February is the right time to tell you my story, a love story about food. It taught me about “The Romance vs The Reality of Entrepreneurship”. Why now? You Jia Lee hashtag#CuriousToCreation, “Jean, February is perfect!” She’s right.
Has there been a a time in your life when a loss left an indelible impression, scars even, on your soul? You know what I’m talking about. Love lost. Yes, THE one. That one!
In the past, I’ve alluded to family, friends, students, and strangers about my loss. I’m quick to crack a few jokes about it, thinking this will help heal my scars faster. But I’m at a loss for the right words and the right reason for the right audience….. so the scars remain.
It’s 2026 and it’ll be almost 20 years to the day. Now is the “right” time. You are my “right” audience. Yes, you, emerging and new entrepreneurs, eyes and hearts wide open, ready and poised to hit “launch”. And yes, you, too, the curious, wondering what is she talking about. Can it be THAT bad? And I shall have the “right” words.
But I’ll admit this won’t be easy. I can’t boast I’m now a billionaire but an every day entrepreneur. I might wince and waver and there’s a chance I’ll get emotional. I might be judged so please be kind, be compassionate.
I’m willing to take the risk because maybe you’ll:
– sit a little taller,
– listen a little longer,
– connect a little easier.
– take away a few lessons from how a little love grew to a lot of love and why they will last a lifetime. hashtag#imstillstanding
“Love is an action” ~ bell hooks so register below:
http://bit.ly/4t0wpIk
Who: Open to everyone, including UofT community and beyond! In-person!
When: Friday Feb 5th from 5pm to 7pm EST
Where: Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus., 105 College, Toronto, near Queens Park station
University of Toronto
University of Toronto Faculty of Arts & Science
Centre for Entrepreneurship at U of T
VMS Centre for Entrepreneurship
University of Toronto Entrepreneurship
Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
UofT Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology
Translational Research Program (TRP)
University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
Department of Economics, University of Toronto
School of Engineering, College of Engineering & Physical Sciences, University of Guelph
Toronto Public Library
Futurpreneur
Venture for Canada
hashtag#lifelonglearning hashtag#smallbusiness hashtag#entrepreneurship hashtag#entrepreneurs hashtag#innovation hashtag#ideation hashtag#imagination
Tag: small business
Small Business, Big Dreams
Her first flight took her 13,400 kilometres away from her home in Chennai ten months after her wedding day. Selvi Thambimuthu landed at Lester B. Pearson International Airport, Toronto on December 4, 2004.
“I felt really happy to see my new husband and new country but also a little bit sad leaving my family back in Chennai. I was also very curious about snow,” she recalls.
Now thirteen+ years later, Selvi and Siva, her husband, and their three handsome sons Pragadheesh (12), Harshan (10), and Vadhanan (8), are busy getting ready to open their second restaurant franchise next week in Toronto – “Starving Artist”!
Stars Align – A Love Story
A match made by both our parents and confirmed by 4 different astrologists, Selvi and Siva were married within eighteen days of meeting one another in person for the first time in 2004. They came to know one another long distance by phone and her first thought was “he looks just like his photograph”. Strong faith in family and even stronger faith in dreams bridged the distance then and now.
Living the Dream
“Work for your dreams. It will happen whatever you dream. It will come true. You need to believe.” she repeats to her sons. “I want my sons to have their own dreams and I will support them as my parents always supported me. Education is important, first and foremost!”
She remembers how her parents set her up for success, always reading, exploring, and fuelling her curiosity about the world. At age 12, her father gave her a black radio and brought the world inside their home each night at dinnertime.
Her earliest memory of Toronto was “Everyone on the subway was reading!” She used to buy “packages of books” for her sons and read Dr. Seuss’ favourites including “Cat in the Hat” twenty to thirty times a day.
Entrepreneurship & Education in Progress
It’s not clear if “Green Eggs and Ham” set the tone as Selvi and Siva bought their first waffle restaurant franchise in 2016 and opened “Starving Artist” in Midtown Toronto. It was also the year Selvi started (and now graduated!) George Brown College’s Office Administration – Health Services two-year diploma program. And 2016 was the year Selvi’s Mom came from Chennai to help them realize their dreams.
The entrepreneurial spirit thrives in their family. Her father once owned a machine shop in Chennai. And as all entrepreneurs know, you do what it takes to make things work so they live above their restaurant which makes a whole lot of logistical sense.
Soccer Dreams
Listening to Pragadheesh talk about his passion, soccer, with his eyes shining brightly, he is like most young first generation Canadians. They are strivers, strong-willed with extraordinary grit and determination.
When his father suggested they should book their tickets for the World Cup 2026 (Canada, U.S. and Mexico will be hosting), Pragadheesh reassured his father, “Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll be playing so I’ll have tickets for everyone.”
The Next Big Dream
And what’s next you might wonder from the lady who once pushed a stroller dubbed “The Rocket” by her co-workers to get her son to school on time?
Selvi now dreams about how she will furnish their next house, a much bigger house as their home as she remembers fondly her childhood home in Chennai, 10’ x 50’, where her dreams began. And now 13,400 kms away, I have no doubt this dream will also come true. Small business, big dreams!