Alice Ko, ACC, CPA, CA

#fridayfunpost A handful of Amplifiers A sponsorship A room full of CPAs followed by a kitchen full of inspiring ladies. That was last night! Thanks CPA Alberta, Ryan Mercier, David Skabar, Brenda Yackle, CPA, CMA & Lyndsey Hoff for the event at Last Best. (See pic!) (And Adrienne Bellehumeur for hosting a fabulous group that served as my after-party‽) Why attend or sponsor a CPA event? Now’s the time to step up. With half our national members branching off, and less than half of CFO roles being filled by CPAs, we’ve got risk. We aren’t set up as a designation or profession to provide the financial leadership and get the recognition we need. It starts with self-awareness and internal. We need to attract young professionals, train business leadership and be proud of the great value we bring to employers and businesses and the economy. At the core we need to own tax, assurance & the CFO & Controller seat. When organizations have financial strategy and financial leadership they grow and do amazing things in our communities. CPAs can be critical players.

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🇨🇦 Proud to be Canadian, but we need to talk about our future (how about this Tuesday in Toronto?) I love Canada and share its story wherever I go. Our pride should stem from where we're heading, and how we’re addressing our past. We have a lot to do, financially and socially. Also, everyone knows I’m an accountant so I spend money I have and invest money where the average weighted return is positive. So I’m confused. How can policymakers increase spending while decreasing future revenue? Yes, the current policy increases spending, and while raising capital gains taxes creates revenue short term, it's a short-sighted strategy. If we want to boost revenue, we need more profitable companies. Profitable companies pay higher wages, hire more employees, and those employees spend more. In 2023, corporate, personal taxes, and GST made up 78% of Canada’s revenue. This is a significant lever. So, why introduce policies that hinder company growth and expansion? And it’s not just about capital gains tax. There are multiple instances where policies target the very leaders who create jobs and profitable companies. And this isn’t a comment about the 1% paying too much, I believe those with success should bear a greater responsibility, however, we’re talking about what policies to create today to create more prosperity for everyone in Canada. A co-investor recently shared his frustration with me, saying he’s leaving Canada due to having tried to fight the changes in the past and these current changes are the icing on the cake. This entrepreneur, with his own successful exit, who has been reinvesting in Canadian startups, might stop supporting our economy. His direction has changed, and it’s concerning. When setting policies, whether on interest or tax rates, broad brush strokes with the right direction are crucial. If the direction is wrong, you not only lose the margin (the group of people who will make the differential decision based on the new information), but you also run the risk other drastic consequences. We must come together, find common ground, use our voices, and then act. Let’s ensure Canada’s tech sector thrives and secures our economic future. Join me, Allen Lau, Tehmina A Chaudhry, Bianca Bharti, my old friend Susy Martins, and the passionate Benjamin Bergen at the Council of Canadian Innovators | Conseil canadien des innovateurs 's Toronto Inc. Event: Building a Prosperous Future for Toronto’s Tech Sector. 📅 Date: Tuesday, June 4 🕠 Time: 5:30 - 8:00 PM 📍 Location: OneEleven, 325 Front Street West ➡ Register here: https://lnkd.in/gffCrtK7 #Canada #Innovation #EconomicProsperity #TorontoTech #FutureOfTech #PolicyChange #CCI #Networking

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🚀 Now's the perfect moment to kickstart your side hustle in Quebec! 🇨🇦 With economic shifts underway, there's a prime opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs to carve out their niche. Here's why: 1️⃣ Diverse Market: Quebec boasts a vibrant and diverse market, ripe with potential customers eager to support local businesses. 2️⃣ Government Support: The province offers various programs and incentives to encourage entrepreneurship, making it easier to navigate the business landscape. 3️⃣ Digital Boom: The digital era has leveled the playing field, allowing even small businesses to reach global audiences from the comfort of their homes. 4️⃣ Creative Energy: Quebec's rich cultural heritage fosters creativity and innovation, providing fertile ground for unique business ideas to flourish. Don't wait for the "perfect" moment – seize the opportunity now and turn your passion into profit! 💼 #QuebecEntrepreneur #SideHustleSuccess

