Trailblazing

I initially joined the trailblazing program because at the time I was working on selling my crochet projects online. After the first lesson I realized there was a problem that I wanted to tackle through creating a business. I have experienced the exhaustion and stress that comes with the trouble of finding a hairdresser in Lethbridge for most of my life. Around the time of hearing about trailblazing, I was turned away form a salon because they said they had little experience working with the texture of my hair. That experience sparked my passion to create Vhudzi. The trailblazing program helped guide me on developing my business idea.   

Trailblazing was helpful in my entrepreneurial journey because it has given me the tools and support to be able to present my business idea and get funding. I’ve recently found it most useful when I attended a pitch competition hosted by the BIPOC foundation and won some money. Before I attended the pitch, I was able to run through it with the trailblazing coordinator, Brady Old. This helped me immensely because it gave me confidence in my pitch. Together we were able to make sure I had all the components in my deck that were required for the pitch.  

My main take-away from the trailblazing program is that a group of entrepreneurs is helpful. In the trailblazing program having regular meetings with other entrepreneurs was helpful for me because it provided a space where I talk about my challenges with people that can relate. The group was also supportive and provided something important, confidence, in myself and my business idea.   

 My advice would be to just go for it. Take a step to build that idea and find support, like the trailblazing program, to help you do that. As well, have confidence in yourself but don’t be afraid to change up what you’re doing when something isn’t working.   

I would recommend this program to a friend because It makes the path of developing your business idea easier through providing step by step lessons and support. 

I applied at a business school because I wanted to learn about the business side of doing good. I have more than a decade’s worth of experience working with nonprofits and advocacy groups until I stumbled upon the concept of social entrepreneurship in one of our projects. This sparked my curiosity and inspired me to pursue my own business. 

I was an international student in Canada and I was away from everything that was familiar, my friends, my family, my home when the pandemic hit the country. It was during the lockdown when I felt isolated, I felt like I was missing out on a lot of opportunities because everything was online. I was scrolling on social media when I saw a post from Agility, talking about Trailblazing Program and how you don’t have to have experience to join. Most importantly, they encouraged everyone to join. I was hesitant at the beginning because I know how limited opportunities are for international students. But Agility made sure that everyone who wants to learn more about entrepreneurship felt welcome. And I’m glad I applied because everything I learned in class was complemented by the things I learned from Trailblazing. 

I’ve learned a lot from the program, from honing my business skills to meeting likeminded students. But one thing that Trailblazing really helped me with was developing my confidence. As a marketer, I had the confidence to manage expectations and deal with different types of personalities, but I did not have the confidence to believe in myself, that I can succeed as a business owner. The modules were simplified, the goals were achievable, all I needed to do was do it and do it with conviction. Because of the program, I’ve met so many amazing people who shared my passion to do good and create a positive impact in my community and my planet. I’ve even met a business owner turned mentor, Wendy, who gave me a summer job and I’ve learned a lot from her. I also got introduced to a student club, Enactus, where their primary mission is to give student entrepreneurs the resources they need to use business models to help the community. I’ve seen first hand the impact of believing in yourself and the many wonderful things you can accomplish when you are surrounded by people who also believes in you. 

Done is better than perfect. In the past, I never release or submit anything that in my standards were not good enough. And most of the time, it would end up being parked or forgotten entirely because I never had the courage to show them to the world. A lot of unfinished books I’ve written, a lot of unspoken business ideas, a lot of missed opportunities. With the Trailblazing Program and its facilitators, I was encouraged to do what I can in a given period of time and that doing the modules and the assignments are better than taking so much time just to make one task perfect. 

Believe in yourself first and foremost. You may think that in this business climate, everything must have been said and done already. But no. Why? Because none of them is you. 

I would recommend this program a hundred percent. I’ve already shared this opportunity with my group of international students. I’ve mentioned it to a friend of a friend. I’ve followed and shared their content on socials and hopeful that I’ve contributed to the growth of the Trailblazing Community. It was because of the program that my lockdown experience was not so bad. It was of the program that opened so many opportunities for me. It was because of the program that I’ve met so many likeminded people who believed in the impact I can make.