Canada’s Business Leaders are in the House!

There's nothing like waking up to birds chirping and a sunrise over the Piedmont to get the blood flowing (especially after doing a couple sun salutations just to pay tribute to the wonders around me).  We are staying in a mountain town, Stresa, on Lake Maggiore.  The conference itself is being held at the Regina Palace hotel, one that would put the Chateau Lake Louise or Chateau Frontenac to shame (sorry to say).  Today is going to be interesting, if dinner is what I am basing my assumption on. 

Last night the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) hosted a dinner for the Canadian delegates.  At the table were some of the humblest and most successful "young" business leaders in our country.  I am still amazed to be considered part of that group.  To my left sat a brother team - Andrew and Anthony Sukow who head up Advanced E-Commerce Research Systems that has major banks, academic institutions and multi-national companies as clients (and they are only 4 years old!); world class executives on their Board of Directors and typically quiet Victoria, BC demeanour.  The focus of their company is on internet e-commerce market analysis.  To my right sat Harry Chemko a member of the CYBF Board of Directors and recipient of fastest growing company in Canada a few years ago for his E-Commerce company Elastic Path Software.  He was part of a group that met with PM Stephen Harper in March to lobby for supports for young entrepreneurs and small business owners.  Further down the table were Derek Major and his girlfriend Kathy.  Derek is founder of Eligeo, IT based in Calgary.  He, like me, is just out of the gate with only a couple of years behind him.  Derek has integrated community into his business structure, making the commitment to donate 2% of profits to Brown Bagging it for Kids, a non-profit organization based in Calgary providing meals for children from low-income families during the school day.  PEI is represented by a married couple - Kenny and Klasina Driskoll.  This husband and wife team head up Higher Design - a web-development company focusing on digital video technology.  They are our "official camera crew" and are documenting this experience.  I hope to be able to post some of their work on this site.  And the last business represented last night is also a husband and wife team - Anthony and Saskia Stille founders of the English School of Canada.  They have been in business for a number of years and have brought their children to experience Italy as well (I am a huge proponent of youth travel - more about that another time).

The real purpose of the dinner was to provide us with the opportunity to meet with Canada's First Secretary on Trade and Economics to Italy, Carine Graziano.  Ms. Garizano has been with the Canadian government for a number of years, based in Rome, her role is to connect Canadian businesses with those wanting to work with Italian companies.  What she pointed out, which I found especially interesting, was that Italy can be a gateway to other EU countries (similarly, other EU countries can be the gateway to Italy) and their business communities.  This happened over dinner in fact, I was sharing a story about a client who is looking at leaving a legacy that supports breast cancer rapid detection and treatment and how one of the world's leading medical centres is in Milan and I have been trying to set up a meeting with the head Doctor.  Carine handed me a business card and said to contact her and her colleague who specializes in healthcare related industries and they will help me get the meeting confirmed.  AMAZING!

A quick bit about CYBF - they are a unique foundation based on a private-public partnership supporting the creation and enhancement of youth-led businesses (18-34 years old... yes, I know, I just squeezed in under the wire - PHEW).  Dexterity Consulting received funding from them in the fall to create a national marketing strategy and hire part-time staff to implement this strategy.  That initial infusion of money has allowed this little company to become a leader in philanthropic advising and supports for individuals and businesses across Canada.

Back to Italy - the main part of the conference begins this afternoon with a series of workshops on International Trade and Social Enterprise.  I am so looking forward to meeting the other delegates.  More to come in the following hours.

Just as an aside, has anyone heard of the Canary Foundation?  It came up at dinner as well and it was suggested I look into them.  What has been your personal experiences with them?