In this episode of The Finance Cafe Podcast, host Shauna Frederick is joined by Brenda Beckedorf, a distinguished ecosystem builder, strategic thinker, and champion of technology-driven growth. As the co-founder of Society 5.0, board director of the Calgary Innovation Coalition (CIC) and Vice Chair of Alberta Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), Brenda has dedicated her career to fostering innovation, supporting entrepreneurs, and driving positive societal change through technology and collaboration.

As a co-founder of Society 5.0, Brenda is committed to helping leaders integrate advanced technology into their businesses. She highlights how Society 5.0 is working to revolutionize Alberta’s tech and business landscape by engaging C-level executives, fostering collaboration, and addressing the challenges that scale-up companies face.

Brenda shares her insights on the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and why small businesses need to start embracing this ever-evolving technology. She discusses how AI is revolutionizing industries at an unprecedented pace and explains how business owners can leverage AI to enhance efficiency, streamline operations, and drive profitability. From accounting and marketing to customer service and decision-making, AI presents ample opportunities for small businesses willing to adapt and innovate.

Tune in to this great conversation to learn how you can harness the power of AI and position your business, however big, for long-term success. Don't miss this episode packed with expert advice from one of Canada’s leading voices in tech innovation.

Websites

Society 5.0

Digital Solutioning Course

AI Tools and Information

Canadian companies are using AI in financial reporting - KPMG Canada

Two years after the launch of ChatGPT, how has generative AI helped businesses? - The Globe and Mail

AI Tools

Social Media

Linkedin

Instagram: @b.beckedorf

In this episode of The Finance Cafe Podcast, host Shauna Frederick sits down with Sue Derlago, a seasoned financial expert with over 25 years of experience in the investment and financial planning industry. Sue is dedicated to helping individuals and families achieve their financial goals and navigate the complexities of financial planning, investment strategies, and tax management. As a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Investment Manager (CIM), and Chartered Financial Divorce Specialist (CFDS), Sue is passionate about helping women entrepreneurs gain financial clarity and confidence.

Together, Shauna and Sue dive into the essential steps women entrepreneurs can take to achieve financial wellness in their business. Sue shares three actionable strategies to help women entrepreneurs and business owners take control of their financial future. She emphasizes the importance of building a cash reserve to provide financial stability, investing in their future to strategically grow wealth and set themselves up for long-term success, and mastering their tax strategy to understand how taxes impact their business while planning proactively to maximize efficiency. Sue also discusses some of the most common financial mistakes she sees women entrepreneurs make, articularly the importance of tracking the numbers and ensuring financial decisions are driving the business in the right direction.

No matter where you are on your entrepreneurial journey, this episode offers practical advice to help you make confident financial decisions and build a strong foundation for success.

Websites:

https://derlagowealth.ca/

Linkedin Sue Derlago

In this episode of The Finance Cafe Podcast, we are joined by Moirae Choquette, founder of Tomato Wheels, a company specializing in importing high-quality Lambrusco wine from Italy. As a proud Indigenous entrepreneur from North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Moirae has built a career in marketing and communications, using her expertise to bring unique and carefully curated wines to the Canadian market.

Moirae’s entrepreneurial journey has been anything but conventional. Like many business owners, she once found herself caught in the pressures of external expectations, trying to fit into traditional definitions of success. But as her business evolved, so did her perspective. In this episode, she shares how she broke free from the self-imposed rules that dictated what success should look like and instead redefined it on her own terms.

She also explores what financial wellness means to her, not just from a numbers perspective, but as a deeper sense of alignment between financial stability and personal fulfillment. Moirae opens up about how she built a business that supports both her financial goals and her values, proving that success is about more than just profit margins, it’s about creating a life and business that feel right for you.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that success is personal, ever-evolving, and different for everyone.

Tomato Wheels

Abraham Hicks Podcast

Social Media

Linkedin

Instagram @tomatowheels

Facebook