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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, November 29, 2012 · 10 Female Python hails from Liaison College By Nathan Howes SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER By day she's a successful entrepreneur, but come next spring she will be a Python. Susanne Mikler, co-founder and owner of LC Liaison College Culinary Arts, is one of six entrepreneurs who will evaluate, select and invest in winners in the first Pythons' Pit competition. Inspired by the popular CBC television show Dragons' Den, the Pythons will judge the suitability of business ideas proposed by Halton residents. The initiative is a partnership between the Rotary Clubs of Halton and McMaster University's DeGroote School of Business. "They felt that the Dragons' Den-style was very appealing because it gets people to bring forth an idea, pitch it to a panel of investors and hopefully get somebody to say, `I like that. Lets develop it,'" said Mikler. "If you have an idea you think is really great, you're going to apply to the Pythons' Pit." Mikler and her husband Rudy Florio operate Liaison College, which trains gourmet chefs at 11 campuses across southern Ontario, including one in Oakville. The school was recently ranked as the fourth best culinary arts school in the world by the Chef2Chef Culinary Portal. Mikler said watching her business grow to a franchise of 11 locales since opening in 1996 has given her a sense of pride and accomplishment. "When you're an entrepreneur, your paycheque largely depends on whether you're successful or not. If your business is successful and you can employ other people and help them, (then) that's exciting," said Mikler. She is flattered and honoured to be the only female Python because it's nice to have a mixed perspective, she said. "It's really great to get as diverse as possible. That way you're really targeting every group out there. I think the opportunities are equal, no matter who you are," said Mikler. "This is what this does -- it levels the playing field. "Being a female voice on the table, I might look at things a bit differently than somebody else because of that perspective. I think it's going to be helpful." Mikler wanted to be a Python because as entrepreneurs they have a social responsibility to give back to the community. "Sometimes that means making a donation. It means serving at a pancake breakfast (or) it means doing a 5k walk or run," said Mikler. "As a successful entrepreneur that is your best way of giving back. To me it's an immense responsibility and honour. I'm humbled by it." See Pythons page 14 MICHAEL IVANIN / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER / @halton_photog FEMALE PYTHON: Susanne Mikler, co-founder and owner of the powerhouse that is LC Liaison College Culinary Arts, is the first woman to join Python's Pit, Halton Region's answer to the popular TV show Dragons' Den. Would-be entrepreneurs warm up for Pythons' Pit By Nathan Howes SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER A group of Halton Region entrepreneurs got a sneak peek last week of what it will be like inside the Pythons' Pit. Inspired by the popular CBC television show Dragons' Den, the Pythons' will judge the suitability of business ideas proposed by Halton residents next March. But the deadline to enter is Dec. 1. The initiative is a partnership between the Rotary Clubs of Halton and McMaster University's DeGroote School of Business. Last week's pre-pitch event, organized by ConnectUs Communications Canada director of communications Donna Messer and Jeremy O'Krafka of MENTORnetwork, aimed to help entrepreneurs sharpen their pitches before they apply to Pythons' Pit -- a contest that will find and fund the best local projects. "None of them were sure they would actually have a product or service that would work. We thought we (would) bring a group of experts together to listen to these people to give them feedback that would help them determine whether or not they're actually going to be able to pitch to the Pythons," said Messer. During the three-hour session, applicants were shown how to leverage mentorimportance of one-on-one guidance. "Mentoring is the single most important thing that can help determine where we want to go and perhaps stop us from falling into a hole. The mentor we might find has already been there," said Messer. "I've had mentors my whole life." Lynne Everatt of Oakville recently released a book titled Drink Wine and Giggle. She pitched an idea to market her book with a starter kit and a smartphone app. The starter kit includes wine paraphernalia, additional activities not listed in her book and a CD. "There are so many opportunities to spin-off (such as) events and games. I pitched the idea of a starter kit for Drink Wine and Giggle for girlfriends to get together and do an activity from the book but we do all the work for them," said Everatt. "We're (also) taking a girlfriend questionand-answer (activity) and putting it onto the phone." Everatt said her feedback from the mentors was excellent and helpful. "I thought they were very nice. There was such a feeling of generosity in the room and people wanted to share their expertise," said Everatt. Messer said every person in attendance See Pre-pitch page 15 RIZIERO VERTOLLI / OAKVILLE BEAVER / @halton_photog Honing the pitch: A pre-pitch event to the Pythons' Pit, organized by Rock Star Mentor Donna Messer and Jeremy O'Krafka, of MENTORnetwork, helped celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week last week and gave six applicants who've answered the Pythons' Pit challenge to practise their pitches. Here, Amal Soliman for Nubia Foods is pitching and hosting a drink-tasting demonstration. ship to accelerate their business, develop a one-minute mentor pitch and to understand the key mistakes entrepreneurs make in pursuing investment, among others. "Each of them did their homework and each of them gave it out to the mentors who were here. (Mentors) gave them positive feedback on what they can do to improve," said Messer. As a mentor, Messer recognizes the