Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
Entrepreneurship in 2022 is asking itself important questions that go beyond the traditional adage of “adding seats around the table.” Instead, it asks, what infrastructure do diverse entrepreneurs need to succeed in their small businesses? How do you create that infrastructure? And what magic takes place when you make room to address the needs of entrepreneurs who are part of diverse groups?
The following resources answer those questions. Originating from a plurality of entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creators, they shed light on challenges for entrepreneurs and small business owners from equity-seeking groups, including IBPOC, disabled, and neurodiverse entrepreneurs, and highlight and the ways they’ve used their talents, business acumen, and social savvy to create opportunities within. We’ll take you through the entrepreneurial journey, from beginning your research as an entrepreneur to connecting with your community to taking advantage of the programs and resources that exist to help make your business dream into reality. We hope these voices inspire and strengthen.
Be sure to check out the other posts in our Small Business Month blog series, and swing on by the curated displays at David Lam Management Research Library, running from October 19 to Oct 26, 2022. Have yourself a prosperous Small Business Month!
Step 2: Connecting with your Community
The entrepreneurs and small business owners below give voice to their challenges and build their platforms through community-building in real time. Whether their actual voices reach you as you drive to work, or you scroll through their TikTok videos, their social media savvy and intuition for connection will surely inform your ideas about how to build your business’ presence and invite others in.
Podcasts
Black Canadian Content Creators
Summary: Hosted by Facebook community founder and podcast host/producer Sherley Joseph, this seasonal interview-style series follows online or offline Canadian creatives who identify as Black, African, Africadian, Caribbean, Mixed originators living in Canada, or ex-pat creators living abroad. They are photographers, artists, journalists, influencers, here to share how they started creating and how they’re moving forward with a creative sense deeply rooted in their identities.
Our episode picks:
For Nicole Bedeau, whose digital marketing business seeks to help others gain the attention and trust of their ideal customers and audience, authenticity is not just a buzzword. It’s so important to her that she’s now tackling the dearth of black-owned media in Canada with her project All Black TO. Join her as she discusses how she’s searching for ways to amplify black content creators, community workers, resources, and opportunities, armed with her sharp marketing acumen and a foundational knowledge of building your brand while Black. As she says, you have nothing to lose by trying.
Aquila Farrell has always been a fashion enthusiast. A designer with a keen sense of style that mixes high-end streetwear with her own handmade church designers, she’s been a biochemist, an email marketing coach with ConvertKit, and now a full time blogger and designer under the name MaravalMade, under which she designs face masks for people who like the feeling of “home” out of her own Oakland home. This episode is filled with digital content creation gems and tips and lessons you won’t want to miss.
Media Indigena
Summary: A podcast dedicated to discussing Indigenous and First Nations current affairs, with a focus on happenings in BC and Alberta. Several episodes touch upon Indigenous perspectives and voices in business.
Our episode picks:
This two-part series discusses the colonial history of the Hudson Bay Company, which exploited Indigenous peoples and lands while promoting the nation known as Canada’s foundational myth- that of the “great white north”, unspoiled and free. In the process, the company irrevocably intertwined itself with that myth, becoming above reproach. Or has it? Rick Harp, Ken Williams, and Adele Perry discuss the sordid history of the department store while analyzing whether its latest attempt at reconciliation, the gifting of one of its most iconic buildings to a First Nations organization, is lip service or true initiative.
In this “mini-INDIGENA” episode, Rick Harp is joined by a number of regulars on the podcast to discuss, amongst other topics, whether the recent haul of awards by Indigenous creatives at the Canadian screen awards means that it’s finally time to toss “Indigenous” labels, which serve to separate rather than include in some opinions. They’ll also discuss the toppling of the “Gassy Jack” statue in downtown Vancouver and illegal poaching of white sage in California.
This two-part series discusses the complicated history and phaseout of fish farms on British Columbia’s Central Coast. Phasing out the farms is a vote for the restoration of the region’s once-thriving wild salmon population, but not everyone is glad to see them disappear. KimTallBear and Candis Callison discuss whether their phaseout represents a step forward into a sustainable future for species central to the culture of the First Nations of the BC coast.
Unreserved
Summary: Unreserved is a radio space for Indigenous voices- cousins, elders, aunties, and heroes. Rosanna Deerchild guides us on the path to better understand our shared story. Together, we learn and unlearn, laugh and become gentler in all our relations.
Our episode picks:
Four Indigenous techies and creators come together in this episode to discuss their takes on technology and the project they’ve created that reflect an Indigenous worldview and concept of care. Tamara Goddard, David Fierro, and Amira Carrier talk about their Indigenous NFT project, 400 Drums, which raises money for programming and initiatives focused on Indigeneity throughout the country; Amelia Winger-Bearskin talks about how she grounds her work in AI and VR in Indigenous ethics; and Meagan Byrne, co-founder of Achimostawinan Games, shares how Indigenous designers change the way we look a the future.
