Building a Business: Grit & Grace

In this episode of Building a Business: Grit & Grace, host Anna Angelova talks with Daniel Krikorian, founder of B.Remembered Studio, a platform transforming how wedding vendors manage, scale, and serve their clients.
Daniel shares how one unexpected photography gig during the pandemic sparked a business that grew from a handful of weddings to over 1,200 events a year. And how that journey revealed the need for something bigger: a solution to simplify the entire wedding industry.
From managing a 146-person team to building technology that bridges creativity and operations, Daniel’s story is a masterclass in adaptability, problem-solving, and innovation.
He also opens up about the personal side of entrepreneurship. The long hours, the support that keeps him grounded, and the clarity that comes from knowing your “why.”
Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or an established business owner, you’ll leave this episode inspired to see challenges as opportunities and to build solutions that truly make an impact.
Connect with Daniel:
https://bremembered.io/
https://www.brememberedstudio.com/
hello@bremembered.io
Join our community of visionary founders for more conversations like this with real entrepreneurs building real businesses with grit and grace: https://leficomp.com/vfc 

In this episode of Building a Business: Grit & Grace, host Anna Angelova sits down with Don Elliott, a creative entrepreneur whose journey bridges two very different worlds: digital marketing and craft beer.
Don is the owner of Gravitate, a leading digital marketing and web design agency that’s been helping brands grow since the dawn of the internet, and Pour Choices, a community-centered pub in Vancouver, Washington. With nearly 30 years in the creative industry, he shares the real lessons from starting, selling, and buying back businesses and why, sometimes, the best way to grow is to step back.
From navigating the evolution of marketing in the age of AI to building a company culture rooted in trust, Don offers insights every entrepreneur needs to hear. He also reveals what running a neighborhood pub taught him about experience-driven business, leadership, and the power of community.
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when creativity meets strategy or how to build success across completely different industries, this conversation is one you won’t forget.
Connect with Don:https://www.gravitatedesign.com/
https://pourchoices.pub/
Listen to the full episode and join our community of founders who are building meaningful businesses with grit and grace: https://leficomp.com/vfc 
P.S. Although we didn’t dive into it on the podcast, Don is also the author of a fantasy novel series. You can learn more about his books and grab a copy at https://donelliott.us/.

In this episode of Building a Business: Grit & Grace, host Anna Angelova sits down with Mandy Wong, a mom of two, corporate leader, and certified coach who’s building her coaching practice while thriving in her full-time leadership role as a Director at a Canadian corporation.
Mandy shares how she balanced ambition and family over the past eight years. From pausing her coaching dreams after certification, to intentionally returning when the timing felt right. She opens up about overcoming guilt, redefining success, and building a sustainable business one intentional step at a time.
You’ll hear how she found her niche coaching quiet leaders, the unconventional ways she attracted clients without social media, and the lessons she’s learned about consistency, energy, and purpose. Her story is a masterclass in building with clarity and honoring every season of life.
To connect with Mandy, visit her website: https://www.mandywong.coach/
or check her coaching profile: https://www.noomii.com/users/mandy-wong
And if you enjoyed this conversation, join our community of visionary founders for more stories like this, where real entrepreneurs build real businesses with grit and grace: https://leficomp.com/vfc 

This episode is a special one. A crossover between More Than Just Task Management and Building a Business: Grit & Grace.
After months of hosting two separate shows, Anna Angelova and Jores Minasvand sit down together to share an exciting update: the two podcasts are merging!
In this heartfelt and energizing conversation, Anna and Jores reflect on:
How Building a Business: Grit & Grace began as a passion project to spotlight everyday entrepreneurs doing extraordinary things.
Why they’re consolidating their efforts to bring even more value and focus to one podcast.
What’s next, including the new two-episode-per-week format featuring interviews with global business owners and practical conversations on leadership, systems, marketing, and growth.
The behind-the-scenes lessons from partnerships, community building, and their upcoming launch of Newcomer Business in Canada.
It’s a genuine, behind-the-scenes look at how two creators evolve, adapt, and align around one mission: to help people everywhere build businesses that matter with clarity, courage, and community.
Tune in to hear the full story, the vision for the future, and how you can be part of it.
And if you’ve been following More Than Just Task Management, make sure to subscribe to Building a Business: Grit & Grace. Your new home for inspiration, strategy, and real conversations about entrepreneurship.

