The Talent Pool, the Calgary Chamber and the Youth Employment Centre return after their first joint successful panel event and, this time, focus on Entrepreneurship as a chosen path to professional self-realization.

The Talent Pool, the Calgary Chamber and the Youth Employment Centre present a Ted style Talk on best practices, pitfalls, Do’s & Don’ts, outcomes when choosing the path of becoming an entrepreneur. An inspiring panel of experts representing Business, Arts and Not for Profit will share their stories and insights on the following:

1. What is an entrepreneur? How does one define oneself as an entrepreneur?
2. Are you born an entrepreneur? Or can you become one? Special traits?
3. What are the traits of an entrepreneur? Can you train to become entrepreneurial?
4. What is the role technology can play when choosing an entrepreneurial career path? Why?
5. Entrepreneurship and the Arts? Is an artist an entrepreneur? How? Why?
6. Entrepreneurship and personal growth? Lifelong learning as a goal?
7. Why entrepreneurship is called an ecosystem?
8. Tools of the trade! The mentorship experience
9. Value proposition? The Pitch? Why are they important?

Join our panel of experts to hear about their personal experiences as successful entrepreneurs, what they wished they had known, what they still need to learn and much more. 

PANEL OF EXPERTS

• Hisham Al-Shurafa is co-founder & CEO of SnapDX, a Calgary-based startup that helps doctors provide the best possible care in the 10 minutes they have to see a patient. SnapDX takes complicated medical information and makes it easily acceddible to doctors when they need it. Hisham previously founded plastic and bariatruc surgery software maker, Pixineers Inc, and held product and software development positions at Amazon.com and Microsoft. He is also co-founder and chairman of Startup Calgary and a Systems Design Engineering graduate from the University of Waterloo.
• Ilona Makar has worked as a Legal Assistant, Sales Manager, Business Development Manager and Entrepreneur in various industries including apparel, image consulting, networking and promotional marketing. She is currently working with BrandAlliance, the largest promotional marketing company in Canada dealing solely in this area.  She plays the role of Promotional Marketing Account Manager, working independently withinthe company, helping companies brand their businesses with unique and innovative logoed products. Ilona also owns and runs CBWN, Calgary Business Women Network with her business partner, Debbie Van Camp.
• In demand for her commanding, rich voice and versatility, Soprano Michelle Minke offers inspired performances informed by years of top training, international professional experience and a heartfelt excitement for adding to Calgary’s cultural identity as the founder and Artistic Director of Cowtown Opera. Michelle has been named as one of Calgary’s Top 40 under 40 by Avenue Magazine and was the recipient of the 2013 Mayor's Enbridge Emerging Artist Award for her commitment to the vibrant arts community! 
• Mark Williams, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Innovate Calgary. As Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Mark Williams provides entrepreneurial business coaching and mentoring services to early-stage technology entrepreneurs, while assisting with the growth of Innovate Calgary’s Entrepreneur Development programs and services. Mark has more than 20 years of product marketing, business development and startup management experience. Mark served as President of several Silicon Valley companies including growing and exiting both TakeFive Software, and Blue Lobster Software for a total of $33 million.
• Megan Szanik, the owner, visionary, creator, and proprietor of espy, and, of course, the loudest person on 9th Avenue. She has a vivacious energy that is hard to miss. Megan has worked in all the fashion hot spots in the world and has chosen Inglewood, Calgary to open her visionary boutique, espy experience inc. espy and its entrepreneurial leader, Megan Szanik, have recently received recognition from accomplished sources for its unique business concept and one-of-a-kind service. Megan was recently named Top 40 Under 40 by Avenue Magazine, Calgary, for creating a successful clothing boutique and for her charitable endeavours. This year espy was nominated by the Calgary Chamber for the Community Impact Award.
• Rob Price is the Alberta Director for Futurpreneur Canada (formerly CYBF). Rob brings many years of marketing and management experiences to the national non-profit organization, which will help foster future business leaders. He spent the last four years managing the Dealer Sales Channel at Sears, and prior to that, worked for TELUS. His own entrepreneurial experiences include owning and operating two bicycle stores located in Barrie and Newmarket, Ontario, and sharing his well-rounded expertise with emerging entrepreneurs by teaching at Georgian College. Futurpreneur Canada is a national non-profit organization dedicated to growing our nation’s economy one young entrepreneur at a time. Visit www.futurpreneur.ca.
• Robert Horricks, President & CEO of BlushLane. With over 16 years produce experience, including 14 years dealing strictly with organic produce, Robert is committed to promoting and developing organic food production. In 2004, Blush Lane Organic Produce was founded at the Calgary Farmers’ Market and the Horricks family subsequently purchased a 10-acre organic orchard and fruit stand in Keremeos, BC. In 2008 Robert and his business partner Matthew Paulson opened a new 6600 sq ft retail operation in the community of Aspen Woods in Calgary AB. In 2012 Blush Lane Organic Market in Edmonton opened its doors in the Roots on Whyte Community Building- an ecological, community-focused development in Old Strathcona.