Meet our Mentors
Your mentors will provide you with guidance, connect you with their network of potential clients and other industry professionals, and keep you accountable while helping you reach your business goals!
Specialty one-time mentoring sessions with industry-specific professionals may be arranged separately if the opportunity and demand arise.
Bernie Aho | IQ Mentor
CEO – Co-Founder – Critiq
Bernie has over 18 years of entrepreneurship experience in leading tech industry businesses. Currently, he is the driving force behind the look and feel of Critiq and provides business insight, strategy, and leadership across all teams. An avid photographer, designer, and gamer, Bernie previously co-founded TimeHero and the award-winning cloud-based annotation and marketing review tool ConceptShare which quickly became a leader in Creative Operations management.
- Product Development
- User Experience Design
- Business Development
- Marketing Management
- Business Strategy
- Mobile and Web Applications
Karen Hastie | IQ Mentor
CEO – Your Sales Company
Karen is a seasoned business professional with over three decades of experience in owning and operating businesses. Currently serving as the CEO of Your Sales Company, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table, offering invaluable insights and solutions to diverse business challenges.
In addition to her role at Your Sales Company, Karen is the visionary creator and founder of Chamber Perks App™, an innovative platform utilized by Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade across Canada to promote and support local businesses. Her innovative approach has revolutionized how individuals and companies connect with and empower their business community.
Driven by her passion to educate and empower businesses and people, Karen is also the Founder of Serial Seller™ training workshops. Through these workshops, she shares her extensive knowledge in business analysis, branding, engagement, and selling strategies, empowering entrepreneurs and professionals to unlock their full potential and achieve unprecedented success.
With a track record of leadership, innovation, and impact, Karen continues to inspire others to reach new heights of excellence.
- Business Consulting
- Marketing Consulting
- Project Management
- Strategic Planning
- Brand Consulting
- Pricing Strategy
Marie-Eve Pépin, M.A. Leadership | IQ Francophone Mentor
Founder, Missile Communications
Positioning and Communications Strategist
As a public relations specialist and CrossFit athlete, Marie-Eve always seizes an opportunity to empower and accompany people on their journey.
With nearly 25 years of experience in public affairs, planning, and project management, Marie-Eve now specializes in strategic thinking and analysis of political issues. From Radio-Canada to the creation of the Office of the French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario, she has also held the positions of Chief of Staff and Senior Communications Manager with public and private institutions.
Over the course of her career, she has worked in the minority Francophone community, supporting post-secondary institutions across Canada, various health networks, school boards, a vast network of provincial groups, as well as various federations in the cultural, official languages, literacy and economic development fields.
She founded Missile Communications in Sudbury in 2012, where she remains active in her community, serving on various committees and associations (cultural, political, and community).
- Strategic positioning
- Developing and adapting your key messages
- Empathy in business leadership
- Customer experience (customer journey)
- Elevator pitch
- Presentations and public communications
Matthieu Bonin | IQ Coach
Communication & Speaking Coach
Matthieu is a public speaker, mental health advocate, author, and adventurer. In 2022, he stage-swam 154km around Manitoulin Island to raise funds for MS research. This March, he published his book, Light From Darkness, in which he describes his struggles with mental health and how he overcame these challenges. Currently, he is a sought-after speaker.
Matthieu has partnered with many institutions, including The Innovation Quarters, Laurentian University, Cambrian College, Nipissing University, CSCNO, CSPGNO, AEFO, Spark Employment Services, Stingray Radio, John W. Financial, Nickel City Ninjas and hopefully you.
- Public Speaking
- Effective Communication
- How to Attract the Right People
- Networking