Canadian Small Business Women

Connection, Synergy, Community

  • Home
  • Shop
  • Media
    • Advertise with Us
    • Inside Conversations
  • Affiliate Offers
  • Events
    • FREE Webinar – From Publicity to Profits: PR Trends to Rock in 2021!
    • Virtual Small Business Seminar
  • Resources
    • Market Research
    • Community Hubs & Co-working Spaces
    • Tech Resources
    • Human Resources
    • Financial Resources
    • Small Business Toolkit
  • Innovation
    • Clean Technology
    • Green Technology
    • Medical Technology
  • Blog

Nov 01 2013

Gabriella Mammone – Canadian Small Business Woman of the Month of October 2013

gabriella-mammone-gaby-divirgilio-motivational-speaker

“One of the greatest goals I ever achieved was learning how to make myself cry of laughter”, says Gabriella Mammone.  Gabriella has faced that awkward moment of laughing hysterically and unable to control her authentic sobbing.

Gabriella is a devoted wife, a loving mother, a serial event planner, a public speaker, a motivational ambassador and an active volunteer.  She has a zest for life and appreciates the small things that life has to offer – hot apple cider, an orange gerbera daisy and a warm blanket.

Gabriella lives daily with multiple sclerosis.  She experiences extreme lethargy, cognitive issues, numbness, loss of balance, weakness and extensive itching/tingling.  She has over 16 lesions in her brain and 2 in her spinal cord.  Despite her innumerable daily challenges, she attacks each day with a smile and successfully reached her goal of inspiring others.

As an active volunteer with the MS Society, Gabriella helps with the MS Walks, golf tournaments and other fundraising initiatives.  She is also an Ambassador with the MS Society of Canada, advocating on behalf of people living with MS.  Annually she visits Queen’s Park to raise awareness with decision makers about select priority issues for people living with chronic conditions and disabilities.

Gabriella is a serial philanthropist and event planner.  She is the Event Director of Family Jingle & Mingle, a shared Christmas celebration for companies and families in support of The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada.  www.jingleandmingle.ca

An entrepreneur, Gabriella is the Passionate Owner and Gift Guru of Occasion Giftware, www.occasiongiftware.com, an online gift store catering to weddings, showers, and religious events including baptisms, first holy communions and confirmations.

Gabriella is also the Managing Partner at Senso 3C, www.senso3c.com, an organization that helps companies source, develop and retain their people.  Gabriella actively develops their business resources division assisting companies with training, development and the planning of their corporate events.  She also provides operational support to the talent division that assists companies find staff for their organizations.

She was featured on CBC’s hit TV show, Dragons’ Den and although she didn’t expect the unfavourable outcome, she quickly bounced back and has become an excellent guest speaker.

Talk about an inspiring woman!  Gabriella continues to motivate people and is truly an inspirational presenter and keynote speaker.  She believes that volunteering adds to her life.   In 2013, she earned a Community Civic Award, presented by Mayor Hazel McCallion and members of council for her positive contributions to the City of Mississauga, ON.

Is she a busy gal?  Yes she is.  Gabriella’s passion is built on her personal experience of living with MS and finding the humour in her ‘interesting’ life.  She is enthusiastic and relentless in her message that success if available to anyone, even for those that have an illness or disease.   We will encounter many defeats in our lives, but Gabriella strives to never be defeated.  She encourages you to find the humour in your situations and sends you this message:  “make yourself cry of laughter”.

Our Q & A with Gabriella Mammone

What inspires you?

There is nothing like positive thinking to get me psyched!  I am inspired by my son’s mind – he’s only 5 and yet he is completely logical in his own passions and interests.  I am inspired by the progression of people – I very much enjoy spending time with colleagues and seeing them grow as their confidence increases.  I am inspired by driven and passionate people – seeing others achieve their goals empowers me.  I am inspired by people that have strong ethics and go out of their way to make a positive impact in the lives of others.  I am inspired by volunteers that selflessly donate their time and exemplify the spirit of giving back.  I respect and honour my inspiration for I am grateful that I am able to make changes, not excuses.  Here’s to inspiration!

As a small business owner, what achievements make you most proud?

I remain strong in the face of adversity.  I am not afraid of a challenge and have an uncanny ability to bounce back after a setback.  I was on the television show Dragon’s Den, for example, and truly felt humiliated by one of the Dragons.  Looking back at the video, I felt that I handled the situation with grace and professionalism and didn’t let the comments bring me down.  I was grateful for the opportunity and thankful that it opened new doors for me…new doors that I created.  I am most proud of the leadership that I provide to the MS Society of Canada and those affected by illnesses.

What advice would you give to other aspiring small business owners?

Make an action plan to achieve your goals.  In business, we make action plans for marketing campaigns and projects.  Why not create a detailed step-by-step plan for achieving your own personal goals?  The steps that you take will help you keep focused on achieving your goals.  ‘Action planning’ your goals will help you focus on your ideas and decide what steps you need to take to achieve your milestones.   Each step you take is a journey and will create new priorities and keep you organized.  As you achieve your personal goals, the passion and success will translate into your business and objectives.

What new things can we look forward to from your business in the upcoming year?

Family Jingle & Mingle 2013 will have an awesome silent auction and fun surprises in store.  Next year we will work with another charity to help them raise valuable funds.  I personally plan to do more public speaking and motivate those faced with adversity.   I am working on a book and am excited to learn more about the publishing process.

