As event season kicks off with the Toronto International Film Festival, Elevate Festival, and Ecom North, Canadian entrepreneurs are busier than ever. To help fellow entrepreneurs make the most of their time, nine seasoned founders share their expert tips on how to manage time effectively during these hectic and exciting months.
BUILD IN BUFFER TIME
Sarah Stockdale, CEO and Founder of Growclass, emphasizes taking breaks for our social batteries. “Our post-pandemic brains are still getting used to a deluge of social activity—you need breaks,” says Stockdale. “When you’re building the schedule, ask yourself, ‘Would I want to do that today?'” By reflecting on her willingness to attend the event in advance, Stockdale is able to accommodate buffer time in her schedule.
LEARN TO SAY NO
Navigating these events as a founder requires setting clear boundaries and mastering the art of delegation. Fatima Zaidi, Founder and CEO of Quill Inc. highlights the importance of saying no to tasks or responsibilities that don’t align with your primary goals. “I’ve really had to condition myself to say no to additional tasks or responsibilities that don’t align with your primary goals,” says Zaidi. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing that founders can’t do it all and suggests being ruthless in prioritizing where time is best spent. By concentrating on what truly matters, founders can protect their well-being while pushing their ventures forward more efficiently.
PRIORITIZE EVENTS ACCORDING TO BUSINESS OBJECTIVES
During a busy event season, founders must prioritize key events based on business objectives. Aditya Mhatre, Co-Founder and CPTO of Beacon emphasizes “defining clear goals for each event and planning meetings and sessions in advance to maximize time…Delegating tasks to your team to manage less critical events or day-to-day operations and use downtime effectively to stay productive,” says Mhatre. By focusing on business objectives and optimizing team resources, founders can navigate the event season successfully while driving meaningful outcomes for their businesses.
VALUE YOUR TIME
When Michael Garrity, Executive Chair and Founder at Financeit, launched his company, he discovered events that targeted entrepreneurs were vital in making connections as an early-stage fintech company. His biggest piece of advice for founders is to prioritize their time wisely. “As valuable as events can be, there are a lot of them, and they can be a distraction,” says Garrity. “Founders should be focused on spending their time at events and in talk tracks where they can learn valuable insights to help their business or network with possible clients to drive revenue.” He also highlights that niche conferences often offer a better chance of connecting with people who can support your business journey.
QUALITY OVER QUANTITY
Managing time effectively during a busy event season can be challenging, especially when juggling multiple responsibilities as an entrepreneur. Shobhit Khandelwal, CEO and Founder of ShyftLabs and Carter emphasizes the importance of being selective with event participation. “Initially, I tried to attend every event to build connections,” Khandelwal says. “I quickly realized the importance of focusing on quality over quantity.” He recommends prioritizing events that foster meaningful relationships rather than just increasing visibility. By planning with clear goals, founders can ensure that each event contributes to their broader business strategy.
INVEST YOUR TIME WHERE IT MATTERS
Lisa Zarzeczny, Co-Founder and CEO, of Elevate Festival, advises founders to be strategic about leveraging events to scale their businesses. “If you want to get in front of particular speakers or sponsors, attend their sessions and look to connect with them afterward,” Zarzeczny suggests. While event organizers aim to deliver value to attendees, she emphasizes that attendees must be prepared to engage with the event. “Have a thoughtful and timely follow-up plan to ensure you maintain the momentum gained from the event,” say Zarzeczny. Her hottest tips — including for Elevate Festival — are: “Read event emails, download the event app, plan a schedule, and practice and perfect your elevator pitch.”
END OF DAY REPORTING
Sharif Virani, Growth Advisor at Ecom North, emphasizes the importance of End of Day Reports (EOD) for maintaining alignment across different time zones, teams, and departments. “For a team juggling multiple roles and working asynchronously, the EOD report is essential,” says Virani. “It helps me identify where my team needs support, what requires my attention, and what needs coordination, making it easier to prioritize tasks for the next day.” As the busy event season approaches, these reports become increasingly valuable in managing a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
EMBRACE SPONTANEITY
Embracing spontaneous opportunities is a key strategy Matt Rubinoff, Founder of STACKT, uses to navigate a busy event season. “I believe in staying flexible and open to unexpected opportunities,” says Rubinoff. He suggests that the best chances come when least expected and you never know what valuable connections or ideas might come from a random conversation. Rather than over-planning, Rubinoff advocates for “leaving space in your schedule to explore and adapt.” By being present, adaptable, and open to the unexpected, you can make the most of these opportunities.
