We got the chance to speak to Mary Ann Yule, President, and CEO of HP Canada, who shared her vision for the future of small businesses in Canada, the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face when starting their businesses, some of the ongoing frustrations SMBs face regarding technology, some of the benefits of using HP solutions for SMBs, followed by her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start their own business.
Mary Ann Yule is the President and CEO of HP Canada Co., a seasoned leader in the technology industry, with more than 20 years of experience. She is a trailblazer in innovative personal systems and printing technologies, including 3D printing, digital manufacturing, and related services and solutions. A leading technology company in Canada, HP is focused on creating technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere while championing diversity, sustainability, and corporate responsibility in every community where it does business.
Since joining in 2016, her proven track record of driving results continues to deliver breakthrough market outcomes across HP’s portfolio. Mary Ann is credited with establishing HP as the most sustainable technology company in Canada as well as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers. Mary Ann is committed to spearheading inclusive best practices both as the co-executive sponsor of the Global Young Employee Network at HP as well as a founding member of The Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against Racism (CILAR).
Prior to joining HP, Mary Ann served as Vice President and General Manager of CDW Canada, Inc., driving business growth and national brand recognition. Under her leadership, CDW Canada was ranked as a premier technology solution provider in Canada, one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, and among the Top Workplaces for Women.
She holds a Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA from the Schulich School of Business in Toronto, attended Ryerson University, and holds numerous professional accreditations, including Six Sigma Executive Champion.
Mary Ann currently serves on the Board of Directors, and Executive Committee, of TechNation (formerly ITAC), Canada’s national information and communication technology business association championing the development of a robust and sustainable digital economy in Canada. She is also a member of the 30% Club, an organization committed to building a strong foundation of business leaders to champion meaningful change in the gender balance of board and executive committees.
Based in Toronto, Canada, Mary Ann is often quoted in the press and is a highly sought-after speaker on positive disruption driven by technology megatrends like 3D printing, sustainable impact, diversity, and inclusion.
What is your vision for the future of small businesses in Canada? Do you see a trend of more Canadians wanting to start their businesses?
While Canadian small businesses have faced several hardships over the last two years, they continue to rise to the occasion tackling ongoing challenges and proving their commitment to driving our economy forward. One in four Canadian small businesses were established within the past two years, meaning that not only are entrepreneurs navigating this pivotal moment in time, but they’re seeking growth opportunities too.
My vision is for Canadian small businesses to continue driving the economy forward through innovation. These emerging leaders are attracting global talent and leveraging digital solutions to advance their business, reaffirming Canada’s position on the global stage as a leader in technology. Canadian entrepreneurs are as creative, resourceful, and ambitious as any in the world and I’m excited to support this future for the small business community.
How do you think the barriers to entry for entrepreneurs have changed in recent years? What are the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face when starting their businesses?
One of the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face is equipping themselves with the right tools and expertise to run a business. The first few months of operating a business can be quite costly. Small business owners will turn to resources and tools that prioritize speed, leaving security as an afterthought. Fortunately, technology continues to break down barriers to entry by making these tools more accessible, easy to use and secure. Between using devices that enable the flexibility to work from anywhere to managing business expenses through online dashboards, innovative solutions are changing the table stakes of owning a business and enabling organizations to meet the evolved needs of the small business community.
The growing number of ways to connect online has also opened doors for businesses and cyber criminals with a quarter of Canadian businesses saying they were victims of a cyberattack in 2021. Investing in secure-by-design solutions is fundamental for the livelihood of a business, which needs to happen right from day one to protect customer privacy. By taking a strong cybersecurity posture, it protects not only the individual or business but the communities they serve.
What are some of the ongoing frustrations SMBs face regarding technology? Why do you think HP solutions can help alleviate these frustrations?
HP recently commissioned a survey to better understand the current pain points of running a small business and found while over half of Canadian small business owners consider themselves to be tech savvy, 62 percent can feel overwhelmed by the need to keep up to date with technology.
Most small business owners and entrepreneurs didn’t start a business to become a full-time IT department, which we offer HP Wolf Security and hardware that is secure-by-design, so leaders can focus on what matters most to their business. We recently evolved our HP+ Smart Printing System to meet the needs of this community by offering a smart, sustainable, and scalable solution that gives small businesses access to the technology they need to be efficient and successful in their day-to-day tasks. HP+ offers effortless management through an automated printing system so entrepreneurs never have to worry about running out of ink and can instead channel resources into what they do best.
How important is it for SMBs to have a reliable technology partner? What are some of the benefits of using HP solutions for SMBs?
Our recent study revealed that 74 percent of Canadian small business owners are involved in all aspects pertaining to technology and their business. We understand that being a trustworthy technology consultant, like an HP Amplify partner, isn’t just about leveraging new and faster products, but rather adopting a services-first mindset that simplifies the overall experience and allows small business owners to focus on what matters most to their business.
We take this a step further by building sustainability into every part of the experience which is what makes HP+ the most sustainable printing system. One of the ways we achieve this is through our Forest First program where we protect and restore forests for every page printed, throughout the lifespan of the printer. 44 percent of Canadian small business owners are demanding more environmentally-friendly options for their office and we have responded with the world’s most sustainable PC portfolio. Sustainability is no longer just the right thing to do – it’s a business imperative.
What advice would you give aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start their own businesses?
My advice is to prioritize building a strong purpose-driven culture. I focus on fostering a culture of mentorship, where we can gain valuable insights and fresh perspectives on issues and opportunities by simply listening to each other. The world of entrepreneurship is filled with resources, and it can be overwhelming to know where to start. From online publications to peers, to friends and family, advice about starting and running a business is endless.
But a dedicated business mentor with experience in a specific field can be a compass for navigating the landscape. Mentorship is a two-way street, where mentees learn new strategies through a fresh lens while mentors gain wisdom from this invaluable exchange. What’s more, it’s also typically a free resource to help start and grow a business. Mentors are a guiding force for entrepreneurs as they take the first steps to carve out their business path and this type of relationship reinforces my belief that teamwork and creativity can triumph over almost any challenge.
