Michelle Strum is a lifelong entrepreneur who enjoys complex challenges. She is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs and organizations to realise their potential. As a community-minded person, Michelle takes a holistic approach to mentorship and consulting. She believes that successful initiatives take into account the health and goals of the leader, the organization and the community it serves. As CEO of Halifax Backpackers and Alteregos, two north-end Halifax businesses, for the past 20 years she has successfully operated a 30-person short-term accommodation business, a full-service cafe and a catering business. Michelle operates several commercial and residential properties and is responsible for their development, contracting and financing.Michelle, with her entrepreneurial experience, successfully designed and delivered our “Scale Up” program for women’s business in collaboration with the Centre for Women in Business.  She loves figuring out how to finance great ideas and commercial projects and is especially interested in how to sustain community-minded organizations by increasing their building assets. Michelle uses her entrepreneurial experiences to help organizations think outside the box as is highlighted in her work with the Upper Big Tracadie Seniors Association and Efficiency Nova Scotia. Michelle has been acknowledged for her thoughtful human resource practices through the Scotia Bank Small business challenge. Her company has a 4-year employee retention average in the customer service sector, an industry that averages 6 months. Her company intentionally created an inclusive and equitable work environment which has made Michelle a leader in equitable hiring in her community.