Business Spotlight: What it Takes to Become a Local Entrepreneur

Meghanne Uptigrove

Published

5 years ago

3 minute read

Jillian Lee, the Founder and Creative Director of JIL & Associates is a lifelong learner and serial entrepreneur in the Calgary business scene.

Jillian showed an aptitude for business management early, launching her first business in the clothing industry while she was still a student at Mount Royal. Since then, she has steadily expanded her professional and educational portfolios, most recently completing the official rebrand of her film production company in April 2020.

With a diverse background in history, languages, political science and business administration from the University of Alberta, University of Calgary and Mount Royal, Jillian’s education and credentials highlight her passion for life and learning. Now working full-time in the film industry as the Founder and Creative Director of JIL & Associates, she feels she is exactly where she is meant to be.

Jillian credits her broad educational background for influencing the approach she takes to her current work. “It’s done so much to inform how I exist in this industry,” she says, “I’ve always had a strong sense of curiosity and an interest in people and the world around me, and with client projects I get to learn something new every day.”

Having worked with clients in a variety of industries, including health and wellness, biographical portraits, oil & gas and more, Jillian is committed to using her abilities as a producer and creative leader to provide a platform for others to be heard upon. A big believer in the art of connection, with a passion for storytelling, she is most interested in telling human interest stories that expose and highlight the commonalities and shared experiences of humanity. “I like to tell stories about people,” she says, “for no other reason than to inspire and entertain and to make people feel connected.”

As a small business owner, Jillian has felt the negative impacts of COVID-19 in recent months, particularly being unable to complete any filming until recently when the Government of Alberta launched Phase One of the provincial reopening strategy. She remained productive during her downtime, however, using the pause in client work to “deep-dive” into her existing business plan and really work out what the coming year will look like for JIL & Associates. “I’ve laid out an official business plan, created company value statements, policy and procedure documents and planned an entire years worth of marketing in advance,” says Jillian, “COVID has allowed me to set up for success in the coming months.”

For more stories, visit Todayville Calgary.

Related Topics:business spotlight entreprenuer

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Is There Any Canadian Province More Proud of their Premier Today…

Published on January 21, 2025

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Prior to Trumps inauguration event and announcement was made that Trump would not be imposing the 25% tariffs…

Which means, Canada seriously dodged a bullet here.

And while the Liberals will most likely frame this as, their success in showing, Bad Orange Man, that they’re tough and ready to burn down what is left of our economy, throwing Alberta under the bus, first…through a nuclear option…

Premier Smith rode this challenge out like the true champion we knew that she would be.

It’s hard to say if this was a legality matter in the grander scheme…or if the 25% tariffs would have truly been as big of an impact on the US…

One thing is clear, however…

Smith was ready to go to the tables with the Trump administration and opt for diplomacy over threats…which should be what we expect from our leaders.

And should these 25% tariffs have gone through…I’m more than sure a Plan B would have been brought out in civil conversations, over screeching rhetoric.

“She’s treasonous”, they screeched.

“She’s supporting her friends in Oil and Gas”, they relent.

“She should put Canada first”, they echo…

And let’s just address these…

Is Walmart beholden to Campbells soup? Fruit of the Loom? Kraft?

Or does Walmart sell products that helps keep their doors open?

Walmart is not beholden to any product…just like Premier Smith isn’t. We have 26% of our GDP – the largest portion – owed to Alberta O&G, something that we have a limited trade partner with, due to the Liberal – Anti-Alberta/Anti-O&G/Anti-Pipeline attitude that wants to spend us further in debt with unreliable and expensive “Renewables”.

What does Alberta get from renewables?

A higher cost for energy, in an affordability crisis, created by the same people who continue to push them…sounds like a terrible deal, for Albertans, and something a true leader would Not Favor.

When Walmart sits down to hash out a deal with Heinz, are they committing treason because they haven’t shown their allegiance to their own, ‘Great Value’ brand Ketchup?

No…other provinces have their own industries and resources, which they are free to continue developing independent of the federal government, as is suitable and supportive of their own economies…Alberta isn’t competing with them, nor Canada as a whole.

Alberta through industry and resource, actually supports Canada through a grand imbalance on “Equalization Payments”…

As do we through paying 50% more into the Canada Pension Plan, than we actually get out of the Canada Pension Plan…to the tune of a $334 Billion Dollars.

And as for this “Team Canada”, horseshit…

The title Premier of Alberta, should hold some clues as to who Premier Smith should be advocating for…as she is the Premier of Alberta and Not the Prime Minister, nor leader in the Liberal Party that has created this fiasco, to begin with.

Rail, as they may…other provinces can’t cast a vote in her support, either way…

None of the other provinces, through Members of Parliament, nor through Premiers, came to support Alberta and our economy through a number of Federal Bills that railed on our provincial resources…

Worse yet…these hypocrites cash cheques from our province, while telling us how to diversify our economy…to which I’d state one thing unequivocally…

If we wanted to be a Have Not Province…like you are…we’ll come and ask you for your advice.

Until then…

I’ll hold my Alberta Flag Higher than my Canadian…

And be proud today, of having the only Premier in the country of Canada, worthy of any praise today!