Capital Ideas: Entrepreneurial role models
Famous and not-so-famous named as business heroes
“My role model was my dad (Jim Cunningham), who ran a refrigeration/heating business in Camrose for over 30 years... Because of his influence, I wanted to start my own business.” — Linnea Eldred, president of LS Enterprises Inc. (saorsabusinesscentres.com) “Donna Worthington [of Investment Planning Counsel]... has worked extremely hard and smart as a woman entrepreneur. Among her many achievements in business and philanthropy, she has managed to design her life in a way that exudes self-fulfillment and happiness.” — Image and brand manager Dawn Gordon of Dawn Gordon & Company “My entrepreneurial role model has to be Arlene Dickinson... I really appreciate [how] she conducts business, in that if her client’s morals and ethics do not align with hers — no matter the potential income — she will not work with them.” — Faye Holt, co-owner and CMO of Dayhome Registry (dayhomeregistry.com) “Alberto ‘Beto’ Perez, the creator of Zumba!... He has turned his passion into a hugely successful company while bringing joy and improving the lives of millions of people around the world.” — Amanda Lathrop, marketing and communications co-ordinator at CAREERS: The Next Generation (nextgen.org) “Nadja Piatka, an unemployed single mom with debt, became an entrepreneur with McDonald’s and Subway as clients... She truly is courageous, intelligent, gracious, gorgeous, giving, remarkable, inspiring, compassionate, passionate and determined.” — Diane Luzny, owner of InnovAID (innovaid.ca) “Leah Podollan is a true leader... I admire her professionalism, her integrity, and her values of giving back.” — Shannon Morris of Spa Industry Association of Canada (leadingspasofcanada.com) “My grandmother (Isabel Brewer)! Over 55 years ago she delivered two consistent messages: You can be whatever you believe you can be, and know why you are here. Those messages continue to guide my life and my decisions today.” — Linda Maul, founder of Creating People Power Inc. (creatingpeoplepower.ca) “Elon Musk... Believing in what you are doing will get you results if you keep innovation one of the priorities in your business.” — Ali Salman, co-founder of Rapid Boost Marketing (rapidboostmarketing.com) “Definitely Tammy Johnston, owner of Financial Guides... [H]er clients and colleagues respect her, her opinion and her ‘no nonsense, get to the bottom of it’ attitude.” — Laura Saueracker, cofounder of The Resourceful Lady (theresourcefullady.com) “My role model is Ernie Zelinski. He’s a successful author and lives by a very simple set of rules: Live within your means, do what you love and treat yourself with the odd indulgence from time to time.” — Jeanette Stead, part-time instructor at NAIT “My first boss, Vicki Van Vliet Vaitkunas... demonstrated the importance of working passionately and honestly, which is important for success.” — Emmy Stuebing, executive director of Alberta Emerald Foundation (emeraldfoundation.ca) “Richard Branson [is my entrepreneurial role model]. He still innovates constantly and [is] willing to do just about anything.” — Allan Taylor, IT manager for Photo Gift World (photogiftworld.com) “Milena Santoro... is a successful and accomplished event planner, speaker and educator. As a role model and mentor, she is encouraging, knowledgeable and patient.” — Michelle Wispinski, executive corporate events co-ordinator at Shippers Supply Inc. (photogiftworld.com) “Sid Dickens is my business role model... [He] still manages to make his small-run company a worldwide name without having to export his product overseas.” — Julie Witten-Land, owner of SALTED Studio (saltedstudio.com)