Shelby Del Franko - "CEO & Founder of Canada Fashion Magazine" Exclusive Interview

TheCconnects: Can you tell our readers a little about your professional journey & how did you come to your current role/position?

Shelby Del Franko: I have always been infatuated with art and fashion, but started my career actually as a chef. It was at the time an easy job for me, I was able to advance very quickly, which proved I was a hard working person and was a job that I could have done anywhere on this planet (because I love traveling and that way I was able to maintain an income while traveling). I got to work in many restaurants in both Canada and Israel. Cooked for celebrities and got to travel which I really enjoyed.

When I relocated to Ottawa from Calgary, I decided to go to business school and peruse a business degree. I didn’t really see a point in spending 4 years of my life going to chef school because I was already good at it and knew a lot. I also looked at the bigger picture and thought I would probably end up owning a restaurant one day and wanted to learn more about the business side of things.

Another thing I forgot to mention was that I immigrated to Canada from Israel all by myself at the age of 21. Everything in Canada was so new to me so it was very important for me to go to school to understand the system better. It ended up being very worth a while and I am very happy I completed my degree.

By the time I graduated from business school, I have already had some projects under my belt. I had a small business of events I started with a partner called Diamond Elite, which did events that combined fashion, art, and cooking at various restaurants around Ottawa. We did very well, but I wanted to take it to the next level even more. I also did some freelance cooking classes in my free time. After I graduated, I went to work at a restaurant in Little Italy in Ottawa, after less than a year I became the chef of the restaurant, but I was still missing something. I really didn’t want to make someone else’s dream come true; I wanted my own.

I was also doing a little bit of modeling and got to meet so many people from the creative business industry who have no clue how to market themselves and how to help generate revenue.

That’s how I started thinking about the magazine and since the beginning, we had so many success stories. I have been always passionate about helping people and I am so grateful we have the chance to do it.

TheCconnects: Who has influenced you the most in life and why?

Shelby Del Franko: My mom. We had a lot of disagreements and she was very unhappy with some of my decisions, one of them leaving home and going to live somewhere so far away from her. But she taught me a lot and she has always been a very motivated career woman. I remember her working all the time, during weekends and holidays. She was also a single mom who did such an amazing job raising me and my sister. I have so much admiration for her.

TheCconnects: What are the biggest challenges you have faced in your life & how did you overcome them?

Shelby Del Franko: I faced many challenges throughout my journey. I must say that the biggest challenges I had to overcome came from ME and my journey of learning about myself and who I am.

I had so much self-doubt, self-hate, and fear of not succeeding in life. I also went through a lot of trauma, as you can probably guess, living in a country like Israel was not easy at times. I have lived through wars and seen some of my friends and family die because of them. However, my parents did the best they could and my childhood wasn’t a bad childhood. I have lots of great memories and I think Israel is a beautiful country with lots to offer.

How did I overcome those challenges?

Listen and read lots of motivational content, meditation, stay healthy by eating lots of healthy food and workout, stay away from negativity and surround myself with people who love me.

It took a very long time to get here and it wasn’t easy, but I am so grateful I did. It was one hell of a journey. The journey is definitely far from being over.

TheCconnects: What lessons you have learned from your professional career?

Shelby Del Franko: I learned to be assertive, more focused, more motivated, and self-love. Become a better version of myself overall.

TheCconnects: What do you see as the biggest challenge for brands in the digital space?

Shelby Del Franko: The biggest challenge would be that this is a very fast-paced broad environment. As a beginner, it could be extremely confusing and you wouldn’t even know where to start. Some areas could be very time-consuming and it could take a lot of your time, not giving you the results you’re looking for.

TheCconnects: How your product/solution can help to resolve the pain points of your customers?

Shelby Del Franko: We specialize in creating CUSTOMIZED marketing campaigns for our clients. Giving our clients the advertisement they need, referring the clients to THEM, and by that, giving the owner the time they need to create and develop their product, rather than trying to figure out what would work best for them in the marketing realm. At the end of the day, you can say we saved people, lots of time and energy.

TheCconnects: Do you have any advice for those who want to become a chief executive officer?

Shelby Del Franko: Yes, does a lot of research. Make sure you are doing something you love. Find the right balance in your life so you can juggle business, and family and have time for yourself.

Stay healthy and motivated!

You can connect with Shelly Bandel-Rawlings on LinkedIn here