2Paths Team Blog

Yesterday, I attended a Forum for Women Entrepeneur’s social for mentors and mentees. It was there that I sat with my most recent mentor Louba Rapaport and my adopted mentor Gonzalo Naranjo. Sitting with them was like putting on an old glove - familiar, trustworthy, and cozy. Now I’ve only known Louba for a little over half a year, and I’ve known Gonzalo for even less. But the relationship I have forged with them seems like we’ve known each other alot longer. Louba and Gonzalo started a company called Alterna Technologies Inc. in Calgary from the paper napkin stage, and brought it to a company of 200 employees before signing out and moving onwards. They then started a consulting company called Resnotio, offering primarily sales and positioning consultation. It was in that capacity that I first met Louba as my formal mentor through the FWE. The first conversation I had with her was in the midst of some angst to do with one of our clients. What struck me out of that conversation was the depth by which she was able to listen and diagnose the problem, but also the no-nonsense approach she then discussed with how to deal with it. Having dealt with a number of sales and marketing type organizations, I am always a bit wary of the pitch and the lack of delivery from many of this sector. But this was the first time I really felt like I was getting real value. She was dealing with real issues and offering very considered solutions. It just all made sense and provided great clarity.

From there, our mentor/mentee relationship grew, and in October, 2Paths decided to retain Resnotio for more formal back office sales processes and that was when I first met Gonzalo Naranjo who provided an equally dynamic and very complementary role to Louba. In this capacity, we remained until recently in December when Gonzalo was asked to be the CEO of a burgeoning bio medical device company called Pulse Tracer. I haven’t seen Gonzalo much since then until yesterday at the FWE event, and we got to catch up if only for an hour. Gonzalo is ramping up a financing phase for Pulse Tracer, and Louba is busy as ever with Resnotio which doesn’t surprise me one bit.

Afterwards, walking towards Louba’s car for a ride back to the office, I discover one of Louba’s quirks, and that is she has favourite parking lots that she loves to park in despite the lack of proximity - in this case 6-7 blocks! On the way, we talked and laughed and discussed all sorts of things happening in the world and in our lives. What struck me as the most memorable of our walk was the life and positivity in those two. I’m obviously endorsing them as smart business people that I respect and trust immensely, but more than that, they are no nonsense, down to earth people full of energy and life - who could want anything more!