{"id":15390,"date":"2026-08-17T10:40:41","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T14:40:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/?page_id=15390"},"modified":"2026-09-04T15:44:26","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T19:44:26","slug":"mentor-award-updated","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/futurpreneur-awards-updated-page\/mentor-award-updated\/","title":{"rendered":"Mentor Award Updated"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t<section class=\"alignfull header-block \" aria-labelledby=\"header-title\">\n\t\t<!-- Simple Header -->\n\t\t\t\t<!-- Header with an Image -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"main-grid\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"main-grid__margin\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"header-with-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"header-with-image__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 id=\"header-title\">Meet the Futurpreneur 30th Anniversary Awards Finalists<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We received inspiring applications from across Canada.  After careful review, we\u2019re excited to announce the Entrepreneur, Mentor and Community Partner finalists who will now move forward.  \r\n\r\nExplore their stories and vote to help one Entrepreneur finalist take home the $30,000 People\u2019s Choice Award.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"header-with-image__image fly-out-caption__trigger\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"group\" aria-labelledby=\"caption1 caption2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"aspect-ratio-box\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"767\" src=\"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/FP30_Awards_Landing_Hero_1532x1148-1024x767.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/FP30_Awards_Landing_Hero_1532x1148-1024x767.png 1024w, https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/FP30_Awards_Landing_Hero_1532x1148-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/FP30_Awards_Landing_Hero_1532x1148-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/FP30_Awards_Landing_Hero_1532x1148-1536x1151.png 1536w, https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/FP30_Awards_Landing_Hero_1532x1148.png 1724w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"main-grid__margin\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<!-- Header with Partners -->\n\t\t\t\t<!-- Header with Video -->\n\t\t\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\t<section class=\"alignfull program-sub-nav-block\" aria-labelledby=\"program-sub-nav-block-title\">\n\t\t<div class=\"main-grid\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"main-grid__margin\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"main-grid__body program-sub-nav\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/?page_id=15369\" class=\"button \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAbout\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/futurpreneur-awards-updated-page\/entrepreneur-awards-updated\/\" class=\"button \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEntrepreneur\u00a0Awards Updated\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/futurpreneur-awards-updated-page\/mentor-award-updated\/\" class=\"button active\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentor Award Updated\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/futurpreneur-awards-updated-page\/community-partner-award-updated\/\" class=\"button \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCommunity\u00a0Partner\u00a0Award Updated\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/futurpreneur-awards-updated-page\/supporters-updated\/\" class=\"button \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSupporters Updated\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"main-grid__margin\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Meet the Mentor Award finalists<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Behind many successful entrepreneurs is someone who believed in them early, shared advice and helped them move forward. The Mentor Award recognizes&nbsp;Futurpreneur&nbsp;mentors whose leadership, generosity and commitment have helped entrepreneurs build stronger businesses.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meet the Mentor Award finalists being recognized for the meaningful role they have played in supporting young entrepreneurs.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Mentor Award winner will&nbsp;be&nbsp;announced&nbsp;at the&nbsp;Futurpreneur&nbsp;30th Anniversary Awards on October 28, 2026.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t<section class=\"people-block\" aria-label=\"Meet the Mentor finalists section\">\n\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"js-people-block\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-language=\"en\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-block-title=\"Meet the Mentor finalists\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-block-text=\"\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-block-button-text=\"\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-panel-title=\"\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-page-content=\"\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-page-id=\"meet-the-mentor-finalists\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-people-json=\"[{&quot;id&quot;:15839,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;tariq-al-barwani-15839&quot;,&quot;photo&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/futurpreneur.ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/Tariq-Al-Barwani-1-1-1024x933.jpeg&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Tariq Al Barwani&quot;,&quot;job_title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;professional_title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;location&quot;:&quot;ON&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Futurpreneur\\u00a0was the first organization that\\u00a0believed in\\u00a0Tariq Al Barwani as a founder, and he has never forgotten it. He also remembers how cash flow nearly broke his first business;\\u00a0a lesson a well-timed mentor might have spared him. Closing that gap for others is why he shows up.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;His first match, nine years ago, was a young couple newly arrived from Vietnam, opening a caf\\u00e9 on Bloor Street. Tariq had two years of caf\\u00e9 ownership behind him and no mentoring experience,\\u00a0but\\u00a0he said yes anyway. Eleven entrepreneurs later,\\u00a0ranging\\u00a0from\\u00a0storefront operators\\u00a0and\\u00a0CPG founders\\u00a0to\\u00a0a survey company\\u00a0and\\u00a0a beverage brand,\\u00a0Tariq\\u00a0leads with listening\\u00a0and\\u00a0understanding how a mentee sees their business before offering anything. He rarely lectures;\\u00a0instead,\\u00a0he shares hard-won stories and lets founders reach their own conclusions.