We sat down with two rising entrepreneurs from this year’s Summer Company program Navan Simmons of N7slens and Michael Ewing of Media by Michael on the Evolving Entrepreneurship podcast to talk business, creativity, and the hustle behind the highlights. From capturing sports action to creating standout visuals for athletes and brands, these student founders are already making big waves in Southwestern Ontario.
In this week’s podcast episode, Naomi Clement shares how she turned a passion for pottery into a sustainable business through teaching, community, and creativity and by building a repeat and recurring revenue stream with her own membership space. If you're in the arts and culture space, her journey will inspire you to think differently about how you grow.
In this bonus episode of Evolving Entrepreneurship, we chat with Intern Meredith about her time at the Stratford Perth Centre for Business, her time managing the Summer Company program and her thoughts on entrepreneurship from a Gen Z perspective.
From staffing challenges to industry pivots, Shelley Windsor of Windsor Hospitality Group has seen it all and led through it all. In this week’s podcast episode, we sit down with the trailblazing entrepreneur to explore: Her leadership approach to managing a large team How the hospitality industry has evolved in the last 5 years What it took to survive (and thrive) through a global crisis Whether you’re in food service or any service-based business, this conversation is packed with lessons on resilience, people-first leadership, and long-term vision.
This week on Evolving Entrepreneurship, we sit down with Marian deWever, broker, owner, and leader, to talk about building a brokerage rooted in values, integrity, and genuine care for families. Tune in as Marian shares how she’s redefining success in real estate beyond sales, toward service and community.
This week on the podcast, we’re joined by Janis Antonio, owner of Dunny’s Source for Sports in Stratford & St. Marys. Janis shares what it’s like to step into a long-standing community business, lead a multi-generational team, and navigate the unique challenges of managing Gen Z employees, all while honouring Stratford’s deep sports legacy. Whether you're running a local business or navigating workplace change, this episode is packed with insight, heart, and real-life leadership lessons.
In this conversation, Holly and Janis discuss the essential transition from merely surviving to thriving, particularly for small business owners. She emphasizes the importance of mindset, aligning actions with personal values, and focusing on high-value tasks rather than simply doing more. This approach not only enhances personal well-being but also fosters effective leadership.
This week on the podcast, we sit down with Emily van Straten, HR consultant, speaker, and author of We’re Human. Not Resources., to explore what actually makes a workplace future-ready.
In this bonus episode of Evolving Entrepreneurship, we chat with Cindy Teknedjian about her internship at the Stratford Perth Centre for Business, her Change Management studies, and what she thinks about the world of entrepreneurship.