There are many theories about how best to encourage entrepreneurs. Susan Holt, president and CEO of the New Brunswick Business Council, links entrepreneurs with seasoned business people and encourages the veterans to become early adopters of the startups’ new products and services.

Holt is a familiar face at startup events in New Brunswick. It might seem mere common sense to link business vets with newbies but her approach is actually unusual.

Created in 2005, the New Brunswick Business Council is a group of business leaders dedicated to building New Brunswick’s economy.

“When I started out with the business council, one of my first objectives was to link the experience and knowledge of our members with the needs of young entrepreneurs,” said Holt, who has been in her role for three years.

“I felt like our members were a locked treasure chest and I had to figure out how to unlock the chest and give others access. Members weren’t interacting with the entrepreneurial community. I saw an opportunity to link them.”

With that in mind, she created various programs, including Meals with Moguls and Passport Service, which bring entrepreneurs to business council meetings, where the youngsters’ challenges are discussed and connections and introductions made.

“Recently, one member introduced a young entrepreneur to a licensing lawyer in Australia. Members have diverse backgrounds so when there’s a consensus of advice, that’s helpful to the entrepreneur,” Holt said.

“Other times, entrepreneurs hear different views and make their own choice. We encourage them to ask specific questions. One entrepreneur wanted to know whether to expand to the U.S. or acquire a U.S. company. The recommendation was that he experiment with a pilot acquisition.”

Holt said the interaction works both ways.

“The members of the council get excited by their meetings with ambitious young entrepreneurs. They leave with increased optimism for their own business and province.

“And the entrepreneurs realize our members share their concerns. Members are also worried about payroll, bottom lines and clients. They are more established, that’s all.”

Encouraging established companies to be early adopters of entrepreneurs’ new services and products is also vital. So far, 15 out of 24 business council companies have been matched with entrepreneurs to allow early testing of a product or service.

“Getting early adopters is important,” Holt said. “We can all build something in our basement but, if you don’t get market feedback, you could be wasting money because your idea doesn’t fit a client’s needs.”

Like many influential people in this region’s business community, Holt feels a personal commitment to boosting entrepreneurship. Raised in Fredericton, she completed a bachelor of science in chemistry and a bachelor of arts in economics at Queen’s University in Ontario.

She went on to work in sales, human resources and management with high-profile firms like Xerox, Manpower, HP, Cognos (now IBM) and Research in Motion. She then spent nearly a decade working around the world, including stints in Australia and India, returning to New Brunswick in 2007.

Now, as mom to two daughters — five-month-old Paige, and Molly, aged 21/2 — Holt’s commitment to her home province is even more personal.

Her girls are cared for by her husband, Jon, who gives her “the freedom to develop my work without it feeling like complete insanity.”

She and her business council colleagues also focus on working with the provincial government on broader issues.

“Right now, our focus is immigration,” she said. “New Brunswick needs to grow its population. We want to increase the flow of immigrants to jobs that are not being filled by locals.

“I’m hopeful the province’s new Liberal government will work with us and the federal government to boost immigration. That will in turn boost the economy.”