The Kelowna Chamber Business Academy is the Chamber’s modern professional development offering, designed to deliver practical, results-driven learning that helps businesses grow, adapt, and lead with confidence. Built for business owners, leaders, and decision-makers— open to the broader business community—the Academy features timely, actionable education led by respected industry experts, creating a consistent and trusted destination for business learning in the Central Okanagan.

Grounded in the Kelowna Chamber’s mission to be a catalyst of innovation, ideas, and connections, the Business Academy advances business success through programming that supports stronger leadership, smarter operations, and measurable outcomes.

Participation is open to both Chamber members and non-members, making the Academy an accessible learning opportunity for the entire business community.

What Participants Can Expect

Each session is led by recognized subject-matter experts and focuses on high-impact, real-world business priorities, including:

• Core Business Fundamentals: HR, risk management, taxation and financial strategy, marketing and brand growth, workflow efficiency and productivity

• Additional High-Impact Topics: cybersecurity, legal essentials, sales and customer experience, succession and exit planning, sustainability/ESG, innovation and AI adoption, leadership and governance

Quality-First Delivery

The Academy is committed to excellence through:

• Vetted, top-tier presenters with real-world expertise

• Practical tools, templates, and takeaways participants can apply immediately

• Content that’s relevant for businesses of all sizes and stages

Why attend

• Work on your business, not just learn about it

• Leave with a deliverable you can implement immediately

• Small group format for real support and accountability

• Practical frameworks + guided application + live demos

Available sessions:

Integrated Digital Marketing: Working Sessions for Business Owners (Feb–May 2026)

A practical workshop series for business owners to simplify marketing strategy, AI workflows, and sustainable systems. These are working sessions—not seminars: you’ll apply frameworks to your business and leave with a tangible deliverable and next steps.

Each session blends a short framework-based presentation (20–30 minutes), live demos where applicable, and guided working time with small-group consultation. Participants leave with at least one task completed, a clear deliverable, and a plan for what to do next. Guest lists are reviewed in advance so examples and support match who’s in the room.

• 2-hour, small-group working session

• ~20 participants per session

• Framework + live demos + guided work time

• Leave with a deliverable + next-step plan

• Guest list reviewed in advance for tailored support

​Session 1: Turn ChatGPT Into Your Marketing Assistant 

Wednesday February 11, 2026 9am -11am Kelowna Chamber Office 544 Harvey Ave, Kelowna

A hands-on working session to set up ChatGPT (or similar AI tools) in a workflow-first way so it actually saves you time each week. You’ll leave with a structured AI workspace, a brand/business context file outline, and a few practical workflows to use immediately. Register here

Session 2: Psychology-Backed Messaging That Cuts Through the Noise  

Wednesday March 11, 2026 9am -11am Kelowna Chamber Office 544 Harvey Ave, Kelowna

A practical messaging session rooted in buyer psychology (not trends) to help you niche down and clearly communicate why you’re different. You’ll leave with a positioning statement, defined audience pain points/identity drivers, and a messaging playbook outline you can use across your marketing (and to train AI). Register here

Session 3: The 90-Day Marketing Plan That Actually Gets Done  

Wednesday April 8, 2026 9am -11am Kelowna Chamber Office 544 Harvey Ave, Kelowna

A working session to build a sustainable 90-day marketing plan tied to sales goals, buyer awareness, and weekly execution—so you stop posting randomly and start following a real system. You’ll leave with a focused plan, priority channels, weekly actions, and a simple tracking system (plus prompts to repeat the process each quarter). Register here

Session 4: Design a Client Journey That Creates Raving Reviews

Wednesday May 6, 2026 9am -11am Kelowna Chamber Office 544 Harvey Ave, Kelowna

A service-business-focused session to map and improve the full lead-to-client experience—from inquiry to onboarding, delivery, reviews, and referrals. You’ll leave with a clear client journey outline, identified friction points, and an action plan for simple automation + AI support to improve conversion and retention. Register here

Attendees can register per session or choose the best-value bundle:

$62.50 per session

$250 for the full four-session series

About the presenter: Jill Wise

Not quite fitting into a single title, Jill Wise is a business and marketing problem solver. She pushes through the noise of the online world and the "rules" of what you're supposed to do, instead guiding her clients to show up authentically as they build, grow, and scale businesses that feel good to them.

Testimonials

Kira Hug, The Copywriter Club

“Jill knows how to solve ANY business problem, big or small. She asks the right questions, digs deep, and connects the dots so you don't have to on your own! Because let's face it - solving our own biz problems can feel like we're chasing our own tail. Jill helped me create a comprehensive plan to improve one of my signature offers (a private membership). Specifically, Jill helped me brainstorm improvements for this private membership, along with developing a plan to improve both acquisition and retention. While I couldn't figure out how to go from step A... to step B... to step Z, Jill could see the path. Working with Jill by your side, I promise, you can accomplish anything you're struggling with in your business. Whether it's offer creation, acquisition, retention, UX, messaging, Jill's got you covered. Hire Jill next time you need a business strategist who's ridic smart, generous, and gives a damn about your business.”

Megan Reed, Quantum Certified Life Coach

“Jill is an absolute mastermind. Her strategic brain was everything my business was missing, and I feel confident knowing I have someone in my corner to support me in my blind spots. Right away, I felt like Jill truly GOT me, my voice, and my audience. She has such an intuitive eye for what works. Now, I’ve been able to do more, faster and easier. We’ve worked together on so many pieces of my marketing: funnel strategy, website copy, and email marketing. Long form content specifically too! I launched my podcast about halfway through my second package with Jill, and it has only fueled audience growth for me. I've already signed on for more.Being in Jill's energy and expertise has catapulted my business. Her strategic brain is unmatched!! I went from having big dreams and goals but struggling to reach the right audience to the biggest launch I've ever had. I will never NOT be working with Jill!!!”

Grace Baldwin, Agency Owner

“In the business world, everybody talks about how you need to scale… and then they peddle a course that costs $2000 and doesn’t teach you anything new. Jill though? Totally different story. Through Jill, I’ve learned what actually needs to be in place for me to scale my business up—and she literally gives you pieces of her business so you don’t have to reinvent the god damn wheel every time. She’s SO knowledgeable and has helped me navigate everything from tough client situations, self-doubt, and general fatigue. She’s the perfect balance of motivating and pushy, so I’m getting things done, but it doesn’t feel overwhelming.”

Lacey & Kieth, Complete Skin Makeover

“Before working with Jill, we were primarily based on Amazon with our sales, and that led to more of a transactional relationship with the client. Even though our goal has always been to be a holistic brand, and to have longer conversations with the client, we didn't really have the opportunity to do that as much. But then once we started working with Jill, we really found our voice and it made the brand come to life the way that I've always envisioned it. We've opened that door where people feel like there's more of a community. Like they can come to us and not feel like how some companies do. Like you would never think that you can send an email to them and get a response Since we've relaunched the website with new copy and image and a focus on new products, our average cart value is quite a bit higher: 600%.”