In this 6th episode of the TOC Podcast (Season 2), our hosts hold an animated and dynamic conversation with the founders of the Black Business Association of BC (BBABC), Nerissa and Clavia. Throughout the conversation, they touch on many topics, including the way in which entrepreneurship is intrinsically linked to freedom for Black people, and the role of Black-led organizations within our communities and their relationship with trusting different systems. Nerissa and Clavia also give an impressive elevator pitch for Diana Ross and Rihanna. Make sure to watch the full episode to catch all the ..read more

In this 7th episode of the TOC podcast (Season 2), we traveled to Edmonton, Alberta and hosted a very special guest in Sharif Haji who not only leads the Africa Centre, one of our founding ecosystem partners, but also holds a seat on our Board as Director. In this conversation, Sharif touches on many topics as walking us through his journey in taking the lead at Africa Centre as well as the importance of social entrepreneurship, the role of Black-led and Black-serving organizations, and why he thought it was key to join the FACE Coalition initiative as a founding member. Watch the full convers ..read more

To wrap our second season of the TOC podcast, we were joined by no other than "The Real Dr. Phil," a Full professor at the University of Alberta, a Black feminist researcher, and a mother. Dr. Philomina Okeke-Ihejirika shared countless gems all throughout the podcast; we had to constantly REWIND! Being a part of the diaspora herself, The Real Dr. Phil shares thoughts, advice, and suggestions on how Black communities could adapt to the Western way of living while remembering and honoring their culture to help advance Black societies worldwide. This conversation felt like a masterclass and was a ..read more

This episode of the TOC podcast was the first one recorded for season 2, but officially our 5th episode which is divided in two parts. In the first half of episode 5, Godzspeed's founder and owner Thomas Cumberbatch touches on the role that businesses play within Black communities, the importance of spirituality and humanity in professional and corporate settings, and he also gives an amazing top 3 list of tips for business growth. For the second part of the episode, we welcomed Resa Solomon-St. Lewis who shared on leaving the federal government to pursue her passions and why she did so, the c ..read more

In this special 4th episode of the TOC Podcast, our very own Secretary for our Board of Directors, Nadine Spencer, joins us for a powerful conversation. Nadine is also the founder and CEO of marketing agency BrandEQ as well as the President of the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) in Ontario. In this conversation, she got to tell a special story of when and how entrepreneurship was introduced into her life and the rest was history. She also emphasized the importance of women working together and what it means for the advancement of this minority group. Watch the full conversat ..read more

In our third episode of Season 2, we welcomed the siblings duo of Ashley and Michael Athill, owners of HRVSTR, a Canadian cannabis company. Through this very dynamic exchange with our host, Ashley and Michael shared about the challenges they encountered and some of the big risks they took to get to where they are today, they shared tips for people looking to enter the cannabis industry, and also touched on the various systemic barriers in place for Black business owners, among other topics. ?? Dans notre troisième épisode de la saison 2, nous avons accueilli le duo de frères et sœurs Ashley ..read more

In our second episode of Season 2, Alterna Savings' Susan Henry kicks off #BlackHistoryMonth by teaching us about micro finance and its role within BIPOC communities. Susan Henry is currently the Director, Microfinance & Economic Inclusion at Alterna Savings, holding over 20 years of experience in  the micro-financing arena, with emphasis on program development, revenue growth, member and community engagement, as well as community outreach, budgeting, strategic planning and staff management ..read more

On our 1st episode of our 2nd season with have our guest Christelle François, the president of the Black Canadian Chamber of Commerce. She shares tips on how to navigate both Entrepreneurial and Intrapreneurial journeys. Tune in ..read more

We held our 11th and FINAL episode of the TOC Podcast Season 1 during FACE Coalition's Black Business Brunch at Kamúy Restaurant in Montreal! To end the first season with a bang, we interviewed Kamúy's owner, Chef Paul Toussaint, who gave us his top 3 tips to open a restaurant during the pandemic. We had 2 other special guests during this episode: Steve Marc, founder of Consultauto, and Nicole Jones, author of Master of Single. Stay tuned for season 2 of the TOC Podcast ..read more

In our 10th episode of the TOC Podcast, Sonia Kwemi, HR & career specialist based in Montreal, teaches us everything we need to know about the world of human resources: how to land your dream job, negotiating your dream salary and navigating the corporate world ..read more