In this episode of Building a Business: Grit & Grace, Anna Angelova talks with Brian and Sally Krichbaum, owners of Gilbert Chocolates, one of Michigan’s oldest and most beloved chocolate makers, now celebrating 125 years in business.
Brian and Sally share their inspiring journey from corporate careers and community work to taking over a century-old brand and tripling its size. They discuss the challenges of buying an existing business, navigating the first difficult year, balancing innovation with tradition, and learning how to lead together as a husband-and-wife team.
From rebuilding a historic company to introducing new products like the Dubai chocolate trend, this episode is filled with lessons on resilience, quality, and staying grounded in community values, all while keeping things deliciously sweet.
To explore Gilbert Chocolates or order their handcrafted treats, visit https://www.gilbertchocolates.com/ .
And if you enjoyed this conversation, join our Visionary Founders community for more stories like this. Real entrepreneurs building real businesses with grit and grace: https://leficomp.com/vfc 

In this episode of Building a Business: Grit & Grace, Anna Angelova sits down with Daniel McPherson, founder of Leketa Group. What started as a simple tax decision grew into a multi-division company spanning heavy equipment parts, digital marketing, and sales enhancement. All built on relationships, reputation, and a deep commitment to helping others.
Dan shares how his unconventional journey included failed attempts, unexpected opportunities, and a relentless focus on people over profit. From teaching his son financial literacy through the business, to expanding without even having a website, to building a culture where integrity comes first. His story is proof that success doesn’t always follow the textbook.
If you’ve ever wondered whether caring, giving, and trusting people could be the foundation of a thriving business, this conversation will inspire you to rethink what it means to build with grit and grace.
To connect with Dan, you can reach him directly at info@leketagroup.com.
And if you enjoyed this episode, join our community of visionary founders for more conversations like this. Where real entrepreneurs share the lessons, challenges, and stories behind building businesses that matter: https://leficomp.com/vfc 

In this episode of Building a Business: Grit & Grace, Anna Angelova speaks with Maxime Girard, founder of Dextra Advisory and fellow Rotman MBA graduate. Max shares his journey from corporate finance to building a thriving fractional CFO and advisory practice that now supports businesses with everything from operational finance to capital strategy.
He opens up about the challenges of losing a business partner early on, navigating uncertain economic times, and the mental toll that comes with entrepreneurship. Max also shares how building a team transformed both his business and his life, and why grit, adaptability, and a strong support system are essential for every founder.
If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to move from stability to uncertainty and why it’s worth it, this conversation is for you.
If your business needs financial clarity, cash flow support, or strategic CFO-level advice, visit https://www.dextraadvisory.ca/ or connect with Max on LinkedIn to learn more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maximegirardcfa/
 
And if you enjoyed this conversation, join our community of visionary founders for more stories, insights, and inspiration from entrepreneurs around the world: https://leficomp.com/vfc 

In this episode of Building a Business: Grit & Grace, Anna Angelova speaks with Sandrine Makaron, an award-winning insurance advisor and leader at Yorkville Young Financial Solutions. Sandrine opens up about her journey from an international student to building her own book of business in Canada and the grit it takes to step away from corporate security into entrepreneurship.
She shares candidly about the risks, self-doubt, and even breakdowns that come with carving your own path, along with the habits and mindset that helped her keep going. From redefining success to breaking misconceptions about the insurance industry, Sandrine’s story is filled with practical wisdom for business owners, professionals, and aspiring entrepreneurs alike.
If you’ve ever wondered whether starting a business is worth the leap, this conversation will give you both perspective and inspiration.
And if you want to connect with Sandrine directly for your insurance needs, LinkedIn is the place to go: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrine-makaron-3a9307127/
Looking for support as you start or grow your business? Join the Visionary Founders Club here: https://leficomp.com/vfc 

In this episode of Building a Business: Grit & Grace, Anna Angelova sits down with Amna Nawab, a textile designer turned entrepreneur who built her business in one of the most uncertain times - the early days of the pandemic.
Amna shares her journey from working in the textile industry in Pakistan and Dubai to starting over as a single mother in Canada, creating a business that blends fiber art, fashion, and storytelling. She opens up about the challenges of production, the importance of staying present, and how self-care became the foundation for both her life and business.
From her first commission pieces to running community workshops, Amna’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and purpose. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn passion into a sustainable business and how grit and grace can carry you through, this conversation will inspire you.
 
Connect with Amna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amnanawabdesign
or visit her website: https://amnanawab.com/ 

In this debut episode, host Anna Angelova shares the story behind Building a Business: Grit & Grace. Why it was created, who it’s for, and what you can expect each week.
This podcast isn’t about billion-dollar unicorns. It’s about real small- and mid-sized business owners from around the world, from coffee shop owners to consultants, sharing their authentic journeys, lessons learned, and the grit and grace it takes to build a business that matters.
If you’re an entrepreneur, an aspiring founder, or simply curious about the stories behind the businesses in your community, this podcast is for you.
Subscribe now, so you never miss an episode.