Business Echo - Lisa Prokopenko

Business Echo is an interview series celebrating the incredible individuals shaping the Okanagan’s business landscape. Through candid conversations, we’ll dive into their journeys, challenges, and triumphs—offering inspiration and insights along the way.

What began as side projects for friends soon grew into a full-time passion for Lisa, founder of Concepta Marketing. With a deep commitment to excellence and a desire for flexibility to balance career and family, she built a community-driven digital marketing agency. Lisa’s mission is simple: to empower business owners by handling their marketing initiatives, so they can focus on growing their businesses with confidence.

In this interview, she shares her journey, the inspiration behind Concepta Marketing, and her vision for helping brands succeed in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

OE: Hello! thank you for granting this interview, could you please tell us a little about yourself

Mom of three amazing girls, dog mom to three lovable pups, and lucky to have a supportive husband by my side. My journey started in hospitality, evolved into marketing, and eventually led me to take the leap and go out on my own. I’m all about the Okanagan lifestyle, soaking up the sun while traveling, camping under the stars, and, of course, enjoying a glass of wine on a patio with good friends. I also spend a lot of time volunteering for my kids' figure skating club and am proud to serve as the board chair for OneSky Community Resources.

OE: What is your business all about and what inspired you to start your business?

LP: Concepta Marketing is a community-driven digital marketing expert specializing in social media management, website development, public relations, and project management. Our mission is to empower business owners by managing their marketing initiatives, allowing them to focus on other critical aspects of their business operations.

It began as a series of side projects for friends and evolved into a full-time venture, driven by a commitment to excellence and a desire for greater flexibility to support both professional aspirations and family life.

OE: Who are your ideal clients, and what kind of businesses do you love working with?

LP: I collaborate with a diverse range of hospitality businesses, including restaurants, pubs, event planners, and florists—industries in which I have a strong background prior to transitioning into marketing. Additionally, I work with professional service providers such as mortgage brokers and real estate agents, delivering tailored marketing solutions that align with their unique industry needs.

OE: What’s one piece of marketing advice every business owner should know?

LP: Focus on understanding your audience. No matter how great your product or service is, if you don’t know who your customers are, what they need, and how they think, your marketing efforts won’t connect. Build relationships by listening to their feedback, solving their problems, and delivering value consistently. Everything else—branding, messaging, content—flows naturally from that foundation.

OE: Can you share a moment in your career that you’re particularly proud of?

LP: Over the past year and a half, I’ve had the honor of being nominated for several awards. The nomination I am most proud of is for Marketing & Communication Excellence at the Penticton Chamber Business Excellence Awards. While I didn’t take home the award, the experience was incredibly rewarding, offering valuable insights and reinforcing my passion for helping businesses thrive. I take great pride in my accomplishments and the growth I’ve achieved throughout this journey.

OE: How do you balance running a business with other aspects of your life?

LP: What is balance? Ha! Honestly—calendars, calendars, and more calendars! With a husband who's busy with work and three kids constantly on the go with activities, I get asked this question a lot. Truthfully, I think part of me thrives on the organized chaos, which is why I chose to run my own business—to have the flexibility to juggle it all. The simple answer? I get most of my work done when the kids are at school or away.

That said, I’m notorious for sneaking in work, even on vacations. Picture me sitting by a tree, laptop in hand, plugged into the campground bathroom for power—because deadlines don’t care if you’re roasting marshmallows!

Did I mention I also sit on two Boards, one for the Glengarry Skating Club (have to support my girls skating!) and am also the President of the Board of Directors for OneSky Community Resources, which takes up an additional 15+ hours per month from Board Meetings to Retreats to Committees and events!

OE: What’s a piece of advice you’d give to women looking to start their own business?

LP: Make sure you have a strong support system. There will be moments when you question your decisions or feel overwhelmed, and having someone in your corner makes all the difference. For me, that’s my husband—he’s always there to remind me that everything will be okay. Of course, he loves to share his own business ideas (at which point I kindly remind him to stick to finance), but it’s the unwavering support that truly matters.

OE: If you had unlimited funds for one day, what’s the first thing you’d do for your business?

LP: If I had unlimited funds for a day, the first thing I’d do is expand—amplifying our marketing reach and bringing on a talented team to support and scale the business. With the right people and resources, we could elevate our services, take on more clients, and create an even greater impact.

OE: What’s your favorite Okanagan spot to relax or find inspiration?

LP: Osoyoos is a favorite getaway for our family—we visit a couple of times a year, staying at either Spirit Ridge Resort or Watermark Resort. My husband and I love Spirit Ridge for its fantastic amenities, while Watermark’s central location is perfect for letting the girls explore on their own. Plus, we can never pass up a meal at 15 Park Bistro—it’s absolutely amazing!

OE: What’s one thing about you that people might not know?

LP: Hmm... I have an irrational fear of snakes—so much so that my imagination runs wild. For example, if my sunroof is open, I genuinely worry that a bird carrying a snake might drop it into my car—alive and wriggling. Or if I accidentally drive over a snake, I can’t help but think it might somehow get flung up into the engine and slither its way inside the car. Basically, I’ve crafted an entire action movie in my head starring me, my car, and a very determined snake. #snakesinacar

OE: How can we reach you?

LP: www.conceptamarketing.com

@concepta.marketing – IG

@conceptamarketing – FB

250.488.9648