Venture Mentoring Service of Alberta

Could mentorship help you become a better leader?

🌟 Fantastical Failures Feature: Stephanie Wright Stephanie Wright faced a nightmare no leader wants: insolvency. But what truly tested her was the impact it had on her mental health, her values, and her leadership. What did she wish she’d known—and what would she do differently? Come to Fantastical Failures and listen as Stephanie takes us through the personal side of professional loss, leaving you with powerful insights into timing, leadership, and resilience. 📅 Date: Monday, November 18th   ⏰ Time: 5:30-9:00pm 📍 Location: The King Eddy 🎟️ Tickets: Limited availability—save your spot today! #FantasticalFailures #EntrepreneurLife #VMSA #InnovationweekYYC

🌟 Fantastical Failures Feature: Derek Rucki From a young athlete’s dream to a fast-growing tech startup, Derek Rucki’s journey had all the hallmarks of success—until it didn’t. What does it feel like to watch a business unravel after years of hard work, money, and hope? Derek’s experience will offer raw insights on resilience, perseverance, and finding purpose after loss. Join us at Fantastical Failures to uncover how Derek transformed this setback into lessons that fuel his current success. 📅 Date: Monday, November 18th   ⏰ Time: 5:30-9:00pm 📍 Location: The King Eddy 🎟️ Tickets: Limited availability—save your spot today! #FantasticalFailures #EntrepreneurLife #VMSA #InnovationweekYYC

🔑 Partner Spotlight: Growth Catalyst 🔑  We’re thrilled to have Growth Catalyst as a key partner for Scaling up! Growth Catalyst works with entrepreneurs and leaders to drive organizational growth by building strong, accountable teams. Their expertise in driving innovation in SMEs and team dynamics will be front and center at this event. Liana Phoenix of Nor-Alta Environmental Services Ltd is a program participant and will share her experience in scaling and making strategy a team sport. 📅 Date: 7:30-9:30 am, Tuesday, November 19th 📍 Location: Platform Innovation Centre - East Annex Register today!  #GrowthCatalyst #ScalingTeams #InnovationWeekYYC

🌟 Fantastical Failures Feature: Juan Benitez What happens when a scaling company misses the signs of an industry shift? Join us at Fantastical Failures to hear Juan Benitez’s story of navigating market consolidation and the hard truths of exit planning. He’s a seasoned entrepreneur who spent over a decade building his company—only to confront a reality he never expected. What was the pivotal moment, and what did he learn from it? 📅 Date: Monday, November 18th   ⏰ Time: 5:30-9:00pm 📍 Location: The King Eddy Don’t miss Juan’s story, register now. #FantasticalFailures #VMSA #Entrepreneurship #Innovationweekyyc

✨ Success Isn’t a Straight Line ✨ For every win, there’s a lesson learned the hard way. Join us at Fantastical Failures for an unforgettable evening where Calgary’s top entrepreneurs reveal how big setbacks have shaped their lives. From bringing in the wrong cofounder to scaling too fast, this event dives deep into the reality of failure. Why attend?   🌠 Discover the power of resilience   🌠 Build connections with fellow entrepreneurs   🌠 Walk away with stories you can hold close on your own journey Leaders who have shared their story: 💫 Kenny Doleac 💫 Richard Hu 💫 Johanne Audet 💫 Daniel Berezan 💫 Samantha Woods 💫 Alisha Olandesca 💫 Paul Sullivan 💫 Kevin Franco Leaders who are sharing their story this year: 💫 Stephanie Wright 💫 Juan Benitez 💫 Derek Rucki 💫 Kristyn Snell 📅 Date: Monday, November 18th   ⏰ Time: 5:30-9:00pm 📍 Location: The King Eddy 🎟️ Tickets: Limited availability Come as you are—ready to celebrate the bumps along the way! #FantasticalFailures #InnovationWeekYYC #Entrepreneurship

How do you know when you transition from Startup to Scaleup? 🚀 At Scaling Up: Evolving Your Team, Company, and Leadership, CEOs and leaders from growing organizations like Goodlawyer, Nor-Alta Environmental Services Ltd, and Verge Agriculture will identify the startup to scale up switch and share tools for navigating trust, establishing accountability, and growing leadership in a scaling organization. 📅 Date: 7:30-9:30 am, Tuesday, November 19th 📍 Location: Platform Innovation Centre - East Annex Hosted by Venture Mentoring Service of Alberta, Growth Catalyst, and CDL-Rockies Comment "Scale Up" in the comments for a discount code!

💥 Failure – it’s rarely talked about, often isolating, and usually something entrepreneurs face alone. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Join us for Fantastical Failures, a night of raw, unfiltered stories where entrepreneurs reveal the gritty side of building a business: the setbacks, the missteps, and the moments that tested their resilience. No glamour, just the real lessons learned from failing forward. Let’s pull back the curtain together and dive into the stories behind successful business leaders like Derek Rucki, Stephanie Wright, Juan Benitez, and Kristyn Snell. 📅 Date: Monday, November 18th   ⏰ Time: 5:30-9:00pm 📍 Location: The King Eddy Get your ticket! - Spots are limited

We're thrilled to see the incredible connections that emerge within the VMSA community! Our program coordinator, Rowan Dymond, recently introduced two of our own mentees: Jared Sarbit, CEO of Picture Perfect Cleaning Inc. and Arif Maherali, CEO of Cityblock Agency. In this new episode of Jared's podcast, Jared and Arif dive deep into the evolving world of real estate marketing, exploring how companies can stay competitive with adaptive strategies, meaningful digital engagement, and a commitment to genuine client value. Tune in to Episode 28 of Mastering Property Management to hear firsthand how VMSA connections are driving real-world impact. We’re proud to see mentees like Jared and Arif pushing the industry forward! 🚀 👇

 Did you know that up to 75% of women with ADHD may go undiagnosed? 😲 ADHD often presents differently in women, leading to missed or delayed diagnoses that can impact their personal and professional lives. Which is why we are hosting Stigma to Superpower: Exploring ADHD and Neurodiversity with Alberta Female Founders, Funders and Fortifiers (ABF4) and the Calgary chapters of the Women Presidents Organization, we’re exploring how traits often seen as challenges, like ADHD, can actually fuel entrepreneurial success. What’s in Store: 🌟 Understand & Embrace Neurodiversity: Learn how neurodiverse traits show up in women and how to harness them. 🌟 Supercharge Your Business: See how ADHD’s creativity and risk-taking can be leveraged in your entrepreneurial ventures. 🌟 Break Down Barriers: Let’s tackle the stigma and build a more inclusive, supportive environment. This is more than just an event; it’s a movement to empower women entrepreneurs through the unique lens of neurodiversity. 📆 Wednesday, November 20  ⏰ 11AM - 1PM 📍 Venue 308 Here are just a few incredible people you will see at the event: Lindsay Calder Recknell, Kylie Woods, Dawn O'Connor, Nadia Lachman, Rowan Dymond, Samantha Woods, Theresa Tayler, Melissa Cook, Parker Chapple, Raissa Espiritu, Mirna D. Tag someone you think should attend in the comments! #ADHD #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #InnovationWeekYYC