extraordinary.
"At the end of those five years, we finally
saw the light at the end of the tunnel. The
lease on our factory w as paid out, and
Nawaz, who had joined the business in
20 0 2, had developed our Canadian
market and started to penetrate the US
market. This was a huge turning point for
us, and Nawaz was the one who made it
happen, travelling for weeks at a time to
establish brokers and distributors, and
yet all I could see was that I was still stuck
in a room that was on fire. Then, I ignited
the spark w ithin me and took the leap to
change my thinking. I felt a new
beginning coming towards me and
welcomed it with open arms."

"However, I had to change my mindset
and re- evaluate the situation to meet
this new beginning. I had to take on a
positive outlook and convince myself
that despite drowning in debt, I could do
what it took to come out of it. At this
time, I had learned a vital lesson: I had
to drow n before I could sw im, and that,
indeed, became my asset.
"To succeed, I decided we needed to
improve our execution and marketing.
We hired a consultant on a contract
basis to help us brand our product and
identify and overcome our weaknesses.
"We also hired right- minded
professionals in marketing, social media,
trade shows, and brokering to take our
business to the next level. Finally, we
brought on a volunteer board of
advisors made up of people who had
ow ned large corporations, and they
were able to help guide us through some
of our business decisions.
"Throughout my professional career, I
have developed a personal philosophy
that offers solutions to the problems that
surface while creating a business. I call
them my "Three C' s."
"The first C is 'CON VERSATION ,' which
holds significant value in the business
world. Conversation is your biggest asset
when you encounter a problem, no
matter how far-reaching it may be. One
of the ways I raised awareness about our
products is by starting to network on
social media and advertise at
community events. I did product
demonstrations at local stores, spoke at
local colleges and universities, and
attended events where I could have a
table to display my flyers and share what
makes my product different from any
other in the market. These allowed me to
communicate directly with our
customers and ensure that our product
met their expectations.
"The following C is 'COLLABORATION .'
Regardless of your strengths, you will fail
to achieve your goals in business without
collaboration. While you must first
believe in yourself and your product, you
must ask for advice from those with
experience in the field and be w illing to
use their help to take your business to
the next level. I joined w omen' s
organizations that would meet every
month so I could network with
like-minded women and get some
solutions to my problems.
"The final C is 'CELEBRATION ,' which
remains a pivotal component of my
journey to success. You must never forget
to celebrate every w in, no matter how
small. Initially, I would forget to
celebrate because I was so focused on
my struggles and failures. Still, now I
celebrate every milestone because they
demonstrate that everything has
entwined together to create a business
built on love and respect. And thankfully,
we have lots of reasons to celebrate!
"Today, Nana's Kitchen occupies an over
30 ,0 0 0 - square- foot facility in the heart
of Surrey, BC. It produces more than
30 ,0 0 0 handmade samosas daily,
which are sold in grocery stores
throughout N orth America.
"As a businesswoman, I have won many
prestigious awards, including ' Business
Woman of the Year' by the Times of
Canada and ' Best Export Business' by
the Surrey Board of Trade in 20 16.
"In 20 17, I won ' Woman of the Decade'
through the Women Economic Forum,
and in 20 18, I was the only Canadian
woman awarded the ' Bharat Saman'
award by the House of Lords in London,
England. In 20 19, I was recognized by
the Bank of M ontreal for community and
charitable giving."

013
"That said, my mindset is always about
giving more and expecting less.
Throughout my life, I have continued to
impact the people around me wherever I
can positively.
"I was on the organizing committee for
the Salama Gala, which raised funds for
Camp Good Time for kids who have
cancer and also supported the Watoto
w a Africa orphanage in my homeland of
Tanzania. Most recently, my business has
become a community champion for the
Surrey M emorial Foundation, local food
banks, and local community programs.
"To me, courage is not about changing
or grasping for something better? it is
about being in the present. I was able
to overcome the constraints of living in a
third-world country and the struggles of
immigrating to a faraway, unknown
place.
"I then pushed through the challenges of
starting and expanding a business to
become the 'Samosa Queen,' as
customers and friends have dubbed me.
And now, my newest passion is speaking
about my journey of embracing failures
to achieve success.
"There are many lessons that you will
take from my story. One is that even the
most successful entrepreneurs have
made mistakes along the way, allowing
them to discover valuable lessons that
enable their growth.
"So, regardless of the market you enter,
do your homew ork.
"Refrain from fooling yourself into
thinking that things will fall into place,
and ensure you have the funds to support
your business ventures in the long term.
"Also, remember to question whether
your product or service is in demand and
ensure that you're considering both
passion and practicality.
"Another crucial lesson has been the
importance of family. My husband,
Nawaz Mawani, and my children, Samir
and Sarfaraz, are my biggest
inspirations and have supported me
throughout this journey. Without them, I
would not be where I am today.
"Finally, make sure you dream big but
also have realistic goals. Take a few
minutes daily to reflect on your goals
and achievements and ensure you are on
track for where you want to be.
"You have to possess the right mindset to
make the leap in your mind. And when
you orientate your goals to embrace
conversation, collaboration, and
celebration, there is no telling what you
can achieve.
"There were some tough years during my
journey to success; living through them
was no easy feat. However, I have
learned so much from my failures that
today, I salute them. M y happiness w as
alw ays w ithin me; to find it, I just had to
seize the moment.
"My mission in life is not to survive but to
thrive w ith passion and style, and that
is a right for every human
being? including you."
S H E L IN A
N A N A 'S
M A W A N I
K IT C H E N

DA VID WONG:
ORA TION
GLOBA L
015
Oration Global is unwavering in its
commitment to providing a
comprehensive range of services,
dedicated to helping business owners
not just grow, but also secure the funding
they need, and reduce costs. They value
clients and their success is a top priority.
Oration Global was co-founded by
David Wong, a seasoned marketer with
12 years of experience and operational
expertise, and Carl Brodie, MA, CFP, a
professional with a rich background in
corporate tax planning, insurance,
private equity, and working with
high-net-worth families.
Oration Global is led by individuals who
bring a w ealth of know ledge and
experience to the table, ensuring the
provision of comprehensive business
advisory services.
The company serves its clients through its
portfolio companies: OnticGrow th, a
revenue-driven marketing firm;
Oh Granted, which helps business
owners secure government funding and
commercial financing.
Additionally, Stone Ow l Family Office,
which focuses on wealth growth and
preservation for business families through
tax planning and various investment
products.
Oration Global works with Canadian
business ow ners of all sizes throughout
the business lifecycle, from acquiring
start- up capital to business grow th to
w ealth preservation as they approach
retirement.
Oration Global is not just a business
advisory firm, but a community hub. The
company takes pride in its expansive,
specialized team and partnerships with
numerous Canadian vendors, positioning
itself as an ' air traffic control' for
business solutions. Moreover, Oration
Global actively engages the community
by hosting events that provide a
platform for showcasing the work of our
team, clients, and partners.
"We are fostering the growth of the
OG Consortium, a vibrant networking
and mastermind community, because we
believe in the power of collaboration
and shared success," shares David.

017

M EET
DA VID
David Wong, the co-founder and
managing partner of Oration Global, is
a dedicated professional who oversees
business development and operations
within the organization, instilling
confidence in his capabilities.
David's impressive track record includes
two successful exits and a significant
contribution to the Canadian economy
through securing $52 million in
government funding for business
owners.
David's professional relationships are
built on the cornerstone of trust, a value
he holds dear. As a recipient of the 2
Comma Club award, he is a founding
member of the OG Consortium and a
member of the Canadian Association of
M anagement Consultants.
In his free time, David enjoys golfing,
fishing, reading, and indulging in whiskey.
He frequently donates to various causes
and aims to increase his community
involvement.
IN HIS
WORDS
"My entrepreneurial journey began in
20 12 when I started working as a
freelance photographer, focusing
primarily on sporting events.
"However, by the summer of 20 15, I
realized that mixing money with my
passion limited my creativity to what
clients wanted.
"At the beginning, I was afraid of going
all in and reinvesting in the business. I
had this scarcity mindset that I would
lose the money if I did not start putting
all my profits aside. This fear held me
back and kept my business growth
stagnant.
"Once I broke that mindset and
understood that money is energy and
flows, I realized that reinvesting profits
into the business was not just a risk but a
necessary step for growth. This shift in
perspective was transformative. By
reinvesting strategically, I could
improve operations, expand my product
line, and enhance marketing efforts.
"I vividly remember the early days when
every small victory felt monumental. The
first time I managed to fulfill an order
seamlessly, the first positive testimonial
from a satisfied client, the first time my
podcast hit the Top 10 0 list on Apple
Podcasts? these moments were the
sparks that ignited my belief that I was
on the right track. They were the proof I
needed to see that my hard work and
perseverance were paying off.
"One particular morning stands out to
me. I was in Vancouver, sitting in my
home office, and as I looked out the
window, I felt a profound sense of calm
and certainty. The sun was shining, and
for the first time, I was not overwhelmed
by doubt or anxiety. Instead, I felt a
deep sense of purpose and clarity. I
realized that this journey, with all its ups
and downs, was precisely what I was
meant to do. It was not a single event
but a series of moments that led to this
epiphany."

019
"Taking it back to 20 12, I lived at home in
Vancouver, navigating the early stages
of my entrepreneurial journey and by
20 15, I was bouncing back and forth
between Toronto and Vancouver. This
was a time of intense personal
development and change. I even started
hiding what I was doing from some
friends and family, unsure how they
would react to my unconventional path.
"In 20 15, I launched my first real
registered business, Ratchet M onkey
Shop, an e-commerce store selling home
and garden goods.
"I started this business on the floor of my
cousin's apartment in Toronto to sustain
myself in the city. Despite an initial
hiccup of having to refund my first sale
of an electric fireplace, I persevered
and built Ratchet Monkey Shop into a
top- rated store on eBay, generating
$1 million in revenue w ithin 18 months.
However, as the market became more
competitive, with every YouTube guru
teaching people how to start their own
e-commerce business, it became less
lucrative. I sold it for some Bitcoin in
20 17, riding the high of making my first
seven figures.
"Parallel to my e-commerce venture, I
began freelancing as a digital marketer
in 20 15. Despite knowing nothing about
social media marketing, I secured my
first client on UpWork. Determined to
succeed, I submitted proposals, got the
job, and learned on the go through
Google and YouTube.
"This hustle led me to work with industry
giants like Grant Cardone and Frank
Kern and notable clients, including UBC,
Shopify, Fairchild TV, and M odelo.
"I continued freelancing until 20 19,
juggling this work with studying, training
with the Canadian Taekw ondo national
team, and working low-pay positions.
"My days were a blur of waking up at 4
AM to check my e-commerce store,
attending classes, training or working
after class, and working on my business
during exam study times.
"In 20 16, I started my first 'agency,'
GeoFilters Plus, partnering with event
planners and photographers to help
clients design and host Snapchat
geo-filters for events. However, I
received a cease and desist from
Snapchat for using their yellow in my
branding, so I shut dow n the business
instead of rebranding.
"By 20 17, I had moved back to Toronto,
started working as a freelance
videographer, and started dating Emily,
an incredibly patient and supportive
woman (who is now my fiancee). I
focused on wineries in N iagara on the
Lake and was a travel videographer for
the N orth American Chinese Basketball
Association.
"20 18 was a pivotal year for me as I
attended a podcast mastermind hosted
by Jay Wong just one day after my
grandmother passed away. I vividly
remember walking into the venue,
knowing my life would change.
"I met Justin Tsui, who became my first
mentor and introduced me to the ' Law
of Attraction.' Although I did not have
the money to invest in his program, I
maxed my credit card - the investment
paid off as my work and growth with JT
led us to hit our first five- figure month
within the year."
"Inspired, I launched my podcast, ' The
Self M astery Show ,' documenting my
journey toward becoming the best
version of myself. The podcast quickly
gained traction, becoming a ' N ew and
N otew orthy' podcast and reaching the
Top 10 0 list on Apple Podcast within the
first week."

