Who is Susie Beghin, could you please introduce yourself?

I am the proud owner of Alpha’s Discovery Kids Preschool and Daycare, a division of Alpha’s Discovery Club Inc., and a mom of two children.

What is your business and when did you start?

Alpha’s Discovery Club Inc. was founded in 2004 as a unique children’s services company located in Mississauga. It was the first step in my journey to fulfill my dream of opening a high quality preschool and daycare for children. The Mississauga preschool and daycare location opened in 2012 and the Oakville location opened in 2019.

What inspired you to start your business?

I was inspired to start a business that focused on children when I was on parental leave with my first child. As a mom, I learned that I had a passion for working with young children and I could relate to young children in a special way. I went back to school to get my ECE designation so that I could learn everything about how children learn. I wanted to create an amazing place that parents would feel comfortable leaving their children and would be both educational and nurturing for kids.

What were the challenges in the initial stages of your business and how did you overcome them?

The initial challenges I faced were time and money. In the beginning, I worked 7 days per week and invested my own money into the business. This caused me a great deal of worry and stress about how I could contribute to my family: both my time and income. It took several years before I was able to pay myself back my initial investment. I remained persistent and dedicated to my mission and that contributed to my success. Once the business became profitable, I was able to create a team to help me run the organization so that I could transition to a five day work schedule. I was also able to transition to a management role that was more strategic.

What motivates you about your business?

My mission to “provide children with the best start in life” is my motivation. I know I am making a positive contribution to our society when I see the children learn new things and overcome challenges. I am happy that I am able to have a positive impact on young children.

What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?

Follow your passion and be dedicated and persistent to your mission and you will succeed! Ensure that your personal vision and mission aligns with your business.

Interesting fact most of the people do not know about you?

I love to give back to the community and I volunteer for several non-profit organizations. As a young adult, I was very involved in politics and met with previous Prime Ministers and Premiers of Ontario through my involvement in these organizations.

The best business advice I ever received was …

The best business advice is to outsource as much as you can and focus on what you do best. Don’t be afraid to spend money on services that will improve your business such as marketing. Secondly, get a business coach that aligns well with your vision and mission and can propel you to greater success.

My definition of success is …

to do what I love every day. Financial success is important so that you can continue to do what you love for the rest of your life.

If I could go back in time when I started my business, I would tell myself to …

In the beginning of my business, I was not very involved in networking activities and was doing everything on my own. Now, I know the immense benefits of networking and I would tell myself to start networking earlier and develop strong relationships with other businesses that can help me to expand my business so that I have a good support system.

Three books I recommend for entrepreneurs are ….

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Leadership by Example by Sanjiv Chopra

Daring Greatly by Brené Brown.

My personal tagline is … 

Inspiring our future leaders through curiosity, inquiry and discovery!