In an exclusive interview with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Isaac Langleben and Jacqueline Prehogan of Open Farm, alongside Daniel Baer, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year National Program Director, share insights into what it takes to build and lead in today’s evolving business landscape. This conversation brings together perspectives from both founders and ecosystem leaders, highlighting how purpose-driven businesses can scale responsibly while navigating uncertainty.
Isaac Langleben and Jacqueline Prehogan | Open Farm
Interview By SK Uddin
Open Farm is a premium pet food company focused on ethical and transparent sourcing. A serial entrepreneur, Jacqueline initially left her career in finance and law to start Canada Pooch, a successful venture in the pet apparels space. Isaac ultimately moved out of the private equity and consulting space to co-found Open Farm with her based on their shared vision, passion for animal welfare and drive to disrupt the pet industry. Together, they’ve built a brand that’s not only premium and ethically sourced, but also deeply committed to transparency, animal welfare, and environmental stewardship. Isaac and Jacqueline are Canada’s EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 Award winners.
Daniel Baer | Canada’s EY Entrepreneur Of The Year National Program Director
Daniel is proud to have spent his entire career with EY Canada and has been fortunate to have worked with some of the best and most creative Canadian entrepreneurs and CEOs.
Daniel has over 30 years of experience. In addition to auditing and accounting services, Daniel provides clients with advisory services. He is a partner in the firm’s Private company group, and EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Canada Program Director.
He is primarily responsible for providing services to various clients including medium-sized owner-managed companies and public companies, particularly in the retail, distribution and real estate industries.
From 2013 to 2025, he was the Québec co-director of the Entrepreneur of the Year Program, which celebrates entrepreneurs who demonstrate vision, community involvement, profitable growth, innovation and the ability to create jobs and overcome adversity.
What motivated you to participate in the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year program, and how does this recognition connect to your mission of reshaping the pet industry through ethical sourcing, transparency, and environmental stewardship?
Jacqueline Prehogan: We were first introduced to the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year program early in our entrepreneurial journey when Canada Pooch was recognized for Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year in 2015. That experience was formative for us because it celebrated not just growth, but how a business is built—the choices you make, the standards you set, and the values you’re willing to stand behind.
Participating again with Open Farm felt meaningful in a different way. From the beginning, Open Farm wasn’t created to follow an existing playbook. We set out to challenge how the pet food industry operates by embedding ethical sourcing, transparency, and environmental responsibility directly into the foundation of the business. Those principles influence every decision we make.
This recognition connects deeply to that mission. It validates that doing the harder work—building accountability into your supply chain, holding yourself to higher standards, and prioritizing long-term impact—can scale. For us, it’s confirmation that purpose-driven businesses can help reshape legacy industries in meaningful ways.
Canada needs more founders who can scale impact as well as revenue. If you could offer one practical tip to aspiring entrepreneurs about building a resilient business that also contributes to a stronger Canadian economy, what would it be?
Isaac Langleben: My advice would be to build with discipline and clarity from the very beginning. Be clear about the problem you’re solving, the standards you’re willing to uphold, and the long-term value you want to create. Those fundamentals become increasingly important as the business grows and complexity increases.
Resilience doesn’t come from chasing every opportunity or moving as fast as possible, it comes from making consistent, thoughtful decisions over time. That means investing early in the right people, systems, and processes. It also means being willing to say no to opportunities that don’t align with your long-term goals.
When you operate with that level of discipline, scaling impact and scaling revenue aren’t opposing forces. They reinforce each other. Businesses built on strong fundamentals are better positioned to weather change, grow responsibly, and contribute meaningfully to the Canadian economy over the long term.
Entrepreneurs across Canada are navigating economic uncertainty, global tensions, and rapid change. What defines strong entrepreneurial leadership right now?
We’re living in a moment where uncertainty is the norm rather than the exception. When I look at the entrepreneurs who are continuing to build through this environment, what stands out is their resilience, clarity, and sense of purpose.
Strong leaders are staying grounded in the fundamentals they can control. They’re clear on the problem they need to solve, who they serve and what really drives long‑term value in their business. They’re not reacting to every headline, but they are staying agile and open to change.
We have also noticed a real maturity in how Canadian entrepreneurs approach risk today. There is more scenario planning, more discipline and a stronger focus on building businesses that can adapt rather than simply grow fast. That mindset is what allows founders to keep moving forward even when the path is not straightforward.
Another attribute which stands out is humility. Many entrepreneurs are more willing to ask questions, seek advice and lean on their networks. That openness is a strength. It reflects an understanding that leadership today is not about having all the answers, but about making thoughtful decisions with incomplete information and adjusting as you learn more.
Why is it so important to celebrate entrepreneurs, especially in moments like this, and what role do they play in shaping Canada’s economy?
Entrepreneurs play a real role in keeping the Canadian economy moving forward, particularly during challenging periods. They are often the ones investing when conditions are uncertain, creating jobs before the outlook feels stable, and finding practical solutions to real problems in their industries.
Celebrating entrepreneurs is about recognizing the responsibility they carry and the impact their decisions have on employees, suppliers and communities. Many founders are making tough choices behind the scenes right now, and that work often goes unseen.
Through EY Entrepreneur Of The Year, we see firsthand how recognition can create momentum. It gives entrepreneurs a moment to pause, reflect on how far they have come, and think intentionally about what comes next. It also shines a light on the teams behind the founders, because no meaningful business is built alone. At a time when confidence can feel fragile, sharing these stories helps remind Canadians that innovation and ambition are alive and well in our country.
Looking ahead, what gives you optimism about the future of entrepreneurship in Canada, and how does the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year program help elevate those stories on a global stage?
I’m optimistic about the future because Canadian entrepreneurs are building with more intention than ever before. They are thinking about growth, impact, and competitiveness at the same time, and that combination is powerful. They are focused on fundamentals, more realistic about risk and more intentional about where they place their energy.
Entrepreneurs today are operating in a more uncertain environment. Markets are less predictable and global pressures are very real. As a result, many founders are spending more time strengthening their core business, investing in their people and making decisions that will hold up over time rather than chasing quick wins. That shift is healthy, and it speaks to the maturity of Canada’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
It’s also important to recognize that Canadian entrepreneurs are competing on a global stage, whether they intend to or not. Seeing our national winners, Open Farm, represent Canada internationally this May is meaningful because it reflects the level of ambition and leadership that exists in Canada. These are founders who are not only building successful companies, but doing so in a way that stands up alongside peers from around the world.
When we take the time to acknowledge the people doing that work well, we help reinforce the kind of thoughtful, resilient entrepreneurship that Canada needs. Right now, nominations for the 2026 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year program are open until April 2. I would encourage anyone who knows an entrepreneur making a meaningful impact, or any founder who is building something they are proud of, to put their name forward. These stories deserve to be seen and celebrated.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Our platform is dedicated to fostering dialogue and sharing insights that inspire and empower small and medium-sized businesses across Canada.