021
"In 20 19, tired of freelancing, I
co-founded a B2B marketing company
to build a team around me. We grew to
an international team of 15, servicing
clients in Canada, the USA, Australia,
Singapore, and Germany. The
pandemic lockdowns worked in our
favour as business professionals sought
to replace in-person networking with
LinkedIn, where we were experts. I
gained valuable experience in
operational management, people
operations, and enterprise sales. We
also ventured into government grants
to help clients fund their investments
with us. I sold the company at the end
of 20 23.
"In 20 23, I became a co-founder and
partner of Oration Global. In the past
year alone, we have helped over 820
Canadian businesses access over $52
million in funding.
"At Oration Global, I focus on
identifying and nurturing these
high-impact partnerships to jumpstart
our growth. This involves investing time
and resources into building strong
relationships, understanding our
partners' needs and goals, and finding
ways to create win-win situations. We
collaborated on joint ventures,
co-hosted events, and cross-promoted
each other's services. By aligning our
efforts, we achieved exponential
grow th that would not have been
possible.
"Additionally, I leveraged our successes
to attract more high- quality partners.
Sharing case studies, testimonials, and
success stories helped demonstrate the
value we could bring to potential
partners. This credibility made it easier
to form new alliances and expand our
network.
"Throughout my entrepreneurial journey,
I have been fortunate to have
incredible support from my family and
various individuals who believed in me
and helped me along the way
including:
"Gary Vee helped me break past
worrying about other people's thoughts.
His quote, "Ideas are shit, execution is
the game," became a mantra for me.
"Alvin Pilobello was the first person I
met when I joined a coworking space in
Toronto. As a leadership coach focusing
on meaningful conversations, Alvin has
helped me think through business
problems and navigate difficult
conversations with my associates. His
guidance has been invaluable in my
personal and professional growth.
"Henry Zhu, my cousin, provided me with
a place to stay when I moved to Toronto
in 20 15. I slept on the floor of his condo
for a few months, and during this time, he
showed me how to start my first
e-commerce business. His support and
mentorship were crucial in my early
entrepreneurial efforts.
"I have started giving back by
mentoring young entrepreneurs through
organizations like Futurpreneurs and
N ew Ventures BC. This experience has
been incredibly rewarding, allowing me
to share my knowledge and insights
with the next generation of business
leaders.
"At Oration Global, we have developed
a unique business model to help
business owners secure financing, grow
their businesses, and reduce costs. Our
approach follows a company's natural
progression from start- up to maturity.
"What sets us apart is our philosophy
against the "all-in-one" solution, where
one business tries to offer everything
under one roof."

023

"From my experience as a freelancer, I
know that being a ' jack of all trades'
often means being a ' master of none.'
Instead, we have brought together
three distinct businesses, each a master
in its domain, to deliver exceptional
value to our clients."
"Our consortium includes OnticGrow th
for marketing, Oh Granted for
government funding and commercial
financing, and Stone Ow l Family
Office for wealth growth and
preservation.
"Another unique aspect of our model is
that our financing and cost-reduction
services are 10 0 % performance- based.
Unlike others in the industry who charge
a fee regardless of the outcome, we
only make money if our clients
successfully secure funding or save
money.
"To drive Oration Global through the
next two quarters, we are making a big
push to focus our business generation
efforts on established Canadian
businesses generating at least
$50 0 ,0 0 0 in revenue. We can provide
the most substantial value to these
clients, leveraging our expertise to
drive significant growth and cost
savings.
"Moreover, we are looking to expand
our network of strategic partners.
Building a robust network is crucial to
delivering comprehensive, high-quality
services to our clients. We seek
partnerships with businesses and
individuals who align with our vision and
can enhance our value. This includes
experts in various fields such as
finance, marketing, legal, and
operations who are as committed to
excellence as we are.
"We are not holding back in our
ambitions. Our task is straightforward
and bold: We need connections with
high-revenue businesses poised for
growth and ready to benefit from our
performance-based financing and
cost-reduction services. Additionally,
w e seek introductions to potential
partners who can complement our
services and help us build an even more
formidable consortium of experts.
"Together, we can transform Canada's
business growth landscape and support,
ensuring our clients achieve
unparalleled success.
"By the end of 20 25, our target at
Oration Global is to help Canadian
business owners access over $20 0
million in grants and financing . This
substantial injection of funds into the
economy will empower businesses to
innovate, expand, and thrive. We are
committed to playing a pivotal role in
the growth and success of Canadian
enterprises, ensuring they have the
resources they need to reach their full
potential.
"Looking ahead five years, we envision
Oration Global and the OG Consortium
becoming a premier business hub. Our
goal is to create a vibrant ecosystem
where business owners come to grow
and access a comprehensive range of
services. This hub will be a one- stop
destination for financing, marketing,
cost reduction, and strategic
planning, all delivered by experts who
are masters in their respective fields."
D A V ID W O N G
O R A T IO N G L O B A L

K RIS K RUG:
FUTURE PROOF
CREA TIVES
025
Kris Krug is a boundary-pushing
Creative Explorer, an intuitive Tech
Whisperer, and a tenacious Culture
Hacker. In the fabric of the digital era,
where technology often overshadows
humanity, Kris has taken it upon himself
to chart a different course.
He is on a relentless mission to
humanize technology, to infuse it with
empathy, ethics, and emotion.
Kris is not just tinkering with gadgets and
algorithms; he is reprogramming the
very core of our interactions with the
digital world to resonate with the
heartbeat of human experience.
Kris is also in the ring, gloves on, ready to
battle the creeping villain of apathy
that threatens to numb our society. He
challenges indifference with passion,
confronts disconnection with
engagement, and replaces the passive
consumption of media with active
creation.
Kris stands firm in the belief that art
should not be a rarefied luxury but a
common language for all. By
democratizing art, he aims to unlock
universal creative potential.
Art is a right, not a privilege, and Kris
strives to make it accessible to everyone,
everywhere? breaking down the walls
that confine creativity to the few.
In parallel, Kris is a champion of
communities, believing in the colossal
pow er of collective action. Empowering
communities is not just about giving a
voice to the voiceless; it is about
amplifying that voice until it echoes
across the globe. It is about lighting a
fire in every individual to contribute,
connect, and collaborate.
Additionally, there is sustainability ? the
drumbeat to which Kris syncs his work
and life. Championing sustainability for
him means more than just advocating
for green policies; it is about instilling a
mindset of longevity and respect for the
resources we share. From digital to
carbon footprints, Kris is dedicated to a
vision of the future where technology
and ecology dance in harmony, not
discord.
These core tenets drive Kris in every
keystroke, lens snap, and conversation.
As Kris Krug, his identity is wrapped in
the relentless pursuit of these ideals,
forging a path for others to follow into a
future where technology, creativity,
and humanity converge in a symphony
of progress.

027

IN HIS
WORDS
"I have been up to entrepreneurial things
since a very young age. I used to be
really into the school fundraisers they
would do, or they would give you a little
catalogue, and you would go
door- to- door selling things. I would
always win the bestseller in the whole
school, no matter my grade. Also, around
that time, we were talking five, six, or
seven, and I started a business of
knocking dow n w asp nests in the eaves
of houses in my neighbourhood.
"I would go around with a
three-foot-long, one-inch piece of
doweling and these long rubber bands
my dad used for a Sunday newspaper
delivery. I rigged up a little cannon and
would shoot them down, even the
two-story and three-story ones, no
matter how big they were.
"I would put them in my red w agon and
had a little sign with all the different
sizes of wasp nests and their prices. I
would knock them down, go up to the
front door, show them all the nests and
my price chart , and then tell them how
much they owed me.
"I also sold golf balls back to golfers
over the fence of my backyard. They
would always hit them in my yard, so I
collected them. Later, I did not have
enough golf balls to keep up with
demand, so I w andered around the
courses at night, swimming in the ponds
to grab balls.
"My dad, who really is the reason I am
good at entrepreneurship, instilled it in
me in so many ways from an early age.
Once the customer was there, he showed
me I could be selling Cokes and candy
bars, and why not sell used golf balls
with a higher margin on new ones?
"I had a paper route too, with special
bonuses when they had triple pay for
new starts. I would go around, get
everyone in the neighbourhood signed
up, and make a killing.
"I bought my first car early with money
saved up from paper routes and other
ventures. I have always been passionate
about new businesses, entrepreneurship,
creativity, and technology.
"My father got me to have my ow n bank
account when I was about five years old.
I think I had $62 saved up from birthday
cards, odd jobs, and shooting down
wasp nests. He always made me pay for
half my summer, church, and sports
camps. He would sign me up, but I had to
pay for half. It took a big part of the
summer when I was younger, but he
always encouraged me to do it.
"My dad skillfully navigated a
bureaucratic career working for both
the US government and the state of
California. He always had interesting
side hustles, from flipping companion
tickets and free passes on the airlines to
reselling used cars and beta-testing
early technologies.
"I think he instilled in me what he really
wanted to be doing. I am really good at
math and creative when it comes to
making business work. I am interested in
understanding customers and
maintaining relationships over time."

029
"In university, I co-founded Bright with
Boris M ann and Roland Tenglau, which
was acquired by Rain City Studios in
20 0 7, and I became president for a few
years. We were onboarding people into
the w eb 2.0 and social media w orld
with a community hosting platform
based on Drupal.
"I have many mentors and supporters. In
the Vancouver AI community, Dr. Patrick
Pennefather from the Emerging M edia
Lab, professors Steve DePaola and
Felipe Pasque from the SFU AI program,
Dr. Kate Armstrong from Emily Carr' s
Living Labs, N ortheastern University' s
M arana Papa, and Dennis Chouinard
have all been supportive and
instrumental to my success.
"My collaborator, M att Astifan of
Internet M asterminds, has been very
generous. We have an international AI
backer in the form of AugX Labs and
their project, Augie.
"Over the years, I spent a lot of time on
the road. I worked for N ational
Geographic, Rolling Stone M agazine,
and other top publications and festivals.
"My camera was a golden ticket into
every backstage door. The pandemic hit,
and I hunkered down at my place on
Galliano, pretending to be a farmer. AI
grabbed my imagination and pulled me
back into the world. I moved back to
Vancouver and started Future Proof
Creatives with training, workshops, and
meetups.
"I got accepted into the Google M edia
Accelerator and spent ten weeks
developing a business plan for M otley
Crue M edia and Future Proof Creatives.
We also have an idea for the Fatal
Festival, an avant-garde exploration of
the future of art, technology, and
alternative living.
"Future Proof Creatives has grown leaps
and bounds, holding sold- out w orkshops
and our get-togethers at my studio in
Olympic Village grew from 80 to almost
150 people.
"I have gone through a transformation
from rockstar photographer to rockstar
CEO. I feel more responsible, productive,
creative, and powerful than ever,
amplifying my strengths and shoring up
weaknesses with cool tools and
assistants. The creative technology
community is bouncing back from the
pandemic, with new projects and
companies starting up.
"I am w atching a bloodbath as AI
comes for creative industries. Writers,
designers, photographers, filmmakers,
creative coders, and marketing
strategists are all feeling the pressure.
"I am building a lifeboat with Future
Proof Creatives, and sell training,
workshops, keynote speaking, and guest
appearances at festivals and events.
"We need continued support from our
community and partners to expand our
w orkshops, meetups, and projects. We
are applying for grants to build out our
organizational structure and taking a
slow road to grow sustainably.
"By the end of 20 25, I see Future Proof
Creatives as a leading community for
integrating AI and emerging
technologies in creative industries. Five
years from now, we will have expanded
our reach globally, hosting major events
and festivals and fostering a network of
creative leaders."
K R IS
K R U G
F U T U R E P R O O F C R E A T IV E S

031

LUX X NOVA :
TA TIA NA
BERDYUGIN &
NA TA LIA
K HLYSTOV
Luxx N ova Bridal Boutique, based in
Vancouver, BC, is the creation of
co-founders and sisters Tatiana
Berdyugin and N atalia Khlystov,
established in 20 17.
With their extensive experience in the
wedding industry, Tatiana and Natalia
have elevated Luxx Nova to become one
of Canada's most prestigious wedding
boutiques.
Luxx Nova offers an exclusive selection
of dresses typically found only in Europe.
The boutique embodies unique wedding
styles and designs, infusing a touch of
European elegance into Vancouver.
The Luxx Nova team is dedicated to
delivering the perfect dress for each
bride. Each gown in their collection tells
its unique story, crafted from luxurious
fabrics, adorned w ith exquisite décor,
and brought to life by the finest ateliers.
These gowns exemplify the highest
standards of European production
quality, earning admiration and
reverence from professionals across the
Canadian wedding industry.