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Burnout is a pressing issue for entrepreneurs, and it's vital we address it head-on. Thanks to GLORY Media for sharing insights from six Canadian founders and grateful to Connie Lo, Eva Wong, Erin Bury, Fatima Zaidi, Megan Rafuse and Sarah Stockdale for engaging in the conversation. Here are two small actionable steps we can all take to combat burnout: 1. Incorporate self-care activities like exercise, meditation, or journaling into your daily routine. 2. Integrate micro, mini, and macro breaks into your schedule to stay refreshed and productive. At The Finance Cafe, our focus is on normalizing the conversation around money and business finances but we also understand the importance of addressing burnout and what's causing it. Let’s support each other by sharing our experiences and checking in regularly. https://lnkd.in/ggVRRBFt #Entrepreneurship #MentalHealth #BurnoutPrevention #SupportEachOther

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😡 The Government of Canada's changes to the capital gains tax is going to have big impact on entrepreneurs and investors. Does anyone at the government understand how EXTREMELY HARD it is to build a business? How hard it is to find investors on a good day? How are we going to encourage innovation, job creation or strong economic performance if we're not encouraging folks to dream? Entrepreneurs and investors should be incentivized to take risks - sounds like Justin Trudeau wants to cap our ambition. Short sighted move. More on what you should know on these changes here: https://lnkd.in/gGUmgK2C #budget2024 #entrepreneurship #canada #canadianpolitics

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Really enjoyed moderating an Innovation Governance Program session for Canadian entrepreneurs, current and aspiring board members of high-growth companies. The panelists reflected on lessons learned over 20+ years of business model iterations and innovation, especially with the advent of artificial intelligence (AI). It was a fascinating discussion with Jeremy Auger, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, D2L, and Dr.Brian Courtney, Co-Founder, Conavi Medical about how technology has significantly improved outcomes in the education and medical spaces. We also reviewed the role of boards in enabling innovation and scaling in ever-changing economic and regulatory contexts. A few key takeaways: 1️⃣ - AI's Transformative Impact on Pricing Models: Fascinating perspective on how SaaS pricing has evolved over the years, from on-premises one-time payments to subscription-based cloud services, which allowed organizations to access services continuously for a recurring fee. Now, with the rise of AI and usage-based costs, pricing needs to align with consumption. This shift presents challenges as AI introduces new variable costs while enabling innovation in pricing strategies based on value delivered to customers. 2️⃣ - "Nose in, Fingers Out"—The Role of Board Members: This powerful mantra was shared as advice for aspiring board members encouraging strategic oversight without interfering in day-to-day management. A Nose in Fingers Out (NIFO) approach to board oversight reduces the risks of slow decision making and lack of clarity between board and management responsibilities. As an example, a growing venture plans to expand its sales region to a new geographic area. The board should discuss and approve the strategic importance of the expansion, ensuring it aligns with the organization’s mission and long-term goals. It should also review and approve the proposed budget and funding strategy, ensuring the organization has adequate resources. However, it should not review the implementation plan, such as selecting vendors or how the brand message should be delivered during expansion. The Board would also establish monitoring activities such as quarterly updates from the CEO on the expansion’s progress, with specific metrics defined (i.e. # of partnerships and leads generated). Congratulations to Dr. Brian Courtney and the Conavi Medical team for the recent announcement of the company going public. A big shoutout to Jeremy Auger and the D2L team as well on their 25th anniversary! Thank you to Gabriella B. for coordinating the session and to the Council of Canadian Innovators | Conseil canadien des innovateurs for creating such an important educational program for Canadian entrepreneurs and aspiring board members! #InnovationGovernance #ArtificialIntelligence #BoardLeadership #BusinessInnovation

