Business

Heart Centered Branding Takes Front And Centre In 2022

Published

4 years ago

January 27, 2022

As a new wave of female leadership expands into the world, the landscape of branding in business is deepening. Consumer expectations demand a new level of connection from those in positions of influence where real, raw and relatable is now the currency of long lasting impact.

Passionate entrepreneurs like Sara Blakely, with boundless authenticity and ambition, are taking center stage as heart-driven leaders. SPANX, now a billion dollar brand has become a household name, by way of inspiring hundreds of thousands of women through Blakely’s Instagram account. Connecting with her audience through her now infamous coffee mug images, Blakely shares such action-inspiring quotes as: ‘If your own story is not inspiring to you, it’s time to rewrite that sh*t!’. The realness of her videos, immersing her audience in her home-life, magnifies the sense of belonging to her family. It’s a revealing perspective that has allowed other women to chase their dreams and grow their own brands by simply being themselves.

The Pillars Of A Heart Centered Brand

Building a business that is bigger than you, takes heart and demands a wild ride into defining the values of your company, the mission it serves and a story that people can not only relate to but deeply trust. From purpose to profits, let’s explore the 5 pillars to establishing a heart centered brand…

Purpose: This is the heartbeat of your work. It is the reason people connect with, and rally behind what you do, and why you do it. Articulate this well and your brand will move mountains. Your purpose is shared through potent storytelling and a community culture enriched with powerful values.

People: Brands exist because they serve people. Knowing who you are designing your products and services to support, is essential. Defining your target audience will ensure aligned branding and messaging that speaks authentically to your ideal consumers.

Possibility: Knowing the problem your business solves is crucial. However, in contrast to the pain-based selling and engagement tactics of the past, heart-led businesses are fluent in speaking to the wisdom and potential of their ideal audience.

Products: The place where people invest to reach their goals and meet their needs. Your services or products are the bridge between where they are now and where they will be tomorrow. Your brand is their solution.

Profits: A successful heart-centred brand is profitable. Setting your business up to ensure its ability to sustain impact and service for years to come, is critical in establishing a trustworthy brand.

Establish The Energy For Congruency

High energy and the know-how to helm a Billion Dollar Company, Blakely swears by morning yoga at 6:30am, followed by a healthy smoothie. “It has frozen wild blueberries, a few dark cherries, kale, dates, cinnamon, spinach, cilantro, fresh mint, lemon, water, ice, chia, and walnuts,” Blakely shares. Where most female start-ups believe their brand will be built on the coattails of sleepless nights and another hit of caffeine, it is quite the opposite for those deeply devoted to heart-centered leadership and a sustainable business model.

Similarly, Ondi Laure swears by her morning ritual of practicing gratitude at 5am. According to Ondi, early mornings are the sacred time of day allowing for calm and creativity to be born: “I like to think of an early morning routine as self-care. Because without a healthy me there are no books. No books mean no business.”

Ondi, Founder of Story Launcher Publishing, enriches the lives of her readers through the magnificent power of story-telling, to remind us of the savagery of the past. She writes of the struggles and glories of today and brings stories that inspire hope for a better future. Through her publishing company, Ondi has become a powerful catalyst for other women to bring their stories into the world and give them life.

For Ondi, bringing a legacy piece to life for her clients has become part of her life-giving mission and brand – “A business built on purpose, if you approach it as being bigger than yourself, will allow you to find profound intention in your craft, a passion, and a purpose that you didn’t know you had.”

The Power Of Inclusion

At its essence, a successful heart-centered brand has people as its core. For Kathy Gibson, a passionate leader whose unique gifts and talents reside in work of diversity, equity and inclusion she is trailblazing a path forward where unintentional division no longer exists for those in the business of people.

“It’s been a profound journey of self-discovery, compassion for all people, particularly those who face adversity or ancestral trauma. I aim to acknowledge, and recognize, the things I can control and support positive change in those around me to elevate and give life to the power that inclusion has, both personally and professionally.”

Gibson, is an advocate and expert on pressing economic, social and technology issues. As a working mother of two children, Kathy has had the opportunity to pursue the true passions in her life – motherhood, operating her own successful business, and bridging the gap between incorporating her spiritual path with her professional life to enhance impact at scale.

Her biggest piece of advice for CEO’s managing a team within a heart centered business model: Diversity and inclusion needs to be at the foundation of your operations. Establishing policies and procedures at every level of the employee life cycle will ensure that your unique goals are attainable. Employees will thrive in an inclusive environment, allowing them to express their unique perspectives to initiate strong performance and innovation for your brand.