033

THE
FOUNDERS
Tatiana Berdyugin, Co- Founder and
Creative Director at Luxx Nova Bridal is
the visionary behind this thriving bridal
boutique in the heart of Yaletow n. With
a robust background in marketing and
over a decade of experience in the
wedding industry, Tatiana's passion for
the bridal industry has driven her to
create a unique and upscale shopping
experience for brides.
Originally from Eastern Europe, Tatiana
moved to Vancouver, determined to
elevate the bridal fashion scene in
Canada. Beginning her career in
w edding photography, she developed a
keen eye for detail and beauty, which
she now channels into business. The
boutique serves brides across North
America through a physical and online
storefront.
Tatiana's creative direction at Luxx Nova
ensures that the boutique stands out with
its exclusive, upscale, and modern bridal
options. This unique approach has made
Luxx Nova the go- to destination for
extraordinary brides, setting it apart
from other bridal boutiques. Her
dedication and innovative vision
continue to inspire and propel the
business forward, solidifying her status as
an expert and leader in the industry.
N atalia Khlystov, Co- Founder and
Chief of Operations and Business
Development at Luxx Nova Bridal, drives
the boutique's operational excellence
and market grow th. With a background
in economics, Natalia has worked
diligently to build and maintain strong
relationships with European designers,
exclusive brand partners, and staff.
Natalia moved from Eastern Europe to
join her sister Tatiana in their wedding
photography venture, bringing a touch of
European elegance to Canada. Their
shared passion and unique perspective
naturally led to the opening of the bridal
boutique.
In a world full of repetition, Natalia's eye
for uniqueness that makes brides feel
unforgettable and timeless. Her success
and experience in the industry are a
testament to her w ork ethic, passion,
and dedication. Natalia's strategic skills
have been crucial to establishing Luxx
Nova Bridal and its distinguished image,
but it is her personal touch and
dedication to serving each bride that
truly sets Luxx Nova apart.
IN THEIR
WORDS
"We did not set out to be entrepreneurs;
we simply follow ed our dreams. We
never imagined we would open a
successful business in a foreign country,
let alone as two sisters working together!
"We were not the type of kids who
constantly brainstormed business ideas
or tried to make money from a young
age. Our journey happened organically,
step by step, dress by dress,
appointment by appointment.
"Now, here we are, running the most
modern bridal boutique, a place where
brides can find exclusive lines by
Europe's most renow ned designers,
nestled in the heart of the most beautiful
city in the world.
"Growing up, we were expected to
follow traditional career paths (school,
college, university, jobs), and
entrepreneurship was not encouraged."

035
"Yet, we took a leap of faith and started
our bridal boutique. It was a bold and
daring move, one that was both exciting
and a bit surreal. As our business grew,
the support came naturally from the
happiness of our brides, designers and
our success. It showed us that following
our dream was the right choice, even if
it was not the traditional path.
"We were not new to the bridal industry
when we opened our bridal boutique
almost seven years ago. We had been
wedding photographers for a few years
before we opened Luxx Nova Bridal
Boutique. Since the inception of our idea
to sell wedding dresses in Canada, our
journey has been quite eventful.
"Initially, we started as w holesalers,
aiming to work with bridal stores. We
created a comprehensive w ebsite and
a portal, gathered information, and
launched an Instagram page. However,
within a few months, we realized
wholesaling differed from the path we
wanted to pursue.
"We made a bold decision to erase
everything we had worked on and
shifted our focus to working with brides
rather than with stores.
"We began hosting pop- up sales
wherever possible until we secured our
first show room. It was a tiny room in an
office building in Downtown Vancouver,
but we did an incredible job decorating
it and making it look amazing.
"It was a proud moment for us, a
testament to our hard w ork and
determination. Still, it differed from
what you would expect from a bridal
boutique, but we were thrilled and proud
to have our own space.
"Then, the pandemic hit , and the
following years were tough. But we did
not let that stop us. Towards the end, we
noticed a rise in inquiries and sales,
giving us the push to look for a new
home for our boutique. Now situated in
Yaletown, one of Vancouver's most
prized neighbourhoods, our storefront is
more prominent, brighter, more
comfortable, welcoming, and
memorable for our brides.
"Yaletown was our dream initially, but we
did not limit our search for a new
location to just there. We had a few
main criteria: abundant natural light,
air conditioning, and high ceilings. We
learned that these elements were
essential for our brides' experience. It
seemed impossible to find a place that
met all these requirements. We spent
over three years searching, refusing to
settle for anything less than perfect. We
wanted to establish our Luxx Nova in a
location where we could stay for a very
long time. After seeing hundreds of
places and working with three different
realtors, we still believe this was one of
the biggest challenges we have faced in
our business. Although we operate by
appointment only and do not focus on
having a storefront, we could not be
happier with our choice.
"Despite keeping an open mind, we
focused solely on downtown. It is a
common belief that bridal boutiques in
downtown areas are more modern,
stylish, unique, and fashionable than
those in other locations. That was the
image we wanted to portray. Yaletown
adds its charm to our boutique, being a
hub for modern and unique businesses.
We could not be happier with our
decision."

037
"Finding the perfect place was
incredibly challenging, but we finally
succeeded. After months of renovations
and creating our design? bringing
custom-made mirrors from Turkey and
custom-made iron racks and fitting
rooms? the most stylish bridal boutique
in Vancouver was ready to open.
"On December 3, 20 22, we opened our
doors to our new location and couldn't
be happier. Our journey has been filled
with challenges and triumphs, each step
bringing us closer to our vision.
"We had many " first sales" before
moving to our new location, as we went
through several different stages.
However, we feel that the real Luxx
Nova began when we opened our doors
at the Yaletown location. We clearly
remember our first sale there.
"It was our first appointment and the
very first bride who came in. She
travelled from out of town with her whole
family to shop at our boutique. She said
" YES" to one of our most unique dresses.
There were a lot of tears and hugs, and
we cried together. It was an
unforgettable and emotional moment,
a moment that reminded us why we
started this journey in the first place.
"Although we have been together since
birth, we did not become business
partners until we opened our first
business ? a wedding photography
company. Initially, w orking together w as
challenging. It was not always easy, and
sometimes we fought. Even though we
are sisters, w e are so different. We have
different personalities and different
characters. It took us a few years to
learn new sides of each other and to
find ways to compromise, work together,
and lead our business to success.
"One day, we had a heart- to- heart
conversation and made a pact: we
would continue doing business together,
but if we ever felt that the business was
ruining our sisterhood, we would close it
down. Since then, we have been fine. We
are very different and responsible for
different parts of the business, which
makes us a strong team. We both
mutually feel that there is no better
partner for us than one another.
"It is hard to have a personal life when
you own a business, especially when it is
a bridal business? w hen you must w ork
all w eekends. Thankfully, we both have
the most amazing husbands who have
supported us from the beginning, every
step of the way.
"We could not have done it w ithout
them. From carrying racks and dresses
for our pop-up sales in the early days to
working late nights to ensure the
renovation of our new space was
completed on time, they have been our
rocks.
"Having each other has also been an
enormous blessing. We can rely on one
another 10 0 %, which allows us to make
travel plans, knowing the store and our
customers are in good hands.
"However, it is still challenging for us to
plan trips together, but we are working
on it! Despite these challenges, our
supportive partners, strong teamwork,
and staff have made it possible to
balance our personal lives with our
business.
"The pivotal moment came when we saw
our sales grew after opening our new
location. Reading our Google reviews,
seeing the heartfelt messages from our
happy brides, and seeing their wedding
photos brought tears to our eyes."

039

"It was in those moments that we
realized it was all working out and that
we were truly making a difference in
the lives of our brides.
"We have many exciting plans to take
our business to the next level. We are
bringing in new collections from
w ell- know n designers to offer our
brides even more stunning options.
Additionally, we have some exciting
events planned to create memorable
experiences for our clients and further
establish our boutique as a premier
destination for brides.
"Our lives are pretty unpredictable, but
everything is moving forward as
planned. This is the nature of our lives
and business? you never know what will
be different each season. We
constantly adapt to new trends,
welcome new designers, onboard new
employees, and meet new brides. Each
generation of brides brings unique
preferences and styles, keeping us on
our toes and ensuring our boutique
remains fresh and relevant. This
continuous evolution is exciting and
challenging, but it makes our journey so
rewarding.
"Our business model is centred on
providing a private, personalized
experience for each bride, ensuring
that every bride leaves happy. The
designers we carry are from Europe
and are unavailable in other stores in
Vancouver ? or even surrounding areas
like Washington, Oregon, Alberta and
the eastern part of Canada, and this
results in getting many brides from
Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, and the
USA. But, having been to many of our
European designers' flagship stores
over our years in business has inspired
us to offer a parallel level of service,
one that is unique and one we would
say differentiates Luxx Nova from the
rest of the Vancouver bridal market.
"When most brides visit our boutique for
the first time, they are in awe of our
modern selection. Our boutique offers
a unique atmosphere, exceptional
service, and expert advice from our
stylists. We understand the importance
and difficulty of choosing the perfect
wedding dress, so we never pressure
brides to make an immediate decision.
Instead, we focus on creating a
memorable, stress- free experience
where each bride feels valued and
supported. This commitment to a
tailored, thoughtful approach is what
sets us apart.
"Each season, we invest heavily in new
inventory and cannot wait to receive
the latest samples from our famous
designers. We are constantly w orking
on our w ebsite? our night-time job
without vacations or sick days? and we
are finally happy with the results.
"Moving forward, now that Yaletow n
Luxx N ova is open and thriving, we are
in the early stages of launching a big,
creative, and unique fashion event
featuring a catwalk show casing our
dresses for brides and w edding
industry vendors.
"Bridal stores in Canada often focus
more on sales than the experience, but
we want to offer something more? a
show that creates excitement for future
brides even before engagement.
Vancouver lacks fashion events, so why
not start a trend? By the end of 20 25,
we hope to realize this vision and begin
expansion plans across Canada."
L U X X N O V A B R ID A L
T A T IA N A
N A T A L IA
B E R D Y U G IN
K H L Y S T O V

041

RITCHIE PO:
CYBERSECURITY
& DA TA PRIVA CY
LA WYER
Ritchie Po is a privacy and
technology lawyer who can be
independently hired for a contract,
fixed-term, time-and-materials, or
consultancy basis.
Ritchie holds both Canadian
(CIPP/ C) and European / GDPR
(CIPP/ E) privacy professional
designations. He provides global data
privacy consulting advice to
institutional clients and help small
businesses manage data privacy
breaches.
Ritchie's practice focuses on enabling
businesses to create efficiencies to
enhance product development and
service delivery in compliance w ith
privacy legislation.
He has acted as legal counsel to a
major Telecom, a multinational
corporate trust agency, two Fortune
50 0 companies, and the WorkSafeBC.
Ritchie's extensive experience in
privacy consulting is a testament to
his expertise.
He has reviewed the privacy
programs for major organizations,
identifying opportunities for
improvement to ensure legislative
compliance in all aspects of the
business.
He conducts privacy impact
assessments, responds to privacy
complaints and breaches, provides
education and training, and
represents clients before the Office of
the Privacy Commissioner of British
Columbia.
His prompt and accurate responses to
queries from stakeholders, and his
collaborative approach with business
groups, further highlight his
professional capabilities.
Ritchie is a rare lawyer who ' speaks
geek.' That is, he works heavily with IT
clients to understand complex systems
and is able to translate this
knowledge so that executives can
comprehend and make informed
business decisions when assuming
privacy risks.

