Many local entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners attended the third annual Success Summit Brantford on Monday, March 23, 2026.
The event, which was started by Jeff Meiusi, Sherri Barna and Thomas Woodard, is designed to inspire entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.
“Success Summit exists to help local entrepreneurs grow their business, learn from experts and network with local business owners,” said Barna. “We started this because we saw that any time there was an event like this in Brantford often cost $100 or more to attend, and so we really wanted to do something that on a grassroots level where for $20 a ticket, people could show up and learn from industry experts, and we wanted it to be done in quick format, 20-minute talks without all the fluff.”
Upon arrival, guests gathered inside the Best Western Hotel’s ballroom and quickly began mingling with others.
With ten local businesses set up around the room, many took the time to engage with them and learn more about what they do. From Independent Pro Wrestling to Pawtastic Pottery, 3D Swag Labs, the Brantford-Brant Resource Centre (BRC), the Spreadsheet Specialist and more, there was a wide range of services and products on display, giving attendees plenty of opportunities to what they offer.
Kicking off the main event was Meiusi, who welcomed everyone with a brief remark.
“Take a second and look around the room. This is what growth looks like. This is what ambition looks like, and this is what happens when people stop waiting and start taking action,” he said. “You could be anywhere tonight, but you chose to be here in a room full of entrepreneurs, leaders and people who are building something bigger than themselves, and that decision alone puts you ahead. Tonight isn’t just about listening to speakers; it’s about connections. it’s about ideas, and it’s about walking out of here with something you can actually use to grow your business, because one conversation, one strategy, one connection, can completely change the trajectory of your business.”
Natalie Walker of the BRC then took to the podium to share more about the resource centre and to introduce the first speaker.
Barna, whose talk was titled, From Idea to Impact, spoke about how everyone has ideas, but that success comes from taking action, building consistent habits and pushing past fear and the idea of perfection to make a real impact.
Up next was Woodard and his talk, titled Building Financial Success in Your Business, went over building systems that turn a business into a long-term asset that is sustainable and profitable.
After a short break, Jay Grimes followed with talk about building your brand and giving it a voice, while Julie Perkins discussed mastering the customer experience. And Finally, Niniola Fatai, spoke to the audience about the power of determination.
“Whatever you dreamt about when you were little, achieving it is not going to happen through talent alone. The reality is that the only thing that is going to get you there, or the thing that takes you away from what you said you want, is determination,” she said. “…Determination beats talent. If you think it’s your talent that is going to get you there, you’re only deceiving yourself. There are people that are more talented than you, but the only thing that makes you different, that makes you stand out from them, is your consistency. How consistent are you? How willing are you? How dreaming are you? How passionate are you about it? How much do you want it? Because that’s what makes the difference.”
Later when the event wrapped up, many stuck around to continue to mingle and network, and Barna said she and her fellow organizers were pleased with the turnout of the event.
“Today was our third Success Summit and we’re happy with the turnout,” she said. “We had five amazing speakers and I honestly think it was a better lineup than any year before.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
