Today’s Notable Young Entrepreneur is Alyssa Furtado, co-founder of RateHub.ca, a website that compares Canadian mortgage and credit card rates to help consumers find the lowest rates in one place. We caught up with her to find out what inspires her and what advice she would share with other young professionals…
WORK
1. Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Go.
I am the CEO of RateHub.ca, a financial comparison website based in Toronto. I make important decisions, and lead an amazing team of people!
2. What was the inspiration for your career route?
I really loved university, and working on projects that gave me the opportunity to start and execute a business plan. When I was in the corporate world, I knew it wasn’t where I was meant to be. I always wanted to run my own business, and be a part of something that gave me the opportunity to be creative, and have the flexibility and autonomy that goes along with that.
3. What is the most memorable milestone in your career so far?
Hitting $1 million in revenue back in 2014 was the biggest milestone for me and RateHub. People say it’s much harder to go from zero to $1 million to grow beyond. It meant we’d established a viable first business unit with our mortgage lead business, and it became much easier to replicate that model when we launched credit card comparisons. It felt like an amazing moment of accomplishment.
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years?
In five years, I know I will still be running RateHub. My goal is to build one of the biggest FinTech companies in Canada; a company where we get to work with incredible people on a mission that everyone is excited about – to empower Canadians with financial transparency! As for the next 10 or 20 years? I can’t even—let’s just get through the next five!
5. Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Find a way to unlock your passion, and tap into that one thing you’re best at – the thing that really makes the day fly by. Even if you’re working in an environment where tasks are assigned to you, take initiative to work on new projects and start doing the job you want.
6. Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is it (or they) important to you?
I still support Break into Business, an organization I started with a friend in our last year of university to teach kids about entrepreneurship. It’s now a not-for-profit that she runs out of Atlanta. It’s important to me because I truly feel more people would be passionate about business and entrepreneurship if they were exposed to it at a younger age, in a positive environment.
7. What is one major challenge that you’ve had to overcome in your career? How did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge I faced was going from steady employment to the uncertainty that comes from launching a business. Starting your own company sounds great and sexy in theory, but you really do have to take a leap of faith. I overcome major decisions like that by thinking about the worst-case-scenario. If I can handle the worst case scenario than I can handle the risk.
8. What does the word notable mean to you?
To me, the word notable is about being exceptional. It’s a word we use around the office a lot. Earning significant notability should come along with achieving exceptional results.
PLAY
1. Where is your favourite place to wine/dine in your city and why?
My favourite place in Toronto is Mercato on Toronto Street. It’s just outside of the Financial District, and there is always an incredible buzz in the air. Their food and lattes are delicious, and so many of my favourite business meetings have been there!
2. What’s the most visited website on your Internet browser? The most played song on your phone?
I didn’t know how to answer this one, so I asked my team! They pointed out I’ve been singing Fifth Harmony’s Work from Home repeatedly! And because I’m expecting my first child soon, the most visited websites on my browser is definitely one of the many mommy blogs! That is after RateHub.ca, of course!
3. Who’s one person you think everyone should be following on social media?
Honestly, no one makes me laugh on social media more than my mom!
4. What’s your favourite country to visit and why? And what’s the next one you plan on travelling to?
I guess I have to say the US since I visit Hawaii almost every year. I love the adventure you can find there, from hiking to volcanoes, to waterfalls and kite surfing. It’s the most incredible place in the world. I travel there every year to a conference with a large group of entrepreneurs.
The next place on my list is Portugal. I’m really excited because my husband’s parents are from the Azores and I’m looking forward to seeing where they grew up.
5. What gives you the greatest FOMO?
Any time I’m missing out on quality time with the people I love. If I know my best friends are getting together and I can’t be there, I feel extreme FOMO!
6. What’s your guiltiest pleasure?
Bulk Barn candy – sour keys baby!
7. What’s something you wish you didn’t spend so much money on? What’s something you wish you spent more on?
I wish I spent less on dining out. It will always be a part of my life, but I would love to save it more for special occasions. I don’t really want to spend more on anything, but I will say I don’t feel bad about spending money on travel or health and fitness. Those are the things that add incredible value to your life!
8. And finally, what does success look like to you? Work, play, or otherwise…
Success is about balance. It’s about being challenged and fulfilled at work, and working on something I’m passionate about. I want to have the flexibility to travel and spend time with friends and family, and having a great home in the city to raise my family.
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