The Yukon Entrepreneur Podcast

S2E10   Join Yukon Entrepreneur Lauren Manekin Beille, Manager of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) at Yukon University as we discuss what changes have occurred since we last connected over a year and a half ago.   (2:50) Lauren shares their first memory of the pandemic and how there are personal and professional memories.  They share the difficulties of working from home and the toll is takes o...

Join Yukon Entrepreneur, Patti Balsillie, owner of Patti Balsillie Management Consulting with 30+ years as a northern and national management consultant specializing in governance, tourism, and community economic development as we reconnect since we last chatted in 2020 near the start of the pandemic.   (1:31) Patti shares their first memory of the pandemic. They were traveling for work, and Vanco...

S2E8   Join Yukon Entrepreneur, Martin Lehner, owner of Tangerine Technology, one of the Yukon’s largest IT service providers as we reconnect on what has changed for them and their business since we last chatted near the beginning of the pandemic   (2:00) Martin shares their first memory of the pandemic.  They had decided to open an office in Nanaimo, B.C. in early 2020 and they were down there as...

S2E7   Join Yukon Entrepreneur, Erin Holm, founder, and artist of Den Designs, as we discuss what changes have occurred in Erin’s business and catch up on what has been going on since we last connected at the start of the pandemic in 2020.   (1:32) Erin shares the difficulties of trying to expand their business to a national level during a pandemic especially when many businesses that would normal...

S2E6   Join Yukon entrepreneur, business coach and tax accounting/bookkeeping expert Joanne Thomas in an interview catching up with what has changed since we connected with them at the start of the pandemic in 2020.   (1:43) Joanne shares their first memory of the pandemic.  They received a phone call from a client who was feeling quite anxious and scared about the future of their business with ha...

S2E5 Join entrepreneur Sonny Gray as we discuss the changes that have happened with them and their businesses since connecting with them at the start of the pandemic in 2020.  Sonny is CEO of North Star Agriculture, co-owner of Flat Creek Farms and Yukon Born & Raised and owns a couple service-related businesses in Whitehorse including Gray Management Services, Yukon Clean and Sirius Security Serv...

S2E4 Join social innovation consultant, facilitator and part-time poet, Michael Pealow, in discussing how the pandemic has changed their approach to business and life.     (2:28) Michael shares their first memory of the pandemic.  Having planned a big family reunion and starting to feel uncertain what was going to happen, they chose to go ahead with plans to meet in Nicaragua.  Several days later...

S2E3 Join Yukon Entrepreneur Ddhälh kït Nelnah, Teresa Vander Meer-Chassé, member of White River First Nation as they talk about their business as an Upper Tanana Curator and Visual Artist and shares what has happened since we last connected over a year ago at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.   (1:00) Teresa is a sole proprietor of consulting, curating, and creating art for over 8 years, taking...

S2E2 Join Yukon Entrepreneur Sophie Villeneuve of Beyond Birthing. Sophie is a physiotherapist who helps moms prepare for and recover from birth. During the pandemic, Sophie saw the opportunity to build her client base by building a YouTube channel and online courses which help moms prepare for birth.   (1:54) Sophie shares that more recently they have expanded to clients who are located outside o...

S2E1 Join Yukon Entrepreneur Math'ieya Alatini, Chief Strategist at GSD Strategies, as they talks about their role as a bridge builder during the COVID-19 pandemic. An extrovert and world traveller, the pandemic has challenged Math'ieya to find new ways to network and build relationships. Using platforms like Zoom, they’ve transformed how they bring people together to solve problems and engage com...

Join Yukon Entrepreneur Neil Fletcher, owner of Cassiar Consulting, as he talks about being a management consultant based in a remote and isolated part of the Yukon, about 70km downriver of Dawson City. Before moving to the Yukon, Neil's career was in organizational management working for multi-national companies in Canada, Europe, India and the US. He's recognizing that that his skills in change...

Join Yukon Entrepreneur Erin Holm, founder and artist of Den Designs as she talks about adapting her business model, heading to sunny Atlin over the summer to take stock, reflect, grow and be outside. Erin's business model was focused on wholesale but she's quickly adapting to sell directly to consumers. She's learning a lot, building a whole new website and optimistic that she'll have her art in...