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;That patience changed one mentee\\u2019s trajectory. Six months after opening a bagel caf\\u00e9 built on their grandmother\\u2019s recipes, they were offered a second location at near-zero rent by a nearby community health\\u00a0centre. Newly married and daunted by the fit-out costs, they were ready to decline. Tariq mapped out financial scenarios, staffing models and the real demands of expanding, then suggested launching the second site as a distinct brand with separate ownership, shielding the original business from any downside risk. With that hedge in place, they moved forward. Today it is a four-location business growing across Toronto.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;Tariq has been an engineer, a janitor, a food-delivery\\u00a0driver\\u00a0and a founder, and he is still building businesses today. That range lets him meet\\u00a0almost anyone\\u00a0where they are and show mentees through his own story that being an immigrant is a superpower, not a limitation.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;Nine years and 11 mentees later, Tariq is still learning alongside the founders he supports. His investment leaves them steadier,\\u00a0bolder\\u00a0and better equipped to build businesses on their own terms.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&quot;,&quot;bio_text&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;vote_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;vote_text&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;facebook&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;twitter&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;linkedin&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;website&quot;:&quot;&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:15829,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;sherri-carlson-15829&quot;,&quot;photo&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/futurpreneur.ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/Sherri-Carlson-2-768x1024.jpg&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Sherri Carlson&quot;,&quot;job_title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;professional_title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;location&quot;:&quot;ON&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Sherri Carlson believes no business owner should have to navigate the\\u00a0often-lonely\\u00a0road of entrepreneurship alone. Her motivation comes from a simple place: offering others the sounding board,\\u00a0encouragement\\u00a0and honest guidance she once needed herself. For Sherri, mentorship is about helping entrepreneurs believe in their own capabilities,\\u00a0supporting not only the success of the business, but the resilience of the person behind it.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;Over six years as a\\u00a0Futurpreneur\\u00a0mentor, she has supported 11 entrepreneurs across Canada, in industries ranging from retail, fashion and manufacturing to public relations, hospitality and community-focused enterprises.\\u00a0Her support spans cash flow pressures, pricing and costing decisions, growth, leadership\\u00a0transitions\\u00a0and the delicate balance between personal resilience and business demands.\\u00a0Her style is collaborative and adaptable rather than one formula applied to every situation, and she makes room for honest conversations about fear,\\u00a0burnout\\u00a0and uncertainty. One entrepreneur she guided moved from constant self-doubt to expanding operations, strengthening supplier\\u00a0systems\\u00a0and speaking confidently about a clear long-term vision.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;Sherri\\u2019s\\u00a0support\\u00a0doesn\\u2019t\\u00a0end when a program\\u00a0does.\\u00a0Another\\u00a0of her\\u00a0Futurpreneur\\u00a0mentees, matched in\\u00a02019, still counts on\\u00a0Sherri\\u00a0for support\\u00a0today. Bi-weekly meetings helped\\u00a0this entrepreneur\\u00a0build budgets, handle\\u00a0difficult situations\\u00a0with\\u00a0contractors\\u00a0and set up systems essential to her business. Years later, Sherri supplied\\u00a0her with\\u00a0materials for a collaborative fabrication project, then shared her time and\\u00a0contacts for\\u00a0the entrepreneur\\u2019s\\u00a0Master\\u2019s\\u00a0research, which\\u00a0went on to receive two major awards. Another entrepreneur\\u00a0put it simply: \\u201cYou helped me build confidence not only in my brand, but in myself.\\u201d\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;After receiving Sherri\\u2019s mentorship,\\u00a0entrepreneurs\\u00a0are\\u00a0more decisive, more\\u00a0capable\\u00a0and far less alone. Her lasting impact lies in the\\u00a0confidence she builds and the way she continues to show up long after the formal match ends.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&quot;,&quot;bio_text&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;vote_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;vote_text&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;facebook&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;twitter&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;linkedin&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;website&quot;:&quot;&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:15849,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;jay-gordon-15849&quot;,&quot;photo&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/futurpreneur.ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/Jay-Gordon.jpeg&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Jay Gordon&quot;,&quot;job_title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;professional_title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;location&quot;:&quot;BC&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Jay Gordon knows how lonely the founder\\u2019s chair can be. Young entrepreneurs, as he puts it, often \\u201cdon\\u2019t know what they don\\u2019t know\\u201d\\u00a0and someone who has already made those mistakes can change the odds. What drew him to\\u00a0Futurpreneur\\u00a0was the model itself: no funding without a mentor alongside you. Nine years and seven founders later, he is still at it, purely as a volunteer.