CYPE x EFCIE Elevate your edge: Entrepreneurship
Launching, expanding and sustaining a business
About the Event
The Chamber’s Company of Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs (CYPE) and the Esposito Family Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (EFCIE) continue the Elevate Your Edge series with an engaging conversation focused on entrepreneurship.
Whether launching a side hustle, scaling a growing company, or turning an innovative idea into a sustainable venture, entrepreneurship requires resilience, adaptability, leadership, and strategic decision-making. Through an inspiring panel featuring local founders and business leaders, attendees will hear candid stories about taking risks, overcoming challenges, building successful businesses, and creating impact in the Fraser Valley.
Designed for students, alumni, young professionals, and aspiring entrepreneurs, this session will provide practical insights, real-world lessons, and meaningful connections to help participants advance their own entrepreneurial journey.
Event Details
Date: October 26, 2026
Time: 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Location: UFV Abbotsford Campus, EFCIE (Building K), Room K180
Dress Code: Business casual or smart casual
Presented By:
CYPE (Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce)
Esposito Family Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (EFCIE)
What You’ll Learn
- How entrepreneurs identify opportunities and turn ideas into action
- Lessons learned from risk-taking, setbacks, and business pivots
- Strategies for growing a business and building an effective team
- How leadership evolves throughout the entrepreneurial journey
- The role of innovation in creating long-term success
- Practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage founders
Featured Panelists
Keira Allen
Keira Allen is the owner of Mamba Cycle in Chilliwack and Abbotsford. Driven by a passion for sport and music, she has grown Mamba from a five person team in 2020 to over 45 people, building a community inspired by the Mamba Mentality and the endless pursuit of greatness. Mamba offers indoor cycling, strength, boxing, and pilates sculpt classes, every one expertly curated, high energy, done in the dark, and driven by the beat.
Lesa Lacey
Lesa Lacey is Business Manager at Lacey Construction. Lesa is active in the community, including President of CHBA-BC, Past Chair of BC Construction Safety Alliance, and a board member with CORCAN, Skills Canada BC, and Mission Association for Community Living. Lesa is also a Founding Member at Fraser Valley Women in Construction Group and a Founding Member at CHBA Fraser Valley Boot Bank. She is the recipient of the President’s Award from Mission Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Year Award from CHBA BC, and Three-Time President’s Award from CHBA Fraser Valley. In her volunteer roles, Lesa is passionate about volunteering to support women in trades and trades as meaningful careers, including volunteering with Skilled Trades BC, Correctional Service of Canada, and Defy Ventures. Lesa has supported three elementary schools in Mission since 2012 with weekend food support during the school year, as well as supporting After the Bell during the summer.
Alexandria MacFarlane
Alexandria MacFarlane is the founder of Truly Lifestyle Brand, a Surrey, BC skincare company proving that natural, plant-based products don’t have to come with a luxury price tag. She launched Truly in 2019 from the coffee table of her basement suite, mixing, packing and shipping every order herself. Today, that coffee table startup has grown into a seven-figure business with a loyal community of customers across the country, known as ‘The Trulies’. Alexandria is excited to share the real, unfiltered story of building a brand from scratch with the next generation of UFV entrepreneurs.
Who Should Attend?
- Students interested in entrepreneurship, innovation, or business leadership
- Recent graduates exploring entrepreneurial opportunities
- Emerging entrepreneurs and early-stage founders
- Young professionals looking to develop entrepreneurial thinking and leadership skills
- Anyone interested in hearing real stories from local business leaders and founders
Why Attend?
- Learn directly from experienced entrepreneurs and business leaders
- Gain practical insights into launching, growing, and sustaining a business
- Discover strategies for navigating uncertainty and embracing innovation
- Connect with students, professionals, alumni, and entrepreneurs from across the Fraser Valley
- Leave inspired with actionable ideas to support your own career or entrepreneurial goals
Register
Registration is hosted through the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce.
Complimentary registration is available for UFV alumni, students and CYPE members.
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