Business Echo - Nikki Csek

Okanagan Echo
Apr 28
6 min read

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

With over 25 years of experience, Nikki Csek has helped shape Kelowna’s business community and beyond. From early web design to the rise of AI, Nikki has consistently led organizations toward innovation and future-readiness. Deeply rooted in Kelowna, she has served on civic task forces, chaired major events, and was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025.

A proud wife, mother, and grandmother, Nikki believes true leadership is built on community and purpose. As keynote speaker for the 2025 CDM Summit, she brings bold vision and a passion for empowering the next generation of leaders. In this interview, Nikki shares her journey, the inspiration behind her work, and how she’s helping businesses embrace innovation and thrive in a rapidly changing world. Let's dive in!

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

NC: I am an entrepreneur, strategist, and community builder. I co-founded a marketing and branding agency over 25 years ago, and since then, I’ve helped hundreds of businesses navigate change—from the early days of websites to the mobile era, social media, and now the AI revolution.

Today, my focus is on helping organizations become AI-ready and future-focused. I'm deeply rooted in Kelowna, BC, where I’ve spent nearly three decades strengthening our business and civic community. I’ve served on mayoral task forces, chaired major events, and was honoured with the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025 for my contributions to the region.

Beyond business, I’m passionate about longevity, clean living, and personal growth. I am currently building a wellness collective focused on early detection, personalized health, and vibrant living. At home, I’m a proud wife, mom, and grandmother — family is everything to me.

My mission is simple: to bring ideas to life, make things better than I found them, and help others live, lead, and thrive with purpose.

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

NC: My business began in 1998, right from our home — rooted in my background in banking and a deep desire to help business owners beyond just securing funding. I saw that financial support was only one part of the puzzle. What many entrepreneurs needed was guidance to build something that could grow, thrive, and truly make an impact.

We started by building websites — helping businesses take their first steps into the digital world.

Over time, we evolved into a full-service branding and marketing agency, working alongside clients to bring their vision to life and connect meaningfully with their audiences.

Today, we’re morphing again — into a company that helps businesses solve the elusive. We’re deploying and integrating AI to drive efficiency, unlock capacity, and help organizations do more than they ever imagined possible. Our mission has always been the same: to help businesses grow so they can dream bigger, give back, and create lasting change in their industries and communities.

OE: We have to talk about Elle, your AI influencer with serious star power. What sparked the

idea, and what’s she up to next?

NC: The idea for Elle, our AI influencer with serious star power, was born from a deep love for small businesses and a desire to support them in a meaningful, scalable way. In the Central Okanagan alone, there are over 34,000 businesses — and the vast majority of them are micro or small businesses, many with no formal marketing budget or strategy. These are the heartbeats of our community, often operating without the resources to amplify their wins or tell their stories.

Elle was created to change that. She’s our always-on, always-working regional AI advocate, designed to spot and celebrate the moments that matter — grand openings, milestones, team celebrations, donation announcements, and award wins. Her job is to shine a spotlight on local businesses and help them be seen, supported, and discovered — even if, for now, it's just on social media. And she does it all for free.

Interestingly, the biggest resistance to Elle has come from within our own creative community. I believe this stems from fear — fear that AI is here to replace rather than empower. But that’s never been our goal. Elle isn’t about replacing jobs. She’s about amplifying stories that might otherwise go untold, and helping creators and businesses alike do more, with less effort, and greater reach.

What’s next for Elle? More reach. More voices. More spotlight on the local heroes building our economy — and new ways to help them rise.

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

NC: One of the moments I'm most proud of was organizing what became the largest business event in the history of our region to mark our 20th anniversary. We set an ambitious goal — to fill a venue with 1,500 seats — and we came remarkably close, welcoming 1,264 attendees from across the business community.

We invested over $500,000 in speaker talent, bringing in eight world-class keynote speakers, including two former Prime Ministers of Canada — Jean Chrétien and Stephen Harper. The event wasn’t just about celebration; it was about elevating the mindset of our local business leaders and challenging them to think bigger.

To this day, I still hear from entrepreneurs who say that conference changed the trajectory of their business. It sparked a “go big or go home” mindset that continues to ripple across the community. That, to me, is the ultimate return on investment — real impact, lasting inspiration, and a community that dares to aim higher.

OE: You’ve built a thriving media company from the ground up. What’s a piece of advice

you’d give to women looking to start their own business?

NC:The best advice I can offer entrepreneurs, especially women embarking on their own journey, is to deeply value your life experiences, your unique perspective, and the distinctive way you approach your work. Never underestimate or underprice this value. You possess insights and expertise that others don't—honour that and ensure you're fairly compensated. Confidence is magnetic; it attracts opportunities and rewards. I often remind myself and my team that my favourite answer is "yes," and my second favourite answer is "no." Both offer clarity and help us move forward confidently.

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

NC: We've always reinvested our profits back into the company to grow sustainably. But if given unlimited resources for just one day, I'd aim even higher—I would transform, in no particular order, our education, healthcare, political, financial, and social systems. Specifically, I'd invest in creating a revolutionary digital voting system that promotes true representative democracy, ensuring greater abundance, fairness, and prosperity for everyone.

OE: You're headlining the CDM Summit this year, what can we expect from your keynote?

Any sneak peeks you can share?

NC: My keynote will blend visionary insights with practical, locally-grounded data to ensure it deeply resonates with attendees, while inspiring fresh ideas and new perspectives. As a sneak peek, I'll introduce a guiding concept I've developed, called the "Wouldn't It Be Neat" theory — a framework designed to spark imaginative thinking and bold innovation. Learn more about the CDM Summit HERE

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

NC: It's our office. Located on the 16th floor of Landmark 6, we have spectacular views of the lake, orchards, downtown Kelowna, the bridge, recreational spaces, and surrounding mountains. There's a saying I love: "Seek higher ground for a clearer view." Every day at our office, I'm reminded of that perspective—it's both relaxing and endlessly inspiring.

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

NC: People might be surprised to learn that I attended a private school in the USA—especially given my colorful vocabulary (I swear like a trucker, though I wear a dress to keep up appearances!). Or perhaps it's that I have a motorcycle license, love listening to Eminem, and despite regularly speaking in community, keynotes and other public speaking engagements, it doesn't come naturally at all—I actually find it quite challenging.