About Ask An Entrepreneur

Ask an Entrepreneur is a signature panel discussion and Q&A at Business in the Streets that brings together a few entrepreneurs to share lessons of success, failure, and everything in-between.

Happening live online, this conversation is designed for up-and-coming Canadian entrepreneurs to hear real stories and get practical advice from people who know what it's like to walk in your shoes.

Whether you're already in business or just just starting to think about entrepreneurship this panel is a chance to, come ready to meet and chat with local business owners!

Dates and Details

📅 Tuesday, October 27th | 6:30 to 8PM
💻 Live on Zoom

Meet your Panelists

Rofiat Olusanya | Owner & CEO of That Local Girl

Rofiat is the founder and owner of That Local Girl (TLG), a pan-African grocery and speciality store at 2030 Weston Road in Toronto that ships across Canada. She launched TLG at 25 while working full-time, and after being laid off, she went all in on building the business. Now nearing its third anniversary, TLG is more than a grocery store. It’s a community hub with a growing vision: a pan-African space where all Africans feel welcome, no matter the region or culture.

Kays Samadi | Founder of Blend Society

Kays Samadi is a food engineer and the founder of Blend Society, a Toronto-based cocktail kit brand. Trained in France, he built his career in the food industry before moving to Toronto five years ago. A BITS alumnus, he launched Blend Society this year alongside his full-time role in food engineering, bringing his technical background to the craft of making great cocktails accessible at home.

Joshua Lagarde | Cofounder of KUBO Matcha & Bayshore Flowers

Joshua Lagarde is the co-owner of  KUBO Matcha and Bayshore Flowers, alongside his business partner, Trisha Custodio. Inspired by his entrepreneurial mother, Joshua developed an interest in business during high school and has since explored various ventures and creative projects. Since launching KUBO Matcha in December 2025, the duo has continued to grow their presence in Ottawa’s local business community, expanding their entrepreneurial journey with the acquisition of Bayshore Flowers in September 2026. 

About Ask An Entrepreneur

Ask an Entrepreneur is a signature panel discussion and Q&A at Business in the Streets that brings together a few entrepreneurs to share lessons of success, failure, and everything in-between.

Happening live online, this conversation is designed for up-and-coming Canadian entrepreneurs to hear real stories and get practical advice from people who know what it's like to walk in your shoes.

Whether you're already in business or just just starting to think about entrepreneurship this panel is a chance to, come ready to meet and chat with local business owners!

Dates and Details

📅 Tuesday, June 16th | 6:30 to 8PM
💻 Live on Zoom

Meet your Panelists

Steeven Severe | Co-founder and CEO of Black Core Holding

Steeven is a man of the people and the co-founder of Black Core Holding; an Ottawa based business that acquires established, community-based businesses and strengthens them through technology, operational discipline and long term ownership. 

Leslie Fernsby | Founder of No Guilt Bars

Leslie is the founder of No Guilt Bars, a Toronto-based maker of sugar-free chocolate. She ran a chocolate business for over a decade before immigrating to Canada, spent four years as a senior data engineer, then went all-in on No Guilt Bars in late 2025. A BITS alumna — and a sponsored vendor at their One of a Kind market — she's since opened around 50 retail doors, signed a distributor, and is building the brand while completing her MBA at Rotman.

Hong Dai | Founder of Another Land Coffee

Founder of Another Land Coffee & More, Hong is a specialty coffee professional and entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience in coffee and hospitality. From managing one of China’s first certified coffee schools in Xiamen to building a community-driven café in North York, Hong’s work blends craftsmanship, education, and human connection.

At Another Land, coffee is more than a drink. It’s a way to bring people together. Guided by the belief that “every guest is a connection, not a transaction,” Hong has created a welcoming third place centered around specialty coffee, culture, and conversation. Through workshops, tastings, and collaborative events, Hong continues to share a passion for coffee education while empowering others through entrepreneurship and community building.

