“Erica Hakonson, Principal and Founder of Maven Collective Marketing, is an award-winning entrepreneur, named Female Entrepreneur Silver Stevie Award Winner, MarCom Gold Winner, dotComm Gold Winner (X2), Standard of Excellence WebAward Winner, Summit Creative Bronze Winner and PRDaily Category Winner. Hakonson is dedicated to strategically and maniacally delivering results to both her clients and her community, sitting as a Board Director for multiple not-for-profits and launching the annual Maven Collective Marketing Pay-It-Forward initiative that supports female entrepreneurship, women’s health, nature conservation, microlending and local non-profits. Hakonson is also a frequent keynote speaker and panelist at Women in Technology, Entrepreneurship and Women in Business events. A mother of two awesome tiny humans, wife of a daily hero and an ultra-marathon athlete, Hakonson’s passion for life extends far beyond the office and into the woods.”
1. What does winning the CanadianSME National Business Award mean to you and your organization?
The Maven Collective Marketing team is greatly honored, delighted and humbled to receive the inaugural CanadianSME National Business Editor’s Choice Award. We are proud to be listed amongst the finalists for the first CanadianSME National Business Awards, but our Editor’s Choice Award recognization by the Editor, SK, for the influence and outcomes Maven Collective Marketing has helping small businesses to scale, grow and stand in a category of their own while putting their best foot forward is a wonderful salute to our services and what we aim to deliver for each client. We are grateful to be recognized alongside the phenomenal group of Canadian entrepreneurs that were awarded distinction by the 2019 CanadianSME National Business Awards.
2. What piece of advice would you give to entrepreneurs?
The best piece of advice I have received as an entrepreneur, and one that I live by, is don’t let fear stop you. It is easy to get caught in the grind of entrepreneurship or even the fear of failing before embarking on launching a new venture. Focusing on the lows or potential failures can really drain your productivity, focus, and outcomes. Fear can paralyze you into indecision, not being able to see the forest through the fog. Your unwavering belief and vision will help you lead a stronger team and weather those inevitable entrepreneurial storms. Just as the celebrated American icon and poet, Maya Angelou, once wrote: “Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space. Invite one to stay.”
