I started my entrepreneurial career in my early teens, helping my parents in their family owned insurance business. Alongside my father, I learned about the insurance business, and how to build a business based on relationship and core values.
I’m a natural opportunity maximizer, and saw ways to make the business more profitable; I revamped our business development approach, added additional professional associations to our client roster, and took the lead for client sales. We continued to expand our business across Canada.
In 1996 I gave birth to my daughter. 3 weeks later, I was back at work, newborn in arms while growing the business and taking care of clients.
My husband joined our business as the succession plan for my father, taking over the life and group benefits area of the business. That meant all of our eggs were in one basket – all of our family income was coming from one source. We had an even bigger Why for succeeding!
Over the years our business won several awards, we wrote a book together, maintained strong relationships with Associations and clients across Canada, and continued to speak at various events. As our business expanded, we experienced many challenges and the occasional disruption. What kept us motivated was our company Vision and Values and my personal focus and determination.
Being a life long learner, I joined masterminds to collaborate with others. And, I invested over $250k in my education as an entrepreneur, applied what I learned, grew the insurance business over 10 times, and successfully sold it in 2020.
Over the decades I have been in business, I have found that the key to success in any business lies in having a clear vision and well-defined strategy, and also in fostering connections and relationships with others. In my experience, the best way to achieve this balance is to bring together the qualities of both masculine and feminine energy. The masculine energy provides the drive and focus needed to achieve goals and succeed, while the feminine energy brings a sense of collaboration, empathy, and connection that is essential for building relationships and creating a supportive network. This is the kind of energy I bring to my work with my clients; the drive and focus to help them through a disruption, balanced with empathy, collaboration, and listening when helping with strategic planning or masterminding.
When I’m not working with clients, I’m hanging out at my recently built dream home in South Western Ontario or travelling for fun and business events. I’m an avid reader averaging 40 books a year, and love buying flowers and other goodies at the roadside stands close to my home.
My passion project is helping to raise funds and awareness for a non-profit that helps abused youth through equine facilitation. The mission is to help these youth to become free, empowered, and confident in their future, knowing how to achieve economic self sufficiency. I am proud to sponsor the non-profit and help to advance its mission and vision.