043

His professional volunteering
experiences include serving as the
Chair for the Canadian Bar
Association (CBA) BC's FOI & Privacy
Law subsection, the IAPP' s Canadian
Advisory Board, Reboot
Communications, and the Digital
Governance Council of Canada.
Ritchie Po, a published legal editor, is
also a Contributing Editor to the
commercial retail trade publication
Retail Insider, assisting its founder
Craig Patterson at its inception.
IN HIS
WORDS
"It was in 20 11 that I realized I was an
entrepreneur when I was already in
my early 30 s. I had been Called to
the Bar for about five years at that
point, and they say in the first five
years you figure out what you are and
your area of focus.
"I recognized early on that I wanted
to be the person who is called in to
resolve issues as an impartial outsider
outside the traditional law firm model.
Businesses were only then starting to
realize how critical data privacy
would be for their operations. There
was a lot of untapped market for
individual legal practitioners since not
all entities championed privacy
management as a priority and
business driver. I saw the opportunity
for a sole practitioner to position
myself in the market.
"There was general dissatisfaction
with the type of work I did. In the first
few years of my legal career, I
focused on the more " traditional"
areas of practice, such as insurance
litigation, real estate conveyancing,
securities, and other
corporate/ commercial law areas. I
did not see myself doing anything
innovative in these fields while
competing with others who are
partner-track in large multinational
firms or trying to leave that track and
go into in- house jobs.
"Another motivating factor was that
law is not always the big
globe-trotting career people think it
is. I wanted to practice in a field
where I could effect change not only
for individual clients but also ? and
this is where I get idealistic ? effect
large-scale positive change. Once I
started to work with data privacy and
understood that the map of AI is
global and touches every industry in
the world, I began to picture myself as
an SME in one corner of the world
with the ability to reach a potential
global and outward-facing audience.
"It was the lightbulb moment when I
realized that organizations may not
need that kind of advice full-time but
need an external consultant to help
them build their data privacy
management program. Some needed
it for long-term projects.
"I transitioned from an in-house
general counsel role to data privacy
as that was the one area in which I
had done some work I had enjoyed
but only got to do part-time."

045
"It was the moment when I completed
my first major fixed- term contract
with Telus in 20 12. It was intended to
be a 90 - day contract. But when
they said they wanted to renew me, it
was for another year, with the
opportunity to make it a multi-year
consultancy.
"I knew I was doing great work for
them, but I needed that validation.
They were not just saying they
needed someone to do a job; they
were saying that they w ere investing
in me, which speaks to my skill set
and my worth as a professional. So,
that initial three-month trial contract
turned into a full- time consultancy
that lasted well over four years!
"It was then that I took a detour in
20 16 when that long-term contract
ended and became a public servant
with WorkSafeBC for the next four
years.
"While that is not necessarily
entrepreneurial, it allowed me to see
the business from a public sector
point of view , and I came to
understand the challenges from the
other side of the fence. It was a
great experience because I now
know their specific challenges
regarding data privacy compliance
when I meet with public sector
clients. Now that I can speak to them
directly about them and let them
know how I can provide advice and
support in a way that enables them
to meet their legislative mandate,
they appreciate my knowledge of
their business. It's how I win long-term
contracts.
"There was this moment at the start
of the pandemic when I was laid off
from my government job, like millions
of other people. Human resources put
me in a cab and sent me home.
"In that short cab ride back, I
remembered that my former Telus
colleagues banded together and
started an IT security consulting
firm and asked me occasionally if I
was interested in doing some privacy
work on the side. That is when I
texted the CEO, " I have been
sacked! You got anything for me?"
he texted me within seconds, asking
for a meeting. It was the last
in-person business meeting I took
before the world shut down, but that
is how I ended up as the Privacy
Lead at Kobalt.io, where I built the
privacy consultancy and am still
working today as an external
consultant. So, if anyone asks me for
the fastest time I got a job after
losing one, I always say "about five
minutes." And for this, I will always be
grateful to them.
"When I think of the key people in my
career, Garry Hawkings immediately
comes to mind. He hired me for the
role at Telus Security Solutions. I
would also go on to work with him a
decade later when I went back out
on my own during the pandemic.
Gary had written a job description
thinking no one would ever fill that
role, and he hired me because I was
the only " unicorn" applicant with
every required skill. When the
pandemic hit and I was laid off,
Michael Argast took me on at
Kobalt.io, and we collaborated on
some genuinely great ventures."

047

"Michael was never one to let me rest
on my laurels, so when he asked me to
consult on new and emerging laws, I
simultaneously expanded my
skill set and evolved into a better
professional."
"I recently joined OpenRep.AI as their
new AI Ethics & Data Privacy Officer.
Their CEO, Anthony Green, initially
approached me to speak as a data
privacy subject matter expert at
conferences, which helped me
emerge from my shell. I had become
complacent as a background player
and not as a lead. We will be
collaborating on several worthwhile
projects well into the future.
"I have always been fortunate to be
mentored by Ray Everett, the w orld' s
first privacy officer (look it up on his
Wikipedia, it is true), who has always
been a great sounding board and has
always been the model of an
accomplished privacy law yer
consultant who thrives in every
aspect of his life.
"There's also D. Stuart Gray, my
mentor from early in my legal career,
who saw my potential early on and
has always looked after me. Through
him I learned integrity and how to
always be impeccable with your word.
"And lastly, there is Craig Patterson,
my longtime friend from law school
who started Retail Insider (I may have
nagged him into it) and appointed me
as the first member of his editorial
board. I occasionally receive some
great swag from RI events, so he helps
me bring couture to legal and IT
security events.
"Now I am known as the go-to
cybersecurity, data privacy, and AI
lawyer who can " translate" legal and
technical requirements into sound
business advice.
"I am dedicated to helping my clients
grow their businesses while becoming
innovative, ethical leaders in the
tech space. Only a few lawyers are
dedicated to this area of practice, so
my combined legal experience and
long history of working within the
technology industry is what you need
to go from the pre-revenue stage into
a ten-figure company.
"You can count on me as your de facto
Asian Tiger Dad to keep you in line
and hold you accountable, but it is for
your own good!
"I am also the child of
Chinese- Filipino immigrants, and my
family did not uproot our lives
overseas when we were young just so I
could be average and not excel. Like
all immigrant parents, they wanted
their children to not only succeed but
to improve upon what they
accomplished. I am from a family of
academics, business conglomerates,
and professionals, which was the real
motivation behind my desire to seek
new practice avenues.
"I also realize that the tech space can
heavily skew towards cishet w hite
men, but there is a huge, diverse
community in the industry that is
innovating faster than we can fathom.
I would, therefore, like to collaborate
with more businesses ow ned and
operated by w omen and by those in
the BIPOC and queer- friendly
communities."

049

"True innovation cannot happen unless
everyone has a seat at a table in the
room where it happens.
"My advice for those considering a
change: Alw ays level up!
"When I first started in data privacy, I
worked primarily with provincial and
national legislation. When I started
working with more private sector
clients with an international customer
profile, I used my time during
lockdown to get certified as an EU
data privacy law expert (working
mainly with the General Data
Protection Regulation or "GDPR")."
"I had to take that test while social
distancing in a test centre, and there
wasn't even a vaccine available, so I
took a gamble on both my skill set
and my health!
"Eventually, I started working with
American-based clients and became
knowledgeable in California data
privacy and health industry privacy
(HIPAA) as well. I still work with all
these legislative regimes today and
advise my clients on them. So I went
from a local focus to a thousand-yard
stare on the privacy legislative and
compliance landscape has gone
global. I cannot wait to become more
heavily involved in the EU AI legal
requirements and working with
Asia- Pacific privacy law
requirements.
"You can only push to the next level
once you raise the bar on yourself so
that you have new goals to achieve.
That is how you become better in any
profession.
"The words I live by are on that poster
you may have seen on Pinterest:
" Drink some coffee, put on some
gangsta rap, and handle it."
"In terms of my personal life, I have
always looked after myself, but I have
added several new habits in the last
few years to keep my mind, body,
and soul together. Hopefully, I am not
only older but also growing wiser.
"The significant change is that I no
longer see myself as a younger
lawyer. I am solidly middle aged but
have already planned for retirement.
That means I am no longer trying to
prove myself but have psychologically
positioned myself as a truly
experienced SME, not merely an
"aspiring" or "emerging" one.
"For my physical health, I do small
group weight training three times a
week and can deadlift over 20 0
pounds regularly! I still sw im, run, and
practice yoga. I have also calmed my
" monkey brain" by incorporating
meditation into my daily life.
Sometimes, I will not take a call or
answer my phone because I need five
minutes to re-center myself and
re-enter the world.
"I have also made more thoughtful
and ethical decisions with my diet
and have gone partially plant-based
as a way of harm reduction. My
doctor is thrilled with my bloodwork
as a result. (Although you can always
tempt me with my weakness, bubble
tea.) Also, do not underestimate the
power of K- beauty masks!"

