Roop Johal

As the business development and sponsorship manager at Small Business BC, Roop Johal plays a pivotal role in developing meaningful stakeholder relationships and securing sponsorship for programming that supports entrepreneurs in British Columbia. Ninety-eight per cent of businesses in the province are small businesses, and Johal and her colleagues at Small Business BC help serve nearly 250,000 clients in any given quarter. “The work I do is very rewarding,” says Johal. “For me, it’s important that the work I do aligns with my personal values. I’m able to make an impact in the community and establish my own network whilst I move through my career.” Johal moved to B.C. from the UK shortly before starting the diploma in arts program at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU). As a newcomer, she says being able to establish relationships in the community during her studies benefited her work once she graduated in 2013. Some of these flourished into business relationships, and KPU sponsors an award for youth entrepreneurs in B.C. because of a partnership Johal helped build while at Small Business BC. This is just one of many examples of innovative partnerships she’s developed to benefit local small business owners.

“During the pandemic, it has been very difficult for many of those businesses to survive,” says Johal. “Being in a position where I can establish relationships with other stakeholders in order to support them, in order to provide awareness and access to resources for those businesses, it’s very fulfilling.” Johal says given the outsized impact small businesses have on the local economy and community, being able to give back to that sector is incredibly gratifying. She says the “ripple effect” of the partnerships and relationships she’s established has exceeded her expectations. One achievement Johal is particularly proud of is her work to support small business employers in creating an inclusive environment for people with disabilities. She helped establish Accessibility Month, which includes free business education featuring ASL interpretation and closed captioning, and secured the Workplace Accessibility Grant, a program that provides businesses with financial assistance towards removing barriers for people with disabilities. “As an individual with a learning disability, I can personally relate to the struggles people face with accessing and comprehending information,” says Johal. “To think all this came from an idea I had and for it to have grown to what it is today is something I am proud to have initiated and have been a part of.” For Johal, who was diagnosed with dyslexia as a young child, having access to resources and support for her disability has been crucial to her success. She says Gagan, the student advisor she was paired with while at KPU, was pivotal in ensuring her experience was positive. “I can’t begin to express my gratitude to her. She had helped me so much during my time at KPU and really guided me with my education.” She also credits her mother for fighting for her education and support. “The people you surround yourself with influence who you are as an individual and contribute to your life’s path.” She says she’s inspired by those around her who share the same positive mindset. “Having a learning disability comes with both positives and negatives. I found it hard at first when I was diagnosed with dyslexia, but as I got older my perspective on it changed. I saw it less of a challenge and more of a gift.” Inspired by the people who advocated for her, today Johal is using her experiences to be a voice for marginalized groups. She volunteers on a number of advisory committees, including Ending Violence Association of BC, where she advises on its Sexual Harassment Advice, Response,

Program. The program aims to improve access to legal supports and resources for complainants of sexual harassment in workplaces across B.C. and is targeted at Indigenous persons, non-binary and LGBTQ+ persons, immigrants, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and women.

Johal says her education at KPU helped her develop life skills, such as being able to take a perspective outside of her own, that she brings forward in the work she does today. She says being exposed to a variety of courses helped open her mind to different career paths. “My time at KPU allowed me to explore my interests and really helped me figure out what it was I wanted to do. I look back at it with fond memories and think that it has truly helped lead me to where I am today.”