Final Thoughts

2022 will see heart-centered entrepreneurs cultivate a deeper level of authenticity in their branding, energy and communities. The Hustle and pain-focused selling of the past, has given way to story and messaging that speaks to possibility and potential through the lens of love.

When more women are themselves, anchoring into their values and influence from that place, only good can come of it. That is a world we can all begin to consciously cultivate in 2022.

Business

Why Multi-Province Payroll Compliance Is the Hidden Challenge Canadian SMBs Face and How Folks Solves It

Published

5 days ago

November 6, 2025

Matthew Wiles

Photo courtesy of: Folks

Byline: Shem Albert

Running payroll in Canada can feel like crossing a country stitched from many different fabrics. Each province weaves its own pattern of tax rules, leave policies, and benefit requirements, creating a landscape where a single misstep can ripple through every paycheck. For small and mid-sized businesses, the challenge often remains hidden until growth pushes hiring beyond provincial borders or brings remote workers into the fold. What seems like a routine back-office task quickly becomes a test of accuracy, timing, and local knowledge. This is the gap that Folks set out to close, offering a way for employers to navigate Canada’s regulatory patchwork without slowing their momentum.

Provincial Rules Add Complexity

Canada’s payroll environment varies sharply by province. Federal rules set the foundation, but provincial tax rates, deductions, statutory leave entitlements, and benefit premiums add layers of complexity that employers must monitor carefully. Small and mid-sized businesses with staff across provinces or remote employees face different tax tables, reporting deadlines, and leave calculations that directly affect pay accuracy and remittance schedules.

Folks built its payroll module to address these differences. The platform calculates the correct provincial tax rates and deductions for each employee, applying updates automatically so employers avoid misapplied withholdings or late filings. Multi-location tax management allows a company with workers in Ontario, Quebec, or several other provinces to process payroll without creating separate accounts for each jurisdiction. Bilingual functionality in English and French and secure Canadian data hosting support compliance while keeping employee records accessible across language and regional boundaries.

Unified Records Improve Accuracy

Payroll errors often stem from mismatched employee data. Changes in pay rates, banking details, or benefits eligibility may not align between HR and finance systems, creating incorrect deductions or delayed payments. Smaller teams juggling separate platforms spend valuable hours reconciling information instead of focusing on strategic work.

Folks resolves these issues by combining HR and payroll in one platform. Updates to wages, hours, or tax information entered on the HR side flow directly into payroll without re-entry. This single, verified record strengthens the accuracy of every payroll run and ensures employees receive the correct pay and deductions. By removing the need for repetitive administrative work, HR staff can redirect their time to tasks that support growth and employee engagement.

Automation Keeps Provinces in Step

Each province sets its own requirements for holiday pay, pay frequency, and statutory benefits, making manual calculations both time-consuming and error-prone. Businesses that expand or hire remote employees must keep pace with shifting provincial regulations or risk penalties and audit issues.

Folks address these demands with automation designed for Canada’s regulatory landscape. Pay statements, deduction calculations, and custom pay schedules follow the applicable provincial rules without extra configuration. The system’s automated updates mean that a company hiring staff in British Columbia or Quebec can meet local payroll standards without adding new layers of setup or monitoring. Employers gain the ability to expand into new regions while maintaining accurate, on-time pay.

Reporting Strengthens Compliance

Changing tax rates and reporting requirements require ongoing attention from HR and finance teams. Companies that rely on disconnected systems risk missing a provincial update or submitting incorrect remittances, which can lead to fines and interest charges.

Folks provides detailed reporting tools that compile payroll, deductions, and benefits information across all locations. Employers can generate clear remittance and deduction summaries, simplifying the process of meeting provincial filing requirements. For organizations that want additional guidance, Folks also offers a payroll management service that brings in-house specialists to assist with configuration, compliance, and regular updates. These reporting features help companies stay audit-ready and avoid costly compliance gaps.

Scalable Payroll for Expanding Businesses

Many small businesses begin in a single province, where local tax and payroll demands can be learned over time. Growth into new provinces or the decision to hire remote staff adds a level of complexity that manual processes cannot handle efficiently. Errors multiply, compliance risks rise, and payroll teams spend more time correcting mistakes than supporting expansion plans.

Folks provides payroll that scales with company growth. Provincial tax logic, automated deductions, bilingual support, and secure Canadian data storage are built directly into the platform. By maintaining an accurate employee record and applying province-specific rules automatically, the system allows Canadian SMBs to expand with fewer administrative surprises and more predictable payroll operations. Companies gain the stability of compliant payroll across provinces while controlling the time and costs that typically accompany multi-jurisdiction growth.