b'YOUNG ENTREPRENEURSSoap & Candle, which became the first Indigenous soap or essential oil company to sign on with well.ca, a popular online toiletries site. Today, her team consists of her ever-supportive husband and about 15 to 25 staff who take care of her ventures.Entrepreneurship has been a good fit for Assu. And as her businesses grows, she is embracing her emerging role as a mentor to other equally ambitious Indigenous entrepreneurs who are just starting out. There is no trick to success, she says, but rather a commitment to building authentic connections, under-standing the fundamentals of business, continued learning, and self-care. "As Indigenous women, we kind of do it all in our industry. And as someone living with invisible and visible disabili-ties, I really believe in my team to help find my balance to protect the health of my kidney transplant and [my overall] well-being," Assu says.With her partnership with Best Buy about to launch, Assu and her West Coast Wildflowers team are proud to look back on many business successes. That said, Assu is hopeful that other Indigenous entrepreneurs will join her in the spotlight. Theres room, she says, for many young Indigenous busi-nesspeople to make their own mark. "I want other Indigenous entrepreneurs to succeed and challenge me creatively, emphasizes Assu. I love that."Indigenous BUSINESS REPORT23CCIB-Sep-2025-FINAL.indd 1 9/12/2025 10:30:45 AM'