Q & A: New chamber president looks to push for business-friendly policies
Sandip Lalli, the new president and chief executive officer of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, has had a global career that has taken her from Alberta to Singapore and many countries in between. She has worked in a variety of industries, including oil, gas and agriculture. Lalli holds an Institute of Corporate Directors designation, a doctorate in business administration degree, a master’s degree and is a fellow chartered professional accountant.
With the chamber’s Small Business Week Calgary starting today, Paula Arab spoke with Lalli about the chamber and small business.
Q: You’ve worked in a variety of sectors throughout Alberta and around the world. What part of your business background most prepares you for this role?
A: I have a wide range of experience covering a number of different industries — from agriculture to construction and from co-founding a company to leading large teams. Being able to understand the perspectives of all businesses in Calgary, whether new or established, small or large, has been one of my most valuable tools since starting with the chamber.
Q: How is it going so far in your new role?
A: The first six months have been great. We have launched a new communications’ initiative — It’s Grow Time. With this, we have reaffirmed our commitment to double down on commerce and move Calgary into the future. We intend to set a strong, influential podium of record to assertively advance business-friendly policies and to nourish, power and inspire businesses to grow and prosper.
Q: What are your priorities going forward?
A: The chamber has a new purpose — to build a business community that nourishes, powers and inspires the world. Going forward, we want to be a catalyst for business growth and transformation. Our goal is to make sure we have one business community and one voice. We’re going to move forward, get our grip and get our swagger back. We want to bring all businesses under one tent, speaking with one voice. This is a pivotal time for businesses. As we head into next year’s provincial and federal elections, we will assertively communicate to all candidates of all parties the need for business-friendly platforms that will help commerce flourish and the economy to grow.
Q: What will you do to grow membership?
A: We want all businesses to feel part of the business community — it’s not just about whether you are a member of the chamber. By working together, we can inspire each other, create new connections, new opportunities and ultimately grow our economy. The chamber is welcoming all businesses, small and large, new and established, to come together to speak with one voice.
Q: What is the economic situation now like for small businesses in Calgary?
A: Businesses face challenges when they want to scale up. Only one in 1,000 small businesses grow past the 100-employee mark. We call these challenges layered costs — lots of small changes that collectively have a large impact on a business. These impacts include increased health and safety costs, minimumwage changes, carbon and property tax and a multitude of regulatory burdens at all levels of government.
Q: What are the big issues they will face in the year ahead?
A: Small businesses will continue to feel the impacts of layered costs — the recent increase of minimum wage to $15 per hour, increased property taxes, and health and safety costs. Simultaneously, small businesses are feeling the impact of delays in projects of national significance such as the Trans Mountain Pipeline. The ongoing issues with these projects impact Canada’s international reputation for competitiveness, which trickles down to small businesses and the options they may have for investment. Investor confidence in Canada continues to erode.
Q: What is the chamber’s position on the Olympic bid, and why?
A: We have yet to take a position on Calgary 2026, but will do so once all information pertaining to the financials of the bid are made public, including the commitments from the provincial and federal governments.
Q: How has business diversified in Calgary since the downturn of the oil and gas sector?
A: Calgary has always been an innovation hub and a national leader in STEM industries — science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The 2016 census reported that Calgary has the highest proportion of STEM degree completions of major cities in Canada. Calgary also has the second highest number of self-employed citizens of major cities in Canada. Rather than focusing on diversifying for the sake of it, Calgary is instead leading the way in disrupting industries, creating new technologies, and rethinking traditional ways of work in new and exciting ways. Calgary is and will continue to be a hub of innovation for not just North America, but also for the world.
Some local examples of businesses that are making a global impact include digital design agency Critical Mass, social enterprise Benevity, sports technology innovator 4iiii Innovations and software development company VizworX.