{"id":45569,"date":"2026-10-14T13:52:07","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T16:52:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/?p=45569"},"modified":"2026-10-14T14:43:03","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T17:43:03","slug":"solange-ake-shares-her-wonderful-entrepreneurial-adventure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/en\/2026\/10\/solange-ake-raconte-sa-merveilleuse-aventure-entrepreneuriale\/","title":{"rendered":"Solange Ake shares her wonderful entrepreneurial adventure"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>While sharing the lessons learned at the Entrepreneurs' Lunch<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/remerciement-conferenciere-Solange-Ake-958x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Four people in front of banners from employment organizations\" class=\"wp-image-45570 lazyload\"><noscript><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"958\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/remerciement-conferenciere-Solange-Ake-958x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Four people in front of banners from employment organizations\" class=\"wp-image-45570\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/remerciement-conferenciere-Solange-Ake-958x1024.jpg 958w, https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/remerciement-conferenciere-Solange-Ake-281x300.jpg 281w, https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/remerciement-conferenciere-Solange-Ake-767x820.jpg 767w, https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/remerciement-conferenciere-Solange-Ake-1438x1536.jpg 1438w, https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/remerciement-conferenciere-Solange-Ake-1917x2048.jpg 1917w, https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/remerciement-conferenciere-Solange-Ake-11x12.jpg 11w, https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/remerciement-conferenciere-Solange-Ake.webp 1797w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 958px) 100vw, 958px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Solange Ake accepts her thank-you gift for her motivational talk at the Entrepreneurs' Lunch and sponsors and organizers' cooperators (from left) Robert Maddix, representing the Solution Repreneuriat program, Claus Schmidt, general manager of CBDC Central PEI, and Raymond J. Arsenault, manager of the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>SUMMERSIDE \u2013 October 14, 2023 \u2013<\/strong> To succeed in business, especially as a micro-enterprise, one must learn to step out of their comfort zone, start with little, be adaptable, use the resources around them, and build strong relationships, according to Solange Ake, speaker at the Entrepreneurs\u00ab Lunch and cooperators 2026 on October 13 in Summerside. And above all, \u00bbone must never forget the human behind the business since people are at the heart of everything.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ms. Ake, owner of Distinct Magic Decor, Distinct Magic Events, and Fusion Gift Boxes, delivered a beautiful and smiling motivational speech to the twenty people present for this annual dinner of the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI and the Wellington Rural Action Centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was very fitting that she titled her speech \u00abStarting Without Having All the Answers,\u00bb which summarizes her entrepreneurial journey well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Solange was born in France, lived for several years in C\u00f4te d'Ivoire in Africa but returned to live in France as an adult. She decided to embark on a great adventure and move to Canada, specifically to Prince Edward Island. She arrived here from France in 2017 with two suitcases and a backpack. Immediately, she faced a major language challenge as she understood very little English and had great difficulty interpreting the Acadian language. She knew no one and had no network. She first took advantage of the community welcome services and found herself a community job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Solange-discours-2.jpg\" alt=\"Smiling woman speaking at the Entrepreneurship Gala\" class=\"wp-image-45584 lazyload\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"839\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Solange-discours-2.jpg\" alt=\"Smiling woman speaking at the Entrepreneurship Gala\" class=\"wp-image-45584\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Solange-discours-2.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Solange-discours-2-300x252.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Solange-discours-2-768x644.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Solange-discours-2-14x12.jpg 14w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Solange Ake during her presentation on her entrepreneurial journey.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>HER BEGINNINGS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Arriving at the global pandemic of 2020, she decided that she needed a bigger challenge. She began to explore entrepreneurship and determine the field of her business; she wanted to leverage her strengths. She had already planned and decorated weddings, so she recounts, with a laugh, \u00abI started an event planning business... when there were no events.\u00bb All of this without money or a plan. But she did have a vision and plenty of courage and a will to succeed. When public activities were finally allowed, she started by offering the services of Distinct Magic Decor for free to friends to get known and to take photos for her social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She had to be patient and very careful at the beginning since there was very little money coming in. She often used reclaimed materials. She did not buy large quantities of decor materials all at once either, learning instead that the trends and styles of sought-after decor change very quickly and very often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She trained and developed her skills, built connections with the right key people, found allies, stepped out of her comfort zone, and moved forward using the resources available to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, in 2021, she founded Fusion Gift Boxes to sell unique \u00abcorporate\u00bb gifts. Each box contained authentic products, mostly handmade, from Acadia, France, and Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Solange-Ake-discours.jpeg\" alt=\"Entrepreneur presenting her journey during an excellence gala\" class=\"wp-image-45573 lazyload\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Solange-Ake-discours.jpeg\" alt=\"Entrepreneur presenting her journey during an excellence gala\" class=\"wp-image-45573\"><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Solange Ake shares her entrepreneurial journey and encourages people to start without having all the answers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><strong>REWARDS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And now in 2023, her business evolves to become Distinct Magic Events, through which Solange decorates, plans, and coordinates events, such as weddings, banquets, and corporate evenings, in Atlantic Canada and even as far as Montreal. Her greatest reward? \u00abTo see the happiness in my clients\u00bb eyes and to know that I helped create moments that will be etched in their memories.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over the years, she discovered that the most beautiful adventures are sometimes those that one never imagined. She also learned \u00abthat you don't need to know the whole path to dare to take the first step.\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Midi des entrepreneurs and cooperators was sponsored by CBDC Central PEI and the Solution Repreneuriat project of RD\u00c9E Prince Edward Island.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tout en partageant les le\u00e7ons apprises au Midi des entrepreneurs SUMMERSIDE \u2013 le 14 octobre 2023 \u2013 Pour r\u00e9ussir en affaires, surtout comme micro-entreprise, il faut apprendre \u00e0 sortir de sa zone de confort, commencer avec peu, \u00eatre adaptable, utiliser les ressources autour de soi et construire des relations solides, selon Solange Ake, conf\u00e9renci\u00e8re au [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":45570,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[57],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45569","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-communiques"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45569","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45569"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45569\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45585,"href":"https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45569\/revisions\/45585"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45570"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45569"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45569"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rdeeipe.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}