About Ask An Entrepreneur

Ask an Entrepreneur is a signature panel discussion and Q&A at Business in the Streets that brings together a few entrepreneurs to share lessons of success, failure, and everything in-between.

Happening live online, this conversation is designed for up-and-coming Canadian entrepreneurs to hear real stories and get practical advice from people who know what it's like to walk in your shoes.

Whether you're already in business or just just starting to think about entrepreneurship this panel is a chance to, come ready to meet and chat with local business owners!

Dates and Details

📅 Tuesday, March 10th | 6:30 to 8PM
💻 Live on Zoom

Meet your Panelists

Kristiana Musta | Founder of Laboterra Cosmetics

Kristiana Musta is the founder of Laboterra Cosmetics, a Canadian bath and body care brand focused on science-backed, sustainable, and skin-friendly products. She started her business while studying as an international student in Canada, combining her pharmaceutical background with a passion for clean beauty. What began as a small side project has grown into a purpose-driven brand committed to transparent ingredients, eco-conscious packaging, and affordable luxury.

Ashantae Palmer | Founder of TreatsbyTae and CakeAndSip.GTA

Ashantae Palmer is the heart and hands behind TreatsbyTae, where I create custom cakes and sweet treats designed to make life’s special moments even sweeter. I’m also the founder of CakeAndSip.GTA, a fun and interactive DIY cake decorating experience that allows others to tap into their creativity while making memories. Baking started as a passion, and it has grown into a purpose; bringing people together through beautiful, delicious creations.

Nurudin Busingye | Founder of Eco Dry Cleaners

Nurudin Busingye is a community engagement and venture development professional based in Ottawa with over nine years of experience supporting youth, entrepreneurs, and community-led initiatives. He has led and coordinated programs that strengthen startup ecosystems, advance employment pathways, and build inclusive spaces for collaboration. Passionate about innovation, business and community impact, Nurudin brings strong event coordination, stakeholder engagement, and operational leadership experience, with a commitment to fostering vibrant, connected communities

About the workshop

In An Introduction to Public Speaking and Presentation Skills, you’ll learn how to build and improve presentation and public speaking skills with ease. In this powerful training seminar, our speaker will share their knowledge about giving an effective presentation by shaping your message for power and clarity, including knowing how to confidently command a room, ways to keep an audience engaged, and much more.

This workshop is brought to you by GreenShield Cares.

Dates and Details

📅 Tuesday, October 28th | 6:00 to 7PM
💻 Live on Zoom
🔴 This workshop will be recorded

Meet your presenter

CJ Calvert| Motivational Speaker, Life Coach, Author of “Bouncing Back Through COVID-19: Overcoming Burnout Year into the Pandemic”

CJ Calvert is a professional speaker and author of Bouncing Back Through COVID-19. He speaks on a daily basis before world-class organizations such as IBM, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the Golden State Warriors. Because of his expertise, he has presented on the TEDx stage in Vancouver and been a featured guest on Breakfast Television. He makes his home near Toronto, Ontario with his amazing wife and son.

About Ask An Entrepreneur

Ask an Entrepreneur is a signature panel discussion and Q&A at Business in the Streets that brings together a few entrepreneurs to share lessons of success, failure, and everything in-between.

Happening live online, this conversation is designed for up-and-coming Canadian entrepreneurs to hear real stories and get practical advice from people who know what it's like to walk in your shoes.

Whether you're already in business or just just starting to think about entrepreneurship this panel is a chance to, come ready to meet and chat with local business owners!

Dates and Details

📅 Tuesday, June 17th | 6:30 to 8PM
💻 Live on Zoom

Meet your Panelists

Lauren Russ-Constant | Founder of SELFHOOD

Lauren Russ-Constant is an educator, speaker, and founder of SELFHOOD - the global platform for identity exploration and evolution. Through immersive experiences, coaching, and psychology-based education, she helps people understand who they are and gives them the tools to evolve into who they want to be. A certified coach, NLP practitioner, former Director of Brand, and TEDx speaker, she’s also the host of the Identity Soup podcast and a leading voice on personal reinvention and identity evolution.