"Looking back, I do not see my
business development as a five-year
plan but as a four- year cycle or
quadrennial.
"It included university, law school,
early practice, fixed contract
engagements, and ongoing
employment. I see myself setting up for
the next four years with a specific
goal like every Olympic athlete
hoping to win gold or get on the
podium. That is the only way to
become a champion. When the next
summer Olympics come around in
Los Angeles in 20 28 (after Paris this
year), check in again with me.
"As of now, I am an independent
contractor working primarily with
institutional clients. While I have a
solid book of business and some
large-scale contracts on the go, I am
alw ays looking for my next
challenge, which will be in the AI
field.
"Having worked in health tech,
fintech, retail, and other sectors, I
know that the next challenge is in
machine learning. I want to work
with clients in that field but
understand their obligations to
society and the world at large by
developing ethical AI.
"Therefore, I want to connect w ith
innovative firms that prioritize data
privacy so I can develop and
implement it organically into their
organization.
"I will only work with entities that
understand this and share my
philosophy. Data privacy is not going
away anytime soon, and lip service is
not a firm commitment.
?I should also mention that I am also
part of the technical panel for the
Digital Governance Council of
Canada, where we are collaborating
on developing national standards
governing IT security and data
protection measures. I am also
occasionally still working on legislative
submissions on developing legislation,
which I have done before through the
Canadian Bar Association.
"While it is hard to predict what will
happen, I will continue contributing to
the development of AI and data
privacy as a national legal expert and
present on the topic globally.
"I see myself continuing to be the
go-to data privacy, subject matter
expert. Do you remember that show
Better Call Saul? In this case, if you
have an issue, you better call Po
(Ritchie Po). It is no accident that the
initials for " privacy officer" spell
" PO."
"No matter what happens, I intend to
be dressed impeccably for it.?
R IT C H IE P O
C Y B E R S E C U R IT Y & D A T A
P R IV A C Y L A W Y E R
051

BRITTA NY
M ICHA LCHUK :
FOUNDER & CEO
YVREC
053
Brittany M ichalchuk, the visionary and
founder of the YVR Entrepreneurs Club,
is a global force to be reckoned with.
As a seasoned investor, she boasts a
significant portfolio in real estate,
including 42 rental properties, and
multiple other investments.
Her influence extends far beyond her
investments, as she has graced hundreds
of stages worldwide, garnered
numerous aw ards, and guided
thousands of students through her
academy. Her emceeing prowess is
unmatched in Vancouver, where she hosts
some of the most prestigious events.
Brittany's passion for numbers, which
propelled her to complete a finance
degree with honours, is only surpassed
by her unwavering commitment to
personal growth.
Her dedication to empowering and
inspiring others is a testament to her
belief in the potential of every individual
to make a significant impact on the
world. Her resilience and continuous
pursuit of know ledge inspire many to
embark on their own journey of
self-improvement and goal achievement.
Brittany's professional achievements
have been recognized by numerous
media outlets, including M etro, CBC,
Good M orning LaLa Land, CTV, Global
N ew s, Sports N etwork, Flare, and
Hello M agazine. Her client list reads
like a who's who of the business world,
including Top 50 0 companies and
successful world-renowned businesses
like Dentyne Ice, Wrangler, ATB
Financial, Ducati, Opa, and M onster
Energy.

055

IN HER
WORDS
"I have been an entrepreneur since I
could speak; entrepreneurship runs in my
veins and brings me immense fulfillment
and joy. Growing up in the 1990s was a
treat. When all my friends played with
Barbies, I sold painted rocks
door-to-door and later Beanie Babies,
handmade items, and Pokémon cards.
When my friends would ask me to meet
up, I was busy working and focused on
my dreams.
"Like any entrepreneur, I have faced my
fair share of setbacks, even back then!
One such instance was at a trade show ,
where I was selling and trading my
Pokémon cards. It was a successful day,
until a thief stole my backpack, which
contained my remaining cards and
cash. The loss was devastating, but it
taught me a valuable lesson about the
importance of vigilance in life and
business.
"My family is the bedrock of my
entrepreneurial spirit. They instilled in me
the belief that being an independent
entrepreneur who positively impacts the
world is a noble venture. My father and
mother, who have been together for
nearly 50 years, have worked tirelessly
to build a stable real estate business.
"Their dedication and hard work have
been my guiding light. Together w e buy
land, build complexes, duplexes, and
houses, and rent them out short and
long-term. I grew up helping my family
build the business, and my parents taught
me the value of hard work.
"They never wanted to hand me
anything; they came from nothing and
believed I should work hard to earn it.
My dad had ten brothers and sisters
and grew up on a farm, learning the
value of hard work from humble
immigrant parents.
"He instilled a rock- solid w ork ethic in
my sister and me. Being lazy was
forbidden in our family. I am so lucky and
blessed to have had the best parents
alive. They taught me priceless lessons
and helped me become resilient,
passionate, focused, kind, resourceful,
and independent. My mom is the best in
the world; she is my biggest supporter
and cares deeply about her family.
"While attending the Haskayne School
of Business at the University of Alberta
and earning my degree in Finance, I
started my first real company, Success
Tutoring Inc. It was a tutoring business
specializing in math-related subjects.
"I excelled in these subjects and tutored
Finance, Accounting, Statistics, and
Calculus. I also hired other tutors to
cover these subjects. M ath 30 Pure was
a high-demand subject for university
entrance, and parents were willing to
pay well for tutoring in it."

057

"In 20 16, I competed in my first pageant
and became M iss Calgary. My goal was
to become a better public speaker. I
was determined to stretch outside my
comfort zone and become the best
version of myself. As Miss Calgary, I was
able to compete in international
pageants, which led me to w in multiple
public speaking aw ards and priceless
opportunities.
"From there, I owned and operated
several lucrative and impactful
businesses. The largest one was BAM
M arketing Solutions, which I founded at
19, followed by inFocus M arketing ,
which grew to become one of the most
successful marketing and staffing
agencies in Western Canada. I secured
contracts with Ducati, ATB Financial,
Wrangler, Dentyne Ice, and several other
notable companies.
"My journey may have begun in Alberta
but has continued at an accelerated
pace in BC. It has been a majestic
experience that has brought significant
meaning to my life.
"YVR Entrepreneurs Club has exploded
in Vancouver and is quickly taking over. I
have one of the fastest-growing clubs in
the city and am privileged to be able to
help so many people. The countless
testimonials from people saying their
lives have been changed by joining our
club have filled me with immense joy and
fulfillment.
"To me, entrepreneurship provides
freedom, passion, connection,
independence, flexibility, and the
opportunity to strive to be your best self.
It constantly pushes you out of your
comfort zone, forcing growth daily. If you
do not grow, your business will not grow,
so you must w ork on yourself to benefit
your clients and staff.
"I have had a few business ventures
over the years, each serving as a
stepping stone to where I am today, truly
living my passion and purpose. I learned
something valuable from each business.
In my jew elry business, a passion project
for charity, I realized how important it is
to do something that fulfills you and
gives back. In my marketing businesses, I
learned the importance of getting your
message in front of people. If you have a
product or solution that genuinely helps
people, you must get it before them. In
my club, I learned the importance of
community. Each business holds a
beautiful life lesson and gift within it.
"Along the way, I have invested a lot in
myself. I chose a sober lifestyle to focus
on my business and take a hard look at
every person in my life, asking if they
were someone I should be spending my
time with. Everything in my life became
intentional and aligned with my goals
and dreams. I got clarity on my blind
spots and w eaknesses and worked
tirelessly on them, investing in many
coaches and programs to become the
best version of myself.
"I studied the qualities of successful
people and worked on embodying them
daily. I put in the repetitions, worked
extremely hard, and kept learning from
my mistakes to master my craft."

"Success is challenging; you have to
work harder than anyone you know and
pay your dues.
"As full as my life is, there are two
amazing boys that need to be
acknowledged for bringing so much love
to my life. My two pups, Peanut and
Chance (rescued from an abusive
situation on the Seawall), make me
incredibly happy. Together these two
enrich my life, bring meaning to each
day, and make me believe every life, is
worth something valuable.
"Entrepreneurs keep moving forward,
they get knocked down, they get back
up, experiment, and understand that
there is so much untapped potential
and power inside us. See every day as a
new challenge, risk, opportunity, and
blank canvas.
"There has not been a singular moment
when I knew it would all work out. Early
in the development of the YVR
Entrepreneurs Club, I produced a luxury
dining experience for a select group of
members. When the tickets sold out and
a waiting list started, I knew it w as all
coming together. The innovators and
visionaries in Vancouver were on board
with what I was creating!
"Participating in the Grandview Heights
TEDx in 20 23 was a decisive moment for
me because it is not every day that you
get to share your journey with over 10 0
people in an intimate setting! The TEDx
opportunity allowed me to share my
story and insights globally.
"It was an incredible experience that
reinforced my purpose and passion.
"I have had the privilege of being the
emcee for various groups, organizations,
and charities, including The M odern Day
Wife, Les Brow n M astermind,
Pow erfulU, JVology Live, Dan Fleshman
M astermind, Brad Leas Podcast, Andy
Frisella podcast, and M illionaire
M astermind. These experiences have
allowed me to connect with influential
people and make a significant impact.
"Additionally, on my podcast, The
Vitamin B Show , I have interviewed
world leaders and top performers to
find out what makes them great. My
podcast attracted incredible guests such
as Greg O' Gallagher, Trent Shelton,
Elena Cardone, and Dr. Jen Fraboni, all
stellar influencers in their fields.
"I am grateful for the trailblazers who
proved it is possible to succeed. They
provided a tangible example of what
can be achieved through hard work and
becoming the best version of yourself. I
admire Lew is How es, Robin Sharma,
Alex Hermozi, Tony Robbins, Brendon
Burchard, Eckhart Tolle, Jamie Kern
Lima, and many more, who have
positively impacted and changed
people's lives.
"In 20 24, I will host more powerful and
transformative personal growth events
for ambitious entrepreneurs who want to
level up with the support of a community
of like-minded game changers. The YVR
Entrepreneurs Club has had several
significant events that have profoundly
impacted people' s lives, the feedback
has been incredible as people are
receptive to what we do."
059

"The fast sell- out rates of YVREC events
are a powerful reminder that I am on the
right track. I am helping people and
inspiring them to become better versions
of themselves. Changing lives is the most
noble pursuit, and it is my driving force.
I wake up every day for myself, the
Peanut and Chance, and all the people
who need me.
"Whenever someone tells me our event
changed their life, I am filled with
immense joy and happiness, knowing I
am fulfilling my quest for authentic
fulfillment.
"My current business model revolves
around creating an inclusive and
supportive community for
entrepreneurs. YVREC events provide
resources and foster connections that
help our members grow their businesses
and themselves. Collaborating with
notable figures like M ichael Graziano
has put us on the radar in the city, and
each day continues to build on that
momentum.
"In our incubator of inspiration,
self-discovery, and personal growth,
people are learning to live better lives
and become empowered - to become
their catalysts of change.
"Each event pushes individuals beyond
their comfort zones to grow and
transform into their best selves and make
a significant, unforgettable impact on
the world. YVREC is all about unlocking
maximum potential, not just for
personal gain, but to leave a lasting
legacy that will inspire future
generations.
"By the end of 20 25, I envision my
business becoming a household name in
the Vancouver entrepreneurial scene. In
the next five years, it will be recognized
across the USA, with chapters in each
city. Lives will be changed, people will
be inspired to become their best selves,
and we will be helping countless
individuals.
"Looking back, I have known my life's
purpose since I was 18. Still, it took over
a decade to find the courage, expertise,
knowledge, talent, confidence, capacity,
and experience to step into my power
fully.
"I think about how much time I could
have saved if I had listened to my
intuition sooner. Your heart always knows
what you are meant to do. It takes
courage, but it is better late than never."
B R IT T A N Y
M IC H A L C H U K
Y V R E N T R E P R E N E U R S
C L U B
061

JORDA N
K A LLM A N:
EX PERIENTIA L
ENTREPENEUR
063
Jordan Kallman, a lifelong culture
builder, is a master of the delicate
balance between economic expansion
and creative expression. His belief in the
artistry of gatherings, even when they go
unnoticed, is a testament to his passion.
He envisions a world where we recognize
the profound role of friendships,
relationships, and the joy of being
together in our natural w ell- being . For
him, life is an art, and true fulfillment lies
in the harmony we find with others.
Jordan is a serial entrepreneur currently
exploring artistic pursuits at the
intersections of large-scale festivals,
small-scale gatherings, virtual
world-building and the psychology of
living well.
In his early 20 s, Jordan was disheartened
when The Economist described
Vancouver as " mind- numbingly boring."
For a fun-loving social gatherer who lives
to create a joyous vibe, that statement
cut deep. He passed around the article
to friends while asking: " This simply
couldn' t be true, could it?"
The hurt continued when the label
" N o- Fun- Couver" stuck hard-and-fast,
being bandied about by naysayers
in the lead-up to the Olympic and
Paralympic Games.
It was in that dire identity crisis that
Jordan, along with a small group,
stepped up to challenge the belief. They
were not willing to let the city they loved
so much settle for a simple and solitary
"Thoreau-in-the-woods-walks-the-Seawall"
brand.
Fortunately, they were not alone. After
the gold medal hockey game of the 20 10
Vancouver Olympic Games, the city
exploded, finally showing the social
energy potential that exists there. They
carried that spirit forward, and their
events have since become an integral
part of the city's cultural fabric, bringing
people together, celebrating diversity,
and showcasing the city's creative spirit.
In the succeeding decade, The Social
Concierge, Jordan's event design
agency, would go on to launch and
expand a range of cultural festivals that
were truly one- of- a- kind, unique to his
style. These have included an annual
fashion-focused derby, the country's
single largest one-night dinner party, a
grand harvest festival designed in the
spirit of the legendary Oktoberfest, an
architectural design showcase raising
funds for charity, a cocktail-hopping
trolley tour series, and an operatic,
duelling sword fighting tournament.