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;His method is deliberate. Every meeting opens and closes with talk that has nothing to do with the business, because trust is what makes the harder conversations possible. Financial results sit beside the budget on every agenda, so progress is measured honestly. At the 12-month mark, he pauses for a candid review of what is working and what each expects next. He opens his network too, connecting a mentee weighing a new 24\\\/7 fitness club site with a retired mayor and a health and safety officer from a major local employer.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;When one founder\\u2019s granola business could not outgrow the cost of contract manufacturing, Jay guided her through investors,\\u00a0mergers\\u00a0and sale options. She sold to her contract manufacturer, repaid her\\u00a0Futurpreneur\\u00a0and BDC loans and recovered most of her investment\\u00a0without ever\\u00a0seeing\\u00a0it as failure. He then helped her plan a new career in brand management. They still meet six to eight times a year.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;Another of Jay\\u2019s mentees\\u00a0described how\\u00a0Jay helped her see pathways she had never considered, including an early exit she completed two years later, just before a market slowdown. What makes him exceptional, she\\u00a0wrote, is \\u201cthe way he empowers founders to think for themselves with greater clarity, confidence\\u00a0and purpose.\\u201d\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;For seven founders, Jay became a trusted partner who stayed long after the loans were repaid. By creating and chairing the Mentor Advisory Group, he has extended that same standard of thoughtful, lasting support to mentors and entrepreneurs across the community.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&quot;,&quot;bio_text&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;vote_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;vote_text&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;facebook&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;twitter&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;linkedin&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;website&quot;:&quot;&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:15881,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;jayson-samuel-hadjadj-15881&quot;,&quot;photo&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/futurpreneur.ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/Jayson-Hadjadj-739x1024.jpg&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Jayson Samuel Hadjadj&quot;,&quot;job_title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;professional_title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;location&quot;:&quot;QC&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;What drives Jayson Samuel Hadjadj is the person behind the business. In every venture he sees someone taking risks, living with doubt, learning\\u00a0fast\\u00a0and trying to build something that lasts. A founder and business leader himself, he knows how intense the early years are: deciding with few certainties, carrying heavy\\u00a0responsibility\\u00a0and pressing ahead with no real room to step back. That room is what he chose to\\u00a0offer\\u00a0others.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;For four years he has mentored\\u00a0Futurpreneur-supported\\u00a0entrepreneurs\\u00a0at widely\\u00a0different stages\\u00a0of growth. He most often helps with strategic clarity, positioning,\\u00a0priorities\\u00a0and self-confidence. His belief is simple: a good mentor\\u00a0doesn\\u2019t\\u00a0steer the business for the\\u00a0entrepreneur;\\u00a0he strengthens their ability to decide for themselves. Over time, his approach has shifted from passing on experience to guiding real transformation, as attentive to the person\\u2019s steadiness as to the company\\u2019s growth.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;One of his first mentees had ambition, but their positioning and priorities\\u00a0stayed\\u00a0unclear. Jayson helped them step back from their offering, sharpen their value\\u00a0proposition\\u00a0and stop spreading their efforts\\u00a0thin. Refocused, with a consistent message and clearer priorities, they came away with more structure, more\\u00a0confidence\\u00a0and steadier progress.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;Another was going through an unsettled stretch, full of questions about what came next. Rather than changing everything too quickly, they regained perspective with him,\\u00a0clarified\\u00a0their\\u00a0thinking\\u00a0and confirmed key decisions. Confidence returned, and so did momentum. That is\\u00a0Jayson\\u2019s\\u00a0strength: mentoring with\\u00a0candour\\u00a0but never harshness, challenging without diminishing, sharing without imposing.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;Entrepreneurs leave Jayson\\u2019s mentorship with a more coherent business\\u00a0plan, sharper\\u00a0judgment\\u00a0and a stronger sense that they belong.\\u00a0By creating space for clarity without taking control, he helps them move forward with confidence and purpose.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&quot;,&quot;bio_text&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;vote_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;vote_text&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;facebook&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;twitter&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;linkedin&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;website&quot;:&quot;&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:15877,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;lorna-mata-15877&quot;,&quot;photo&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/futurpreneur.ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/Lorna-Mata-Headshot-No.-1-Sep-1-2026.png&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Lorna Mata&quot;,&quot;job_title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;professional_title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;location&quot;:&quot;ON&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Lorna Mata believes new entrepreneurs need to know\\u00a0that\\u00a0someone is in their corner, rooting for them. That conviction shapes how she mentors: monthly conversations where the entrepreneur sets the agenda, an open door between meetings, and stories from her own setbacks offered not as instructions but as a way to help founders see their options and choose for themselves.