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Hey, small business mavens! Feeling like a lone sailor in the social impact seas? The big players have charted some promising paths for 2024, thanks to the Benevity Corporate Purpose Report. They're embedding social impact deeply into their operations—less silo, more synergy. And here’s a thought: if they can make their purpose profitable, so can we. Let’s dive into how we can navigate these strategies too! Let’s break it down, 1. Speak with Purpose: When we talk, let’s make it count. Big corps are picky about when they raise their voices—so should we. It's not about the noise; it's about the note. Find that sweet spot where your voice can really resonate with your community. 2. Community Is King: ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) in the corporate world are stretching beyond just diversity. They're getting into the nitty-gritty of business impact. Let’s take that cue—every team member can be a think-tank contributor. More brains on the main objectives equals more creative solutions! I like to call this Compassion-Connection™ Circles. 3. Supercharge Your Volunteers: Volunteer efforts are getting a major upgrade in the corporate sector. Think beyond the occasional community clean-up. What unique volunteer opportunities can align with and amplify our brand values? 4. Tech with Ethics: If the big guys are making sure their AI is ethical, small businesses can definitely put consciousness in the cockpit. Let’s lead with technology that respects both the user and the community. 5. ROI or Bust: It’s a tight ship financially for everyone. This means being sharp about where every dollar goes. Make your philanthropy efforts count—track their impact just like your investments. So, here's the rallying cry for all you small business leaders out there: Let’s not just ride the waves of change—let’s make them. Can we take these big corporate insights and tailor them to our scale? Absolutely. Let’s pivot, adapt, and show that size isn’t everything when it comes to making a significant impact. Ready to make 2024 your year of purpose-driven success? Let's chat about how we can take these big ideas and make them work for our smaller stages. Dive in, the water’s fine! Subscribe to receive ideas to grow and amplify your social impact: https://lnkd.in/dtMxiA7K. #SmallBusiness #CorporatePurpose #ImpactStrategy #Benevity2024 #NavigatingChange --- 🌊 Hey, I’m Suzanne, the YouMeWe Wave-Maker! 🔥 I'm all about empowering a 'WE' culture through conscious leadership, value-aligned business development, and sustainable social solutions. 📢 What I love most? Amplifying the voices, businesses, and social impacts of sheIMPACTpreneurs through our YouMeWe Amplified Podcast and Community. 🌟 Looking to elevate and expand your impact? 🛎️ Hit that follow button! 🏷️ And keep tabs on #youmeweevolution for your daily dose of inspiration. 💬 Are you a fellow IMPACTpreneur or Conscious Leader? DM me and say hi. Let’s make waves together! 🤗

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Coordination tax at work wearing you down? Let's do something about it! Today's #WSJ gets into the challenges people are facing coordinating with their teams. The best place to start? Talk about it as a team. How we work together is way more important than just where we show up. Three basic questions form the starting point of team norms (agreements): 1️⃣ Why do we get together, and when? This can be as simple as picking a couple of days of the week when a co-located team is together in-person -- and ensuring you don't pack those days full of meetings! 2️⃣ What hours do we ensure we're available to each other? For example, we all commit to being available 10am-2pm PT for calls, chats, meetings and in-sync work Monday through Thursday. 3️⃣ What tools do we use, for what purpose? For example, we use Slack (or Microsoft Teams) for internal communication, email externally and [fill in your project tracking software of choice.] Those three questions at a team, function and organization level help create the type of clarity folks need. There are always issues around how you go up and down the organization creating norms, but that shouldn't stop you from acting locally. The article also links to one of my LinkedIn posts which shares how organizations can reduce the coordination tax more broadly by focusing on "moments that matter." Modest investments of time and energy, preferably supported by a team of folks who can coach managers and leaders on creating better ways of working, can create real advantages in reducing coordination tax and building high performance teams. Thanks to Anne Marie Chaker and Ray Smith for reaching out to me, and great seeing Flex Index data being prominently featured and used as well! How are you addressing coordination tax? 🔗 Links to Anne Marie and Ray's The Wall Street Journal coverage and my original post in comments! #FutureOfWork #leadership #collaboration #technology #hybrid #remote #hybridwork #remotework

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My new personal website is updated: Chenadam.ca If you’re looking for storytelling, presentation, or narrative coaching, and you’re willing to go a bit deeper – hit me up :) #storytelling #coaching #entrepreneur

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Do you own a business in Canada? Are you an entrepreneur looking to start one? My guest, Primrose, the founder of Primrose Tax Law, is passionate about Canadian income tax. In this podcast Primrose shares why it is important for businesses to be aware of tax law and its benefits. She has shared some of her invaluable wisdom to help business owners navigate their corporate tax planning needs. Imagine having a tailored tax strategy that not only meets your business needs but also aligns with your lifestyle. Primrose's tax research and collaboration with your financial advisor/ accountant could be the key to unlocking significant benefits for your business. Watch the video for essential insights and consider contacting her or your tax lawyer. Go to https://www.primrosetax.ca to learn more about her firm or contact [email protected]. *This publication and the information included in it are not intended to serve as a substitute for consultation with a lawyer. Primrose Watson

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One of the key pillars of exit planning is financial readiness (personal and business readiness are the others). Financial readiness means being able to exit from your business in a tax efficient manner, while keeping in mind your family (estate planning) and your post-retirement wealth (wealth management). A networking colleague of mine is hosting a webinar next week that might be useful to check out. Remember, there are a lot of moving pieces to a successful exit, so there is no time like the present to start planning. (Thanks Jayden Wiggins) https://lnkd.in/gAsMcdqk