065

Additionally, there was the annual
carbon negative celebrations for Earth
Day, a floral exhibition that reimagined
the art of dance, a stadium-sized idea
conference, and a summit meant to
explore cutting-edge tactics that lead
to a longer life.
Jordan's and the team's work has not
only been recognized with numerous
aw ards and honours, but it has also left
an indelible mark on the city's social
fabric. The true measure of his success,
however, lies in the personal
connections forged at his festivals.
Couples who met at his events and are
now married with children often stop
him on the street to express their
gratitude. This profound impact on
people's lives is the ultimate testament
to the power of Jordan's work.
IN HIS
WORDS
"It is now apparent that I have always
been obsessed w ith solving problems,
yet the epiphany itself came late. Only
after a string of youthful life failures of
the vanilla variety did I find myself on
the other side of the world, standing in
front of a massive music festival in the
centre of one of the biggest cities in
the Southern Hemisphere. I remember
wondering, "Why doesn't the place I
come from express itself like this?"
Instant problem requiring a solution. I
was 20 years old.
"Mom thought I would be a great
dentist. When that failed, she pushed
me to become a law yer.
"These were projections of her
protective instincts, trying to steer me
into a life of financial comfort and job
security, something she never had as an
incredibly creative spirit. Unfortunately
for Mom, I picked up Dad's sense of
exploration and his fun-loving nature
and ran in the other direction. The good
news? Their combination of gifts has led
to a wild story so far, even if Mom still
does not really understand what I do for
a living.
"To be honest, I have a conflicted
relationship with "business." I was never
the kid buying something for ten cents
and trying to sell it for twenty. The
incredible force of profit has never
motivated me, even if I inherently
understood it to be the foundational
change agent of our times.
"As a child, I was much more intrigued
by the emotions I felt when invited to a
fun-filled event at the neighbours, how
it felt to break the rules with a friend,
or the trauma of being excluded or
forgotten. These emotional experiences
as a young kid pushed me to seek a
way to nurture the best of them in
others. Looking back, I am fortunate to
have had these anchor moments; they
transformed me.
"Once I had acquired amateur control
of my creative force, it quickly drove
me to a hellish pace of pursuit. I paved
my social way through university by
building big, 50 -passenger party buses
on the cheap and running nightly tours
to licensed establishments. At the time,
I was taking a full load of college
courses, scoring top grades, working a
few nights a week in hospitality, and
running this big crew of promoters,
hosts, and bus drivers.
"Yet, the interesting anecdote during
this time was not my frantic schedule."

067
"I still do not really know how I
convinced the regulators and insurance
agents that our 50 - passenger rolling
festivals on wheels were a good idea. I
remember those days and cringe
slightly.
"My love for the City of Vancouver
knows no bounds. I remember playing
hooky from work on a bright summer
July day because I wanted to be near
the stadium to decide who would host
the 20 10 Olympic and Paralympic
Winter Games. The euphoria of the
realization, the glow of the crowd
roaring from within the stadium, gave
me such hope for the culture of my
place. My city would host one of the
biggest celebrations on the planet,
and it seemed like anything was
possible.
"It is with this spirit that I invested heavy
effort in projects and endeavours that
would bring a greater sense of place to
Vancouver. I spent years with the
Vancouver 20 10 Organizing
Committee, grew TEDxVancouver into
a stadium-sized idea showcase for our
region, and launched The Social
Concierge with the intention of making
the city's social environment more
fun-loving and vibrant. I am proud of
the small impact I was able to create
and the outcome of each of the
projects I led and was a part of.
"Vancouver still has a long way to go.
"I yearn for the day that I meet
someone from another part of the
world who describes their visit to our
city as something more than "a very
beautiful place." One day, someone out
there who knows nothing about my
journey will say about their visit,
"Vancouver is such a fun place," and I
will feel whole.
"For the past 15 years, I have co-led at
The Social Concierge. We think of
ourselves as a " House of Gathering,"
which is essentially a creative studio
that builds and launches experiential
projects at the frontiers of culture.
Many of our ideas, started here in
Vancouver, have gone on to other cities
to great success. Our past is measured
by the depth and variety of the social
endeavours we imagined into reality,
much like an artist's body of work. We
also take on select client projects that
allow us to experiment in some novel
way.
"For the past four years, since the
virtualization trends of the pandemic
really accelerated, we have been
experimenting with how we gather
digitally. We launched a metaverse
music company and now sell thousands
of avatar w earable boomboxes within
the biggest video game on the planet.
Culture-building in virtual space is a
unique challenge that we need to
recognize will only grow in importance
in the cycles to come.
"Generally speaking, I am always
embedded in interesting social
networks, clubs, and communities. I am
continuously seeking a vantage point
from which to view the coming waves of
how we like to spend our time together.
Right now, health and w ellness have
never been more culturally prominent,
and so many promising new social
experiences are coming online to
support those desires. I am right there
in the mix with so many groups inspired
to champion this future.
"There has been no bigger change to
my creative path than the pandemic.
For a painter, it would be the
equivalent of colour being pulled out of
the world."

069

"For a sculptor, gravity doubling. For a
fashion designer, as though the world
became a nudist colony. Almost
overnight, I was legally not allow ed to
gather in public. This immediately forced
the loss of a true purpose outlet. While
grieving, I needed to reinvent my craft
on the fly, dealing with the constantly
changing law s of nature. Now four years
removed, I only recently grasped how
our collective desires have changed.
"I like to say, 'Suffering peaks just before
the break of awe.' This huge challenge
forced me to transform myself personally
and with our studio. I was pushed to the
frontier of our virtual lives and have
now established a presence. It has also
challenged me to memorialize our effort
with Vancouver culture-building, officially
ending many long-standing projects and
handing them to others. I am destined
for new problems of togetherness, a
fresh cycle of creative pursuit.
"Daw n, my wife, has been a constant
presence for nearly 20 years. Without
her quiet encouragement and ongoing
healing, this transformation or my
meagre successes would not have been
possible. I am deeply grateful for our
soulful bond.
"I have had many, many moments over
the years that I consider pivotal to
deepening my belief that I am here to
bring others together. Just before the
onset of the pandemic, Dawn and I
hosted our wedding soul ceremony in the
middle of the Black Rock Desert. We
built a giant wooden love letter
cathedral and collected two thousand
expressions of love from strangers
before holding our ceremony in front of
it. That experience brought fifty of the
most adventurous friends from our life
together to build and celebrate, and it
became one of my life's most emotional
moments.
"But the incredible part for me is that the
emotional letting was a shared
experience. I will never forget one
tearful admission as the sun set before
us, "Jordan, that ceremony was more
emotional than the birth of our twins."
"It is that culmination of collective
feeling that I hope to create time and
time again before time runs out. Each
time that vibe strikes, I think to myself,
"There is no better feeling in the world."
"What separates my pursuit of purpose
from the mundane and pushes my
business to the next level is the desire to
operate as a creative studio rather than
a business. Over the last 20 years of
entrepreneurship, I have realized that I
am not a ruthless, w in- at- all- costs
profiteer, which many business people
are when you peel back enough of their
layers. What drives my meaning is the
approach to creating a body of work
that has an impact on others that I can
be proud of.
"I remember when David Podmore, then
President of Concert Properties and
Chairman of B.C. Pavilion Corporation
opened doors for me at the highest
echelons of the Vancouver industry.
David is a real- estate icon and has
been instrumental in shaping Vancouver's
growth over the last thirty- five years.
He believed in a very youthful me, with
zero incentive or reason to do so, and
for that, I am deeply grateful. I will never
forget his advice: "Jordan, there is no
location in the world better positioned
to take advantage of its opportunities
over the next 50 years. Stay, build, and
be part of this place". It was very
inspiring.
"I am constantly inspired by the arts and
those who can communicate their
expression for the future in simple, almost
reductive ways."

071
"Nouveau Realist Yves Klein, the
incomparable light artist James Turrell,
and poet David Whyte come to mind.
Recently, I have collected work by
Jack Butcher and Jalil Wahdatehagh,
a duo who are the ultimate
constraints-based internet artists of our
time. Jim Denevan, the land artist
behind the hugely popular ' Outstanding
in the Field' event series, inspires me, as
does Walter Green and his ' Say it N ow '
movement, which advocates in telling
those who affected you most in life what
they mean to you right now.
"I believe in positive long-term
relationships, bringing those who mean
the most to me closest and forever:
Dawn, my wife; my mother and father;
my long-time creative studio partner,
Tyson Villeneuve; and my dedicated
and vast group of friends who support
the truest sense of who I am. These
people deserve to be seen for their
belief in me.
"I am in transition; I recently took the left
fork in the road and am evolving from
entrepreneur to artist. This
transformation may take some time to
find its destination, and for once in my
life, I am at peace with a slow er race.
"As someone who had dedicated his life
to bringing people together, the
pandemic immediately caused me to
lose entrepreneurial momentum,
economic prosperity, and my personal
identity. It meant reinvention at the
most intimate level, an evolution that
continues to unfold today.
"Every pandemic in history has brought
about significant cultural change. During
the height of ours, I asked myself, "What
is the one thing that will never again
look the same?" To me, the answer was
abundant. Life will never again be
analog, only exponentially virtual.
"During the pandemic, the last bastions
of our defences against technology fell,
and it invaded every nook of our
existence.
"We became one with the machine, and
aspects of our lives I never thought were
digitizable are now being connected to
the mainframe. This worries and excites
me; the tension between my desire to
embrace analog humanity while
attaining virtual modernity is only
growing.
"I am exploring gathering art that helps
us navigate our ever- virtualizing
modern- day social lives. I estimate that
a third of my casual friendships and
get-togethers are now permanently
ported into DM group threads. This fact
does not make me unhappy or disturbed
in the slightest, and I worry that I should
be.
"Ultimately, we all need to better
understand what a healthy virtual
social life is without losing our IRL
friendships, an area you can expect
more from me on.
"I also have a far-off dream to open a
museum of gathering art. What might
civilization look like if our creative
canvases recorded the beauty of
collective oneness? What if we idolized
those who brought us together?
"I believe there is a future coming where
we all have the extra time and the deep
desire to live more socially, and that
vision will need artists and creators to
bring it to life."
J O R D A N
E X P E R IE N T IA L
K A L L M A N
E N T R E P R E N E U R

JULIE VU:
DIGITA L
CREA TOR
073
Julie Vu is a well-known figure on
YouTube, with her channel " Princess
Joules" boasting 554K subscribers and
a growing Instagram presence under
her name with 226K+ follow ers. She is
a prominent model, makeup artist,
spokesperson, and transgender activist.
Julie, who hails from Surrey, BC, and
has Vietnamese roots, has been sharing
her journey through digital platforms for
over two decades. She has extensively
documented her transition from male
to female, delved into beauty trends
through captivating tutorials, shared
lifestyle and travel experiences, and
initiated meaningful conversations
through her candid style of social
media content creation.
Julie's groundbreaking achievements
have not only attracted widespread
attention but also marked her as a
trailblazer in the LGBTQ+ community.
Her historic role as the first
transgender w oman on Big Brother
Canada 9 and her proud
representation of Canada in the
prestigious M iss International Queen
Canada 20 19 beauty pageant, have
solidified her position as a source of
pride and inspiration.
Julie's influential presence extends
beyond her digital platforms. She is a
recognized spokesmodel for a
multitude of prestigious brands,
including Sephora, Aritzia, RW&CO,
Ikea, Excel, Clearly, Dove, and more.
Her successful collaborations with these
brands not only highlight her
professional achievements but also
serve as a testament, inspiring many
with her authenticity and insightful
commentary.