REVUP Your Potential with Hilda Gan
Summary: Hilda Gan, who built her business People Bright Consulting from the ground up, invites those who love to share their experiences and learn through storytelling to her REVUP podcast, which shares the successes and struggles of entrepreneurs and business owners as well as HR tips.
Our episode picks:
After hearing the stories that business owners would tell other entrepreneurs, but never share out to prospects and clients, Katherine Burrows discovered how effective these stories would be at scaling their businesses and profitability. Her riveting personal alchemy of literary storytelling, human psychology, business marketing, and passion provides the perfect blueprint for YOU to have your voice heard in a busy world. This conversation gives listeners insights into the importance of crafting compelling business stories, tips on choosing the right words, seeking help and coaching, and much more!
After experiencing first-hand the struggles that Asian Women face in society and in their careers, Sheena Yap Chan embarked on her mission to help Asian Women boost their confidence to live their authentic selves, create a voice in the world, and create a stronger representation for Asian women. In this episode, Sheena discusses her background and mission, diversity and representation in the workplace, and treating people with respect.
Pack Heavy
Summary: Host Hayden Thompson describes the Pack Heavy mentality as an informed and deliberate one. You gather market intelligence; put a plan into place; organize your resources; and confidently test your hypothesis against reality. Joined by a new entrepreneur sharing their story every week, he invites anyone ready to take on the Pack Heavy mentality to strap on a backpack and wander into a thicket of adventure, advice, and success.
Our episode picks:
Jordan Hocking, Indigenous owner of local Vancouver Sriracha brand Sriracha Revolver, spent years developing the beautiful aesthetic and brand identity associated with her hot sauce’s appearance on shelves today. She shares this journey and gives insight into the value that spending time upfront on brand development has brought to her business, especially in its formative years, and discusses how this sets Sriracha Revolver apart as a sleek and enduring choice for your kitchen table.
TikTok Creators
Lady W showcases both the process and finished creation- her beautiful powwow dresses. Watch to see how she creates her intricate designs, plus see them in action at powwows in her Treaty 3 home.
While homesick for her favourite Asian dishes while at university, Tiffy got creative with ingredients and began experimenting, eventually cooking large meals for all her housemates. Today, she films her daily recipes and 60-second tutorials on how to create them for her community on TikTok.
Sapling and Flint is an on-reserve jewelry manufacturer located in the Six Nations of the Grand River territory in Ontario. Owners Dakota and Jesse Brant share their Haudenosaunee heritage through gold and silver “conversation pieces that share the story of Turtle Island”.
Mei Pang used tattoos, makeup, and shaving her head to navigate a childhood in which she felt “too white for the Asian kids and too Asian for the white kids”. Now, she’s amassing a community of followers on TikTok and undertaking collaborations with major beauty brands like Blush Lingerie.
Skoden Indigenous Film Festival, held at Simon Fraser University, celebrates the works of Canadian Indigenous filmmakers and visual creators, connecting them to one another to celebrate each other’s work and inviting the Vancouver community to do so.
aaniin means hello in Anishinaabemowin, and aaniin.hello’s streetwear aims to Indigenize colonized spaces through its inclusion of Ojibwe syllabics into your wardrobe.
Skwálwen’s skincare products are entirely based in Indigenous ethnobotany. Creator Leigh Joseph (Styawat) harvests flower and herb from her native Squamish land sustainably, and names each product lovingly to reflect the Indigenous names of the plants they are made from.
Growing up, Emson Mallari didn’t see many Asian fashion influencers, and was discouraged from his love of fashion. He’s changing that now by becoming a fashion role model with a platform 2 million strong and growing.
Indigenous Tourism BC invites you to connect with Indigenous creators in British Columbia through their featured TikToks! Discover Indigenous lands and the people who steward them.
Check out these accelerators and initiatives for IBPOC entrepreneurs too!
TikTok Accelerator for Indigenous Entrepreneurs | The National Screen Institute’s new TikTok Accelerator for Indigenous entrepreneurs aims to empower Indigenous creators with unique stories and products to share by teaching them how to grow their TikTok presence, hone their storytelling skills in the 60-second-video format, and build their digital careers.
Accelerator for Black Creators and Producers in Immersive Media | A partnership between the OYA Black Arts Coalition and the Canadian Film Centre, the Accelerator for Black creatives, which is currently calling for a second cohort slated to begin in mid-November 2022, will increase the capacity of participants working in immersive media spaces through hands-on mentorship, networking opportunities, and a group prototyping project.
Library Resources on Social Media
UBC Library is on TikTok! Well, more specifically, our @businesslibrarian is! If you typically prefer your small business and entrepreneurship-related information presented in fun, little video clips, then @businesslibrarian is who you want to spend time with on TikTok. We recommend her “Must Read Books for Entrepreneurs” posts.
The UBC Vancouver campus is situated within the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and the UBC Okanagan campus is situated within the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation Territory.