Every January, I take a moment to pause and reflect on the year that has passed and to look forward to the year that’s to come.
For me, 2022 was about two things: resilience and community.
Just when I thought I couldn’t be more impressed by the ability of Canadian SMEs to adapt to whatever was thrown at them, I kept seeing examples of resilience and adaptability. For many of you, this past holiday season was a critical period – your tenacity in finding ways to succeed during uncertainty is inspiring.
2022 was also a year for connectedness. I heard so many stories of colleagues and friends meeting for the first time in years, and seeing the community gather in person at events like the CanadianSME Small Business Summit or Xerocon was energizing. As incredible as technology is these days, there’s simply no replacement for those in-person connections!
Thinking ahead to 2023, I know this year already has its share of uncertainty and questions. If the last few years have shown us anything, it’s that the Canadian Small Business economy is adaptable – the period of the challenge ahead is another opportunity to demonstrate this agility. Those SMEs that continue to evolve their models and ways of working will be the ones that continue to thrive.
For example, we know big changes have happened and are still ahead in fintech, and it’s important for SMEs to be aware of how they’ll benefit. Open banking regulations have the potential to revolutionize the automation of your business, and innovation in payments will allow you to get paid even faster. It’s critical that you stay up to date on these innovations and work alongside your trusted advisors to integrate them into your operating rhythm. For our part, Xero will continue to champion Canadian SMEs through our partnerships and advocacy with policymakers.
Finally, there’s the community that I’ve spoken about: we need to continue to come together in 2023 to share successes, learnings, and support.
So here’s to you and the opportunity in front of you for the year ahead. I can’t wait to meet more of you in 2023.
Faye Pang
Canada Country Manager for Xero
Faye Pang is the Canada Country Manager for Xero, the global small business platform with more than 3 million subscribers worldwide that’s dedicated to making business beautiful. Prior to joining Xero, Faye helped launch the Uber Eats app in Toronto in December 2015, scaling the business from 80 restaurants on launch day to 20,000 partners by the end of her tenure.