075

IN HER
WORDS
"I realized that I was an entrepreneur at
a very young age. I knew I always
wanted to be my ow n boss and create
something for myself and despite the
lack of support for entrepreneurism in
my environment, I persevered.
"As a member of the LGBTQ+
community, I faced additional societal
barriers that made me feel like I could
nott accomplish anything on my own. But
I refused to let these challenges define
me, and instead, I used them as fuel to
drive my entrepreneurial journey.
"My journey began when I started my
YouTube channel at the age of 19. I was
driven by a deep passion for cosmetics
and a desire to share my unique
perspective with the world. I did not see
many people like me in traditional
mainstream media, and I wanted to
change that. This led me to share not just
my passion for cosmetics, but also the
personal journey of my transition.
"After high school, I started working at
M.A.C. Cosmetics. I enjoyed sharing my
beauty tips on YouTube as a hobby, but
then I realized I w as making more
money online.
"This realization, coupled with my
passion for content creation, led me to
take a leap of faith. I quit my job and
started being a content creator
full- time, a decision that was both
exciting and nerve-wracking.
"My personal journey, particularly my
transition from male to female, played a
significant role in my success on YouTube.
By being open, honest, and vulnerable,
I was able to connect with my audience
on a deeper level. I shared my
experiences in the hope of inspiring
others who might be going through the
same thing, and this authenticity
resonated with my viewers.
"In 20 19, I fulfilled my dream of winning
M iss International Queen in Pattaya,
Thailand! I learned about the pageant
when I started my transition. I was doing
some research about transgender
women, and the pageant popped up. I
instantly fell in love with the organization
and wished that one day I could be just
as beautiful as all the other contestants.
M y supporters motivated me to join
this competition. They believed in me
and suggested that I follow my dreams,
so I did apply and through hardw ork
and perseverance came out on top as
the winner!
"Many will recognize me from Big
Brother Canada Season 9 (20 21). I was
a member of Team Defender. Although I
was the ' first boot' of the season, my
fans rallied, making the early exit less
painful.
"In 20 22, I was honoured to participate
in fashion brand RW&Co' s International
Women' s Day campaign. It was
important to spotlight all the
achievements that women from the past
and present have accomplished and
continue to strive for. I want to inspire
future generations to be bold,
independent, and the best versions of
themselves every day."

077
"In 20 24, I am partnering with Pride
Toronto to celebrate this year's festival
season. The ' Be _____' is ' Be Fearless'
for me and I invite everyone to 'Be
Fearless' with me in their journeys.
"Throughout my journey, I gained a lot of
attention and became a household
name in Canada and around the world
for being one of the first transgender
people sharing their journey online.
"My passion for makeup led me to start
a beauty line called ' Deja Vu Beauty' in
20 21. I began with lip glosses and then
ventured to blushes, lashes, brushes, and
eyeshadows. It was a one- w oman show ,
and that was something I valued.
"I solely managed everything from
product development to shipping,
packaging, etc. However, my travels got
in the way, and I became less available
to maintain my business. This, coupled
with a waning passion, led to the
difficult decision to let go of Deja Vu
Beauty. However, this is not the end of
the story. The return of my brand will be
in the near future with a facelift.
"My life was changing for the better. I
was getting so many campaigns
(RW&CO, Sephora, Suki' s, Four Seasons
Resorts, and more), and was on
billboards across Canada. I was
travelling for work and truly living
my best life.
"A pivotal moment was getting my first
beauty campaign with a major makeup
company, Sephora. That is when I knew I
made it. It was my highest- paying
campaign, but it was less about the
money and more about seeing someone
like me up there.
"Growing up, I did not see someone who
looked like me? an Asian transgender
w oman in beauty campaigns. It was a
surreal moment, and my friends and
family could not be more proud.
"Expanding my brand to different
platforms really helped get my face on
more screens. Initially, it was YouTube,
but then Instagram really blew up.
Collaborations with different creators
were also a big part of expanding the
brand.
"My friend M ay N guyen has always
been by my side. She is a single mother
and a business owner. She owns a hair
salon in Vancouver called Zen Den Hair.
She inspired me to be an entrepreneur
and a strong, independent woman. I give
props to her for being such a Wonder
Woman.
"The early stages of my journey were
more focused on getting to the 'finish
line.' That finish line was my transition.
But now that I have completed that era
of my life, I am shifting my focus to my
health. Beauty has taken a step back,
and this new era of fitness has entered.
Travel and fitness have become a
priority for me, and I am exploring the
possibility of finding a career in this
field.
"My current business model is centred
around finding something I am
passionate about and really sticking with
it. I know it is cliché, but they say if you
find something you love doing, you will
never work a day in your life. My unique
selling point is my authenticity and my
ability to connect with my audience on a
personal level, which I believe sets me
apart from others in the industry."

079

"Being consistent is critical for digital
success. For me, this means being very
consistent with creating and pushing
high- quality content that includes
photos and short-form video content on
the tried and true social media
platforms and being mindful of the new
opportunities as technology creates
new w ays for us to communicate.
"Strategic partnerships with beauty
brands, retailers, travel and adventure
companies are at the top of my list on a
daily basis. I welcome referrals and
introductions to brands that align w ith
my values and what I am building.
"I hope to see my business and brand
grow bigger than ever. I want to be a
household name and change people's
lives through my words and actions.
"Whether that is supporting the
2SLGBQIA+ community or inspiring
others to travel and learn about the
world and its diversity, and encourage
people to strive to be in the best shape
of their lives. I want to move the world
to new levels of understanding,
compassion, and activism."
J U L IE
V U
C O N T E N T
C R E A T O R

RA QUEL
GREBLER
QUESNE:
A HBLO
LUX URY
K NITWEA R
081
From the vibrant landscapes of Chile
and Peru to the urban charm of
Vancouver, Ahblo knitwear is a
testament to Raquel Grebler
Quesne's family's unique journey.
Spanning from the South to the N orth
of America, the West Coast along the
Pacific Ocean has been the Quesne's
home for more than a decade, and it
is this rich cultural tapestry that
inspires every stitch of Ahblo's
creations.
Ahblo values ethical production, safe
working conditions, and traditional
techniques. All of its fair- trade
alpaca clothing is designed here in
Vancouver, and manufactured in Peru
by local artisans who preserve the
pre- Inca traditions linked to alpaca
fibres day to day.
Working closely with 14 w orkshops
and joining more than 120 families,
including approximately 40 % w omen
in Arequipa, Cusco, and Lima, Ahblo's
primary partner, Peruvian Traditions,
implements sustainable and circular
fashion procedures recognized by the
Global Reporting Initiative.
As part of the Fashion Revolution
international movement, Peruvian
Traditions values creativity, the
environment, and the people equally.
They assist Ahblo in sourcing certified
high-quality alpaca yarns of known
origin that are treated according to
international ecological standards
and tested for harmful substances.

Peruvian Traditions is a Fair
Trade- certified company, pays
workers fair w ages, promotes
sustainable production methods, and
fosters positive community
development.
Yarn supplier, M ichell, has 87+ years
of experience processing alpaca
fibres, it is a member of the
International Alpaca Association.
As a leader in implementing respectful
shearing practices and ensuring the
care of the alpacas, Michell has been
awarded the Responsible Alpaca
Standard certification.
Michell complies with international
ecological standards and has been
awarded the OEKO- TEX 10 0, Organic
Content Standard and Global
Organic Textile Standard.
Ahblo's baby alpaca wool pieces are
dyed with natural colourants derived
from plants or minerals.
Ahblo uses treat flowers and other
vegetables, including the Tarw i
flow er, beetroots, purple corns,
achiotes, molles, chilcas, and
eucalyptus.
By choosing to colour its alpaca fibres
the natural way, it eliminates the need
for harsh synthetic dyes and reduces
pollution and minimizes the use of
water and energy in the dyeing
process.
IN HER WORDS
083
"I realized I was an entrepreneur in
my late twenties to early thirties. My
entrepreneurial journey became
prominent when I co-owned and
co-directed Grebler Quesne
Compañía Limitada, which involved
owning various restaurants and a
gourmet import and shop in Santiago
de Chile from 20 11 to 20 17.
"This realization was both exciting
and challenging. My environment was
supportive of entrepreneurial
endeavours, as evidenced by my
family-run business in Chile. I
transitioned from academia to
entrepreneurship, blending my
philosophical and economic insights
with practical business acumen.
"My most memorable experiences in
business was managing my
restaurants' daily operations and
marketing strategies. I have many
humorous and heart-warming
anecdotes involving navigating the
culinary preferences of diverse
customers and then becoming friends
with some of them. This also taught me
the importance of adaptability and
customer- centric strategies.
"My journey progressed through a
blend of education and practical
business ventures. After leaving Chile, I
moved to Vancouver in 20 18 and
pursued a M arketing M anagement
Diploma."

085

"My experiences across different
continents enriched my understanding
of global markets and sustainable
practices.
"Moving to Vancouver in 20 18 marked
a significant life change for me. I
travelled extensively, including a
four-month trip to Patagonia, Bolivia,
and Peru with my husband, daughter,
and son. This period was marked by
personal grow th and new
professional opportunities.
"The pivotal moment came when
founded Ahblo Luxury Knitwear. The
realization of the potential and
beauty of Alpaca w ool, coupled with
my passion for sustainability,
confirmed that I was on the right path.
"I pushed Ahblo to the next level by
focusing on the ethical sourcing of
Alpaca fibres and developing the
Alpaca Allure collection. I utilized my
marketing expertise to build the
brand's presence and highlight
Alpaca wool's natural beauty and
practicality.
"Family, mentors, and business
partners supported my journey. The
co-director in Chile, educators, and
peers from my academic and
professional experiences played
crucial roles in believing in my vision
and providing support.
"My life is growing with the successful
launch of Ahblo's Alpaca Allure
collection. My business is moving
forward as planned, focusing more on
sustainability and luxury. New
responsibilities include expanding the
brand's market presence and ensuring
ethical sourcing.
"Ahblo Luxury Knitwear focuses on
creating high- quality, ethically
sourced knitwear from Alpaca wool.
"The brand offers elegant,
comfortable, and sustainable
clothing. Readers should be interested
because Ahblo provides timeless
pieces that reflect a commitment to
the environment and traditional
craftsmanship.
"To get through the next two quarters,
Ahblo will accomplish increased
brand awareness through focused and
specialized campaigns highlighting
our unique product and aligning with
collaborators and influencers who
have strong, loyal followings and a
passion for the planet.
"Ahblo has been featured in Vogue
Ukraine and aligns with the Holt
Renfrew H Project, N et Sustain from
N et- A- Porter, and GOOP and would
benefit from strategic partnerships
with retailers and investment in
sustainable production. Financial
support for marketing campaigns
and expanding the product line
would help elevate Ahblo to new
heights. From an investor, I expect not
only capital but a corporate
background in building companies
with fashion at the heart, sustainable
fashion knowledge, and a strong track
record in international fashion.
"By the end of 20 25, I envision Ahblo
as a leading name in sustainable
luxury knitwear with a strong
international presence. Five years
from now, Ahblo aims to set industry
standards for ethical fashion, with a
loyal customer base valuing quality
and sustainability."
R A Q U E L G R E B L E R Q U E S N E
A H B L O L U X U R Y K N IT W E A R

REECE SIM S:
SIP SPIRITS
CONSULTING
087
Reece Sims is an entrepreneur,
educator, and w riter who focuses on
drink trends, flavour pairings, and
beverage market insights. As a former
aw ard- w inning bartender and top
Sales M anager for over 80 liquor
brands, she saw an opportunity in the
beverage alcohol market and founded
SIP Spirits Consulting in 20 22.
As a 'sensory marketing' focused firm,
SIP Spirits specializes in delivering
data-driven insights and crafting
immersive, educational brand
experiences. From aroma analysis to
taste strategies and tactile engagement,
the company harnesses multi-sensory
stimuli to evoke emotions, elicit
feedback for beverage brands, and
drive consumer engagement.
Over a short two-and-a-half-year
period, the company has worked with
over 10 0 different products and
facilitated more than 80 focus- group
type tastings with a program called
Flavor Camp? in BC and Alberta.
IN HER
WORDS
"I have always wanted to be an
entrepreneur. Growing up, my dad was a
consultant who worked from home,
managed his own time, and was able to
charge what he believed his time was
worth. It all sounded very glamorous."

