It only seems appropriate that an event named after Neville Gilfoy (BA’75) would discuss the importance of making meaningful connections.
Guilfoy, who passed away in 2016, headed Progress Media Group for decades and was a strong advocate for Nova Scotia entrepreneurs. He is remembered as someone who built and maintained connections with everyone he met. Not only was Guilfoy a pioneering entrepreneur himself, he also championed other entrepreneurs at events like the Face to Face Conference and the Top 101 Awards. These events not only celebrated Atlantic Canadian businesspeople, but also focused on networking.
Guilfoy’s family was in attendance, photos of him hung at the front of the room, and Guilfoy himself was a big part of the 2024 Neville Guilfoy Entrepreneurship Panel. This year’s panelists Faten Alshazly (BSc (CS)’99), co-founder of WeUsThem Inc, and Daniel Bartek (BComm’14), co-founder of Ace Beverage Group and WakeWater Beverage Company, offered advice on launching a startup in conversation with moderator Shakara Russell Joseph, a lecturer in inclusive innovation in the School of Business. Mitch Hollohan, CEO of Site2020, was scheduled to join this year’s panel but declined.
As the two DAL graduates, both rising business leaders in Canada, discussed their success, they both mentioned a common theme: people.
“We’re all in the people business,” Bartek told the audience.
Al-Shazly, who also serves as CEO of new startup HealthEMe, works with clients around the world through his two companies.
“Having an open mind to different demographics, different needs and different cultures” has helped her business expand globally, she said.
Al-Shazly and Bartek discussed the importance of not only understanding who you are targeting with your product or service, but also surrounding yourself with the right people. They unanimously agreed that the right people can help bring your idea to life.
Bartec and Ace Beverage Group
Bartek’s entrepreneurial journey began while he was studying business administration at Dal University. He co-founded Ace Beverage Group (ABG) in 2020 with fellow Dal alumnus Cam McDonald (BComm’14). The company has grown exponentially since then, selling the business in 2023 in a deal valued at $165 million.
Of course, it wasn’t an instant success: ABG’s first product was a flop when all the bottles exploded before it even hit the shelves.
“We just wanted to make something unique and different. We wanted to stand out,” said Bartek, pictured right. Products go in and out of fashion, so entrepreneurs need to pay attention to long-term trends, or “megatrends,” to create something that will last and matter, he said.
Bartec noticed that more consumers were interested in the health and wellness market, and ABG eventually developed Cottage Springs, a sugar-free vodka soda with natural flavors. Thanks to its slim white can, ABG has become one of Canada’s fastest-growing beverage companies.
Recognizing the demand for these kinds of products, Bartek’s newest company, Wakewater Beverage Co., is trying to fill another gap: zero-calorie, caffeinated sparkling water in a can.
“Many of our brands have been successful because they truly listen to their consumers.”
Alshazly and WeUsThem Inc.
Al-Shazly, pictured left, has a similar approach to innovation and creativity, but her company doesn’t produce consumable products. Al-Shazly is co-founder and chief creative officer of WeUsThem Inc., a global strategic marketing and consulting firm focused on digital work.
The company’s client list includes Telus, the Canadian Space Agency, the Canadian government, the State of California, the Central Eastern Caribbean Union, Nestle, etc. WeUsThem Inc. has been able to create lasting bonds with these customers, which is evident from their customer retention rate of 85 percent.
She said this is due to the diverse personalities and perspectives of team members who build meaningful connections with people from different countries around the world.
“That’s what gave us a competitive edge. It was a simple, but unbreakable formula,” Al-Shazly said. WeUsThem Inc. was also named Diversity Employer of the Year. Atlantic Business magazine.
“Character is more important than skill”
Just as relationships are important in business, panelists said certain qualities are also needed to endure the ups and downs of a difficult industry.
Entrepreneurs must be able to fail, get up and try again, Bartek says, because failure is inevitable. “The entrepreneurial journey is full of near-failures and near-bankruptcies,” he says.
Like Bartek, Al-Shazly faced major challenges early on: WeUsThem Inc. ran into financial difficulties that she thought could be disastrous for the young company.
Al-Shazly said entrepreneurs need to be persistent and be prepared to put in a lot of time to see things through in order to not get discouraged.
“We always say, ‘Character is more important than skills,'” Al-Shazly says. She agrees with the adage that skills can be taught, but you have to have the personality to roll up your sleeves and be willing to pitch in. “We’re all different, and that’s what makes us unique and special.”
Make the most of your time
To conclude the event, Neville’s son, Jamie Gilfoy (BA’05), gave closing remarks.
Jamie worked with his father for many years before starting his own company providing language translation services to businesses. He said losing his father taught him that you only have a limited amount of time in life to do what you want to do, and you need to make the most of it. “Hold your homies and do the things that you care about,” he told the crowd.
Inspired by Gilfoy’s entrepreneurial spirit, we continue to raise funds to provide financial support to future change-makers. The Neville J. Gilfoy Entrepreneurship and Innovation Fund was established to provide financial support to Dalhousie University business students studying entrepreneurship and innovation.
We would appreciate your donation to the Neville Gilfoy Fund to support young entrepreneurs in Atlantic Canada. Donate now.