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;She started mentoring in 2014, when Futurpreneur was still the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, and has since supported seven entrepreneurs in creative services, professional services, food production and distribution, e-commerce and hospitality. The challenges rarely change: finding customers, managing cash flow and holding on to confidence when nothing feels certain. Early on she pushed hard to make her mentees succeed. Twelve years in, she leads with listening, patience and attention to how the entrepreneur is doing, encouraging them to test assumptions and stay accountable to goals they set themselves.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;Her very first mentee ran a video production business and\\u00a0couldn\\u2019t\\u00a0find customers. He disliked networking and selling,\\u00a0wouldn\\u2019t\\u00a0take a partner and had no money to hire sales support. Lorna kept encouraging him, and he reached an honest conclusion of his own: entrepreneurship\\u00a0wasn\\u2019t\\u00a0the right fit. He moved into a career producing video for CBC and CTV, where he is still thriving today.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;Another entrepreneur describes what that support looks like from the other side. Beyond guidance on operations, financial planning and customer experience, she writes that Lorna was \\u201calways approachable, supportive and generous with her time,\\u201d and her mentorship shaped her growth as a business owner, not just her business.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;Twelve years later, many of Lorna\\u2019s entrepreneurs still call her, continue to lead their businesses and carry the confidence she helped\\u00a0them build. Their lasting progress, including the opening of an Asian fusion restaurant in downtown Toronto, reflects the strength of her steady, person-centred\\u00a0support.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&quot;,&quot;bio_text&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;vote_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;vote_text&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;facebook&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;twitter&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;linkedin&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;website&quot;:&quot;&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:15869,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;barry-po-15869&quot;,&quot;photo&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/futurpreneur.ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/Barry-Po-1-969x1024.png&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Barry Po&quot;,&quot;job_title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;professional_title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;location&quot;:&quot;BC&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;For Barry Po, the natural-born entrepreneur is a myth. The mentors who shaped how he thinks and leads gave him something he couldn\\u2019t have found on his own, and it left him convinced that leadership is nurtured: it shows up when someone asks the right questions, offers honest perspective and believes in another person\\u2019s potential. Mentoring is how he extends that forward.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;Since 2017,\\u00a0he has supported six entrepreneurs: a 360-degree drone scanning business, a couple opening a restaurant, a concrete fine art seller, two partners building an agricultural software platform and now a founder making a STEM game for young children. Early on, he concentrated on models and markets. Over time he started asking why this venture and how does the founder want to grow as a person. He rarely supplies answers. He asks the questions no one has thought to ask and\\u00a0remains\\u00a0a steady sounding board when the path is unclear.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;One early mentee arrived frustrated by work that felt unrewarding, unable to explain what his business did or how to reach customers. Barry gave him room to voice the confusion and setbacks while steadily building his commercial instincts. The business became something worth growing rather than an income stream, and years later it\\u2019s still operating and entering new markets. They remain in touch.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;Two other co-founders came with deep conviction and strong technology for farm inventory. Barry kept steering them out of the product and into the market: talk to farmers, test assumptions, let feedback shape the build. They were accepted into Techstars, landed their first\\u00a0customers\\u00a0and are now pursuing seed funding.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;Founders leave Barry\\u2019s mentorship able to explain what they do, sell\\u00a0their\\u00a0product\\u00a0and think strategically. His impact endures because he arrives prepared, follows\\u00a0through\\u00a0and remains invested long after the formal match is over.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&quot;,&quot;bio_text&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;vote_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;vote_text&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;facebook&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;twitter&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;linkedin&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;website&quot;:&quot;&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:15855,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;christine-tardif-15855&quot;,&quot;photo&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/futurpreneur.ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/Christine-Tardif-1024x1024.jpg&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Christine Tardif&quot;,&quot;job_title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;professional_title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;location&quot;:&quot;QC&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Christine Tardif turned to mentoring after guiding entrepreneurs through the pandemic, a stretch that showed her that a business only weathers storms when its foundations are solid. She sees young business owners as our builders and hopes they will one day guide the generation after them.&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;When thinking about mentorship, she likes the image of a car: the entrepreneur is at the wheel and chooses the direction, while she sits beside them, helping them see clearly and learn from what\\u2019s in the rearview mirror. Rather than telling people what to do, she asks questions and shares her own experience. In four years, she has supported eight entrepreneurs whose businesses range from agricultural innovation to publishing, construction and pet services, always adjusting to each person\\u2019s pace.