For Barbara Lee, co-founder and executive director of Italiano Please!, running a family-owned social enterprise is about more than food. Her Calgary restaurant serves authentic Roman cuisine while providing an inclusive workplace where at least half of the staff come from disability and LGBTQ+ communities.
Like many entrepreneurs, Barbara faced challenges outside her expertise, from legal and financial matters to franchising and intellectual property. To address them, she turned to Innovate Calgary’s Expert Advisor (EA) Program, which connects startups with experienced professionals.
“Having access to expert advisors has been truly precious for us,” Barbara says. “These are conversations we could not have afforded otherwise, and they’ve been incredibly helpful in showing us how our business can move forward.”
Barbara accessed the EA Program as a member of the Social Innovation Hub – it’s one of the perks of membership. Through the program, Barbara met advisors who were both knowledgeable and approachable. Their guidance clarified the steps needed to strengthen Italiano Please! and gave her the confidence to plan for growth.
She also values the sense of community. “The interaction you have with other members and the advice you can get is truly precious. For any socially involved, innovative business, it is just like a paradise.”
Her experience shows what makes the EA Program so valuable: access to expert guidance that might otherwise be out of reach, provided within a supportive hub of entrepreneurs. Barbara recommends it to other founders who want to avoid common pitfalls and grow on a stronger foundation.
At Italiano Please!, every dish is a story of culture, inclusion, and community. With the support of the EA Program, Barbara and her team are ready to keep sharing that story.
Learn more about the Expert Advisor Program.
Access to the Expert Advisor Program is included with your Innovate Calgary hub membership. Interested in becoming a member? Download the Membership Brochure.