Connect Who or what is your inspiration in business?

My inspiration in business is nature, it influences my designs and how I run my business. It reminds me to be intentional, reduce waste, and respect the environment. This is reflected in my commitment to more sustainable practices within my floral work, such as sourcing locally grown flowers whenever possible, investing in plant-based floral foam (which is more costly), and developing a composting system that transforms floral waste into nutrient-rich soil that can be reused by local growers.

How do you stay motivated?

I opened my business almost two years ago with a strong passion for floral design and a commitment to learning and growing every day. What keeps me motivated is seeing how that hard work translates into real progress. In just one year, we placed second in a local floral exhibition competition, became a preferred vendor at 5 venues, participated in a major national wedding trade show, and built valuable connections within the industry. I now keep pushing, aim higher and keep evolving.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would invest in scaling my business in a way that supports growth and sustainability. A portion would go toward reducing waste across events and expand use of locally sourced flowers. I would allocate part of the funding to develop a composting system that transforms floral waste into nutrient-rich soil that can be given back to local growers in Ontario. I would also invest in marketing and systems to streamline operations, allowing me to potentially support 2–3x more weddings per year.