Join Yukon Entrepreneur Wesley George CTO of Proof, a Yukon based software development company as he talks about the work he's doing to help governments digitize approval processes. Proof is a company that is based in the Yukon but that is building software for governments across Canada. Recorded on November 11, 2020.

Join Yukon Entrepreneur Inga Petri from Strategic Moves as she talks about her work in arts & culture in the digital world. Inga's finding that she's busier than ever as she helps to transform an industry nationally in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her mission is to help artists and arts & culture organizations use digital technologies in profound and new ways and build successful digital bu...

Join Yukon Entrepreneur Martin Lehner of Tangerine Technology which is a full-service IT provider that deals with computers, networks and so much more primarily servicing the private sector here in the territory. Martin reflects on the challenges of being a critical service provider during the pandemic -- especially during the few weeks and months as the territory shutdown and as the businesses he...

Join Yukon Entrepreneur Scott Keesey CEO of DISCOVELO as he talks about building a social enterprise focused software designed to accompany traditional fitness equipment like stationary bikes that helps promote emotional regulation, creativity, learning and healing in classrooms. Scott talks about how amazing it is to be technology company in the north and how the ingrained resilience of Yukoners...

Join Yukon Entrepreneurs Jayden Soroka and Neil Macdonald owners of Outpost31 a media production company based in Whitehorse. Jayden and Neil talk about how their adapting their business in the midst of a pandemic. Jayden is Yukon's resident expert in XR production and he talks about how they are integrating 360/Virtual Reality technology into their work and how it could be utilized for more than...

Join Lauren Manekin Beille, Manager of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) and Yukon University as she talks about how her team of dreamers and drivers are helping Yukon entrepreneurs adapt, build and growth in the midst of a pandemic. I&E worked quickly with partners like CANNOR to build the PIVOT program within the first couple of weeks of the pandemic which helped Yukon businesses access coachi...

What do you do when you operate a tourism business in the Yukon that specializes in the overseas market and long treks during a pandemic? You pivot. Smile along with Eva Glanzmann as she relates how's she changing her business model to adapt to the pandemic with optimism, insight and business coaching support. She's focusing closely on the Yukon market and building a retreat for Yukoners to escape...

Join dancer, speaker, educator and consultant Marilyn Jensen of Legendseekers Research, Social Innovation Consulting and the Dakhká Khwáan Dancers as she talks about teaching, leading and performing during the pandemic. Marilyn, Yadultin and Dūsts’ā̀dle, is Inland Tlingit and Tagish Khwáan from the Carcross/Tagish First Nation; belonging to the Dakhl’aweidí Clan under the Tagish Keét Hít (Killerwh...

Join Yukon Entrepreneur Tarek Bos-Jabbar, Chief Operating Officer of ColdAcre Food Systems. Tarek shares how operating a food production business during the pandemic has only intensified his resolve to increase the diversity of food production in the territory. He sees that with only 1% of our food raised locally there is so much opportunity for collaboration, innovation and growth.   Web: https:/...

Join Yukon Entrepreneur Rory Macdonald, owner of The Franchise Footwear and Apparel as he shares what it was like to operate a retail store during the pandemic, how he’s leveraged social media to maintain his market and the cautious approach he’s taking to reopening to protect his customers.   Web: www.franchisefootwear.ca - coming soon Instagram: www.instragram.com/franchisefootwear Facebook: www...

Join Yukon Entrepreneur Myles Hougen, co-owner of the apparel company Yukon Built. Myles shares how building a strong online presence has been an important factor in Yukon Built’s resilience through the pandemic -- that, and a strong buy-local movement and the incredible support of Yukoners. Myles shares his excitement in seeing their national and international market grow, the importance of build...

Join Yukon Entrepreneur Sophie Villeneuve of Physio Borealis. Sophie is a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist specializing in pre and postnatal care. Sophie shares what it was like to be an entrepreneur in health services and have her business forced to shut down as the Yukon responded to the pandemic. A testament to her resilience as an entrepreneur, Sophie quickly transitioned her business to teleheal...

Join Yukon Entrepreneur Vanessa Ægirsdóttir owner of V. Ægirsdóttir Artist and partner in Wild Yukon Furs. V. Ægirsdóttir Artist is a fashion brand retail store in Whitehorse. Vanessa talks about adapting her business through the pandemic and recognizing within herself the stages of grief as she managed her emotions. Vanessa’s pivot during the pandemic? Focusing on growth and promoting her work to...