Entrepreneurship is the future of work and business. It’s challenging, rewarding, and exciting! The power of technology and social media, combined with relationship building, is the key to reaching your personal and professional goals that I can help you with!

Being passionate about martial arts, I started studying at the age of eight. By age twelve, I was learning to teach others, building leadership skills, winning championships. I went on to be a 2-time North American Martial Arts champion at the ATA (American Taekwondo Association) North American Taekwondo Championships, Las Vegas, 1992/93. At 19, (after 11 years of training/teaching), I opened my own martial arts academy, The West Vancouver Taekwondo Academy; which evolved into the Martial Arts Advantage Leadership Academy. I had the privilege of coaching thousands of students learn self-confidence, martial arts, and to defend themselves, during my 8 years in business. My academy was successful, and I learned how to be more efficient, and learning how to increase revenue.

I attended industry training events/business seminars, making many contacts, learning even more! I implemented what I had learned with great success. I learned to systematize everything, becoming more efficient. Developed a planned enrollment/sales presentation – with scripts and information on overcoming common objections. Taught my sales team how to upsell and cross-sell. Implemented a new pricing structure, that better represented the value of our expertise and services. Enrollment and sales dramatically increased immediately! Within a year the business tripled! Other martial arts business owners saw my success and wanted to learn what I was doing.

I started my consulting firm – Martial Arts Advantage Business Consulting. Working with other owners from Canada & the US, teaching them what had worked. Many of my clients also doubled and tripled their business! After nearly 20 years of practising, teaching, and building my business, I decided to shift gears completely out of teaching. I decided to sell the Academy and focused my energy on my new consulting business.

I moved to Victoria, BC and continued to work with my consulting clients. After taking some time to focus on my health, I saw this new social media platform on tv…Twitter. In 2008, I told a friend that someday businesses would start putting their social media profiles in their advertising. He thought I was nuts. I had found something I could finally get excited about and I could do this while focussing on my health! I read every article I could find, connecting with local social media groups and conferences in Victoria BC. I saw how businesses could leverage these new communication tools to connect with their audiences and promote their business. I had no idea at that time how social media would completely evolve!

I now advise business owners/professionals, on building a strong online presence, that will attract opportunity. Set up for success on social media platforms, how to find/connect with your audience, and building relationships online in an authentic way, with confidence. The tips/tools to manage your time, to carry out your social media program efficiently. A select number of clients, I will create your strategy, do the day to day execution of listening, posting, and engaging on your behalf. I value clients who are willing to work collaboratively, to accurately represent your brand and monitor what’s happening in your business. Social media includes reputation monitoring, customer service, and keeping happy customers to increase referrals. Social media should proactively support your business goals. Building a great social media presence is not a short-term strategy, but if done well can be extremely effective for creating awareness and increasing leads and sales ongoing.

I’m proud to be an active member of the Victoria BC business community. I’m a member of VIATEC (Victoria Innovation and Advanced Technology & Entrepreneurship Council) and Your Entrepreneurial Society (YES). I have volunteered to support events for the Canadian Cancer Society, as well as the Rethink Thinking Summit, which promotes innovation in education for youth.

On a personal level, I enjoy working out, listening to jazz (I played the trumpet for many years), and enjoy spending time by the ocean! I love to sing and enjoy occasional karaoke times with friends!