Ryan Rambarran | Owner of Unity

Ryan, a former Club bar back and now CEO of Unity. Born and raised in the city Ryan has transformed his mental and physical health through exercise and is on a passion now to do the same for his commUNITY.

Sanju Ganglani | Founder of gang&lani media

Sanju started his first company when he was 14, sold it when he was 18 and came back to entrepreneurship 10 years later. He has since successfully launched multiple organizations internationally across multiple industries and continues to invest in and mentor new start ups.

About Ask An Entrepreneur

Ask an Entrepreneur is a signature panel discussion and Q&A at Business in the Streets that brings together a few entrepreneurs to share lessons of success, failure, and everything in-between.

Happening live online, this conversation is designed for up-and-coming Canadian entrepreneurs to hear real stories and get practical advice from people who know what it's like to walk in your shoes.

Whether you're already in business or just just starting to think about entrepreneurship this panel is a chance to, come ready to meet and chat with local business owners!

Dates and Details

📅 Tuesday, March 18th | 6:30 to 8PM
💻 Live on Zoom

Meet your Panelists

Khree Fearman | ON WYT

Proudly Canadian, Khree is perpetually inspired by creative concepts that fuel her innovative spirit. As a disciplined artist, she excels in the realms of business entrepreneurship and, most notably, product photography. Her distinctive style masterfully blends colours, tones, and textures to create visually compelling imagery.

Khree employs unique props to enhance company products, crafting visual stories that captivate audiences. Always on the lookout for interesting knick-knacks, she incorporates these finds into her photos, adding a personal touch to each shoot.

Samantha Sims | Chef and Owner at Butter & Crème Bakery and Barbecue

Kristi-Ann Watson | Manager and Owner Butter & Crème Bakery and Barbecue

Samantha Simms holds a Bachelor of Science in Food Service Management, majoring in Culinary Arts with a minor in Event Management. With over 12 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry, she has worked in various management roles across restaurants and hotels, honing her expertise in food operations, menu development, and customer service. Her passion for culinary innovation and fusion cuisine led to the creation of Butter & Creme Bakery & Barbecue, where she brings bold flavors to life.

Kristi-Ann Watson holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and is now an experienced management professional in the water treatment industry over 10 years. With a strong background in project management and operations, she plays a key role in overseeing the business's logistics, financial planning, and strategic growth. Her expertise ensures that Butter & Creme runs efficiently, allowing the brand to scale and reach new heights.

Together, they combine culinary creativity and business strategy to bring a one-of-a-kind Jamaican fusion experience to the mobile food industry.

About the Workshop

Want to make your brand more memorable?

In this FREE Branding and Storytelling Strategies Workshop led by branding expert Christine Lieu-Guzauskas of CL Designs you’ll learn:

💡 How to make your brand more memorable with colour psychology, typography and design principles
💡 How to tell stories that engage and connect with an audience
💡 How to use design to create a brand that not only feels cohesive but actually converts your audience to customers

Come ready for an interactive learning experience with a crash course in branding and storytelling theory. You’ll walk away with go-to tools and resources that you can try right away to revitalize your brand!

This workshop is perfect for

Entrepreneurs and business owners looking for ways to infuse more personality into their brand.

Dates and Details

📅 Tuesday, March 4th | 6 to 8PM
💻 Live on Zoom
📝 Participants will be given a branding cheat sheet
🔴 A recording will be shared with participants

This workshop is FREE for all.

Meet your instructor

Christine Lieu-Guzauskas earned her stripes in the fast-paced media world and learned first-hand the challenges faced by startups through her own journey (sometimes the hard way)! Today, Christine has been featured in Yahoo News, DHL, RBC’s Women To Watch and more for her lean and efficient branding services. She’s worked on projects with bootstrapping startups, household brands and pretty much everything in between.