Erin Stapleton is director and principal consultant at Stapleton Environmental Consulting, which offers environmental planning and stakeholder engagement services in support of green and blue (land and ocean) economies. SEC has a flexible business model that draws on a network of associates and partners to customize solutions for clients.
Erin has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Her family has been farming for generations—“How entrepreneurial can you get?” She never thought she would end up doing exactly what she is today . . . “but here I am right now, and I couldn’t be happier.”
The key to Erin’s success is confidence: she knows that she brings hefty academic credentials and professional expertise to the table. Another crucial strength is her ability to build and maintain relationships with clients and colleagues.
"Go for it, don't look back!"
Erin’s advice to new entrepreneurs is not to be afraid. Her decisions have not all been perfect, she acknowledges, but they have led her to where she is today. If you make a mistake, she says, learn from it, grow from it, but don’t regret it—“Go for it, don’t look back!”
Erin values the agility and flexibility of her business. She likes to meet clients where they are comfortable, whether that is in their office or a coffee shop. “It helps me to get to know the client as a person,” she explains, “in a casual setting, outside the professional world—to build a relationship so we collaborate all the better.”
That flexibility is essential for business owners as they adapt to change, Erin says. Change is inevitable, “and if you’re not open to rolling with that, you’re cutting yourself off from so much opportunity.” Stapleton Environmental Consulting has been able to grow quickly in only a year and a half because of the network Erin has built. “I have wonderful colleagues who are willing to help me out when I need it, and I’ve also learned to focus on what I do best.” For the aspects of her business that she doesn’t enjoy, Erin is happy to delegate.
NLOWE has been integral to her success, Erin says; she has participated in workshops, training, and events, and “without their programs and services I wouldn’t be as successful as I am today.”
Inspired by travelling and seeing companies that already use renewable energy, Erin is also conscious that the decisions we make today will affect her niece and future generations. This motivates her to make an impact here. Her goal is to help her home province transition to a lower-carbon economy.
The next steps for Stapleton Environmental Consulting are about export readiness. Erin already works with a number of international clients domestically; she would like extend that to do work outside Canada. She’s also looking at branching into the field of training: “I’m really excited about the possibilities!”
Momentum recognizes an entrepreneur who has demonstrated significant growth and/or growth potential within a one- to three-year time span. This entrepreneur has built a business that is adaptable and apt to successfully leverage opportunities for continued growth. Sponsored by Husky Energy