Lyly Adventures

Since I was 14-years-old, I’ve always had a job (and sometimes multiple at once). While this seems impossible to some, I was taught otherwise. My parents immigrated to Canada after escaping the genocide in Cambodia and facing death several times. When they first arrived, my mother was five-months pregnant with my oldest sister and my brother was only two-years-old. This meant that despite the cultural differences and language barrier, they had to immediately adapt and find jobs to support the family.

By the time my parents had me, they were in a much better place financially when compared to my three older siblings. Though, for a long time, they were cleaning at several hospitals and then coming home to sew clothes until midnight (to make extra money). Often, I would help them arrange the clothes, fold them, pack them in boxes, and then carry the boxes upstairs. Later, when my family opened a small and casual restaurant, I’d help out after school and on the weekends (almost 7 days a week).

While I can’t say I had a luxurious upbringing, I’d say I definitely had a very fortunate one (and wouldn’t want it any other way). It’s because of my family’s relentless work ethic that I’m able to share some proud moments when looking back on my career. Some of them were pretty exciting such as being mentored by industry veterans, working with celebrities and moving to another country. Though, it’s not the opportunities I’ve secured that I’m most proud about - it’s the resiliency I’ve gained.

At the first startup I worked at, there were incredibly high expectations of me (even as an intern). Like most startups, their main priority was the technology and PR/marketing came second. My initial tasks included pitching to reporters in hopes of securing major press and working with the developers to improve the product’s UI/UX. All of this was new to me but I quickly learned and grew within the company.

I went from being an intern, to a consultant and then a manager - all while working other jobs and volunteering. These transitions took place while I was still pretty young and just beginning my career. Despite feeling well-prepared considering my experience and education, there were definitely moments where I doubted myself. I faced a lot of challenges, criticism and even failures. I never dreamed of quitting though.

As Canada’s capital, Ottawa is home to many of the nation’s movers and shakers. But a lot of its exciting and big changes aren’t just coming from government. It’s introducing new and improved public spaces, more international and local businesses, and most importantly: mission-driven entrepreneurs. This is no surprise considering the city’s unyielding support for innovation that more people are taking risks and giving back at the same time. Burundi-born and Ottawa resident, Deborah Ntawigirira, is one of these exemplary entrepreneurs. She founded Izere, a company that builds sustainable trade networks with Burundian coffee growers to make its specialty coffee more accessible to Canadian roasters. Through its meticulous production practices, Izere seeks to create more employment opportunities for Burundian women allowing them to support their families and fund their education. Some of Izere’s milestones include receiving international praise from Cup of Excellence, an annual competition held to identify the highest quality coffees produced, and employing over 100 women who hope to one day start their own business. Deborah credits Izere’s progress towards discovering a way to establish and maintain a link between her two beloved countries: Burundi and Canada. We sat with Deborah to learn more about Izere’s roadmap to success and its future plans to expand.

Tell us more about Izere and the meaning behind its name.

I was born and raised in Burundi and moved to Canada when I was 17-years-old. It was shocking to learn that despite Canada ranking as number one in coffee consumption out of 80 countries, many Canadians have never tried or even heard about Burundi’s coffee. I felt it was important to use this as an opportunity to foster a cultural exchange between the two countries, and from there, I created Izere.

Izere means “have faith” in Kirundi (Burundi’s native language) and has grown to focus on so much more than just coffee. The company takes great pride in delivering specialty coffee produced with the utmost care while improving the lives of Burundian women affected by the war. Every decision the company makes is determined by whether or not it contributes to their personal and professional success.

Izere clearly prioritizes social impact over profit. What do you consider a rewarding milestone?

While I’m always thrilled to see more people try our coffee (and enjoy it), I feel like I’ve achieved a rewarding milestone when people ask about our coffee’s background and about Burundi’s culture and traditions. When I share these conversations with the Burundian women we employ, their eyes light up and beam with pride knowing that they were part of that teaching moment. They’ll often ask me about Canada’s own culture and traditions and share their own plans to become an entrepreneur. It’s the little things that mean the most.

What’s your biggest goal for Izere and where do you see the company in the next few years?

My biggest goal for Izere is to build more sustainable trade networks with not just Burundian coffee growers but designers and artists as well. This would allow the company to create more employment opportunities for women in Burundi and Canada (and boost both economies). In the next few years, I hope to see the company having more of a presence in local shops, events and programs through collaborating with like-minded businesses, companies and organization. I also hope to develop a career-focused mentorship program and financially invest in other entrepreneurs.

What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs?

You’ve admittedly been one of the toughest years of my life – and I’m far from bitter. In fact, I’m very grateful. Yes, there were days where I’d wake up and pray today would be a good day and later find myself crying to sleep. But if I didn’t experience what drove me to such a place, I wouldn't have realized how lucky I really am. It wasn’t until I was at my weakest that I realized there's so much to be thankful for. I'm thankful to be able to say that I accomplished one of my biggest dreams, come from a family that supports every single thing I do, and met some genuinely kind-hearted people who believed in me. I’m mindful of this every day and try however I can to make sure others can move past from being mistreated or bullied like I once was.