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🎙️ Our Co-Founder Donald Cameron Shares Real-Life Experiences in a New Podcast Struggling to unlock growth and avoid potholes for your Canadian business? You're not alone. Savvy-CFO's co-founder, Don Cameron CPA, CA, has been working alongside owners of businesses of all sizes for decades. Now, he's sharing those experiences with you in a brand new podcast: A CFO's Diary - Pathways to Growth. Each episode features a captivating "discovery call" format, revisiting the journeys of entrepreneurs Don has encountered. Listeners will gain access to: • Actionable strategies and insights to propel their businesses forward • Common pitfalls to avoid (learned the hard (and expensive) way) • Engaging, even bizarre, side stories that keep you hooked Ready to grow your Canadian business? Subscribe to A CFO's Diary wherever you get your podcasts or through the link at our website: https://hubs.la/Q02x6SNX0 #CanadianBusiness #GrowthMindset #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #Success

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🌟 Attention, Creatives! 🌟 Are you navigating the exciting world of freelancing but feeling a bit lost when managing your finances? 😅 You're not alone! With the freedom to choose your projects and schedule comes the responsibility of staying on top of your financial health. Our latest blog post, *Tips for Managing Freelance Finances in the Canadian Creative Sector*, is here to help you thrive in your freelance journey! 💼✨ From understanding your income and expenses to setting aside money for taxes, we’ve covered you with practical advice to stabilize your financial foundation while you pursue your creativity. 📊💡 Ready to take control of your finances and ensure a bright future in the creative landscape? Click the link in the comments below to dive into the full blog! ⬇️ Happy freelancing, and remember: the more proactive you are with your finances, the more freedom you’ll have to create! 🎨🚀 Are you self-employed and seeking guidance on implementing a system to prepare you for year-round tax season? Contact UpSide here to explore working with us. We are here to help! #upsideaccounting #accounting #smallbusiness #creatives #bookkeeping #smallbusinessjourney #canada #selfemployed #SmallBusinessSupport #FinancialForecasting #SmallBusinessSuccess #freelancelife #myupside

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Here in Canada, it is Canada Day – July 1. Just like with speeches, it’s great to include some weird but fascinating facts to get your audience’s interest. So here I go with weird (but true!) things about Canada: #1: We have a maple syrup reserve that can be compared to the US oil reserve! We supply over 75% of the world’s maple syrup, and back in 2012, thieves stole over $30 million of it! We vowed to never be at risk of being maple syrup-less again. #2: We have a UFO landing pad in my home province of Alberta. You can never be too careful… After all, Canadians are known for being friendly and polite. Why wouldn’t we extend that courtesy to extraterrestrials? #3: We harvest icebergs. Every spring, massive icebergs float from Greenland to our eastern most Province of Newfoundland. Entrepreneurs then harvest chunks of ice from them to make wine, vodka, and skincare products. This pure water is said to be amazing for your skin! Your turn! What are some weird facts about your country?

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More data on the economic benefits of the Canada Wide Early Learning Child Care program. What is not mentioned are the quality of life benefits for families resulting from a second income, the ability for children to socialize with other children in a structured and supporting environment, as well as various other 'soft' benefits.

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ideatealberta.ca is here to help you explore you options, market, and community and an innovator! If you a founder, community, or just a tech curious individual looking to test the latest technology connect with me to learn more. #healthtech #entreprenuership #startup #citizenscience #technology

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Incase you missed it last month my company Total Mom Inc. , Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH), and the Diversity Institute have joined forces to shed light on the resilience and ingenious strategies of Canadian mompreneurs in our groundbreaking report, "The Intersection of Entrepreneurship and Motherhood." I have spent the last 7 years identifying the setbacks that working women are experiencing in Canada and am taking steps to make a difference in the personal and professional support that can be made available in this country.   The Intersection of Entrepreneurship and Motherhood is an extensive report focusing on the experiences, challenges and strategies of “mom entrepreneurs” in Canada.   The road for "mom entrepreneurs" has been anything but smooth, with many navigating the bumpy terrain of increased anxiety, stress, and the daunting spectre of burnout.   More than just a snapshot of struggles, the report celebrates the inventive strategies these women have employed to navigate these times, emphasizing the importance of time management and mental health awareness. Crucially, it offers actionable recommendations aimed at enhancing support for mompreneurs, advocating for greater childcare investments, accessible funding, and more inclusive organizational practices. Don't miss out on these pivotal insights—discover how we can all contribute to a brighter future for mom entrepreneurs. https://lnkd.in/gCc2AmKj  

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