It is currently November 8, 2023 at 9:19pm in Toronto. Today marks SIX years since I registered Ann + Co. and oh my gosh, what a feeling! 🎉 I’m in the process of relaunching Ann + Co. and what it means to me at this time. While the official launch date is TBD, I want to make sure you know who I am and how I got here.

I am a multi-business owner and to say that entrepreneurship is a WILD ride, truly is an understatement. I was born in the Philippines, and my family immigrated to Canada when I was 8 years old. I grew up being surrounded by creativity and the entrepreneurial mindset.

My father is a self-taught artist and my mother was his business partner. He took on all sorts of commissions from hand-painting tricycles, to signs for municipal elections, to creating one-of-a-kind murals, portraits, and glass etching. Whatever was asked, he would say ‘YES’, and I have several memories of him coming home only to say to my mom “You need to help me figure out how we can make this project happen.” And she did.

As I went to school, my parents engrained in me the importance of having a strong work ethic; to keep my head down and do the work, be kind to people, but never be afraid to speak up for my beliefs and values. And through the many jobs I had, I slowly realized that I wanted to be my own boss, run my own company, and genuinely connect with others – because I LOVE hearing people’s life stories.

When Ann + Co. became the ‘real deal’ in 2017, my slogan was: Collaborate. Create. Celebrate. I still believe this today. I think that we all have our talents, and it’s through collaboration where creations can truly be celebrated. As a big-picture thinker, I love being able to put the pieces of the puzzle together: letting people do what they do best, giving them support, and executing the game plan while having FUN.

As I look back and reflect on how far I’ve come, I am extremely grateful for every single failure, challenge, and lesson learned. I’m grateful for the couples that have trusted me and the team. I am even more grateful for the support I’ve received from my family – especially my parents and siblings, my partner AJ, and our dog Coco. I’m also grateful for my amazing team who do whatever it takes to make the magic happen. There is so much more to come in these next SIX years.

However you got here, thanks for reading along. If my story and work resonates with you, let’s connect! Thanks again for being here. Maraming salamat po!

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