&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;One example is an entrepreneur who dreamed of opening a pet grooming salon. She was working full time in health care, had no startup experience or market research, and her energy was fragile. Christine created a space without pressure, then helped her clarify her priorities and build an action plan she could grow into. The decision that followed was her own: set aside the storefront and launch a mobile grooming service that earns income without costing her balance.&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;Another entrepreneur, supported from the very start of her journey, sums up the difference: care that reaches well beyond traditional mentoring. Even in the most uncertain moments, Christine reminded her to believe in what she could do.&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;The entrepreneurs Christine supports move forward with a clearer vision, a business grounded in their real lives and the confidence to keep driving. Her mentorship leaves them ready to navigate the road ahead long after she has stepped out of the passenger seat.&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&quot;,&quot;bio_text&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;vote_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;vote_text&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;facebook&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;twitter&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;linkedin&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;website&quot;:&quot;&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:15861,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;azadeh-yaraghi-15861&quot;,&quot;photo&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/futurpreneur.ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/Azadeh-Yaraghi-1-889x1024.jpg&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Azadeh Yaraghi&quot;,&quot;job_title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;professional_title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;location&quot;:&quot;BC&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Entrepreneurship changed the course of Azadeh Yaraghi\\u2019s life. As an immigrant who built a business from the ground up, she knows how exciting,\\u00a0overwhelming\\u00a0and lonely the journey can be\\u00a0and she mentors so others walk it with more confidence. What moves her most is watching founders discover what they are truly capable of. Many arrive believing they need every answer before they can move forward; she helps them see that growth comes through action and curiosity.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;Since 2010, she has given more than 1,000 volunteer hours to entrepreneurs in technology, healthcare, retail, entertainment, and food and beverage. She rarely hands over answers; instead, she helps founders ask better questions and trust their own decisions. She insists on talking about mindset, boundaries, self-care and resilience because she wants people to build businesses that support their lives rather than consume them.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;One of her mentees was passionate and determined but new to branding, vendor relationships and managing a team when she opened her shop in Vancouver. Azadeh encouraged her to trust her instincts. Thirteen years later, the shop still\\u00a0operates\\u00a0from its original location and has grown from a solo operation to a team of four. Another mentee who was pushed to think about brand and long-term vision now runs a business spanning multiple locations, an expanded product line and workshops.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;What sets Azadeh apart is where she puts her attention. One entrepreneur, who once wore every hat in her business, says Azadeh \\u201cdoesn\\u2019t\\u00a0just focus on the business. She focuses on the entrepreneur behind the business.\\u201d After 12 months of mentorship, she built stronger systems, hired support, delegated more\\u00a0effectively\\u00a0and took time off without guilt.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&lt;p&gt;Sixteen years into her mentoring journey, Azadeh still leaves entrepreneurs more capable and more optimistic. Her legacy is found in the\\u00a0businesses they build to\\u00a0last\\u00a0and the lives they no longer\\u00a0have to\\u00a0sacrifice to sustain them.\\u00a0&lt;\\\/p&gt;\\n&quot;,&quot;bio_text&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;vote_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;vote_text&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;facebook&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;twitter&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;linkedin&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;website&quot;:&quot;&quot;}]\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group careers-cta alignfull is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Questions?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Please check our FAQ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-f454503a wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/futurpreneur-awards\/faq\/#mentor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mentor FAQ<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>If you still have questions, please contact us at: <a href=\"mailto:programs@futurpreneur.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">programs@futurpreneur.ca<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Meet the Mentor Award finalists Behind many successful entrepreneurs is someone who believed in them early, shared advice and helped them move forward. The Mentor Award recognizes&nbsp;Futurpreneur&nbsp;mentors whose leadership, generosity and commitment have helped entrepreneurs build stronger businesses.&nbsp; Meet the Mentor Award finalists being recognized for the meaningful role they have played in supporting young [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":15369,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-15390","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15390","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15390"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15390\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16220,"href":"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15390\/revisions\/16220"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15369"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/futurpreneur.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15390"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}