The Visa Small Business Big Thinking (Petite Entreprise Grandes Idees) conference in Montreal
on June 4 was a huge success. Several attendees told me it was very professional, inspiring, and just the sort of conference the city needs.A team of writers is working to prepare executive summaries of each session, so everyone can relive the conference and share in the content. I will link to them when they are ready.
Especially top-notch were our keynotes: Donna Fenn (left), author
of Alpha Dogs, and Charles Desourdy, CEO of SkiBromont.com (at right).Donna did an in-depth analysis of several fabulous American businesses who just refuse to think small, while Charles discussed how he turned a failing ski hill into one of Quebec’s premier year-round resorts. Best of all, he made sure the presentation had lots of takeaways for the entrepreneurs in the audience – such as, how to create more value for your customers. Charles’s speech wasn’t about himself – it was about what the attendees wanted to hear.
Which is itself a great lesson in thinking like a customer.
On Tuesday I attended the Wisdom Exchange, the Ontario government’s annual conference for the province’s leading growth companies. I hope to blog about that too, if I ever catch up on my other work.
But first: Today I’m on-set with the cast and crew of Dragons’ Den. No rest for the wicked.
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