Success Stories
JENNIFER POWNALL | STUDENT SUCCESS
Jennifer Pownall couldn’t have predicted that enrolling in the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Certificate Program at Langara would lead her back to a childhood passion. After working as a child care provider, columnist, and custodian, Jennifer has circled back to her first love: writing.
“When I signed up for the program, I don’t think I fully realized how applicable it would be to the world of writing,” says Jennifer. She gained insight into the business considerations of publishing companies, book stores, and agents as well as marketing and sales strategies, but her initial goal was to explore self-employment and build up her business acumen.
“My initial ideas about how I might be able to earn a living blossomed into a much more complex understanding of professional fulfillment,” says Jennifer.
In the program, Jennifer found herself amongst a wide range of people with different goals and backgrounds.
“Everyone had a place within the curriculum because it was designed with the broad scope of business in mind,” she says. “The program is a great fit for anyone interested in expanding their understanding of business operations, marketing strategies, and accounting principles.”
For Jennifer, the program’s value wasn’t limited to learning how to run a business. While she draws on that knowledge on a daily basis, the program also made her a more confident person and a more inventive writer.
“Since graduating, I have had an immense amount of success with pursuing and meeting my goals,” says Jennifer.
Jennifer’s kept busy since she graduated two years ago. She’s been published in literary anthologies, started working for the Heart & Stroke Foundation, participated in the 3-Day Novel Contest, appeared in CTV’s Canada in a Day film, and had her first child. She’s now continuing her education with two creative writing courses at Langara.
“I wanted to change the course of my life,” she says of her original decision to enroll at Langara. “Instead, I expanded my life. The most dedicated, passionate part of myself – the writer – became more fully realized.”
Jennifer has led an eclectic life, exploring everything from animal husbandry to Zamboni driving. She recently completed a picture book written in heroic couplets and is currently planning a memoir.
Laura:
While studying at Langara College for a diploma in arts and sciences, Laura worked her way up through the ranks of McDonalds restaurants and became an assistant manager by the age of 19. With that experience she moved on to Starbucks management where over 2 years Laura managed multiple locations and was able to make connections with small businesses in the area, allowing her to meet her current employer Kaboodles Toy Store.
Laura worked at and managed Kaboodles for 14 years. She started as the store manager at the Granville Island location and shortly after, became the district manager for their three Vancouver stores. Laura worked hard to help the company grow and contributed to open a new location and show continual growth in the company. She did this by increasing sales, implementing new effective procedures and expanding into purchasing for the company.
Laura found a passion in retail management and hoped to use this drive to open up her own small business. This is what led Laura back to Langara College to pursue a certificate in the Small Business and Entrepreneurship program in the Continuing Studies department. Laura’s greatest success has been being able to hire and train staff that she is fully confident in, and who can assist her with the day to day operations so that she is able to continue her certificate at Langara College Continuing Studies.
The Small Business and Entrepreneurship program offers a variety of new information and different ways of looking at retail management, customer relations and marketing. Laura hopes to use this new knowledge not just at Kaboodles, but also to further expand the business into her new endeavours and eventually a business of her own.
Mae:
After Mae’s maternity leave, she decided not to go back to work and instead stay at home with her newborn. However, after hearing about the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Certificate program at Langara College Continuing Studies, she looked into the program and thought to herself, "why not?" She realized that if given the tools, she could start her own business one day. Therefore, she enrolled in two courses to begin with, as she wanted to see if she could handle the course load while simultaneously being able to take care of her child.
During the first month of studying, Mae was able to manage the workload of her two courses and her newborn. The most trying time for Mae was when assignments and quizzes were due, but after working out a schedule to efficiently manage her time, she was able to make it work. Her newborn’s naptime became her reading time as well as her opportunity to complete homework and assignments.
Mae encountered difficulties near the time of her final exams due to her child being rushed to emergency. She was extremely worried that she would not have the time to prepare for her exams, but Mae had worked very hard to succeed. Mae took the initiative to speak with her instructors and together they were able to come up with a solution so that Mae could write her final exams and successfully finish her two courses. Furthermore, the instructors and administrative staff members were very supportive and understanding of her situation and due to her circumstance, she was granted an extension to write her final exams.
Mae was very pleased with the flexibility that the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Certificate program offered. She still has a few more courses to finish before she graduates, and although the certificate requirements for the program may be completed in as little as two terms, with her baby at home, it could prove difficult to accomplish. However, Mae was thrilled to learn that Langara provides a generous amount of time and that she will be able to complete the entire certificate within a five-year period.