Today’s Notable Young Entrepreneur is Andrew Paine, who co-founded Canadian outdoor lifestyle retailer Sitka along with Rene Gauthier to blend a for-profit retail/wholesale business with an active environmental non-profit society. Here’s how they’ve achieved their goal…
Elevator Pitch: Describe your job in a nutshell.
My job as the Chief Innovation Officer at Sitka is constantly changing. From designing products, creating business systems, opening new stores, running financial models and advocating for nature, there are very few days alike. I love the diversity that my job offers and the freedom to be creative.
Why did you start working at your company? What was the inspiration for this career route?
Well, Rene and I started the company together 13 years ago because we wanted to create jobs for ourselves that didn’t quite exist at the time.
What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis? The most challenging part?
The best part is working with a talented group of people who share the vision of a world in balance.
What is one sign that you’ve seen over the years to suggest that your work/life balance is off?
When people are focused so much on checking and responding to emails to the point that their productivity drops. Sometimes it is important to completely unplug in order for me to be creative and not distracted. This could be both at work or in private time, and I find the best work results from mixing this into my normal routine.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I see my self continuing to create products that serve a purpose and are created in a sustainable way. I also see more of my time being focused on advocating for reform in natural resource management in Canada, primarily with our oceans and fisheries.
What is one major challenge that you’ve had to overcome in your career? How did you overcome it?
Helping the company through some very difficult financial times. Business is tough out there these days, and we haven’t been immune to waves of economic downturns. We overcame it by making some tough decisions and staying true to our principles.
What does success look like to you? Does Money = Happiness?
Money does not equal happiness. Happiness equals success to me, and I find happiness in being outside in nature and spending quality time with family and friends.
Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Follow your passions and find a career that uses your skills to the max. Do what makes you happy and do it well.
Where is your favourite place to wine/dine in your city and why?
My favourite place in the city is Ogden Point Cafe and Bistro. The view is second to none, the staff is great, and the food hits the spot.
When you’re not working how do you love to spend your “Me” time?
I spend a lot of time adventuring with my young family (wife and two young sons). Surfing, fishing, camping are just some of the items on the agenda.
Where is your favourite place to travel? Why?
My favourite places to travel are the remote stretches of the BC coast.
If you had to choose a theme song, what would it be?
We are here for a good time, not a long time.
If you weren’t doing what you’re doing, what would you be doing?
I would likely be advocating for nature full-time.
Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
There are many charities that are important to me; PacificWild.org for advocating for the Great Bear Rainforest, Surfrider Foundation and Sustainable Coastlines for helping to keep our beaches and oceans clean, and Power to Be for helping kids through adventure therapy, just to name a few.
What to you is notable?
What is notable to me is the wave of change sweeping Canada; people are standing up for true Canadian values that respect the environment rather than the interests of big industry. People across the country are fed up of watching our natural systems being destroyed for the sake of profit now at the expense of future generations. I am confident that together we can make a difference and help put humans back into balance with nature.
#NOTABLE
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