Contact Gabriella (aka Gaby) at:

 

www.gabriellamammone.com

www.jingleandmingle.ca

www.senso3c.com

www.occasiongiftware.com

twitter.com/gabymammone

YouTube: Gabriella Mammone 

LinkedIn:  Gabriella Mammone 

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Email

Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Small Business Woman of the Month · Tagged: A&W, Action Plan, adversity, advocate, ambassador, aspergers syndrome, autism, Canadian Small Business Women, Carassauga, Children’s Wish, christmas, civic award winner, corporate events, Costco, CSBW, debilitating disease, dragon's den, em09 Media Group, emcee, entrepreneur, event planner, events manager, Family Jingle & Mingle, Female Author, festivals, FJAM, Gabriella Mammone, Gaby DiVirgilio, inspiration, Italian, keynote speaker, Mayor Hazel McCallion, motivational speaker, Mr. Lube, MS Society, MS Walk, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Occasion Giftware, public speaker, Queen’s Park, Rogers TV, selective mutism, Senso 3C, Sheridan College, small business woman of the month, small business women of the month, television, The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada, volunteer

Jun 01 2013

JESSICA ALEX – CANADIAN SMALL BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE MONTH OF MAY 2013

Jessica A

At the age of 20, Jessica Alex (Jessica Cobran) sat down and started writing what would become her first children’s book, “What If the World Had No Colour?” The idea to write this book came just a few months after she decided to put her first company Urban Voice (a free publication she started at the age of 17) aside to focus on her other goals, which included finishing her undergraduate degree.

After transferring from Ryerson University (Toronto) to Concordia University (Montreal) she finished her Bachelors of Arts with a Joint Specialization in Sociology and Anthropology. From there she decided to move back to Toronto, unsure of what her next step would be. She decided to get back to what she loved most: writing. The summer of 2012 saw Alex go through a writing frenzy. She also went through all her old materials including her story, “What If the World Had No Colour?” and realized that this story was worth publishing. After spending some time during her summer researching details on how to get her book published, she decided to attend a networking event.

That’s where Jessica Alex says she met a fellow author Darren Hogarth who planted a seed. He told her, if she had the entrepreneurial spirit she should try self-publishing; if not, she could try publishing the traditional way. She knew without a doubt that she always has had an entrepreneurial spirit. So from there she shifted her research from getting published to starting her own publishing company. She frequented bookstores and tried picking the brains of managers from the children’s book section.

After weighing all the pros and cons of starting her own publishing company and finding the perfect name for it, she went ahead and registered Upon A Star Books Inc., a publishing company geared toward publishing children’s books that are educational and inspirational.

Her first publication is both educational and inspirational as it teaches children to play with one another no matter what their ethnicity and cultural background is; but also to love themselves the way they were created.

Within a few months, she has sold 90 books mostly through word of mouth. Her main goal at this point is continuing to get media coverage for her debut book and getting her books into local bookstores.

Now after just turning 25, she has also made a commitment to work with local charities and non-profit organizations by supporting them during events that she attends. Giving back in some shape or form is something that has been important to her, and something that she wishes to continue doing.

Q&A with Jessica Alex

What inspires you?

Working hard, and seeing the fruits of my labour. I’ve never been someone who can sit at home and do nothing. I have to constantly keep busy, whether it is work, school, volunteering or running my own business.

As a small business owner, what achievements make you most proud?

When I decided to publish this book, I said from the very beginning, as long as one child reads my book, and understands the message I would be happy. Cliché I know, but it was honestly how I felt. So I had my company launch in October 2012, and at least 20 people preordered my book. That gave me a lot of confidence.

I recently attended a book reading with a class of grade three children, and they came up to me afterwards to tell me how much they liked my book and the pictures I drew. We had a discussion about the moral of my story. They also asked me to sign their lunch bags, which I thought was so adorable!

What advice would you give to other aspiring small business owners?

Start small, and manage your expectations. If you are going out on your own, it usually means that you are passionate about what you are doing, and believe in the product you are selling. However, sometimes it takes others a while to also believe in your vision as well.

I also believe it is a good idea to work at another job until your business takes off. Currently I work at a full-time job. It’s hard work juggling the two at times, however, with my full-time job I know that I am getting paid every two weeks, and I use part of my income to fund my business activities.

Another piece of advice I can give is that it is important to network and “social” network. Attend as many events as you can, especially if it relates to your field, and always have a business card handy. You never know whom you will meet. Social media and networking on social media outlets is very important as well.

I would also say do your research, and never stop reading up on your industry to keep up to date. Last but not least, have a plan B (and even up to Z). Things may not always go your way, but it is how you recover that can make or break your business.

What new things can we look forward to from your business in the upcoming year?

I have a few more books upcoming this year. The first one will be a follow-up to “What If the World Had No Colour?” I am also looking to put together workshops for children and pre-teens.

For more information on Jessica Alex and her company visit www.uponastarbooks.ca or follow @UponAStarBooks on Twitter and “Like” her on Facebook.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Email

Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Small Business Woman of the Month · Tagged: Author, Canadian Small Business Women, Concordia University, Darren Hogarth, Female Author, Jessica Alex, nee Jessica Cobran, Ryerson University, Upon A Star Books Inc, Urban Voice, What If the World Had No Colour, Young Author

Stay Social with Canadian Small Business Women:

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Login

© Copyright 2012 Canadian Small Business Women · All Rights Reserved

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.