Faces of Entrepreneurship FT. Allie Daniel
Allie Daniel is a Corporate Initiatives Consultant at Alterna Savings, supporting the design and implementation of strategic projects. Throughout her career so far, Allie has taken on a variety of roles in different industries, including hospitality, high-tech, non-profit, self-employment, and now the financial industry.
Allie recently worked at Enactus Canada, a national non-profit organization focused on leadership development for youth through social entrepreneurship. In her role as Director, Programs, she learned that impact isn’t limited to one person or organization. Instead, everyone has a role to play in developing our communities.
Allie graduated in 2016 from the Telfer School of Management, and holds a Bachelors degree in Commerce. When Allie isn’t finding a new problem to solve, she is volunteering with a local charity, participating in recreational sports, or travelling the world.
What does entrepreneurship mean to you?
Entrepreneurship is about problem solving. No matter how big or small the issue, entrepreneurship means taking a solution-oriented approach that is not confined by the status-quo.
Entrepreneurship to me also encompasses intrapreneurship, which describes people within large organizations who have an entrepreneurial mindset. Those with the entrepreneurial mindset are creative, resilient, opportunity seekers that are willing to take risks to innovate and make an impact.
How are you entrepreneurial?
In my work as a Corporate Initiatives Consultant at Alterna Savings, every day is different. My role was never done before, so from the start, I’ve been forced to self- teach, identify gaps, discover new approaches to problems, and create innovative solutions. It is a dynamic workplace and role that requires taking initiative and recognizing when other individuals are needed to address common goals.
I’ve been working with the team at Alterna to build upon our success with community engagement and implement innovate ways for our employees to engage with local charities and non-profits.
I volunteer as a mentor for Enactus uOttawa, a youth-focused entrepreneurial leadership program that uses business to address social problems.
I launched a digital marketing consulting business, which is a topic I initially knew nothing about. But I knew that digital marketing would be impactful for small business owners with limited excess capital, so I started it anyway. I also learned through trial and error that this wasn’t my strength, so I pivoted that business model, and am now in the brainstorming phase for what’s next!
In my personal life, I constantly seek out opportunities to meet new people, grow my skills, and challenge myself to continue adding value to those around me.
How does an entrepreneurial mindset contribute to your life?
The entrepreneurial mindset enables me to try new things, build capacity and have an impact in my day-to-day life. Whether it’s through my intrapreneurial work, volunteering, professional development events, travel, or sports, I’m always interested and excited to try new things and get outside my comfort zone. I’m also very focused on building connections within the entrepreneurial community. Entrepreneurs are not meant to be independent; if we share knowledge and work together, the value and impact we can
create together will be far greater than what we could do on our own.
*This feature was published as a part of the Faces of Entrepreneurship Campaign, 2020.
