Indigenous entrepreneur thanks CESO mentor

Jacob Crane has written his roadmap to success.

With the help of a CESO expert as his mentor, the young entrepreneur is bringing his business ideas to life. CESO thanks Alan Rowe and Bryan Blenkin for funding this mentorship program.

CESO experts have been supporting young Indigenous entrepreneurs for 50 years, helping them to navigate the uncertainty of entrepreneurship through mentorship and strategic planning.

Jacob, a First Nations entrepreneur of Tsuut’ina Nation, is actively pursuing multiple entrepreneurial opportunities, including a landscaping company based in Calgary and a content production company, the Arrow’s Journey. His goal is to propel and inspire Indigenous youth to be proud of their own stories.

He now plans to start a tourism company. Working with CESO expert Volunteer Advisor Susan Haddon, a business and marketing strategist, he has developed clear plan on how to make this vision a reality.

Jacob tells us his story.

Dadanast’ada Sizi Jacob Crane at’a
(-Tsuut’ina for- Hello my name is Jacob Crane)

“CESO connected me with Susan Haddon through the Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Youth Mentorship Program. Over the one-year mentorship period, Susan and I spoke many times about my business ideas and plans. Looking back on it, I realized that we were not only planting the ground work, but strategically building a working document that I can take with me as I continue my journey.

Being an entrepreneur and all the other things I was doing in and outside of my community, I didn’t have much time to spare. So, at first, I was unsure about how effective the program would be for me. But I soon realized that it is exactly what I needed.

Working with a skilled professional, who made herself available to help me throughout the way and responded to my questions about how to grow my idea, is the biggest benefit of the (CESO) program.

Susan was both patient and very motivating throughout the length of the program. I felt that I had a friend that I can call upon whenever I felt overwhelmed or confused about my ideas. The fact that I am able to communicate with Susan on business opportunities is far greater than any certificate I could have received.

Our work together was helpful as I began to understand and identify challenges and opportunities to my business. I was empowered as I watched my ideas come into fruition.
I know the experience and knowledge I acquired through the program are going to help me and my community go further.

I was really struck by the relationship and trust formed with the organization through Susan and the CESO staff.

The support CESO provided is exactly what young ambitious First Nations people need to help guide us in achieving our entrepreneurial goals.

Siyisgaas, (Thank you) for accepting me into your course and I look forward to future opportunities with CESO.”

Learn more about our work with Indigenous entrepreneurs and communities.

CESO thanks and gratefully acknowledges Indigenous Services Canada for their generous financial support.