Who is looking out for the economic wellbeing of First Nations? As the president and CEO of the Nanwakolas Council, this is part of Dallas Smith’s job, by bringing together six of British Columbia’s First Nations. By connecting First Nations with the government to improve their economic infrastructure, projects get expedited and managed on a level that might even outpace the economy at large.

What does it take for a building to go from an idea to completion? This is part of Tillie Kwan’s job as an architect at Studio Balcaen Kwan, which she co-owns with her colleague Bettina Balcaen – she looks at what is possible and appropriate for the client’s vision and budget. This is a far cry from what she thought architects did when she graduated high school.

For Bettina Balcaen, being an architect is her primary role at Studio Balcaen Kwan, which she owns with her colleague Tillie Kwan. The wide variety of roles involved in her job keep her going, which involves not just design but also how buildings are constructed – while some architects are specialized, she also sees the values of being a generalist as well.

Running British Columbia’s largest credit union is all about leveraging the abilities of your team. As CEO of Vancity, Wellington Holbrook’s job is to make sure everyone’s strengths shine, including the diversity of ideas and problem-solving skills. Amidst all of this, as a credit union, he also needs to make sure this is balanced with meeting the needs of its members.