Ok don’t laugh. The following post was inspired by my sourdough starter! And what it taught me about building a brand. Bear with me. Like so many others during lockdown I decided I was going to try something I kept putting off—bake sourdough bread. The trick though is that you need something called a sourdough starter. True sourdough starters are made with only water and flour. Once you get this going you’re gold. Seems simple, right? Nope. At one point I had gone through a 10lb bag of flour and I kept messing up the starter. (Yes, I did feel […]

Earlier in the pandemic I went to the drive thru at Tim Horton’s. I remember saying to the employee at the window, “I came here today just to have some sense of ‘normal’ again.” She stopped dead in her tracks and I could see her eyes getting glossy from fighting back tears. She understood what I meant. Not only is Tim Horton’s quintessentially Canadian and familiar, what I was truly craving was connection. Isolation has been hard, even for an introvert like me! (yes I am, for realz) As I drove away that day with my dark roast (black), the […]

Interestingly, one of the things I get asked to do a lot is to write website bios. I hear common things like, “I don’t know what to say”, “I don’t think I’m interesting”, or “What should I say?” If this sounds familiar, don’t fret you are definitely not alone. Now, I don’t know about you but the first thing I do when I’m about to give my money to someone for a service or collaborate with them on a project—I read their bio. I want to know who I’m considering working with or contracting. Conveying who you are and what […]

I have seen a lot of misunderstanding about the meaning and relevance of public relations. PR is not a buzz word, it’s a lifeline for your business—especially during COVID-19. PR gets a bad reputation but I’m here to tell you that the function is vital for your organization. Public relations is about building relationships. Connection and consistent communication is how to build your brand and credibility. PR is different than marketing. Marketing is ultimately about selling. PR is about relationship management. That is, the relationship between you and your internal/external audiences: (potential) clients; stakeholders; investors; and the media. Are you communicating […]

In 2016, the Huffington Post named Nova Scotia’s Tyler Simmonds one of the “10 inspirational people under 30 you should be following on Twitter.” An artist and advocate, he is using his voice and talents to create a safe space to discuss mental illness, he encourages vulnerability and how that can be a source of healing and power. His message is resonating. His first short film, In My Mind is award-winning. In 2019 he was awarded the JRG Society for the Arts Award to develop his documentary There’s Soul in Our Soil—exploring the link between mental health with systematic and […]

I have so much respect for Lisa Drader-Murphy not just as an international fashion designer but also as a savvy businesswoman with an inspiring work ethic. Tune in to this episode of Beyond Our Borders to find out how she has pivoted during our global crisis. We cover everything from when she first started to much needed hair cuts! Highlights: “Part of being a successful entrepreneur is that you’re always learning from mistakes.” A supply of high-end vintage wool she stumbled upon in an employer’s warehouse set in motion what would become a fashion empire. Her company is completely vertical […]