089

"In reality, with unlimited income
potential and ow nership over your
time, there is also an immense amount of
instability, which I have always been
mindful of. When I was younger, I did not
think of myself as entrepreneurial.
"Still, I was always creative,
competitive, an opportunist, and
diversified (always balancing
involvement in multiple clubs, projects,
and jobs simultaneously). And looking
back, those four characteristics, in my
opinion, are essential to
entrepreneurship.
"The idea of entrepreneurship came to
light in my first year at the University of
Victoria when I met Kyle Vucko,
President of the UVic Commerce
Students Society.
"At the time, Kyle and his business
partner were starting up a business idea
they had, and he sold me on the idea of
pursuing a business degree, which I
ended up doing. At this time, his idea
was the beginning stages of Indochino,
which has grown to become North
America's largest made- to- measure suit
retailer.
"Flash forward a few years to my fourth
year of BCOM , where we had to choose
our specialization, and Entrepreneurship
was one of the four options.
"At that time, I felt too insecure to
choose it, as that is what the 'cool kids'
were doing, and I did not feel like I was
part of that crowd, so I decided on
International Business instead.
"Looking back now, my reasoning was
ridiculous, but clearly, it was an
inevitable calling that happened with or
without that specialization."
"From a very young age, I was very
eager to earn income to buy the things I
wanted.
"When I was 9 or 10 , I helped a friend
with their paper route. I worked extra
hard to deliver the majority of the
papers enthusiastically, thinking that I
would get most of the money. After only
a few dollars, I quickly realized that as
long as you work for someone else, they
control your income potential. While I
did not start a small business as a child
or teen, I worked multiple jobs during
the summers to maximize my income
potential.
"During my teen years, I worked my way
up to becoming a Sw ing M anager
position at M cDonald' s. I also balanced
being a w eekend receptionist at a car
dealership and a part- time
administrative assistant at a law firm
during the summer between high school
and university.
"While all three positions sounded
professional on paper, one of my friends
told me that if I became a busser or
hostess at a restaurant, I could earn tips.
The idea of making additional
compensation dictated by how hard you
worked appealed to me, so I quit my job
at McDonalds to take a busser position
at a local M exican restaurant. That is
definitely when an entrepreneurial
mindset w as sparked.
"A blurry line exists between adopting a
' fail fast' business approach and having
' shiny object' syndrome. Over the last
ten years, I have had many ideas for
digital and physical products that I
thought were good. However, after
countless hours of scheming and
developing the concept from prototype
to launch, I quickly lost interest."

091
"From jewelry to resume templates to
printed posters, in retrospect, what
drove the pursuit was the thought that I
could make money off of them. However,
I have learned that making money, for
me at least, cannot be the sole purpose
on which to base your business; it needs
to be solving a problem you are
passionate about. Over time, you will
test, revise, and evolve until you get into
flow, and the money will follow. With
that, however, I have learned that you
cannot just follow your passion and
expect to make money; you need to
have a vision, forecast, be strategic,
advocate for yourself and what you are
doing, and, most importantly, get
comfortable w ith rejection and making
mistakes, both will happen a lot.
"When I first incorporated SIP Spirits in
20 22, I was still working full-time as the
M arketing & Sales M anager at Lavish
Liquid and The Bar Cart.
"My boss, who also happens to be
one of my best friends in the industry,
Chris Chuy, was always supportive of
the side hustles that I was doing.
"Once the stringent pandemic
requirements had lifted (sort of), I was
eager to start facilitating educational
tastings for two purposes: first, to
cultivate community again, and second,
to fill a gap in the market for beverage
brands I felt was lacking.
"I own two businesses currently. My first
business, Reece Sims Branding &
Strategy, was registered in 20 14 as a
way to do consulting in addition to my
full-time employment. Whereas the
majority of revenue was derived from
BTS social media management for
many years, I pivoted from managing
others' presences to monetizing my own
as an Industry Expert."

"So services such as public speaking
engagements, panels, judging, freelance
writing, or social media content creation
are invoiced through this company as it
is a Sole Proprietorship.
"My second business, SIP Spirits, was
incorporated in February 20 22 and is
focused, as formerly mentioned, on
sensory marketing for beverage brands
and everything and anything Flavor
Camp? -related; these are entities of
their own that I intend to scale to where
I am not essential to business operations
because there are systems and a team
that can handle the day- to- day while I
focus on the vision.
"I identify as a calculated risk taker, so I
had a plan before diving off the deep
end, so to speak. I had saved up enough
short- term savings to cover my living
expenses for six months (and also had
emergency savings). In addition, I will be
honest: I had very few responsibilities
outside of myself. As a renter I did not
have a mortgage, do not have children,
and I had a supportive partner who
encouraged me to take the leap.
"The most significant mindset shift when
switching from working for someone to
working for yourself is your perception
of time.
"In starting your own business, you are no
longer thinking about weeks or months;
you are thinking about revenue over the
year or perhaps even a decade or
longer.
"Now, entering my third year of full-time
entrepreneurship, I am reinvesting as
much profit as possible to grow the
business and paying myself very little.
Bootstrapping can be uncomfortable
and unglamorous behind the scenes, but
I would not have it any other way.
"I have not had that pivotal moment yet
where I am sure that it will all work out -
which is all part of the fun (or perhaps
anguish) of entrepreneurship. But I think
that the moment when I realized I was
all- in on the business was when I
invested thousands of dollars in hiring a
Law firm to apply for the trademarks for
Flavor Camp? in multiple countries as
well as the copyrights, which is so
important, especially when working in a
creative profession. Protect your
intellectual property, people!
"This year, there are three things that I
am focused on to scale the Flavor
Camp? side of the business. First, what
can I outsource to free up more time to
focus on revenue- generating
activities? Research, data processing,
bookkeeping, and accounting are now
being outsourced to some fantastic
contractors (who currently all happen to
be women). Second, I am working on
testing some strategic partnerships to
expand the in-person part of Flavor
Camp? further across Canada and also
into the USA. Third, I am testing multiple
revenue streams for the business to see
what works and what does not, from
creating physical products to launching
an online paid membership option to
additional in- person services.
"Countless people worldwide have
helped me immensely along this
entrepreneurial journey; however, these
four, based in Vancouver, have been
essential in the beginning stages of the
business.
"M aggi M ei (@magmei) has been my
number one supporter since day one of
launching the in-person event arm with
SIP Spirits and has been such a
cheerleader, selflessly using her vivacious
presence in the industry to promote and
advocate for me."

"Chris Chuy (@thecocktailtailor) is one
of my best friends in the industry with an
incredible charisma that is infectious in
the industry. He genuinely cared about
my building legacy in the industry,
whether that was with his company or on
my own.
"Eva Pang (@oneweedram) is a brilliant
and analytical person who has been an
unofficial business advisor throughout the
years. Typically, when I have a "wild
idea," I will pitch it to her before
surveying my audience, just to act as an
initial filter.
"In phase one of the Flavor Camp?
program (before it was even called
Flavor Camp? ), James Bornn
(@jamesebornn) was one of the first
believers on the client side to
understand the company's vision and
enthusiastically committed a number of
brands in his company's portfolio to the
programs.
"Finally this year, imbibers are really
starting to notice Flavor Camp? as a
brand and recognize that we are doing
something different to disrupt the
industry. Similarly, I am beginning to see
a transition from push marketing to pull
marketing, with brands wanting to
participate in our programs, which is
exciting.
"The most significant difference this
year compared to the last two years,
operations- w ise, is having a plan for the
entire year to follow with programs that
already have proof of concept and
cutting the deficit resulting programs.
"Many of my business decisions are
based on data this year, but with that, I
still let my intuition guide my
decision-making - for those of you who
know about Human Design, I am a
Splenic Authority and lean into it.
"Our business model is multi- faceted,
but on a consumer level, Flavor Camp?
develops your sensory skills by providing
a universal language for tasting spirits.
Through this, we teach guests how to
identify, describe and compare spirits
and apply this know ledge to other
ingredients like cocktails and food
pairings. With this focus in mind, our
touching points to build the community
are online with our interactive monthly
challenges, in-person events, and
customized corporate gatherings.
Bottom line: good taste is a skill; we are
here to teach it.
"By the end of 20 25, we will be running
Flavor Camp? classes across Canada
and in a few major markets in the USA.
This will also allow for more robust,
national market feedback for
taste-based insights and competitor
analysis.
"Five years from now, I project that there
will be over one million members in our
community, and the tasting systems will
be used multi- nationally as an
organizational system and educational
tool in on-premise and retail. We want
to be the universal language of tasting
and trend forecasting for spirits and all
other alcoholic and non-alcoholic
beverages."
R E E C E
S IM S
S IP S P IR IT S
C O N S U L T IN G
093

095

PORTFOLIO.YVR
VOLUM E 2 / ISSUE 4
Helen Siw ak , EIC & Publisher
EcoLux Luv M ark eting & Communications Inc.
PHOTO CREDITS:
FRONT/ BACK COVER: COURTESY NANA'S KITCHEN
001-002: MERCEDES BENZ CANADA
003-014: COURTESY NANA'S KITCHEN
015-024: KUNA PHOTOGRAPHY
025-026: MICHELLE DIAMOND
027-030: PETER HOLST
031-040: COURTESY OF LUXX NOVA BRIDAL
041-042: RITCHIE PO
043-044: HELEN SIWAK
045-046: RITCHIE PO
047-050: HELEN SIWAK
051-052: RITCHIE PO
053-054: BRITTANY MICHALCHUK
055-056: IAN MACDOUGALL
057-060: BRITTANY MICHALCHUK
061-062: CHAMELEON VIDEO MARKETING AGENCY
063-064: COURTESY CAPILANO COLLAGE
065-072: COURTESY JORDAN KALLMAN
/ KUNA PHOTOGRAPHY
073-080: COURTESY JULIE VU
081-086: COURTESY RAQUEL GREBLER QUESNE
087-094: COURTESY REECE SIMS
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