Sara Phelan

A Strategy-First Workshop for Small Business Owners

This workshop provides a comprehensive introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI), focusing on its definition, applications, and impact across various industries. Participants will explore the transformative effects of AI on business processes, understanding both the benefits and challenges of AI adoption, not just in marketing. 

The workshop will also delve into real-world use cases, particularly for small businesses, showcasing successful AI implementations through case studies. Attendees will learn to identify key areas where AI can enhance efficiency and decision-making and will be guided through an implementation roadmap that outlines best practices for integrating AI technologies into their operations.

By the end of the course, participants will have a solid foundation in AI and practical insights into leveraging AI for business growth and innovation.

When you're deep in the day-to-day, it's hard to see how your business is really doing. This workshop will help you step back, assess your operations objectively, and identify the right next steps.

You’ll learn to:

• Use the Evalu8 Framework and a self-assessment checklist to evaluate your business health
• Identify risks, gaps, and opportunities across all areas of your business
• Prioritize key actions that will move your business forward
• Build a simple strategic plan to guide your focus and measure your success
• Repeat the process regularly to stay aligned, focused, and growing

Perfect for entrepreneurs and business owners ready to see the big picture and build a smarter path to their goals.

This workshop is for Non-profit, Charity and Board of Trade Directors in Canada

This workshop will cover:

Understanding Governance, Roles, and Responsibilities: Learn the essentials of non-profit governance, focusing on the roles and responsibilities of volunteer board members. Participants will gain a clear understanding of their duties, including compliance requirements, to ensure effective oversight and accountability.

Building a Knowledge Base for Risk Management and Strategic Planning: Board members will learn to manage organizational risk, strategically plan activities, and implement workflows that promote accountability and transparency. Get practical templates to help structure and streamline board operations.

Evaluating and Supporting the Executive Director: Learn the board's role in evaluating and supporting the Executive Director. It will cover leadership in operations and team management, equipping board members with the tools to foster strong leadership and effective organizational management.

Do you know how much profit each sale brings in? Is it time to raise your prices?

This workshop helps business owners evaluate their revenue streams, fine-tune their offerings, and identify what’s truly working. You’ll dig into your delivery process, spot inefficiencies, and get clear on the numbers that drive profitability and growth.

You’ll learn to:

• Assess product/​service performance
• Identify risks, gaps, or bottlenecks
• Understand key financial metrics for smarter decision-making

Build and Optimize Your Dream Team

This workshop helps business owners assess, structure, and elevate their teams for long-term growth and productivity.

You’ll learn to:

• Evaluate your current team and identify key roles
• Set clear expectations and define non-negotiables
• Strengthen recruitment, onboarding, and retention
•  Use a 150-point checklist to boost team performance
• Align culture, communication, and strategy for sustainable success

• Identify key customer insights and pain points
• Use feedback tools and methods that work
• Turn insights into action plans for growth
• Build a customer-focused culture in your business

This workshop provides an in-depth exploration of strategic sales, focusing on the essential components that drive success in today’s competitive marketplace. Participants will engage with practical strategies and tools to enhance their sales processes, optimize customer relationships, and effectively close deals.

Participants will learn to:

• Leverage Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems to boost engagement and streamline sales with automation and AI
• Apply proven techniques for closing, upselling, and cross-selling to increase revenue
• Evaluate and improve your existing sales tools, strategies, and assets to drive better results

This hands-on workshop is for small business owners ready to level up their financial decision-making. You’ll dive into your past three years of income statements, learn to spot trends, build smart financial assumptions, and create a solid 3-year forecast to guide your growth.

You’ll learn to:

• Analyze your income statements line by line
• Create realistic assumptions for cash flow and sales projections
• Build a 3-year pro forma forecast to support strategic planning

This workshop is built for real-world small business owners who want to make better money decisions—without the jargon or overwhelm. We break down the numbers that matter, show you how to use AI tools to support your thinking, and walk away with a plan you can use tomorrow. 

What You'll Learn:

• How to understand and use your Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Report
• How to use AI to build a 3-year forecast 
• How to spot margin gaps and adjust pricing strategically
• How to run break-even and cash flow scenarios in minutes
• Plus: Prompt templates and a fill-in-the-blank workbook to use again and again
  
  

You will need access to your AI of choice.

In today’s economic climate, guessing is costly. This hands-on workshop is designed for small business owners ready to move from reactive to strategic. You’ll learn to combine proven decision-making tools with the power of AI—using it not as a gimmick, but as a thinking partner.

Through the Evalu8 Framework and practical exercises, you'll uncover blind spots, clarify your priorities, and make smarter decisions, faster.

You’ll learn to:

• Use AI to support financial, customer, and operational decisions
• Cut through the noise and find the right next move
• Build a customized prompt library tailored to your business
• Pressure-test ideas, prioritize actions, and plan with confidence